A few big players dominate the national news arena in today’s media, but local news outlets are continually developing new techniques and facets of hyper-local journalism to keep readers interested. There have been major changes in the journalism world, but I’m not sure if I would call them setbacks.
About 8,000 jobs have been lost in the industry in just the past two years, according to Ken Doctor. Although this number might frighten many, I feel that it instills a sense of excitement and adventure toward the ever-changing world of news.
News and journalism today has allowed writers to become therapists to the bipolar media industry sitting on a chaise lounge. Not only are we supposed to pitch story ideas and/or report the news, journalists must have analytical conversations on what is the best way to relay news to their readers. The tables have turned; we must create a want or necessity within the reader to come to our specific medium.
Doctor also talks about the ability to distinguish between news and just information. “Readers often just want to know what’s happening, where it’s happening, and how to find services in their community.” (Doctor, p.53) Is this simplicity? Convenience? Are we trying to report news or give just facts and information in the most interesting and effective way possible to readers? Are they the same thing?
“The roles of editors are changing in many places, as some become more community organizers than wordsmiths.” (Doctor, p. 54) This change in job titles can be seen in the change to hyper-local news. The Tribune Company launched their interactive site, ChicagoNow, less than two years ago. The site hosts over 200 blogs of different genres. I was part of a class that was part of an attempt to create user-generated-hyper-local-blogs on neighborhoods in the city. The lab rats were Gold Coast Now, Old Town Now and Lincoln Park Now all of which have been inactive for over six months.
Of course I wonder what went wrong, or how do you make people read about their own neighborhood. I guess you can’t.
The dynamics, business models and human behaviors are changing in many industries. I look forward to reading more of Newsonomics on Ken Doctor’s insights and analysis of the media industries.
Tags: ChicagoNow, Gold Coast Now, hyper-local news, journalism, Ken Doctor, Lincoln Park Now, media industry, new journalism, Newsonomics, Old Town Now, Tribune
