NewsTrust: Looking Bright

It is both an exciting and terrifying time for journalists. Print newspaper subscriber numbers are steadily declining, online readers are increasing, and newspaper companies are scrambling to find a way to continue to make a profit out of the honorable, longstanding business of newspapers.

NewsTrust may be the missing link that newspaper people have been searching for since the rise of the colossal gathering of information that we fondly refer to as the Internet. NewsTrust incorporates pieces of other successful sites like Digg.com. The rating system is simple, short and convenient. It contains the perfect amount of questions to keep a nation adled with short attention spans interested: 3. Even better, the questions are yes or no. These simple questions get straight to the point, though. Is this story factual? Is this story fair? Would you recommend this story? Audiences can therefore "digg" articles up and down based on these three important factors. And, you can add an optional comment in, if you so choose.

Another key issue that NewsTrust has delved into is the credibility of readers and commentators. You need to sign up to use NewsTrust, and comments and ratings are tied back to your name, so there are consequences for rude or biases responses. There is a system of rating for the raters of NewsTrust articles, and you must disclose any affiliation you have to an article. The rating of the raters looks at whether or not you tent to only vote positively on conservative articles, for example. It also takes in to account the number of articles you have reviewed. A seasoned reviewer’s votes have more weight that a first timer. One of many positive reviews of NewsTrust can be found here: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/886429/a_review_of_newstrustnet_pg2.html?cat=48

All of these aspects of NewsTrust are important in leading me to believe that this is the future of journalism. Articles across news companies that are rated for fairness and factuality as well as how enjoyable it is are an excellent way to bring the best news forward, and get readers into the habit of becoming discerning news viewers. To all those that are frightened about the future of newspapers: put your shades on, the future is starting to look bright.