Three media professionals shared their thoughts on the impact of technology on the Media Industry as part of a panel discussion during last month’s Georgia Blacks in Tech Policy Conference “Day of Action” at State Capitol.

UrbanGeekz founder and CEO Kunbi Tinuoye, WAOK 1380AM radio personality Derrick Boazman, and 11 Alive News Show Co-anchor & former HLN reporter/producer Natisha Lance all offered their unique perspectives. They touched on trends and where they hope the industry is heading, including citizen journalism, leveraging technology, diversity in media coverage, and that elusive aspect of credibility.

While news and media have always been driven by technology – from the newspapers to the first radio broadcast to television – traditional media now has to compete with new digital platforms for audiences and advertisers. In fact, 81 percent of Americans use social media and 67 percent get at least some of their news content from social networking sites.

Georgia Blacks in Tech Policy Conference “Day of Action” at State Capitol

“In my opinion, to be a credible journalist in this day and age, you really need to be tech-savvy. You have to be comfortable using all technologies and really grasping the technologies as they emerge,” said Tinuoye. Back in the day, you just had to be a good storyteller, but now that’s not enough, she added.

The story unfolds “before the reporter heads out the door”, with content producers using social media to post updates as they head to the scene, said Lance. In contrast to Tinuoye’s perspective on using all technologies, Lance says that journalists should be an expert on at least one social media platform.

“[The smart phone] has certainly changed the way that people receive their news, whether it’s TV or, this is certainly the number one way that people listen to the radio,” said Boazman. The Atlanta native is the voice that thousands of people tune into for not only for his opinion on the latest news but also in his entertaining delivery.

He admits that while not exactly tech-savvy, he has had to use social media “to stay in the game”. His Facebook Live streamed talk “The Patio Chronicles” attracts more than one thousand viewers, including out of state followers that tune into his talks.

Indeed, the end of the day, consumers want to access reliable content. Technology can further enhance journalists’ ability to be that for the people they serve.

The one day conference also highlighted other important issues such as the importance of policy in the tech ecosystem and the need for diversity in tech in education. Others speakers included Kamau Bobb from Georgia Tech and Ayana Gabriel from The Arthur Blank Foundation.

The event was organized by tech entrepreneur Rodney Sampton the  Office of State Representative Dar’shun Kendrick, who is in her 4th term in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Follow Carlyn Pounders on Twitter@CarlynTechTalk ‏ 

• Tags:
• Atlanta
• Conference
• Diversity in Technology
• Kunbi Tinuoye
• Media
• UrbanGeekz

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