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Book Review: Beyond News: The Future of Journalism, by Mitchell Stephens

Mitchell Stephens Beyond News: The Future of Journalism. New York: Columbia University Press, 2014. 264 pp.Beyond News: The Future of Journalism by Mitchell Stephens is a book that should probably be read more than once to assess its full impact. Although this book was published in April 2014, a second look may help add perspective to some of the author's ideas about where the profession of Journalism is headed. Indeed, a second reading may serve to lessen the shock that some traditionalists may have felt when first encountering Stephens' thoughts on objectivity in news, the role of opinion, the future of reporting, and the obsolescence of the beat system. Or, it may serve to reinforce the traditionalist's view that Stephens is on the wrong track. In any case, this is a book that offers much food for thought.What this book is not, however, is a prescription for solving the economic woes of journalism.The essence of Stephens' argument is built around what he calls wisdom journalism. He suggests that "quality in twenty-first century journalism lies not so much in" reporting objective facts, but "lies instead in . . . 'wisdom journalism'-journalism that strengthens our understanding of the world" (p. xxvi). He goes on throughout the book to explain that wisdom journalism requires a different kind of journalist from today's reporter of news written or delivered in inverted pyramid style and clearly answering the 5 "W's"-Who, What, Where, When, and Why. He goes on to add that for the wisdom journalist, it is the final "W" that is the essence of the work. Answering the question "why" (and sometimes "how") requires knowledge beyond the generalist. Stephens suggests that, unlike traditional reporters of news, the wisdom journalist will not be a generalist but instead will be a specialist with deep understanding of a single subject.Stephens does not discount the importance of accurately reporting facts but suggests that in this day of media abundance, audiences often can hear or see what newsmakers have to say or view their actions firsthand. What is needed most, Stephens argues, is someone to interpret the meaning of those words or actions. Therefore, informed opinion and interpretation become the role of the wisdom journalist.To make his case for wisdom journalism, Stephens recounts a brief history of the profession. He reminds us by citing numerous examples that early news publications contained stories that comprised a great deal of opinion and very few objective facts. He tells his readers that Benjamin Franklin-someone whom he admires very much-was a wisdom journalist. Stephens cites Franklin's satirical attack on British policy of convict transportation to the Colonies, published in his Pennsylvania Gazette, as a prime example. He states that Franklin's writing was not based on reporting, adding "it probably didn't involve going any place beyond his own desk. Nevertheless it taught; it offered an original perspective on an important issue; it was thoughtful, revealing and clever" (p. 10).Through the use of historical examples, Stephens argues that objective, fact-based journalism is a relatively recent practice that resulted from both technological and economic changes to the profession begun in the nineteenth century. …