Backpacking - Another "New Fad" Freak out

While the stories about backpack journalism by Jane Stevens and Martha Stone were amusing and thought-provoking, I was not convinced that backpacking is a concept that will eventually die out. In fact, I think that backpack journalism is the future of journalism; that, eventually, all journalists will be held to some degree of backpacking, and that the more you know, the better off you are.

When I read Stevens, "Backpack Journalism Is Here to Stay," I really agreed with the point she made regarding the non-redundancy of backpack journalism's nonlinear format. "It's a two-way communications system: People can search for information. They send their own text, photos, graphics, video clips and audio on stories or provide additional information." We live in a world in which people demand to know everything at every minute of every day. Shouldn't our methods of producing excellent journalism reflect that? If a house burns in Brookly, and Channel XYZ sends a live reporter and a camera crew, the public will only get a live shot that will eventually turn into a 30-second sound bite with video. If Channel LMNOP sends a backpack journalists, the story then becomes a multimedia parade of text, sound, video, still images, possibly complete with an info graphic telling readers how to prevent house fires and whom to call in such a situation. Backpack journalism is more information, with more insight, in a small amount of time.

Of course, there are those who claim that backpack journalists are, "Jack of all trades; masters of none." I'm definitely not disputing this fact. However, just like the telephone, the cellphone and the iPhone, everything has to evolve. Give backpack journalists time, and soon, media hounds will reap its benefits.

Just like when Harry Potter was first published and people claimed it taught young children witchcraft; to me, backpacking is just another "new fad" freak out.