Why blogging cannot be likened to newsroom journalism

At least, not judging from this comment today in the Guardian, regarding the NightJack blog and Times fiasco.

Frightening for bloggers to see that, in light of the ruling against blogger Horton attempting to protect his anonymity against the Times, the subject of blogging vs. journalism raises its head again. Looking at the judgement, journalism is still way ahead when it comes to having the full backing of media law behind it in the ongoing discussion of whether bloggers have any privacy rights.

Tricky subject. One of the keystones of newsroom journalism has always been protection of sources and information.

Granted, so the information is published on a widespread basis, but apart from that, it seems that the newsroom journos have all the protection. The NightJack case is compelling, in that we can see being a blogger and publishing sensitive information can be extremely dangerous when a publishing behemoth feels threatened by it. A massive thumbs-down to the Times here.

Utilising tweets for cross-content benefits

Excellent post here on how to integrate content and attention online.

Interesting tips, including cross-linking from bigger sites to gain additional readers, aswell as making sure that the timings of postings – to both Twitter and your blog – are linked carefully together, and in line with your overall blogging strategy.

I am a huge advocate of online content, including blogs and tweets: it raises the game of most content-producers and journalists alike, as well as giving more information to the audiences out there. And let’s face it, from a journalistic perspective, anything which adds value to the audience and stimulates readership loyalty and sales – especially in the current climate – can only be positive.

Read this post and learn!

Time for journalists to stop moaning and upskill…

Following this report to the House of Commons, in which analysts predict the closure of 50 per cent of all local and regional newspapers by 2014, it begs the question – what will happen to the redundant journalists?

Will they be able to successfully navigate their skillset online, or into corporate comms roles?

What would you do – would you ever, in all honesty, ever accept a newsroom position in the UK again? Is it worth it?

The smart Hacks are already brushing up their online skills, learning new packages with which to operate via the Internet: take a look at the editorial jobs boards across the country: companies are crying out for digital content editors, web editors and similar.

It’s not so much that the editorial positions are redundant – more that the industry’s ability to adapt and survive appears to be redundant. The one constant thing in life is, after all, change. Stop moaning and starting upskilling.

Are British journalists stuck in a retrogressive groove?

It would appear so, according to this today.

The interview with newspaper proprietor David Montgomery is superb, and highlights the pressing need for many journalists to wake up and recognise the commercial realities of producing content offline and online today.

Yes, the traditionalists will be up in arms, screaming against the need to be commercially-savvy, and hoping for a return to the old days when a newsroom lived in its own content-wrapped bubble, unaffected by nasty words such as budgets, dropping readerships, or cutbacks. But the reality today, as we’ve seen, is vastly different to 20 or 30 years ago.

I remember working, on my first regional newspaper, with a News editor who had been born in the news patch, grew up there, took a teaboy position, and worked his way up over the years to report on the region for the same newspaper across South Wales for 24 years. He loved the newspaper, the community, and all the stories which benefited people’s lives each week.

Whilst this kind of media veteran plays a vital role in cementing and informing a community, without an understanding of why global recession and the drive for faster, more diverse, online news in conjunction with newspapers now exists as a major consumer driving point for the media, he is likely to become another redundant journalist. If he isn’t already.

I am all in favour of Montgomery’s proposition of journos becoming content managers rather than story finders – after all, in all other areas of commercial activity in the UK, products and services are successful in the  marketplace based solely on customer demand. if newspapers are not meeting customer demand, why don’t they change their model of production and distribution?

What’s stopping them? It’s not because of hugely-unprofitable trading conditions: I saw statistics in this month’s NUJ magazine, highlighting profit margin increases of between 15 and 30 percent for Trinity Mirror, Johnston Press, Gannett UK and the DMGT over the last 12 months.

As a versatile journalist, I have no issue on the production of content to be used across multiple channels if it benefits readers and increases the profitability of the parent organisation.

My objection is when media managers hide behind a Recession and use it as an excuse to give more editorial work to fewer employees, whilst also freezing benefits and pay increases.

Can innovation and newsrooms co-exist?

Interesting point, and one which is elaborated upon here today.

Some excellent points raised by Scott Porad and although in essence I agree with the thrust of where he’s coming from, it remains true that British newsrooms – particularly for print publications – are still used to control-based management models, where journalists (the human resource) are not valued as highly as the end, printed, product. Do not enter expecting to see innovation.

Six things I have learned in my newsroom years, which would have been useful to know upon entering the newspaper and magazine print industry more than a decade ago, include:

1. You do not need to think too much, just report on what you’re told to report

2. Your news editor is likely to be looking for the next opportunity, so don’t expect any real mentoring

3. Protect your sources and portfolio – you’re only as good as your last story, after all

4. Sometimes it is better to be happy rather than right – silence is a valuable asset to retain in meetings

5. Most print publishing organisations are managed by the number-crunchers, not those who understand the News

6. Never believe the lie that there are 10 journalists queueing up to take your job – even in a recession. It’s crap.

I believe, far from the current economic downturn being disastrous for British journalism, it is actually a blessing: it is forcing management to re-evaluate their outdated, outworn business models, forcing journalists to engage with the digital age and seek alternative online portals to launch online careers, and shifting audiences are forcing senior editorial staff to consider the possibility that maybe – just maybe – newspapers might not be the last bastion of journalism after all. Shock, horror.

Great post from Porad. Would be interesting to see some newsroom journos considering innovation within their approach.

Journos need to re-brand to survive

According to this post from Roy Greenslade they do, at least.

Fascinating experience for American media, as journalists are seen signing up for the TrueSlant site, whereby payment is given to journos based on how much traffic their stories and links gain – creating a concrete relationship between journalists, readerships and advertisers. And the site appears to be doing well, on all levels. At least it’s still content-driven.

Maybe we have a lesson here for the British media, but somehow I can’t see the average UK journo embracing it.

Journos hack into corporate PR

It appears that all is not lost for redundant American journalists, according to this today.

With many more thousands of US media being forced to leave the newsrooms than ever before, the post by David Walker highlights interesting developments for the Press there; and also for British journalism, if old-school print English hacks are willing to follow the lead of our entrepreneurial American media cousins.

The loss of journalism jobs, as in purely editorially-based jobs, has been immense and devastating in the USA: in recent months, the effects of global recession have hit the USA’s media far harder and quicker than anywhere else.

But the speed of enterprise and sourcing alternative work has also been staggering, as Walker’s post highlights. Journalists are moving into corporate-land, producing content, films and blogs, delivering outstanding editorial to the Media on behalf of Mr CEO. Our redundant journalists could learn a lesson from this.

Whilst corporate comms has been seen as a barron landscape for a trained journalist, it represents a rich picking: as Brian Storm, founder of US-based MediaStorm, points out: “A PR message has no authenticity. It won’t go viral. Organizations are looking for a new way to get their message out, and journalists can play a role in that.”

I know if I was looking to work in a stable, financially-rewarding and challenging commercial environment, the choice of an over-worked, under-paid, massively non-appreciated newsroom would hold far less appeal than a contemporary, profitable and engaging boardroom scenario for me. That, and the prospect of an above-average industry-level fee, of course.

It’s all about content, dummy

Great post here today from Gina Chen, and it raises a basic and fundamental point which many publishers and media management bods are missing – the mass audience is dead, replaced instead by individuals requiring content as, when, and where they want it.

Readerships want flexibility. Different avenues to hook into their news and current affairs. Various places they can access the information they want.

Buying a newspaper or magazine in the traditional way is simply not relevant for many media consumers today…and still the publishing behemoths continue to flog their outdated business models. Or offer an online replica of the print version.

Definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.

Chen’s post highlights many salient points, but my favourite is quite simply that it is all about content.

Content drives media interest and purchase, whether that be of newspapers, magazines, online portals…it all links back to content. Why would search engines be completely driven by fresh content if it wasn’t valuable?

The concept of investing in ‘hyperinterests’ of content for sites, whereby visitors can search for exactly what they want, as proposed by Chen, is absolutely superb: it reinforces the importance and relevance of content.

Having reviewed this, it may seem like a rant – not so. I am passionate about content. Content is the key.

If only all journos viewed social media this way…

…it would certainly be a different journalistic landscape in the UK.

The journo in question? Joanna Geary, Web Development Editor at The Times: her blog, describing her gradual increase in interest and passion for online news development and the growth of online media tools, is an inspiring example of what can happen when journalists open their eyes to the world of opportunities available.

It’s a great blog, and she clearly has the future in her sights: if only more would take her lead. Read it and learn, people.

Don’t journos ‘get’ Twitter?

Judging from this story, it appears not.

Then again, coming from a traditional daily newspaper background myself, it’s taken me a good nine weeks or so of observing before deciding to engage with Twitter, set up an account, get tweeting and try to fathom out what the latest social media tool can do – not just for the Press, but for personal networking and Brand-building.

There are countless examples in my contact database of individuals and businesses which are gaining exposure, positive coverage, even cold, hard cash from being a part of the tweetosphere. As with all social media, it takes time and commitment – things which many newsroom journalists are lacking today, given the backdrop of cutbacks, recession and mal-management.

Time will tell – and that, of course, is the precious commodity which most deadline-driven media folk don’t have. Ironic.