Generation gap in journalism

Every generation thinks the previous generations got it wrong. The world obviously still sucks thanks to the elders' priorities, values and goals. Each generation finds a way to go to an opposite extreme that creates a generation gap and failure to communicate on the same wavelength. Each generation seeks to change the world for the better with their youthful optimism, new technologies, disregard for prior assumptions and freedom from burdensome, legacy practices.

As I've been exploring all these facets of Journalism 2.0, I've been wondering how Generation Y will change what the news is good for and what amounts to "real news" by going to some opposite extreme. Here's my latest theory about the generation gap in journalism:

• Journalists have presumed they need to be informative so that informed citizens can make better decisions when voting, shopping, relocating, and participating in gatherings. As information becomes increasing ubiquitous and free, this premise no longer makes sense. Journalism makes more sense as entertainment news, regardless of whether it's covering media, politics, economics, war or the planetary ecosystems. News should be thrilling, not frightening, heavy or boring.
• Parents have presumed that everyone has to get a job, build a personal brand, make big bucks, and acquire lots of tangible goods. The influx of freely shared digital goods makes so much seriousness appear obsolete or misguided. It makes more sense to chill out, hang out and zone out, especially when parents are ranting. News ought to be light-hearted like the latest buzz about celebs, fashionistas and the latest releases of film or music.
• The previous generations don't get how to live life as if playing a game. They appear to be stuck on the same level, facing the same obstacles and scoring the same points year after year. It's making much more sense to take one's game up a level, challenging different obstacles, exploring different paths and trying to score in different ways. When elders claim this lacks direction, goals and dedication, that proves the gamer approach to life is right on. News ought to feel more like 'game cheats" that understand the games being played really well, and then show readers how to be more aware, clever and successful.
• Elders are trafficking heavily in fear, anxiety and paranoia as if the world is going from bad to worse. Journalists are helping them feel like helpless bystanders and continually persecuted victims. This will not make the world a better place, duh! Journalists ought to be reporting on visionary leaders, grassroots projects and notable improvements that provide readers/viewers hope, encouragement and conviction that things are going from good to better.

Each of these changes in journalism could meet the next generation halfway. That much is easy. However it takes a complete turnaround on the side of the incumbents to face this opposite direction. It will appear to the elders like losing ground, admitting defeat and succumbing to the enemies of their own generation. The next generation will watch as if it's more thrilling, game-like, entertainment news of the world becoming a better place.