Comments on: Time for radical thinking in journalism http://www.reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/ This blog on media, society and technology is run by Professor Alfred Hermida, an award-winning online news pioneer, digital media scholar and journalism educator. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:28:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Digitale Notizen » Blog Archive » fundamental shift in the mindset of journalists http://www.reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/comment-page-1/#comment-270 Digitale Notizen » Blog Archive » fundamental shift in the mindset of journalists Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:00:10 +0000 http://reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/#comment-270 [...] Alfred Hermida (Prof an der University of BC in Vancouver) sammelt Postings, die sich mit den Veränderungen im Journalismus befassen und zieht selber ein Fazit [...] [...] Alfred Hermida (Prof an der University of BC in Vancouver) sammelt Postings, die sich mit den Veränderungen im Journalismus befassen und zieht selber ein Fazit [...]

]]> By: De nieuwe reporter » Blog Archive » De Nieuwe Reporter presenteert: de Nieuwemedia-Uitdaging 2008 http://www.reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/comment-page-1/#comment-269 De nieuwe reporter » Blog Archive » De Nieuwe Reporter presenteert: de Nieuwemedia-Uitdaging 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:44:37 +0000 http://reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/#comment-269 [...] presenteerde. Zie eventueel de reacties daarop van Poynter, nog eens Poynter, Steve Outing, Alfred Hermida en Mincy [...] [...] presenteerde. Zie eventueel de reacties daarop van Poynter, nog eens Poynter, Steve Outing, Alfred Hermida en Mincy [...]

]]> By: Change. It’s not just a political buzzword. : the x degree: exploring and redefining multimedia storytelling http://www.reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/comment-page-1/#comment-268 Change. It’s not just a political buzzword. : the x degree: exploring and redefining multimedia storytelling Tue, 08 Jan 2008 05:05:48 +0000 http://reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/#comment-268 [...] We know it as a journalism buzzword, too. [...] [...] We know it as a journalism buzzword, too. [...]

]]> By: Newsroom leaders, change or step aside | editor on the verge http://www.reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/comment-page-1/#comment-267 Newsroom leaders, change or step aside | editor on the verge Mon, 07 Jan 2008 11:01:35 +0000 http://reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/#comment-267 [...] Steve Outing, Mindy McAdams, Alfred Hermida and others have written about the need for varying degrees of [...] [...] Steve Outing, Mindy McAdams, Alfred Hermida and others have written about the need for varying degrees of [...]

]]> By: Johnny Morris http://www.reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/comment-page-1/#comment-266 Johnny Morris Sun, 06 Jan 2008 23:20:13 +0000 http://reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/#comment-266 Online is still seen as the poor relation in my BBC local newsroom, left to its own devices with little or no interest from management. The managers' priority is still to make sure that the evening telly bulletin gets out to a dwindling number of viewers. Meanwhile online, which can rack up more hits on one story than the entire viewing numbers for a local bulletin, gets ignored. There is the odd 360 production to tick a box for those higher up. But there is still no enthusiasm for the interactive dimension online can bring to stories. There is little questioning of online staff, who represent a small fraction of the total, about how they think the local output could be changed. And ideas that could make a difference are dropped quietly. It could be so different. Already local newspapers are stealing a march on us with breaking news on their websites, blogs by reporters and video news, often compellingly presented. Where are the blogs from BBC presenters and reporters? Just a mish-mash of websites that no-one apart from those who work on them understands. For example the local Spotlight website still gives pride of place to a picture of its "new" co-presenter, who started in January 2006. Meanwhile local news online gets shoved into the bottom right hand corner. It's risible and if Peter Horrocks is serious about change he needs to make sure everyone is involved. Online is still seen as the poor relation in my BBC local newsroom, left to its own devices with little or no interest from management.

The managers’ priority is still to make sure that the evening telly bulletin gets out to a dwindling number of viewers.

Meanwhile online, which can rack up more hits on one story than the entire viewing numbers for a local bulletin, gets ignored.

There is the odd 360 production to tick a box for those higher up. But there is still no enthusiasm for the interactive dimension online can bring to stories.

There is little questioning of online staff, who represent a small fraction of the total, about how they think the local output could be changed.

And ideas that could make a difference are dropped quietly.

It could be so different.

Already local newspapers are stealing a march on us with breaking news on their websites, blogs by reporters and video news, often compellingly presented.

Where are the blogs from BBC presenters and reporters? Just a mish-mash of websites that no-one apart from those who work on them understands.

For example the local Spotlight website still gives pride of place to a picture of its “new” co-presenter, who started in January 2006. Meanwhile local news online gets shoved into the bottom right hand corner.

It’s risible and if Peter Horrocks is serious about change he needs to make sure everyone is involved.

]]> By: The Journalism Iconoclast http://www.reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/comment-page-1/#comment-265 The Journalism Iconoclast Sat, 05 Jan 2008 07:19:51 +0000 http://reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/#comment-265 [...] Alfred Hermida says this will require a fundamental shift in the mindset of journalists: It is time to stop thinking about a journalism defined by the means of distribution. It is time to start thinking about a journalism defined by the journalism itself. In other words, how best to tell stories and reach audiences, using the most suitable tools across a multiplicity of platforms. [...] [...] Alfred Hermida says this will require a fundamental shift in the mindset of journalists: It is time to stop thinking about a journalism defined by the means of distribution. It is time to start thinking about a journalism defined by the journalism itself. In other words, how best to tell stories and reach audiences, using the most suitable tools across a multiplicity of platforms. [...]

]]> By: Newsrooms leaders, change or step aside | editor on the verge http://www.reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/comment-page-1/#comment-264 Newsrooms leaders, change or step aside | editor on the verge Sat, 05 Jan 2008 04:20:01 +0000 http://reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/#comment-264 [...] Steve Outing, Mindy McAdams, Alfred Hermida and others have written about the need for varying degrees of [...] [...] Steve Outing, Mindy McAdams, Alfred Hermida and others have written about the need for varying degrees of [...]

]]> By: knackeredhack http://www.reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/comment-page-1/#comment-263 knackeredhack Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:44:44 +0000 http://reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/#comment-263 Peter, trad journalism tends to lack a genuine diversity in its ranks and the BBC seems to epitomise this. Few editorial managers are tough enough to really shake that up, preferring to remain player-managers, to borrow a football analogy. Diversity of experience produces good problem-solving and innovation. But, as I understand it, you now have the dual challenge of integrating a politically-charged culture into one newsroom from (three? or more?) while introducing more innovation. What comes out of the coverage at the moment is a disdain for finance and a disdain for technology. Unfortunately these are the main drivers of events these days. Journalists need to be deeply curious about them, and critical. But they still seem to prefer political narratives. Complexity requires collaboration. Big organizations like the BBC, while they have the resources to scale that complexity for the time being, will tend to breed more politics. Tim Peter, trad journalism tends to lack a genuine diversity in its ranks and the BBC seems to epitomise this. Few editorial managers are tough enough to really shake that up, preferring to remain player-managers, to borrow a football analogy.

Diversity of experience produces good problem-solving and innovation. But, as I understand it, you now have the dual challenge of integrating a politically-charged culture into one newsroom from (three? or more?) while introducing more innovation.

What comes out of the coverage at the moment is a disdain for finance and a disdain for technology. Unfortunately these are the main drivers of events these days. Journalists need to be deeply curious about them, and critical. But they still seem to prefer political narratives.

Complexity requires collaboration. Big organizations like the BBC, while they have the resources to scale that complexity for the time being, will tend to breed more politics.

Tim

]]> By: Peter Horrocks http://www.reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/comment-page-1/#comment-262 Peter Horrocks Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:50:55 +0000 http://reportr.net/2008/01/04/time-for-radical-thinking-in-journalism/#comment-262 Alf. Spot on. The need for dramatic innovation in 2008 is the main thing I have been discussing this week with senior colleagues at BBC News. The issue now is whether we can do more than talk about it in the first week of the year. I'm sure you'll keep us up to the mark. Peter Alf. Spot on. The need for dramatic innovation in 2008 is the main thing I have been discussing this week with senior colleagues at BBC News. The issue now is whether we can do more than talk about it in the first week of the year. I’m sure you’ll keep us up to the mark. Peter

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