the (capital) time(s) is coming.

" We felt our audience was shrinking so that we were not even relevent... we are going a little farther, a little faster, but the general trend is happening everywhere"
-

Clayton Frink (Publisher of the Capital Times)

Washington daily newspaper- the Capital Times made a brave decision when it chose to move to an entirely online format, earlier this year. In recent years the afternoon edition paper saw its circulation drop to roughly 18,000, in it's heyday it would sell an average of 40,000 (through the 1960's).

The new strategy employed by the Capital Times- that of an online format (with two weekly distributions that will be included in the other print edition newspaper in the town) is seen as a long term solution. However, through the administration of this radical new idea is the 20 staff members who lost their job in the changeover. Editor Paul Fanlund stated that copy editors are those who are losing their jobs "at a higher rate" than reporters. However, for those who have lost a job some web-based positions have been made available and there is expected to be a staff of approximately forty by the time the strategy is fully implemented.

The website "Madison.com"
maintains a very localised focus on it's news reporting. It is interesting to note that it needn't compete with the major US titles that have online editions- instead it is servicing its community purpose effectively in a modern, online format- something that many local Australian papers are yet to take up.
James Baughman- University of Wisconsin lecturer says that the window of opportunity for online journalism really lies in the local market. The potential for movement from the print format to a technologically saavy one should be utilised.
It is however, necessary for newspapers determined to adopt this format to review and redetermine their core missions and goals for reporting. They also need to re-asses their core audience because that too can change dramatically.

In the final editorial of the print edition for the capital times, an important point was made that should be the prime point of intention for any newspaper considering the changeover.
"(Do not) worry about the form The Capital Times takes, but rather... be concerned with the content and character of our message".

Cohen, N. 2008, ‘Reluctantly, a Daily Stops its Presses, Living Online’, The New York Times Online, 28/08/2008. Date Accessed 22/08/2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/business/media/28link.html

Quality what-now?!

There is a problem with quality journalism and it doesn't just have something to do with the internet, my friends.

It also can be affected by emotions.
Oh, they are nasty little things when all you really want to do is be report, objectively, and inform your audience in the most truthful way possible. Is it not our responsibility as journalists to perform in the most professional manner?
Until a dreadful little creature (cretin) called Corey Worthington comes along...

This interview (a better word would be 'exchange'- because interview incites a notion of professionalism not displayed in this example) between Leila McKinnon and Corey Worthington was aired on ‘A Current Affair’, (Nine Network) on January 14, 2008.

Her opening question “What were you thinking?” is both condescending and accusatorial, however, her tone is casual and there is a feeling she is trying to befriend him. Immediately the battle stage is set- not the most professional of interviews already.
McKinnon shows her emotions early; sarcasm is very evident in her voice when she maintains her authority over 'the child'.
She looks for a reaction and the Worthington becomes defensive in the face of her aggression.

It is evident that the public already has a view on the interviewee, had McKinnon taken a different path with her questioning she would have shown less bias and given a well rounded interview, with information that doesn't frame Worthington in such a negative light, but instead aims to tell the sides of the story evenly.

Her emotions have affected her performance and the interview has gone from trying to get to the bottom of a party that got out of hand, to a condescending adult reacting to insolence.

As a professional, the lack of composure and obvious opinion on the topic prove she is incapable of conducting the interview in an unbiased way. The interview succeeded in showing Worthington as the silly, arrogant child that he is, however, he also managed to hold the power because McKinnon became too emotionally involved.

It is frustrating, in the current, confusing media climate that is Australia- that has recently axed some of its most important avenues for investigative journalism- that an aversion to quality could so easily slip through the cracks.

Maybe what is needed more than another story on dodgy washer repairmen is some training for their journalists, so that we can avoid the tragedy that was this 'news story'.

Isn't it journalism 101 that we maintain our composure and approach interviews in the most objective way possible? (Well at least we know that our uni degree was good for something).

not so funny...

Is that what our children will think?


I'm still a sucker for the sunday edition of the paper.
It may have something to do with tradition.
I sigh at the thought that in 5, 10 or 20 years I may not have that unecessarily oversized broadsheet open beside me awkwardly on the dining table as I eat brunch. Taking someone elses place, of whom I should be conversing about the current events but I am too involved in the catch up of the weeks media commentary that I missed in my online scanning.


And i will be dreadfully disappointed if I don't get to instill this habit into my (unfortunate and very, very far away) children.

the wallet v the talent

rich media and poor journalists...

Aside from the fact that they offer the public one of the mosty important freedoms they are entitled to in a modern democracy- the freedom of press, journalists are consistently viewed at the lower end of the foodchain- left untrusted and scrutinised by those that consume their work so readily.

It is disturbing that such a significant profession could be judged by 3/4 of people (representative on a global scale) deem journalists as untrustworthy.

How are journalists coping; faring against the unfair assumptions of a critical public and the new and frightening trend of major cost cutting by their publishers.

As this 2007 report suggests- the issues with media ownership and the struggle that journalists face everyday in their workplace is beginning to take its toll and affect (yes, you guessed it) the quality of what they produce.
Stephen Cushion details 5 key points of contension for Journalists presently-

1. insecurity of employment leading to timid reporting
2. employment changes prompting a decline in critical and investigative reporting
3. Media concentration and governement pressures leading to bland news
4. media have been tamed by goverments
5. low wages trigger to a decline in ethical reporting.
   

If we put these 5 points into the Australian media landscape, it is a frightening future ahead of us. Already journalists are challenged by the complex ownership laws and lack of diversity plaguing the countries media. How can they be expected to continue in this manner- while massive job cuts continue within the industry and less emphasis is put on the quality and further emphasis placed onto quantity?

In a recent study- it was revelaed that the 2001 median salary for journalists was US$43, 588. Salaries are increasing at a far slower rate than inclation adn females working within the industry are still being paid approximately $10,000 less than males.
In the United Kingdom one in ten journalists was earning less that £12,000, with 18 % earning less than £15,000 anually.
The median income for a journalist in the UK is a meagre £22,500.
For the responsibilities laid upon them, this seems a less than ideal scenario.

And it is interesting to also feature- that in a time of economic crisis, when the public are going to become more and more focused on the quality reporting of journalists that this would be the case. Consumers will only become more reliant and expectant of the truth from the media, yet these expectations come on the back of a larger workload, a massive decrease in quality conditions and the public perception of them being untrustworhty regardless.

Is anyone feeling a little bit defeated?

Stephen Cushions entire article is available here.