Multimedia. Multimedia. Multimedia.

That’s the drumbeat in the publishing world these days and everyone from recent alumni to industry veterans are feeling the push to incorporate new technology in the news.

“There is an acceleration toward delivery of the news online,” said Mark W. Smith, former Central Michigan Life editor-in-chief and a current web editor at the Detroit Free Press.

“That’s where the focus is,” Smith said. “That’s where our future is.”

But adjusting to that shift is not easy for everyone, Smith said.

“It’s a challenge to get (traditional print journalists) to think web first,” he said. “However, the best reporters will always be the best reporters.”

The Detroit Free Press has also taken on the new media challenge by scaling back its print delivery. On March 30, they will begin delivering only on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, putting more resources into web reporting.

All this is in an effort to combat problems on the other side of the industry – ad sales.

“It is a direct result in the downfall of print advertising,” Smith said.

Meanwhile, photographers are also facing new challenges. Ken Stevens, who has worked at the Muskegon Chronicle for 22 years, said nothing is the same as when he arrived.

“Everything was in black and white,” Stevens said, noting that the shift to color did not take place for four or five years after his arrival.

This was the first major change, he said. Digital cameras sped up photo delivery to editors as pictures did not have to be sent out to be developed.

With the move to digital media, Stevens said photographers now use new technology such as video clips and audio for slideshows.

Concerns may arise from some journalists about developing new skills and finding the equipment to harness those skills, but Stevens has not had too many problems.

As the shift is being completed, the days of print media are numbered, Smith said.

Stevens expressed concerns about where the media are headed.

“The more and more we go online, ads won’t be able to pay our salaries,” he said. “We want to hold onto the print for as long as we can.”

university@cm-life.com

E-mail the author: Griffin Fraley