Behind the News
Parting Thoughts: An Invitation
Give us your thoughts on journalism’s state and its future
By The Editors Thu 17 Jul 2008 11:29 AMBought out? Laid off? Leaving the business? If you are among the members of that very large group, which hundreds of journalists joined in the last few days alone, your colleagues would like to hear your thoughts about the state of our business. What are your hopes and fears in this time of incredible transition? What do you see coming in five or ten years? Who or what do you blame for what is happening? What can be done about it? What would you like to say to the young journalists coming up, in old forms and new ones? Columbia Journalism Review invites you to deliver your parting thoughts in the form of a letter to your journalistic colleagues; we would be delighted to publish those letters that offer a fresh perspective here on CJR.org. We’re looking for any length under 1,500 words; please send them to editors@cjr.org. Thank you.
CJR
mary hargrove
Sun 20 Jul 2008 11:50 AMOn the future of journalism:
The sky is not falling, but you wouldn't know that from the media, that seems so swift to not be scooped on its own demise.
A little background:
My father was a reporter from 1948 - 1980s at The Columbus Dispatch. I was a reporter/editor from 1973-2005 in Ohio, Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas. Also past president and chair of Investigative Reporters & Editors.
My dad saw TV news spark a major revenue dip for newspapers and watched as hundreds of papers closed when cities discovered they could only support one morning and one evening newspaper -- not four, five or six.
Layoffs, remakes for evolving culture and technical changes followed, much as today.
I saw the technical changes: cold press, computers, cable TV and, of course, the Internet radically change
how people get their news. Older reporters and editors who couldn't or wouldn't figure out the new technology retired or were laid off.
In short, this period is merely a radical, but creative time to exist.
Concentrate on local news that can be obtained no where else. When a school bus drives into high water and is stranded, don't just take a picture of the bus and says, "This is an example of our high rains." Talk to the kids on the bus and you may discover that some very frightened children crawled through windows and were lowered down to safety. Make the effort to BE there and create an angle no one else has thought of.
With all the technology and time restraints because of Internet and cable competition, you haven't had to do that. Get your reporters OUT of the newsroom and make it real.
Yes, journalism is losing and abusing some of it's best from the newsrooms. But for those left behind, there is a wonderful chance to create a new world -- not be a victim of it. Because you're not.
mary hargrove 918 369 7032
mary hargrove
Sun 20 Jul 2008 11:51 AMOn the future of journalism:
The sky is not falling, but you wouldn't know that from the media, that seems so swift to not be scooped on its own demise.
A little background:
My father was a reporter from 1948 - 1980s at The Columbus Dispatch. I was a reporter/editor from 1973-2005 in Ohio, Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas. Also past president and chair of Investigative Reporters & Editors.
My dad saw TV news spark a major revenue dip for newspapers and watched as hundreds of papers closed when cities discovered they could only support one morning and one evening newspaper -- not four, five or six.
Layoffs, remakes for evolving culture and technical changes followed, much as today.
I saw the technical changes: cold press, computers, cable TV and, of course, the Internet radically change
how people get their news. Older reporters and editors who couldn't or wouldn't figure out the new technology retired or were laid off.
In short, this period is merely a radical, but creative time to exist.
Concentrate on local news that can be obtained no where else. When a school bus drives into high water and is stranded, don't just take a picture of the bus and says, "This is an example of our high rains." Talk to the kids on the bus and you may discover that some very frightened children crawled through windows and were lowered down to safety. Make the effort to BE there and create an angle no one else has thought of.
With all the technology and time restraints because of Internet and cable competition, you haven't had to do that. Get your reporters OUT of the newsroom and make it real.
Yes, journalism is losing and abusing some of it's best from the newsrooms. But for those left behind, there is a wonderful chance to create a new world -- not be a victim of it. Because you're not.
mary hargrove 918 369 7032