The question would have had a very simple answer twenty or thirty years ago: they report the news. The journalists of yesteryear were charged with a few tasks, but they all involved selecting and reporting news to the people. Journalists defined what was news, what was to be reported, and how it should be reported. In the heavily electronic climate of the modern media universe, however, journalists are no longer the primary gatekeepers of information. Citizens themselves now take an active role in disseminating information, whether through Twitter, Facebook, or blogs. On sites like Digg and StumbleUpon, users decide what is important, relevant, and of interest.
The role of the journalist in modern society is facing substantial change. This is not necessarily good or bad—it is simply transformative. Whereas journalists used to be suppliers or sources of information, they must now act as managers and moderators of information. While citizen participation in news and journalism is a healthy and promising addition to the field, it also carries the hazards of questionable quality news and information overload. Journalists must now be trained to communicate information via multiple channels—print, online, audio, and so on. More now than ever, journalists are here to help citizens sort through a truly massive amount of information. The goal of the modern journalist is not simply to report the news—the journalist must report the best news, commentary, and analysis. News is no longer a mere report; it is now a public dialogue that engages across multiple levels.
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