The Future of Journalism

Journalist and Talking Points Memo founder Joshua Micah Marshall, who says he is often approached by media executives for business advice on how to survive in the era of Internet journalism, has shared some secrets to his success.

Speaking at a May, 2008 conference on the future of the Internet, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, Marshall first told the audience the end of printed newspapers is "obvious" and the future of nightly TV news is in doubt.



Talking Points Memo has pioneered a new model of interactive investigative journalism. Marshall explained there are three aspects of this model that work together to make it successful:



Here’s an example of a story that readers helped Talking Points Memo to investigate a few months after the 2004 election:



Last year, with assistance from his readers, Marshall investigated the firing of eight US attorneys that critics believed was politically motivated. Subsequently, the traditional media picked up the story and the controversy led to the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Talking Points Memo won a George Polk award for that story – the first Internet-only news operation to receive it.

Marshall’s experience makes him optimistic about the future of journalism, but he believes the period of transition will be painful:



Talking Points Memo is an ad-supported operation that also accepts donations from readers. The complete video of Josh Marshall's speech at the Berkman Center conference is available on the center's website.