Comments on: Working for a newspaper is not a death sentence http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/ curious by nature, journalist by trade Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:58:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: kentjmcprof http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23370 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:29:25 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23370 Meranda (and Mandy J). You both are succeeding and will continue to succeed because you know the basics of all good journalism: accuracy, clear writing, aggressive reporting, ethical behavior, creative storytelling. On deadline. AND, on top of that, you have multiplatform mindsets and multimedia skill sets. Not a bad combination for the present or future. Wenalway and his grouchy cohorts from the 1940s are inhaling your exhaust. --FE Meranda (and Mandy J). You both are succeeding and will continue to succeed because you know the basics of all good journalism: accuracy, clear writing, aggressive reporting, ethical behavior, creative storytelling. On deadline. AND, on top of that, you have multiplatform mindsets and multimedia skill sets. Not a bad combination for the present or future.

Wenalway and his grouchy cohorts from the 1940s are inhaling your exhaust.

–FE

]]> by: Mike Perrault http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23335 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:18:13 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23335 I'm still in school but working 40+ hours a week at a small local paper as a photographer, designer, photoeditor, webguy etc. Yeah, I'm idealistic and optimistic about this profession. God forbid. I don't have anything else that really gets under my skin so I have to make this work. It's the people who have turned their back on new technology and are only now deciding to use it that have allowed the demise. My generation of journalists is here to clean up messes and find a way to make this work. What else are we going to do(I mean, other than sit at home and whine via blogs). Without some new creative vision on what newspapers are going to do, of course we're going to fail. Of course profits are going to be put before stories. We've known this for a long time and where have these so called flexible journalists been? We have no choice other than to make this work and frankly I think I will see it in my career. What do I care if my photos are printed on a page or simply run online? Our work is still getting out there and I actually want people to read my stories and take a look at my photos. If that means it's not on print, fine. Newsprint destroys perfectly fine photos anyway at least on a monitor we can have sharp pictures. I’m still in school but working 40+ hours a week at a small local paper as a photographer, designer, photoeditor, webguy etc. Yeah, I’m idealistic and optimistic about this profession. God forbid. I don’t have anything else that really gets under my skin so I have to make this work. It’s the people who have turned their back on new technology and are only now deciding to use it that have allowed the demise. My generation of journalists is here to clean up messes and find a way to make this work. What else are we going to do(I mean, other than sit at home and whine via blogs). Without some new creative vision on what newspapers are going to do, of course we’re going to fail. Of course profits are going to be put before stories. We’ve known this for a long time and where have these so called flexible journalists been? We have no choice other than to make this work and frankly I think I will see it in my career.

What do I care if my photos are printed on a page or simply run online? Our work is still getting out there and I actually want people to read my stories and take a look at my photos. If that means it’s not on print, fine. Newsprint destroys perfectly fine photos anyway at least on a monitor we can have sharp pictures.

]]> by: Technolo-J : A curmudgeon journalist gets inspired: a short subject http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23324 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:42:43 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23324 [...] MERANDA WATLING wrote a post on her blog which reminded me why the news business will survive. [...] […] MERANDA WATLING wrote a post on her blog which reminded me why the news business will survive. […]

]]> by: jamie http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23259 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:37:35 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23259 Great post. Working at a newspaper is most definitely not a death sentence for reporters with good, bright ideas. Unfortunately, the current business model is a death sentence for the newspaper itself. Great post. Working at a newspaper is most definitely not a death sentence for reporters with good, bright ideas. Unfortunately, the current business model is a death sentence for the newspaper itself.

]]> by: Michelle http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23097 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:38:33 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23097 loved this. I'm a 23 year old journalist in LA and while I don't work at the LA Times, when I moved here that was the goal. Now they're laying off people left and right, and I'm kinda glad that I work at a national magazine instead. But there's something that I love about typing frantically a minute up to the daily deadline and working all night on the lead story, whether it ends up on papyrus or an Amazon Kindle. I think that journalists should embrace technology and go with it, and that's how optimistic reporters and editors like you and I will thrive. loved this.

I’m a 23 year old journalist in LA and while I don’t work at the LA Times, when I moved here that was the goal. Now they’re laying off people left and right, and I’m kinda glad that I work at a national magazine instead.

But there’s something that I love about typing frantically a minute up to the daily deadline and working all night on the lead story, whether it ends up on papyrus or an Amazon Kindle. I think that journalists should embrace technology and go with it, and that’s how optimistic reporters and editors like you and I will thrive.

]]> by: Paige http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23096 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:19:04 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23096 Well, almost all newspapers have you tech-savvy newbies on board. What a relief. I guess I'll breathe a sigh of relief knowing our journalistic future is now in your capable hands. I'm sure we'll see you improving those profit margins and redefining the standards and quality of journalism to save the business from these old fogies who have been doing it longer than many of you have been alive. I do appreciate your optimism, but I think pretty much every person in the newspaper business that I know is capable of blogging, and other tech-related activities, but if you're convinced this is the answer and can't wait to see the business bounce back. Mandy, most journalists, old and young, are flexible and willing to learn new things, after all, we aren't still doing paste-up are we? We just like to do things that work and that actually improve our business. Well, almost all newspapers have you tech-savvy newbies on board. What a relief. I guess I’ll breathe a sigh of relief knowing our journalistic future is now in your capable hands. I’m sure we’ll see you improving those profit margins and redefining the standards and quality of journalism to save the business from these old fogies who have been doing it longer than many of you have been alive. I do appreciate your optimism, but I think pretty much every person in the newspaper business that I know is capable of blogging, and other tech-related activities, but if you’re convinced this is the answer and can’t wait to see the business bounce back. Mandy, most journalists, old and young, are flexible and willing to learn new things, after all, we aren’t still doing paste-up are we? We just like to do things that work and that actually improve our business.

]]> by: Mandy Jenkins http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23083 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:52:17 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23083 As a young-ish journalist in one of those non-traditional newspaper jobs, I agree wholeheartedly with Meranda. Throughout my four year career as an online editor at two metro newspapers, I have been met with quite a bit of scorn about my place in journalism with a capital "J". I hear the whispers that I've only gotten ahead because of low standards in an industry that values web savvy over good reporting - and, like you, I know not to listen. Call it low standards or whatever helps the old guard sleep at night - but those who are flexible and willing to learn in this business are those that will survive. It doesn't matter how old they are or what college they went to - the reporters who will still be employed by the news"papers" of the near future will be those who dared to evolve - like Jessica, like Meranda, like Jim Romenesko, Jeff Jarvis and tons more. As a young-ish journalist in one of those non-traditional newspaper jobs, I agree wholeheartedly with Meranda. Throughout my four year career as an online editor at two metro newspapers, I have been met with quite a bit of scorn about my place in journalism with a capital “J”. I hear the whispers that I’ve only gotten ahead because of low standards in an industry that values web savvy over good reporting - and, like you, I know not to listen.

Call it low standards or whatever helps the old guard sleep at night - but those who are flexible and willing to learn in this business are those that will survive. It doesn’t matter how old they are or what college they went to - the reporters who will still be employed by the news”papers” of the near future will be those who dared to evolve - like Jessica, like Meranda, like Jim Romenesko, Jeff Jarvis and tons more.

]]> by: Paige http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23074 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:26:04 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23074 At some point, when newspapers were taken over by business people and became dependent on stock market profits, they also got away from doing what they use to do best. The truth is newspapers are trying to compete with the Internet and TV. They want to give people quick snippets of information, and then wonder why nobody's buying. What newspapers used to do was allow TV to give you that little tidbit of what happened and the expanded on stories affecting their communities by telling people why it happened, and how it affected the reader. And they had a talented staff with enough time to break stories and/or to get the meat of the story. With technological advances, newspapers have continuously changed their model to compete in a market they really can't compete in, and then sat around wondering why it isn't working. I think we all (regardless of age) agree something has to be done, and the problem with Jessica's blog was her assumption that her editor and newspaper were entering new territory. I don't begrudge her enthusiasm, and I certainly don't mind technological improvements, but I think giving the readers less is likely not going to equal success. Then again, I don't get paid the big bucks to make these decisions, although I've spent years hearing the same thing these editors are saying now, and not seeing any positive results. If anything, it seems we are going backwards economically, creatively and journalistically, so it might be time to say this "new and improved" model isn't working either. At some point, when newspapers were taken over by business people and became dependent on stock market profits, they also got away from doing what they use to do best. The truth is newspapers are trying to compete with the Internet and TV. They want to give people quick snippets of information, and then wonder why nobody’s buying. What newspapers used to do was allow TV to give you that little tidbit of what happened and the expanded on stories affecting their communities by telling people why it happened, and how it affected the reader. And they had a talented staff with enough time to break stories and/or to get the meat of the story. With technological advances, newspapers have continuously changed their model to compete in a market they really can’t compete in, and then sat around wondering why it isn’t working. I think we all (regardless of age) agree something has to be done, and the problem with Jessica’s blog was her assumption that her editor and newspaper were entering new territory. I don’t begrudge her enthusiasm, and I certainly don’t mind technological improvements, but I think giving the readers less is likely not going to equal success. Then again, I don’t get paid the big bucks to make these decisions, although I’ve spent years hearing the same thing these editors are saying now, and not seeing any positive results. If anything, it seems we are going backwards economically, creatively and journalistically, so it might be time to say this “new and improved” model isn’t working either.

]]> by: Meranda http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23072 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:05:34 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23072 @Paige, point taken. I don't disagree it's sad, disheartening even, to see newspapers lay people off and pretend quality won't suffer. Of course it will. Saying it won't is like saying the work of the employees leaving was inconsequential. Those editors' speeches have become cliche, empty rallying cries of, "We will beat this. Who's with me?" I get that. But what else do you propose they do? There is no right solution available today to ease the economic woes of the newspaper industry. But, as I said in an above comment, no decision is always the wrong decision. You have to do something. Even if it means that — hopefully short-term — something or someone suffers as a result of the decision. It isn't about being young. Hell, it isn't even about the Internet or the newspaper. It's about the journalism. And making sure that people remain willing and able to try anything to ensure the journalism gets done, in whatever medium or form it happens to take. And maybe cutting your print product and devoting staff to online isn't the right solution, but neither is doing nothing. All you can really hope is it saves a few jobs or at least saves the journalism that can get done. Is a newspaper down 1/4 of its staff better than no newspaper at all? Newspapers aren't going to be what they once were. They aren't now (see first paragraph) and won't ever be again. But that doesn't discount the work of those, like myself, who do go in every day and try our hardest to cover our communities and keep citizens informed. Also, I actually do follow and frequently talk to via twitter one of our city council members/local political leaders. I read another one's blogs as well. Does it represent a substantial portion of my beat? Absolutely not. But I do use it beyond finding out what they or Jessica did this weekend.<code> @Paige, point taken. I don’t disagree it’s sad, disheartening even, to see newspapers lay people off and pretend quality won’t suffer. Of course it will. Saying it won’t is like saying the work of the employees leaving was inconsequential. Those editors’ speeches have become cliche, empty rallying cries of, “We will beat this. Who’s with me?” I get that. But what else do you propose they do?

There is no right solution available today to ease the economic woes of the newspaper industry. But, as I said in an above comment, no decision is always the wrong decision. You have to do something. Even if it means that — hopefully short-term — something or someone suffers as a result of the decision.

It isn’t about being young. Hell, it isn’t even about the Internet or the newspaper. It’s about the journalism. And making sure that people remain willing and able to try anything to ensure the journalism gets done, in whatever medium or form it happens to take. And maybe cutting your print product and devoting staff to online isn’t the right solution, but neither is doing nothing. All you can really hope is it saves a few jobs or at least saves the journalism that can get done. Is a newspaper down 1/4 of its staff better than no newspaper at all? Newspapers aren’t going to be what they once were. They aren’t now (see first paragraph) and won’t ever be again. But that doesn’t discount the work of those, like myself, who do go in every day and try our hardest to cover our communities and keep citizens informed.

Also, I actually do follow and frequently talk to via twitter one of our city council members/local political leaders. I read another one’s blogs as well. Does it represent a substantial portion of my beat? Absolutely not. But I do use it beyond finding out what they or Jessica did this weekend.

]]> by: Paige http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23068 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:24:11 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2008/07/10/working-for-a-newspaper-is-not-a-death-sentence/#comment-23068 Again, I think most journalists (regardless of age) are more than willing to try anything that works. Many journalists have seen newspapers change more times that some of you can imagine, and have rolled with the punches. I don't think old(er) means you can't be tech-savvy. What I am concerned about is hearing the same speeches from editors and the like and seeing no proof that anything they're doing is working. So many papers have laid off dedicated, talented journalists, cut the printed product ten-fold and put more emphasis on their Web sites. Great, those newspapers must be doing amazingly economically and have more on-line readers than they can handle. Except they're not. No paper has a Web site that produces more revenue than the printed product. In the meantime, we give the readers less news that is less insightful, and wonder why our circulation is falling. OK, young tech-savvy people, save us from ourselves and preserve journalism with your Internet knowledge. And the let me know when the mayor or local community leaders or police officers are willing to communicate with you via Twitter. Otherwise, I guess I can just use this fascinating resource to see how the Jessicas of the world are spending their weekends. Again, I think most journalists (regardless of age) are more than willing to try anything that works. Many journalists have seen newspapers change more times that some of you can imagine, and have rolled with the punches. I don’t think old(er) means you can’t be tech-savvy. What I am concerned about is hearing the same speeches from editors and the like and seeing no proof that anything they’re doing is working. So many papers have laid off dedicated, talented journalists, cut the printed product ten-fold and put more emphasis on their Web sites. Great, those newspapers must be doing amazingly economically and have more on-line readers than they can handle. Except they’re not. No paper has a Web site that produces more revenue than the printed product. In the meantime, we give the readers less news that is less insightful, and wonder why our circulation is falling. OK, young tech-savvy people, save us from ourselves and preserve journalism with your Internet knowledge. And the let me know when the mayor or local community leaders or police officers are willing to communicate with you via Twitter. Otherwise, I guess I can just use this fascinating resource to see how the Jessicas of the world are spending their weekends.

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