What is Digital Journalism?
Blog Updated on September 24, 2025.
According to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, 86 percent of Americans said their primary news source was a digital device. The survey also noted 58 percent of Americans preferred receiving news digitally, compared with television (32 percent), radio (6 percent), and print (4 percent). This mindset shows no signs of slowing down, with the survey reporting 86% of Americans ages 18 to 29 preferred using digital devices for news.
The rapid advancement of online-only publishing platforms — and the public’s growing reliance on online sources for news — has transformed the journalism industry over the past two decades. The professional practice of reporting and publishing news stories for an online-only audience even has a name: digital journalism. In fact, some advanced degrees are now devoted to cultivating expertise in this format.
Digital journalists report on events as they’re happening, often breaking stories as they unfold. They must be exceptionally agile, processing information quickly and sharing it accurately within minutes of receiving it. Digital journalism brings the news to people’s main destination for consuming ideas and information: the internet.
Digital journalism is similar to print and broadcast journalism but requires skills, education, and experiences unique to the digital space. To be successful, journalists who report for digital outlets need a working knowledge of publishing tools, social media sharing, audience segmentation, and interactive storytelling. Let’s look at what digital journalism is and the outlook for this exciting type of storytelling.
Journalism in the Digital Age: An Evolution
For the most part, the way news is reported and consumed is similar to how it was done in the past — the differences lie in the speed at which it happens, the competition journalists face, and the ways to get it in front of the audience.
These changes vary by medium. However, they all point to an acknowledgement of the digital space’s permanence in journalism.
How Print and Traditional Media Have Changed
- In lieu of an actual newspaper, consumers can access the same stories online to be read on a smartphone, tablet, or other device.
- Consumers have the ability to comment on and discuss stories, offering further insight and debate with others.
- News outlets are pivoting to more multimedia-driven presentations, including video, photos, and podcasts.
How Radio and Broadcast Television Have Changed
- Many radio stations have adapted by providing consumers with apps where they can stream, download, and rewind live news broadcasts.
- Networks have adapted by offering snippets of shows on websites or social platforms, highlighting important interviews or particularly feisty exchanges.
- The emergence of podcasts, from traditional news stories to niche special interest stories, allows reporters to go in-depth on the subject matter and prerecord.
- Smartphones, social media, and mobile apps eliminate the need for traditional media such as print newspapers; consumers now can watch, listen, and read anywhere, anytime.
Investigative Journalism in the Digital Age
Investigative journalism remains one of the industry’s most important disciplines. Exercising the right to free speech to hold those in power accountable is one of the pillars of democracy — a way for corruption to be uncovered and the public to be informed. Before the digital age, investigative journalists would work for months reporting before a “big reveal”: think Watergate. While the foundation of investigative journalism hasn’t changed, the way news is brought to light has.
Digital journalism makes it possible for information pertaining to an investigative piece to be distributed quickly and in real time. While news outlets can use traditional tactics such as primetime television story teasers to draw interest to a story, online formats make it possible for them to share urgent information with an audience within moments of it occurring. This makes news spread rapidly, which can also impact the speed at which the public responds to news.
Sports Journalism in the Digital Age
Americans consume sports — and sports media — at an astounding rate. S&P Global reports the National Football League (NFL) averaged 17.5 million viewers per game during the 2024 regular season. Digital journalism has fundamentally changed the way Americans follow sports.
No longer do we wait for the local or national paper to see box scores, statistics, or opinion pieces — all of this comes swiftly with 24/7 sports networks, sports-driven apps, and real-time updates from reporters on social media.
What’s more, social media and other online communication tools allow athletes to connect with fans without having to go through team channels or journalist interviews. Thanks to digital journalism, it didn’t take long for details surrounding Travis Kelce’s engagement to Taylor Swift to spread to sports fans from all corners of the country once they went public.
This has led to sweeping changes in the approach to sports journalism.
- Social media is driving sports journalism. Highlights, in-game reporting, and athletes creating their own brands allow for instant access.
- Websites such as The Athletic are relying on subscription-based models, providing quality journalism with no advertisements.
- As traditional print magazines die out, independent storytellers such as Tyler Dunne create in-depth, long-form pieces highlighting professional athletes beyond the headlines. In some cases, independent storytellers can become established digital journalists; for example, Sean McIndoe of the Down Goes Brown website parlayed his hockey insights and sense of humor into a role at The Athletic.
Digital Journalism and Social Media
It’s impossible to understand what digital journalism is without devoting some time to social media. Indeed, the advent of social media has turned the traditional news cycle on its head. It’s not just the speed at which news is being distributed — something that can occasionally foster misinformation — but also the convenience of receiving the news from a user’s perspective. A 2024 Pew Research Center fact sheet reported 54 percent of American adults sometimes received news from social media outlets.
Social media has also changed the way journalists share news.
- Reporters interact with readers and listeners, often finding stories and getting real-time tips directly from the communities they serve.
- In lieu of writing a news story, reporters create a thread that delivers all the information in one easy-to-read format.
- Digital journalists take advantage of livestreaming capabilities on social media channels, often reporting directly from the scene and eliminating the need for a professional camera or microphone.
hat Are the Advantages of Digital Journalism?
To present information to consumers, digital journalism uses technology, which provides several advantages.
Extensive Reach
Mobile devices have changed how people search for and consume the news. Push notifications tailored to a reader’s interests are delivered to their personal devices, allowing them to access breaking news with just a click. With an entire world of information constantly at their fingertips, more people than ever before can access news updates, creating a new class of global news consumers.
Digital journalism takes traditional gatekeepers out of the equation, getting more news to more people. Startup outlets without a print component and even individual reporters with a following can distribute information to their audience without compromising the potential reach of their reporting. A digital journalist can quickly reach a global audience.
Real-Time Reporting
Print publications are tied to their publication schedules. If important news happens after a newspaper or magazine issue has been printed, the information has to wait until the next printing to be shared with readers. Online journalism eliminates this problem.
The audience can not only learn information instantaneously from the journalists themselves but also now expects this kind of real-time news reporting. Digital platforms enable the immediate publication of breaking news, allowing for as many updates or edits as possible as a story unfolds.
Interactions With the Audience
Digital journalists don’t have to wait to see how their readers feel about a story. Digital publishing platforms allow for real-time reactions such as comments, shares, and likes. News stories often go viral the same day they’re published, so reporters know what’s resonating and can dig in to get follow-up stories people are interested in.
In some cases, journalists can source content from readers by embedding videos and static social media posts into their articles. Digital communication has streamlined the process of pitching stories to editors and developing relationships with sources, making it easier to develop article ideas. Content that references digital life, such as photos, memes, deep-dives into forum discussions, online community explainers, and breakdowns of internet trends, can make readers feel a part of the developing story — and in a way, they are.
Some of these interactions with the audience are less direct but just as valuable. Engagement metrics can tell editors how long readers spend on a story and how many unique impressions it receives. With a global audience of billions, any news item posted online can grab millions of eyes and elicit hundreds of thousands of reactions.
Reporter Autonomy
Traditional journalism often tied a reporter’s name to the print outlet they wrote for. Once a journalist found a stable job with a legacy media publication, the smart play was often to stay at that outlet for their career.
Digital journalism has altered this landscape, allowing journalists to cultivate social media followings. Instead of a static binder of “clips,” journalists can keep a dynamic record of their commentary and reporting on social media feeds. Journalists who’ve built their brand can also use the number of followers they have to demonstrate their value to potential employers and negotiate higher salaries.
In some cases, digital journalists who’ve racked up a following don’t even need to write for an outlet to establish an impactful media career. Newsletter writing, podcasting, blogging, and livestreaming have all become ways a journalist can deliver strong reporting while earning an income.
Innovative Storytelling
Publishing on a digital platform allows journalists to incorporate visual and interactive elements into their storytelling. Digital journalists embed data analysis and visual assets that give their audience a way to conceptualize the facts they deliver. Video streaming services and social media platforms also present a myriad of opportunities for telling the news in a way that captures their attention.
This can include interactive charts, real-time polls, overlaid maps, audio components, and documentary films to accompany their stories. Digital journalists can collaborate with illustrators, data miners, filmmakers, and others to make their stories come alive.
Digital Journalism Challenges and How to Avoid Them
The ability for anyone with a smartphone to live-stream an event or an opinion creates a major issue for journalism in the digital age. Opinions taken as facts without additional research or reporting often lead to the spread of misinformation, which frequently receives more attention than the facts themselves.
A major advantage of digital journalism is the speed at which it can be distributed. However, it also creates additional challenges, as the balance between disseminating the news and ensuring the accuracy of the information becomes increasingly difficult. These issues plague digital journalism, but there are ways to counteract them.
Misinformation
Journalists pride themselves on breaking stories. However, career advancement requires professionalism across the full spectrum, including fact-checking. Too often, news is sent out without a thorough examination of the facts, leading to the spread of misinformation. Journalists can avoid misinformation by adhering to the following principles:
- Ensure the accuracy of sources. While anonymous tips and inside knowledge help in breaking stories, ensuring that sources are accurate eliminates wrong information from getting out. Secondary sources help ensure the accuracy of the original information.
- Vet all data before publication. Statistics, revenue, and other numerical data are critical in reporting as they help paint the overall picture. Public sources are easily accessible via the internet, and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires the government to allow public access to information.
- Remain committed to the truth. Ethics and a commitment to truthfulness are vital elements of the code that journalists adhere to. Publishing information that’s incorrect or not contextualized properly damages a journalist’s credibility.
Bias
At its core, journalism relies on facts over bias. Unfortunately, in the politically charged climate we live in, the line between ratings and reporting becomes blurred. When a hot take is written or a biased spin is put on a news story, it can devolve into a screaming match.
- Present the facts without opinion. Unless a journalist is writing an opinion piece — in which case, facts are even more important to back up said opinion — reporting without bias lets the reader or listener decide for themselves.
- Maintain integrity in reporting. Good journalists rarely curry favor with professional athletes, politicians, or others in power, and instead report on what the public needs to hear. Sticking to that morality and not being influenced allows for the honest facts to come out.
What Should Aspiring Reporters Know About Digital Journalism?
Digital journalism is growing, and professionals should increase their skills to meet the demand.
Tammy Rae Matthews, assistant professor at St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication, says, “Aspiring reporters venturing into digital journalism should embrace versatility as a foundational element of their professional repertoire. They should cultivate a heightened awareness of the innate challenges intrinsic to the field.”
Professionals need to know the difference between writing a headline for social media and creating a slug URL for search engine optimization (SEO). They must grasp how to write compelling, shareable, accurate copy quickly. They need to understand how to collaborate with other media teams, including illustrators, video content producers, and graphic designers. Above all, they must be highly adaptable and equipped to learn new things quickly as the industry evolves.
“Recognizing your strengths and expertise allows you to capitalize on your proficiencies, whether in compelling storytelling, data analysis or multimedia creation,” Matthews said. “Equally necessary is acknowledging what skills you appreciate in collaborators. If you have expectational narration skills, gravitate toward quality editors so you can produce sophisticated and professional packages together. Collaboration is the cornerstone of the journalism industry. Identify individuals who can complement your skills and enrich your team.”
Matthews warns people to “be aware of the challenges inherent in digital journalism, including potential idiosyncrasies with the programs they use. Practice is necessary. Regularly producing content across different platforms refines skills and fosters adaptability. Proactively addressing these challenges is crucial for delivering quality digital journalism.”
Expected skills for digital journalists include the following:
- Understanding of ethical considerations related to email interviews and finding sources online, including how to protect source privacy and navigate potential online harassment
- Knowledge of industry practices, such as editing and posting in a content management system (CMS) and building posts with embedded media
- Experience writing with authoritative style guides such as the Associated Press Stylebook
- Ability to write consistently clean and accurate copy
- Knowledge of industry best practices to ensure for making SEO-friendly articles
- Understanding of social media, including how to create viral content and how to protect one’s professional reputation online
- Familiarity with the fundamentals of coding, photography, design, and illustration software
- Knowledge of current guidelines for writing sensitively about people from marginalized, underrepresented, and underserved populations
Stake Your Claim in an Evolving Industry
A Master of Arts (MA) in Digital Journalism can help you hone your writing skills while mastering best practices for reporting ethically and accurately. St. Bonaventure University Online’s MA in Digital Journalism helps students become innovative storytellers in today’s digital and print media landscape. In the online program, students develop their unique voice and brand as journalists. They also emerge equipped with a firm foundation of journalistic ethics informed by the university’s Franciscan values.
Explore our program and find out how you can become an effective journalist in the digital age.
