Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
LA Times Departures
The latest LA Times departures are being documented here. I know two, Jordan Rau and Tim Lynch, so far.
On a lighter note, even Brenda Starr gets it.
On a lighter note, even Brenda Starr gets it.
Making the Leap, Part I
I've been chatting with several people who have left newspapers for other kinds of media work and offer their observations to those who, voluntarily or not, are departing newspapers for something else. For most newspaper editors and reporters, switching to an online news operation is a relatively easy step but it's not seamless.
Rather than interpret their words, I'm going to let the interviewees speak for themselves, with occasional explanations or notes.
First up: Mark Mooney, former national editor of the New York Daily News, currently working for a broadcast TV dot-com operation.
Rather than interpret their words, I'm going to let the interviewees speak for themselves, with occasional explanations or notes.
First up: Mark Mooney, former national editor of the New York Daily News, currently working for a broadcast TV dot-com operation.
I found that traditional skills are at a premium--(dot-coms) are populated by young people and TV people: they need an adult, they need rewrite skills--it's a new concept of taking four or five blogs where a reader has to assemble a story, to have one person put together a cohesive story. They also need people who can do breaking news.
A dot-com is more immediate--your readership peaks at lunchtime. you have to get it done and up quickly. It's a wire service skill, and then you keep growing the story.
It works as a wire service because the readership peaks over lunch time and (you) have to work quickly. There s the speed of it--quicker than newspapers but those skills become valuable here.
Things you have to adjust to--photos are less important; video is what you always have to think about because that's what's more important here.
(There's a certain) chagrin about what is read--it's a lesson to newspapers, too.
The amount of production is probably the biggest adjustment you have to make. You have to refine things.
You have to learn all the tactics for your stories to get wide distribution. To SEO (search engine optimization) your story probably is 20 to 30 minutes more work so that the aggregators will bite. If you don't do it, your story doesn't get out there.
It's harder for a dot-com to have a comprehensive news report. They don't try to be a comprehensive report but papers aren't being comprehensive, either.
Dot-coms do the major stories of the day and then the other interesting stories.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Marriage Defined
Andrew Sullivan notes that Merriam-Webster changed its definition of "marriage" to include same-sex unions some time ago but the notation has met with predictable opposition. Chalk one up for the descriptivists.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Confidential Sourcing
Clark Hoyt focuses on The New York Times policy on using confidential sources vs. the reality of what gets into print. Copy editors and, more recently, many bloggers, have been fighting this uphill battle for years.
Among other failures of New York Times reporters to follow the policy that Hoyt cites is the planting of the egregiously false rumors about Caroline Kennedy when she was being considered for appointment to Hillary Clinton's Senate seat.
I'm sure there will be much defensiveness about why this goes on, with arguments about why each example deserves to be exempted from the policy.
But if you think back to the days of Henry Kissinger as secretary of state, when the oft-quoted "senior administration official" was old Henry the K. himself, making friends with reporters, you'll see how silly this is and how used the press has been for years.
And at least anecdotally, the granting of anonymity certainly seems to have increased in recent years, with no perceptible value.
Among other failures of New York Times reporters to follow the policy that Hoyt cites is the planting of the egregiously false rumors about Caroline Kennedy when she was being considered for appointment to Hillary Clinton's Senate seat.
I'm sure there will be much defensiveness about why this goes on, with arguments about why each example deserves to be exempted from the policy.
But if you think back to the days of Henry Kissinger as secretary of state, when the oft-quoted "senior administration official" was old Henry the K. himself, making friends with reporters, you'll see how silly this is and how used the press has been for years.
And at least anecdotally, the granting of anonymity certainly seems to have increased in recent years, with no perceptible value.
Counting on You
OK, all you mathphobic newsroom folks. Educate yourself in the privacy of your living room.
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Disrespect Never Ends
When people write stuff like this, I can only guess that it is ignorance and not malice. A copy editor who has just lost his job complains about the lack of standards on the web; this is the response:
Why Didn't the P-I Fold Sooner?
Saying you're sorry that people have lost their jobs and then dismissing what they say suggests you're more interested in your words than in what they said.
Here's what the newly unemployed copy editor said:
And when you have people like Sam Zell say essentially the same thing--that writers can write and post their stuff to the web without any editors--copy editors have a right to be upset, not only because of the loss of their jobs but because of the loss of respect and value for their work. You cannot seriously argue that stories on the web are edited as well as print. And the P-I staff went from 170 jobs, many union, to 20, none union. Whoo-hoo, let's throw a party.
This is not the first person to so cavalierly dismiss what copy editors are saying or pretend it's just an issue of technology. It is not. And it is most definitely not an age issue, though younger writers sometimes try to label it as one. I personally like a lot of things about news web sites, including the idea of continuous updates, just as older newspapers used to put out multiple editions for street sales. It's invigorating, it's journalism as it can be. But what this copy editor is saying is that it's a matter of believing that what we do matters, that web sites ought to pay attention to what we have to offer but they too often don't in the rush to do everything on the cheap. And, oh, yeah, people who have just lost their jobs should be cut some slack.
Why Didn't the P-I Fold Sooner?
Is it new? Yes. Is it scary? If you're over 30. Is it better? For the love of God, yes.
So I'm not mourning the "loss" of the P-I. I'm raising my glass to their new opportunity to make an even better publication. May they have many, many happy years.
Saying you're sorry that people have lost their jobs and then dismissing what they say suggests you're more interested in your words than in what they said.
Here's what the newly unemployed copy editor said:
Glenn Ericksen, Copy Editor for the P-I, said the Web "lowers the standard of literacy all around. Who needs copy editors on the Web?"
And when you have people like Sam Zell say essentially the same thing--that writers can write and post their stuff to the web without any editors--copy editors have a right to be upset, not only because of the loss of their jobs but because of the loss of respect and value for their work. You cannot seriously argue that stories on the web are edited as well as print. And the P-I staff went from 170 jobs, many union, to 20, none union. Whoo-hoo, let's throw a party.
This is not the first person to so cavalierly dismiss what copy editors are saying or pretend it's just an issue of technology. It is not. And it is most definitely not an age issue, though younger writers sometimes try to label it as one. I personally like a lot of things about news web sites, including the idea of continuous updates, just as older newspapers used to put out multiple editions for street sales. It's invigorating, it's journalism as it can be. But what this copy editor is saying is that it's a matter of believing that what we do matters, that web sites ought to pay attention to what we have to offer but they too often don't in the rush to do everything on the cheap. And, oh, yeah, people who have just lost their jobs should be cut some slack.
Copy Editors on the Line
Lots of rumors floating around that the next round of layoffs at various newspapers will hit copy editors the hardest. Foolish, very foolish.
Covering Denver
Some ex-Rocky Mountain News people have started an online newspaper, the In Denver Times. Let's wish them luck.
Why Newspapers Matter
The evidence, cited by Alan D. Mutter
The shutdown of a newspaper has an immediate and measurable impact on local political engagement, according to a new study by economists at Princeton University.
Assessing the consequences of the closing of the Cincinnati Post at the end of 2007, the researchers found that fewer people voted in subsequent elections, fewer candidates ran in opposition to the incumbents and that, as a result, the incumbents had a better chance of being returned to office.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
From the CMA Convention
Notes from the College Media Advisers convention:
Charlie Gibson of ABC News* gave a damned fine keynote speech today at the CMA convention in New York, emphasizing, among other things, that all journalists, including broadcasters, need to know how to write. He also spoke eloquently, and at length, about the death of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Rocky Mountain News and the shaky future of the San Francisco Chronicle. (He spoke without notes but cited lots of statistics and facts about the newspaper industry's troubles, the numbers of people losing their jobs, etc.) If I find a transcript, I'll post because his words are worth reading and his call to young journalists to buy and read a newspaper once in a while was quite moving in its own way. And in answer to a question about stories he'd covered that were difficult personally, he, of course, cited Sept.11, noting how his reaction to the news as it developed differed from that of his co-host (He was at Good Morning America at the time) and described that detached get-the-story/no personal feelings shell we so often live in when something awful occurs.
I ran across a copy of the Lorain County Community College newspaper, the Collegian, where I'd been editor a few years back. Well, lots of years back. (Coincidentally, today is the anniversary of the death of our newspaper adviser.) The edition detailed a rather large fire that had shut the campus down for a week in February and overall, the coverage looked excellent. In addition to covering all aspects of the fire, the paper made a point of describing how uncooperative some authorities had been in telling the student paper what it needed to know to inform its readers. I'm not normally a fan of how-we-got-that-story stories but this one was thorough, barely disguising the editors' frustrations and pretty much sticking a well-deserved thumb in the eye of those who put up obstacles for no good reason.
Old hands and ACES supporters Merrill Perlman and Don Hecker of The New York Times, Malcolm Gibson from the University of Kansas, Bill Elsen, formerly of The Washington Post and Rich Holden of the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund were there. I never caught up with the Times team or Rich but there were sightings of him and he managed to put ACES scholarship material out where the 1,200 or so students could find it.
Lots of terrific young people showed up, many from schools in the Midwest, a large number from community colleges but others from such larger schools as Iowa State, Stony Brook, etc. CMA puts on tons of workshops, covering issues of interest to yearbook, newspaper and broadcast students and their advisers. It sort of reminded me of ACES conferences, where people are intent on getting what they can, filling workshops instead of just wandering around the halls and chit-chatting. Though a number of students looked as if they'd just awakened after a busy night on the town...:)
I also met someone who turned out to be a former colleague's first husband; his existence was a complete, 100 percent surprise to me!
*Note that I am working as a freelancer with the ABC News On Campus program, but I have nothing to do with the main broadcast news operations.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Open Your Mind
After spending a day at a news literacy conference at Stony Brook University (more about that later), and expecting to spend a couple of days at the College Media Advisers convention in the next few days, I want to take the opportunity to encourage all, especially those feeling beaten down by the realities of the news business, to spend some time on your craft.
Get thee to a journalism conference. Try a Poynter webinar, go to a college journalism convention: do something. There's a lot going on out there. Sometimes you have to connect with people who have been in the same circumstances and survived, perhaps moved on. Either way, they've got something you can learn. And talking about your craft can be energizing.
If you're staying put in newspapers, check out the ACES conference, which has always had training opportunities that go well beyond night news desk needs at the daily fishwrap.
Get thee to a journalism conference. Try a Poynter webinar, go to a college journalism convention: do something. There's a lot going on out there. Sometimes you have to connect with people who have been in the same circumstances and survived, perhaps moved on. Either way, they've got something you can learn. And talking about your craft can be energizing.
If you're staying put in newspapers, check out the ACES conference, which has always had training opportunities that go well beyond night news desk needs at the daily fishwrap.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
In Perspective
There's a nice little story here about kids learning to spell, the National Spelling Bee, and why a high school English department chairman doesn't edit menus.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Free Resume Printing
This is straight off a press release but if you're job hunting and want some free printing, you might want to check out your local FedEx/Kinko's store Tuesday:
FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko’s), an operating company of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), today announced plans to offer its printing services in an effort to help job seekers across the nation. The company will host “FedEx Office Free Resume Printing Day” on March 10, 2009, offering to print up to 25 copies of each customer’s resume for free.
As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, the nation’s unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent and the number of unemployed persons increased to 11.6 million in January 2009. With so many people looking to get their printed resumes in the hands of recruiters and hiring managers, FedEx Office is prepared to help.
The company invites customers to take advantage of this one-day event by visiting any of its 1,600+ FedEx Office Print and Ship Centers in the United States during regular business hours. This offer is good for 25 black-and-white resume copies per customer and is only valid for orders placed and picked up in-store. Customers may place orders by submitting their resume in printed format or as a digital file, and the copies will be printed single-sided on resume-quality paper.
“We understand that the economy has affected many people in a very profound way, and we want to help,” said Brian Philips, president and CEO of FedEx Office. “Printing resumes is one small way we can use our resources to help those who need it.”
To find the nearest FedEx Office Print and Ship Center, visit www.fedex.com or call 1-800-Go-FedEx (1-800-463-3339).
About FedEx Office
FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko’s) provides access points to printing and shipping expertise with reliable service when and where you need it. The Dallas-based company has a global network of more than 1,900 digitally-connected locations. FedEx Office services include copying and digital printing, professional finishing, document creation, direct mail, signs and graphics, Internet access, computer rental, FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipping, and more. In addition, the company offers FedEx OfficeSM Print Online, an online printing solution for business and personal printing, at home, at the office or on the go. Products, services and hours vary by location. For more information, please visit www.fedex.com.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $39 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 290,000 employees and contractors to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.
FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko’s), an operating company of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), today announced plans to offer its printing services in an effort to help job seekers across the nation. The company will host “FedEx Office Free Resume Printing Day” on March 10, 2009, offering to print up to 25 copies of each customer’s resume for free.
As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, the nation’s unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent and the number of unemployed persons increased to 11.6 million in January 2009. With so many people looking to get their printed resumes in the hands of recruiters and hiring managers, FedEx Office is prepared to help.
The company invites customers to take advantage of this one-day event by visiting any of its 1,600+ FedEx Office Print and Ship Centers in the United States during regular business hours. This offer is good for 25 black-and-white resume copies per customer and is only valid for orders placed and picked up in-store. Customers may place orders by submitting their resume in printed format or as a digital file, and the copies will be printed single-sided on resume-quality paper.
“We understand that the economy has affected many people in a very profound way, and we want to help,” said Brian Philips, president and CEO of FedEx Office. “Printing resumes is one small way we can use our resources to help those who need it.”
To find the nearest FedEx Office Print and Ship Center, visit www.fedex.com or call 1-800-Go-FedEx (1-800-463-3339).
About FedEx Office
FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko’s) provides access points to printing and shipping expertise with reliable service when and where you need it. The Dallas-based company has a global network of more than 1,900 digitally-connected locations. FedEx Office services include copying and digital printing, professional finishing, document creation, direct mail, signs and graphics, Internet access, computer rental, FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipping, and more. In addition, the company offers FedEx OfficeSM Print Online, an online printing solution for business and personal printing, at home, at the office or on the go. Products, services and hours vary by location. For more information, please visit www.fedex.com.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $39 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 290,000 employees and contractors to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.
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