Reader Response: J-school students vs. NMC students at OSU

      In Digital Age, Journalism Students Need Business, Entrepreneurial Skills

         There’s an inevitable education shift that seems to be occurring throughout journalism schools. Journalism is no longer considered traditional, relying solely on classified ads and other advertisements for revenue in print media. When a reporter goes out, they are now launched into a story expected to complete a one-man show with a blog, podcast and even a video package. On top of all of this, reporters are also expected to handle editorial and business duties simultaneously. By understanding the fundamentals of business within journalism the said reporters will be able to make better decisions that would allow them to work independently and as a result, sustain the life of journalism as we understand it today (or maybe as we pretend to understand it).

       It’s likely that while students are studying at a journalism school they will gain great skills for interviewing, writing profiles, covering triple homicides, and even soft news- fluff pieces. What they are lacking, however, is the real experience of what they will actually be required to know. Aside from the knowledge of business, reporters can be expected to understand the new media aspect of their changing field and how to apply that using entrepreneurial skills for the new model. “The students have a grasp on the rapid change in the market and that’s helping them out. But they, like everyone else, are struggling to connect with the change and prepare themselves for the wild ride” said the founder of Craigslist, Craig Newmark.

       While Oregon State University doesn’t have a journalism school or program, the students who will go on to be prominent reporters are becoming deeply prepared for the new world of journalism. Students who are pursuing journalistic goals are often majoring in Liberal Studies with an option in New Media that gives them the hands-on knowledge of working and juggling with the new technology and equipment, as well as classes directed towards the book knowledge of media law, business and ethics.

       Vin Crosbie, a professor at Syracuse University, doesn’t believe that one class will transform the journalism students and give them the necessary skills. “I don’t like the idea of a j-school dickering around with entrepreneurial efforts unless the school has first given its students a thorough foundation in how, where, when, and why the business of new media differs from that of traditional media.” At OSU, there are entire classes taught on this subject. Crosbie goes on to explain that he spends a week teaching his students general theories of new media…one week! In the New Media Communications department at OSU we spend an entire term on the general theories (NMC 101) that act as the foundation and base class before you can even set foot in the reporting classes. Maybe OSU students are more prepared for a job in the journalism field than I originally thought…

Readers Response: An eBay for news?

       In an interview with Sindya Bhanoo, a new creation for online exchange of professional, freelance journalism was discussed. I found the idea very intriguing. Basically a freelance journalist would create a profile on the website (www.reporterist.com) and then potential editors could review them and purchase the article to print in their publication. The idea was created because of a gap within the freelancing industry, and process of pitching story ideas to multiple editors proved to be tedious work…especially with today’s technology capabilities. “Editors get something like 500 emails a day and they don’t have time to search through all of these to identify the good ones.”

       It’s almost as if it were a virtual marketplace where up-and-coming journalists could connect with editors and publications. This allows for stories to be republished in other publications that might cater to same niche. Ideally Bhanoo is trying to “create a place where journalists and citizen journalists can sell their work and start building a reputation.” It seems as if, however, that the title of this article is a little misleading. The concept of the new site is not for the editors to bid for stories (as you would bid on eBay) but to pay a fixed price, or what the author demands and after a certain amount of weeks, the article could be again up for the grabs of another publication.

       What I found most interesting about this article, was the response that it got. Dozens of people commented on what they felt were the strengths and weaknesses of the product, most however, focused on the difference of citizen journalism and blogging. One anonymous commenter said, “Bloggers, for all the positive press they’ve gotten as far as ‘creating a new paradigm’ may be content to put their words out there for the sheer joy (and ego boost) of it, but some of us are actually in this freelance thing to earn a living.” Blogging allows for easy digital expression but according to Bhanoo, journalism is about more than that. Its “providing a platform and revenue model for those people who are willing to go…the extra mile to dig deep on a story, or to actually go interview someone.”

Beat Journal: The Second Life World

       I, apparently, am way behind the times when it comes to the newest social networks on the internet. Until recently, if someone said “Second Life” to me I would have assumed they were likely to be spiritually connected with the major Eastern religions such as Hinduism, Jainism or Sikhism. Second Life, a interactive, virtual world, is much more than reincarnation.

        While dabbling around on CNN.com I came across the SL I-Reports, news from the virtual world. Each world created within Second Life has a blog where the “residents” can network and discuss the happenings of their daily communication. Also on the blog, members can post stories, photos or videos in relation to their created world. There are worlds for every interest: Pet lovers, energy conservation and efficiency, digital design/multimedia art, Islamic rappers, Even Princeton University has a Second Life where prospective students can virtually tour the campus and meet professors. The most interesting world blog I read was a blog was called, “Haven for autistic people in SL.”

       The world was started by, Dave Sparrow, who suffers from a form of Autism. The world was created for those suffering from Autism and their relatives; a place they could come and relax. Sparrow said that it’s important for those who are autistic to participate in day to day communication and gain skills for interacting with other people. People in the chat rooms use emoticons, or symbols, to express themselves such as smiley signs, angry signs, or other things that will enhance their text. Sparrow said that “subconsciously his brain was learning about communication from these sessions of chat.” These images that are created on his island contradict how people understand the Autistic. They are shown as, “colorful and amazing and talented. That’s why his island is about fun, to bring a brighter side of Autism to the fore.”

       This idea of creating a center for like-minded people seems to be a brilliant idea as for people from all over the world can network and meet without physically traveling to an “island.” With Sparrow’s breakthrough in the communication skills of the Autistic, learned through the tools of SL, will allow for much more confidence while leaving the virtual world.

Beat Journal: Rock out against Voldemedia!

       For one of my classes this term we were required to write an autobiography about our lives as we grew up immersed in a media culture. As I was writing and researching the effects of the Babysitters Club series and Full House on young children, I remembered the Harry Potter phenomenon and the results it had on my, and some younger, generations. I came across a website dedicated to “saving” the media through a prominent niche: Harry Potter fans. The website, www.stopbigmedia.com/potterwatch/, is titled, “Rock Out Against Voldemedia!” I was very intrigued by the seemingly entertaining, yet serious site. In the Harry Potter novels the characters’ right to free press was held, which is exactly what this site is trying to prevent: “fighting a recent push for media consolidation in our world!”

       There are countless blogs about what is at stake as the “Big Media” is effectively taking over. Things such as it’s failure to local communities, its ignorance of diversity, and even claiming that it is bad for democracy because we would be lacking an informed public. Through this site dedicated to the free press, they hope to reform the media while transforming democracy.

       Andrew Slack is the founder of the Harry Potter Alliance which is “a movement dedicated to bringing together Harry Potter fans to apply the book series’ lessons of love, tolerance and social justice to our own world.” The blogs did just that. I was surprised at the complete relevance, as I never really thought about applying what I had read in the series to my own media-filled life. The Daily Prophet (the prominent news source in Harry Potter) continues to spur on the popular ideal that “muggleborns” (wizards without wizard-born parents) were part of a second class. Today in the U.S. the population is made up of 33 percent of racial/ethnic minorities…however, 88 percent of the media is composed of and by white men. This is exactly what the Harry Potter Alliance and Wizard Rock (out against Voldemedia!) is fighting in the real world. They want to stop the big media from pushing out local and foreign news, a long with minority representation and the right to a Free Press.

 

Image: http://www.hp-lexicon.org/images/film/pa/daily-prophet-pa350.jpg

Reader’s Response: Optimism in a Time of Chaos

       Through a reflection of journalism’s current state, Robert. J. Rosenthal was able to convey his optimism during the time of chaos in the field. He begins his blog with a description of his first experience in The New York Times newsroom: the staccato of hundreds of typewriters, the linoleum floor with thousands of burn marks from cigarettes…he paints a captivating image. It’s exactly how I imagine a classic newsroom to look, complete, of course, with a certain excited energy pulling off the nervous reporters competing to make deadlines.

       Rosenthal is basing his reflection on a book written by Charles Madigan called, “-30- The Collapse of the Great American Newspaper.” The title is strong in it’s word choice… collapse: to cave in suddenly, to come to nothing, to fail. According to Rosenthal, “great urgency and risk taking is called for to stem the collapse of what newspapers have stood for in our country’s past.” The transition is more than just a change of medium and technology, but has also proven to be a tough time economically. The book left Rosenthal feeling energized about the new doors opening in the news room, as I think, all journalists should feel. Once it is understood that the road will be “bumpy and challenging” they will be able to utilize their current skills while they adapt to the new journalistic model for the 21^st century.

       The newsroom is becoming a place filled with multimedia and different pieces of technology. Within the past ten years, the internet has widely opened many opportunities. Rosenthal described the internet as “a voracious beast” that is never fully satisfied and content with the amount of “content” it has to offer. The possibilities are seemingly endless, and new software and products are created daily. Journalists, if prepared to learn new mediums on a continual basis, will have a very critical role throughout this time of chaos.

“Journalism, as practiced at newspapers, is not dead. But journalists will need to salvage what is essential, figure out how to transform it to the new media, and become leaders in this period of upheaval. It will take men and women of vision and deep pockets, whose primary catalyst is not profit” Rosenthal said.

Beat Journal–Social Media, I Love Myself

       Social media is a relatively broad term used to describe the various ways that integrate technology, social interaction and the creation or constructions of words and pictures. It encompasses many forms ranging from message boards to pod casts, even instant messaging and social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook or Second Life–which are considered social media applications.

       David Carr, from the NY Times, posted a blog called, “Publishing That’s All About Me.” With a headline like that, who wouldn’t be curious? As Americans, heck…as humans living in today’s society we are so caught up with ourselves that we allow even the most important things to slip our grip. It’s easy to waste ample time, hours even, messing around on the internet: uploading pictures, or commenting to friends on Facebook. Why would we read the news? Chances are it’s not about us. Carr said, “For me, time and the waiting magazines drifted away, replaced by the urgency and engagement of personal media. It was both riveting and a huge time suck, precisely because there was so much of it.” Sure, it’s a “huge time suck,” but it’s a way for me to preserve my life! Three months from now I will scroll through my pictures, read old blogs and be amazed that that is what I was doing at that time. But, Why do we feel the need to publish our lives online? Who really cares? Carr, while on an airplane said, “The guys across the aisle in Row 7 might have briefly been interested in the comic image of me doing a header into a mogul, but not a single other image on that hard drive. This was the ultimate in niche publishing.”

       Blogs on particular niches exist all over the internet, I had absolutely no problem finding an endless supply of articles and blogs catered to certain audiences: single moms, gardeners, hockey fans, and even avid coffee drinkers. The biggest and most obvious niche I could find was catered to a personal market. Facebook, MySpace, Second Life: All these things allow for you to sort of create your own virtual world, even a world where you can connect with friends and network in an easy fashion. Simplicity and self, Americans two favorite things…go figure.

Reading Response #4: Multimedia Journalists

       This mini-profile piece about Cathryn Keefe O’Hare seems to confirm the trend that media, as many long-time print journalists know it, is changing. A reporter no longer heads out to cover a story with solely a notebook and pen. Today, a camera (to shoot still images and video) along with a digital voice recorder are also becoming a necessity. Video packages have become much more prominent within the past year, and to be a journalist, O’Hare realizes the challenge is being capable to produce news with a multimedia flair. She doesn’t use fancy equipment, and doesn’t have every aspect of the new technology figured out…but she is well on her way.

       O’Hare understands that while the reporting world is constantly being transformed, some things will never change: “The thing that remains true, whether it’s in print journalism or the Internet or video, you have to tell a story,” says O’Hare. “And you have to tell it as true as you can make it. And you have to try to speak for those people who can’t tell their story.”

       This piece on the multimedia journalist features a story being written about the Danversport Yacht Club who honored Martin Luther King Jr. with an awards dinner. Her story (http://www.wickedlocal.com/danvers/fun/entertainment/x1059365781) was completed with an entire multimedia package. The bulk of the story appears to be print, but as a side bar there are photographs from the event, and even a compilation of interviews and music extracted from the event and produced into a video. The video, though not of TV quality, suffices for the local event and captures the essence of who was in attendance. The interviewer, O’Hare could be heard asking the questions; this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, however it seems that the most effective video packages are the ones that portray solely the interviewers speaking. This fortifies the truth of what they are saying as if they were not prodded into saying certain things.