More than anything else, the idea of interactive, non-linear story telling sets a backpack report apart from specialized journalists. In today’s 360-degree society, the backpack journalist provides the opportunity for 360-degree coverage.
Never has there been a greater demand for streaming audio and video and instant access to news as it happens than in today’s media world. News is fluid and as it changes journalists should have the ability to adapt to the story, to public opinion, and with developing situations as they happen. Traditional reporting is permanent. It is story telling with a beginning and end. Convergence reporting allows the public to become involved and by doing so become better informed about the world around them.
Of course there are arguments against backpack reporting and some are probably valid, but a “mush of mediocrity?” The only way a journalist’s, be it traditional or cross-platform, finished product will be mediocre is if that particular journalist settles for mediocrity.
It would be nice if in every situation, every breaking story, an entire team of specialized journalist was ready and available to pick up and go to the far reaches of the earth, but that is just not possible. It is in these cases that a backpack journalist thrives and has been used thus far. However, as media changes so must the role of the journalist and that is why the backpack journalist has become more and more necessary in every news situation.
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