For my Honors research this year, I wanted to focus on a professional field that I could possibly have a career in. Upon browsing through different majors, I have chosen to study the field of journalism as a possible career path and a part of my Honors May Project Extension. In my research into journalism today, I identified several important subtopics: the rise of online news, the evolution of partisan networks and media fracture caused by the invention of cable television, and reporting ethics. 

The invention of cable news in the 1980s contributed to the rise of polarization in consumers’ news content. I found that historically, television channels were limited to three major broadcasting networks which provided consumers with similar coverage on the relevant, pressing news topics of the day. With the invention of cable television, more variety in channel selection became widely available to consumers which allowed for the introduction of networks targeting certain audiences, including news networks. Partisan journalism became more widespread as consumers  aligned their cable news media intake with their beliefs. With the introduction of channels such as FOX and MSNBC and others, polarization of content has become widespread among journalists and newsrooms alike. 

An analysis published in Scientific Reports identifies distinct characteristics in partisan journalism that allow for more individuality and recognition among viewers. A partisan network is one that makes its content to appeal to an audience that leans toward a certain political party. Partisan channels such as FOX, MSNBC and CNN differ, for example, in the topics they discuss and how they frame them. Linguistic framing is one way that cable news anchors’ discourse towards certain topics makes the channel identifiable to viewers. This provides the channel’s respective audience the ability to identify what sounds to them like their beliefs as well as the station they’re coming from. 

Fewer people today are getting their news from cable broadcasting, and social media platforms and other forms of entertainment are now being given the same credibility as mainstream journalism. The Reuters Institute in January 2025 analyzed journalism trends and predicted that social media and audio visual content will become more prevalent than traditional media. Many publishers are beginning to invest more into audio and visual content as standard text articles are becoming the secondary choice. Another contributing factor to this predicted rise in unconventional media is influential figures and political leaders diverging from the mainstream media. In the last presidential election, the leading candidates were beginning to connect with potential voters on outside platforms to get their message across. YouTuber podcasts such as the Joe Rogan Show and Call Her Daddy hosted both candidates to talk about their campaigns and presidential goals. 

In addition to politicians averting their attention from mainstream media, consumers have also done the same and turned their attention toward streaming platforms, which has caused major journalism markets to downsize and many jobs in journalism to be lost. With major markets suffering these losses, other forms of broadcasting also have the posed threat of defunding to support the alternative media that I mentioned earlier. Despite all of these predictions, some of which have become reality, a paramount discussion in all of this is ethics and whether or not the core ethics should be changed to accommodate societal and developmental changes. 

An article in the Columbia Journalism Review explains that change is constant, and journalism needs to adapt as needed. Thirteen journalists offer their perspectives to discuss different challenges of the field today such as artificial intelligence (AI), free speech, accusations of bias, and bettering the news for consumers in a way that benefits their lives. In terms of AI, journalists say to be honest with readers and tell them what it’s used for. Freedom of speech and accusations of bias depend on whether someone is a freelance or a professional journalist, so these issues are becoming increasingly complicated in a fragmented journalism environment. The profiled journalists agree that the public’s understanding and response to information are the responsibility of ethical journalism: if the public’s response is negative or if they are overwhelmed, depressed, and feel unheard, then it is the fault of the journalist for not following ethical standards. 

This research into the state of journalism today will help me to develop a plan of action for my May Project Extension. I plan to look further into ethics and what constitutes ethical journalism, and then I will reach out to local journalists to request shadow opportunities or interviews. I want to observe in the real world the different topics that I’ve researched and evaluate how professionals follow ethical standards and how they’re using different media to communicate news. Ultimately, this year of research and professional observation will help me to know if this is a field in which I can be successful.