Library vs. Technology

Photo cred: everystockphoto

Journalists are seeing a huge shift in their industry.

Technology is changing the way journalism is delivered, but also, the way that journalism is researched. Instead of heading to the library, many journalists turn to Google as their primary step.

According to Ryerson journalism librarian Brian Cameron, however, the library has not been abandoned as a resource.

"We've actually had an increase in gate counts this year, compared to the last couple years," he says. "The library has advantages over the Internet, such as resource help from staff."

Libraries, however, cannot compete with some of the Internet's features. Researchers often require help from a librarian to find information. The Internet, however, is more searchable.

Cameron highlights that you can also access online articles and resources 24/7, but the library has its limits, as far as time is concerned. Timeliness is a concern for journalists.

Although Cameron sees the relevance of libraries today, he believes access to online resources is essential.

"More and more things need to be online, " he says. "I think eventually most stuff will be online; the format just makes sense."

It remains unclear, however, whether this new format will make journalistic research a dream or a nightmare.

The Future Looks...Digital

(Photo cred: freepixels)

Toronto Star reporter Jim Rankin sees where the future is going.

Rankin said he believed that websites will become a thing of the past at a Ryerson journalism lecture today. He sees future generations accessing information quickly, on devices like Blackberries and iPhones, instead of personal computers.

Rankin emphasized that technology is changing journalism. He told the class that in today's world, reporters must not only write, but also photograph, shoot video, and even Tweet. He reccommended that students learn online formatting now, as it will become critcal in the future.

"Data is finding a real nice home online," said Rankin.

Although, he admitted the challenge with the Internet is making sure people see your work.

Rankin is familiar with this issue from personal experience. He helped create Crime & Punishment; a Toronto Star website, based on Ontario's criminal data.

Although the feature was nominated for a National Newspaper Award, Rankin admitted that he suspects its hit rate is low, due to complications that make it hard to find on the Toronto Star website.

Rankin is always adjusting with technology. He referred to his latest online project as a "scaled down version" of his Crime & Punishment site; improved and more concise, so it is attractive to readers.

"Plenty of Fish" in the City

Singles are Mingling! (photo cred: free pixels)

Toronto is home to over 2.5 million people, and many are searching for love.

Some singles frequent bars hoping to meet someone special, but others are pursuing love with a little help from technology.

PlentyofFish is one of the most popular dating websites in North America and the U.K.. According to the website, around 900,000 daters log-in every day.

The site’s popularity can be greatly attributed to its cost; it's free.

The mission statement for PlentyofFish states that it hopes to "cut the crap and do the work for singles who want to meet without shelling out hundreds of dollars for services that should be free."

What exactly does doing the work for singles entail? PlentyofFish’s sole-creator Markus Frind observes members’ activities on the website. He matches them based on their surfing and message history.

Members also take tests to filter potential partners. Psychological tests determine what they "really want," while the "Chemistry Predictor" tests dimensions of personality. Over 10, 634, 341 people have taken the Chemistry Test.

Internet dating remains laughable for some, but PlentyofFish boasts over 200 pages of success stories. So, if you are feeling like a fish out of water, you just may want to jump in the pool.