The Journalists Formerly Known As The Media - My Advice To The Next Generation Pressthink

28/07/2016
TheJournalistsFormerlyKnownastheMedia:MyAdvicetotheNextGenerationPressthink
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TheJournalistsFormerlyKnownastheMedia:
MyAdvicetotheNextGeneration
Sep.
19
ThisisadaptedandexpandedfromtheInauguralLectureIgavetotheincomingclassatSciencesPocoledujournalismeinParis,September2,2010:
theirfirstday.PresentedtoFrenchstudents,itisintendedforanyonestudyingjournalismtoday,orattemptingtorelearnit.
OriginallypublishedatmyPosterousblog,Sep.6,2010.#
Typicallywhenpeoplelikemeaprofessorofjournalismwhoisdeeplyinvolvedinthedigitalworld
advisepeoplelikeyoustudentsjuststartingtheircareersinjournalismwesaytoyouthingslike:#
Youneedtobeblogging.#
Youneedtounderstandsearchengines.#
YouneedtoknowFlashandperhapsHTML5.#
YouneedtograspwebmetricslikeGoogleanalytics.#
Youneedtoknowhowtorecordaudiooreditvideo#
Youneedtogetmobile.(Mobileisgoingtobebig!)#
Andallofthosethingsaretrue.Theyareallimportant.ButIwanttogoinacompletelydifferentdirection
today.Ready?Youneedtounderstandthatthewayyouimaginetheuserswilldeterminehowusefula
journalistyouwillbe.#
Ashiftinpower#
ItturnsoutthattheoriginaltitleIgavemyself,ThePeopleFormerlyKnownastheAudienceandthe
AudienceProperlyKnownasthePublic,isaproblem,becausethewordforpublicinFrenchisthesameas
thewordforaudience.Wehavetoworkaroundthat.AndtohelpIhaveaclipfromamovieIwantto
showyou.Itsfromthe1976filmNetwork,whichisaboutacrazedtelevisionnewsmannamedHoward
Bealewhobeginstoactouthiscrazinessontheair.Thisisprobablythemostfamoussceneinthefilm.(It
takesfiveminutestowatch.)#
http://pressthink.org/2010/09/thejournalistsformerlyknownasthemediamyadvicetothenextgeneration/
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#
Whatisthissceneabout?Inmyreadingofit,thefilmmakersareshowinguswhatthemassaudiencewas:
aparticularwayofarrangingandconnectingpeopleinspace.Viewersareconnecteduptothebig
spectacle,buttheyaredisconnectedfromoneanother.OrtousethetermIhavefavored,theyare
atomized.(SeeAudienceAtomizationOvercome.)ButHowardBealedoeswhatnotelevisionpersonever
does:heusestelevisiontotellitsviewerstostopwatchingtelevision.#
WhentheydisconnectfromTVandgototheirwindows,theyareturningawayfromBigMediaandturning
towardoneanother.Andastheirshoutsechoacrossanemptypublicsquaretheydiscoverjusthowmany
otherpeoplehadbeenoutthere,watchingtelevisioninatomizedsimultaneity,insteadofdoingsomething
abouttheinarticulateragethatBealeputintowords.(Idontknowwhattodoaboutthedepressionandthe
inflationandtheRussiansandthecrimeinthestreets.AllIknowisthatfirstyouvegottogetmad!)#
ThereasonIshowedyouthisclipisthatitmakesvividforusagreateventwearelivingthroughtoday:the
breakupoftheatomizedmassaudienceandashiftinpowerthatgoeswithit.Whatwouldhappentodayif
someoneontelevisiondidwhatHowardBealedid?Immediatelypeoplewhohappenedtobewatchingwould
alerttheirfollowersonTwitter.SomeonewouldpostaclipthesamedayonYouTube.Thesocialnetworks
wouldlightupbeforetheincidentwasover.Bloggerswouldbecommentingonitwellbeforeprofessional
criticshadtheirchance.Themediaworldtodayisashiftedspace.Peopleareconnectedhorizontallytoone
anotheraseffectivelyastheyareconnecteduptoBigMediaandtheyhavethepowersofproductionintheir
hands.#
Thepublicbecomesthinkable#
Thiskindofshifthashappenedbefore.AndnowIwanttotakeyouback250years,toeventsinFranceand
Englandthatgavebirthtothemodernpublic.#
Beforetherewasapublicthatcouldbeinformedbythepress,beforetherewasanythinglikepublic
opinion,beforetherewasanypoliticaljournalismatall,politicswasconsideredthekingsbusiness,
lesecretduroi.Itwasownedandoperatedbytheking,andsecrecyabouteverythingthathappenedin
governmentwasthenormalstateofthings.Therewaspublicitytoo,butnotaboutwhatwasactually
happeninginthehallsofpower.InthewordsofJrgenHabermas,itwaspublicitythatisstagedforshowor
manipulation,ritualsinwhichthemajestyofthecrownandthegloryofthenationcouldbevivifiedorput
ondisplay.Absolutismgaveownershipofpoliticstothecrownandthatincludedvirtuallyallinformation
aboutaffairsofstate.#
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In1764,forexample,theKingofFranceruleditillegaltoprintorsellorpeddleonthestreetanythingabout
thereformofstatefinancespast,presentorfuture.Itsnotonlythattherewasnofreedomofthepress.That
wastrue,butmorethanthat:Thekingsmysterywasnotconsideredthepeoplesbusiness.Thewholeidea
thattheaffairsofthenationbelongedtothepeopleofthatnationhadyettobeaccepted.Withoutanidealike
that(todaywewouldcallitthepublicsrighttoknow)theverypracticeofjournalismisimpossiblein
fact,unthinkable.#
Butby1781JacquesNecker,financeministertotheKingofFrance,hadpublishedthefirsteverpublic
recordofthestatesfinances,theCompterendu.Threethousandcopiesweresoldonthefirstday.Most
historianssayhefailedtogiveatruepictureofhowdeeplythecrownwasindebt,andthathehidthecostof
borrowing.ButsimplybypublishingtheCompterenduNeckerhelpedtoraisethecurtainonanewidea:
publicconfidencerequiredtransparency.Publicopinioncouldnotbeignored.Therewasapublicoutthere,
andevenprinceshadtoappealtoit.#
Sowhathappenedbetween1764and1781?Theanswertothatiscomplexandworthabookinitself.
Fortunatelywehaveone:HabermassStructuralTransformationofthePublicSphere.HereIwillsimplylist
someofthefactorsresponsiblefortheshift:#
*Thegrowthandspreadofprinting,whichwasboundupwiththemarketforprintedbooks.Thismeant,for
example,thatwhatwasillegaltoprintorsellinFrancecouldbepublishedinHollandandsmuggledin.#
*Theriseoftheperiodicalpress.Newspapersandpamphletssomelegalandrestrained,someclandestine
andunrestrainedintheirrhetoricspreadtheconceptofpublicdiscussionofpublicaffairs.Thiswas
difficulttocontain.#
*Closelyrelatedtothatweretheliterarysalonsinwhichdiscussionofwhatwasreadbecamenormal,
providingatemplateforpublicopinionascommentaryonwhatisinthepress.(InEnglandthisrolewas
playedbytavernsandcoffeehouses.)#
*Theemergenceofinternationalcapitalism,whichcreatedwhatHabermascalledthecarrierclassforthe
publicsphere,theliteratebourgeoise:merchants,tradersandbusinessmanwhowerenotimpressedby
publicitystagedforshowormanipulation,butwhomightbuyFrenchdebtiftheywerepersuadedthatthe
governmentcouldrepayitontime.Neckernodoubthadthesepeopleinmindwhenhepublishedhisrecord
ofstatefinances,andwhenhecalledpublicopinionaninvisiblepowerthat,withouttreasury,guard,or
army,givesitslawstothecity,thecourt,andeventhepalaceofkings.#
*Thespreadofenlightenmentideas,inwhichreasonwassupposedtobesovereign,notthekingandhis
court.Publicopinion,whenitwaspraisedbypeoplelikeNecker,meantreasoned,settledopinion,notthe
violentswingsinmoodthatfrightenedsomanyaristocrats.#
*Thesearchforothersourcesofauthoritybeyonddivinerightanddespotism.NeckerworkedfortheKing
ofFrance.Hewastryingtofindawaytoreformandlegitimatethecontinuedauthorityofthecrownasit
cameunderincreasingattackinthelastdecadesoftheancienrgime.Thatiswhyhecalledpublicopiniona
tribunal,andsaidprincesthemselves[must]respectit.#
ThiscomplexshiftfromoneconstellationofideastoanotherwasputintowordsbythehistorianKeith
MichaelBaker:Fromthepublicpersonofthesovereigntothesovereignpersonofthepublic.Something
likethathastohappenbeforejournalismcanevenbeconceived.Infacttheriseoftheperiodicalpress,the
emergenceofthepublicasanactorinpolitics,andthepowerofpublicopinionsuchthatevenprinceshave
torespectit,arenotsomuchparalleldevelopmentsasthreeaspectsofthesameevent.Together,theymade
modernjournalismthinkable.#
Thepeopleoutofdoors#
InEnglandduringthesameperiod,asimilareventoccurs.IfwecouldlisteninonParliamentin1750we
mighthearaphraseincommonusethen,thepeopleindoors.ItreferredtothemembersofParliament
themselveswhentheyweregatheredinsession.Inwhatwaydidthissmallandelitegrouprepresentthe
peopleofEngland?Notthroughpopularelectionthatdidntreallyhappenuntilthenextcentury.Parliament
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thoughtofitselfasthepeoplebecausetheKinghadtoconsultwithParliamentandwhenhedidhewas
consultingwiththewholenation.#
Thiswasafiction,ofcourse,butitwastherulingfictionatthetime.Thepeopleindoorswerequiteaware
thattheywerenotrepresentativeofthewholepopulation.Thatiswhytheyalsoreferredtothepeopleoutof
doors,anotherphraseinuseatthetime.Thismeanteverybodyelse.Thekingdidnthavetoconsultwith
them.Nordidthepeopleoutofdoorsenjoyfreedomofspeechorfreedomofthepress.Infact,itwasillegal
topublishwhatwassaidinParliamentortoattacktheKinginprint.#
Forthepeopleindoors,freedomofspeechwasprotectedwithinthehallsofParliamentitself.Amember
couldcallthekingspoliciesfoolishandnotbeheldtoaccount,whereasaprinterwhoputthatsentimentina
pamphletcouldbearrestedthenextday.Iamnotgoingtogointothewholestory,whichinvolvestheprinter
andpoliticianJohnWilkesandtherighttoreportondebatesinParliament(establishedin1771.)Sufficeitto
saythatinEngland,too,politicsastheexclusivepossessionoftheking,hisministersandParliamentgave
waytoamuchmoreopensystem,inwhichthenewspaperscouldreportonwhatwashappening,aliterate
publiccoulddiscussitandpublicopinioncouldform.#
Ignoringthepublicbecameharder,gesturestowardtransparencymorecommon.Rightsfundamentaltothe
practiceofjournalismpoliticsasthepeoplesbusiness,freedomofspeechandofthepress,therightto
recordwhatwassaidinParliamentandpublishitinthenewspapersbegantobeestablished,thoughittook
alongtimeforthemtobesecured.Thepeopleoutofdoorsgrewupandbecamethepublic,theonethathas
arighttoknow.Thesethingshavetohappenbeforetherecanbeaprofessionofjournalismworthjoining.
ThatiswhyIamtellingyouaboutthem.#
Theengineeringofopinion
#
Iamconductingthistouratthelevelofideas.Butonecouldalsosayideals.Theallinclusivepublicthatis
fullyinformedaboutwhatishappeningandarguesaboutitinpublicsettings.soastoforman
independentandreasonedopinionwhichisthenlistenedtobythepeopleinpowerthishasneverbeena
descriptionofhowpubliclifeinacompetitivedemocracyactuallyworks.Thefighthasbeentomakeittruer
andtruerformoreandmorepeople.Thatfightgoeson.Whenwecomparetherealitytothepicture,wecan
tellwhereweare,andperhapswhereweneedtogo.#
Meanwhile,thereareendlesscomplicationstoweigh.Forexample,thesametoolsthatmakeaninformed
publicpossibleallowformanipulationandpropagandaonanationalscale.Asweenterthemodernagethis
becomesveryobvious.LetsjumpaheadtoParisin1919andthePeaceConferencethatendedWorldWarI.
SomethingnewwasseenatParis.Atpreviousinternationalconferencesintendedtoconcludewarsandsettle
borders,thediplomatswouldnegotiateinsecretandemergeweekslaterwitharesultwhichwasthen
conveyedtothehomecountriesasamoreorlessfinishedproduct.InParisanewpatternwasseen.The
Americandelegationwasaccompaniedbyover150newspapercorrespondents.Theyshockedthediplomats
bydemandingentrancetotheopeningsession.#
Evenwhentheirdemandswereresisted,thereporterswereafactorintheevent.Wordofwhatwasbeing
proposedbyonecountryordiscussedbyseveralwouldfinditswaytothecorrespondents,whowouldputit
intotheirdispatches,whichwerethentelegraphedtothehomecountrytobepublishedthenextdayinthe
newspapers.Overthesamewires(buttravelingtheotherway)camewordofpublicreactiononcethenews
waspublished.ThisincreasedthepressureonthestatesmeninParis,whoinBritain,FranceandtheUnited
States(thevictors)hadtofacethefutureprospectofelectionsandnoconfidencevotes.Justimaginehow
simpleitwouldbefortheeditorofatabloidnewspapertotakefragmentarywordofwhatwasbeing
discussedinParisanduseittosellpapersinLondon.Aspublicopinionbecomesmorepowerful,the
incentivestoengineeritalsogrow.#
Inthetwentiethcenturywehavetheriseofthemodernmassmediacinema,radio,television,followedby
cableallofthemhugeindustriesthatareintimatelyconnectedtostatepower.Somuchsothatthewayyou
makearevolutioninthetwentiethcenturyisnotbystormingthekingscastlebutbytakingoverthe
broadcastingtower.Theideaoftheinformedpublicandpublicopinionasthefinalcourtofappealnevergot
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extinguished,butithadtocompetewitharelatedformation:themassaudienceandthebusinessofappealing
tothat.#
Thejournalistsformerlyknownasthemedia#
Buttodaythemassaudienceisbreakingup.Thismakesnewthingsthinkable.AndthatswhyIwrotemy
2006post,thePeopleFormerlyKnownastheAudience:#
Thepeopleformerlyknownastheaudiencewishtoinformmediapeopleofourexistence,andofashift
inpowerthatgoeswiththeplatformshiftyouveallheardabout.Thinkofpassengersonyourshipwho
gotaboatoftheirown.Thewritingreaders.Theviewerswhopickedupacamera.Theformerly
atomizedlistenerswhowithmodesteffortcanconnectwitheachotherandgainthemeanstospeakto
theworld,asitwere.#
TodayIwanttointroduceacompanionidea.Becausethepeopleformerlyknownastheaudiencehave
arrived,thejournalistsformerlyknownasthemediaarehere,too.Andthisiswhatyouthenext
generationofprofessionaljournalistshaveachancetodefinefortherestofus.Thedigitalrevolution
changestheequation.Itbringsforwardanewbalanceofforces,puttingthetoolsofproductionandthe
powersofdistributioninthehandsofthepeopleformerlyknownastheaudience.Andsoyouhavethe
opportunitytobecomethejournalistsformerlyknownasthemedia,carrierclassforanewunderstandingof
thepeopleoutthereonthereceivingendofwhatjournalistsmake.Isaynew,butitisreallyjustanother
chapterinthelongstruggletomakegoodontheideaofapublicthatknowswhatishappeningbecauseit
paysattention,informsitselfandarguesaboutwhatshouldbedone.#
LetmetrytosharpenwhatImeanbythejournalistsformerlyknownasthemediabycallingononeofmy
favoritelinesinallofmediastudies.TheyoriginatewithRaymondWilliams(19211988)awriterand
sociologistintheU.K.whowaswellknownforhisstudiesofmassmedia.Therearenomasses,Williams
wrotein1958,thereareonlywaysofseeingpeopleasmasses.Toillustrate,Williamscomparedtheway
localnewspapersaddressedtheirreadersasinhabitantsofacommonworldofhomes,schools,jobs,streets
theywalked,politicstheycouldparticipateintothewaythosesamereaderswereaddressedbythemass
circulationdailiesandtabloidsthatsellthroughouttheU.K.#
Seeingpeopleasmassesistheartinwhichthemassmedia,andprofessionalmediapeople,specialized
duringtheirprofitable150yearrun(1850to2000).Butnowwecanseethatthiswasactuallyaninterval,a
phase,duringwhichthetoolsforreachingthepublicwereplacedinincreasinglyconcentratedhands.
Professionaljournalism,whichdatesfromthe1920s,hasliveditsentirelifeduringthisphase,butletmesay
itagain:thisiswhatyourgenerationhasachancetobreakfreefrom.Thejournalistsformerlyknownasthe
mediacanmakethebreakbylearningtospecializeinadifferentart:seeingpeopleasapublic,empoweredto
makemediathemselves.#
Myadvice#
NowIwillexplainwhatthisphraseseeingpeopleasapublicmeanstojournalistsforyourgeneration.
Herearesomeofitsimplications.#
1.Replacereaders,viewers,listenersandconsumerswiththetermusers.Whatdowecallthepeople
ontheotherendofthejournalismtransaction?Mysuggestionistobelessplatformcentricratherthan
namingthemforthetoolyouareusingtoreachthem,justcallthemtheusers,atermIborrowedfromthe
wayDaveWineremploysit.Usersisamoreactiveidentity,itworksforallplatforms,andasIsaidearlier:
thewayyouimaginetheuserswilldeterminehowusefulajournalistyouwillbe.#
2.Remember:theusersknowmorethanyoudo.IadaptedthisfromDanGillmorsfamousdeclaration:
MyreadersknowmorethanIdo.Itmeansthat,intheaggregate,thepeopleonthereceivingendhave
moreknowledge,morecontacts,moreexperienceandmoregoodideasthanasinglejournalistcaneverhave.
Thiswasalwaystrue,itwastrueinthe1950s,buttheInternetallowsthosepeopletheoneswhoknow
morethanyoudotoactuallyreach(andteach)youwiththatknowledge.Lookatitthisway:Themost
valuablethingtheNewYorkTimesownsisitsnameandreputation.Thesecondmostvaluablethingithas:
thetalentandexperienceofitsstaff.ThethirdmostvaluablethingtheTimesownsistheknowledgeand
sophisticationofitsusers.Andifitcannotfindawaytogetsomeofthatflowingin,soastoimprovethe
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editorialproduct,thenitwillhavefailedtocapitalizeonanimmensestrategicadvantage.AndIam
convincedtheeditorsoftheTimesknowthis.#
3:Theresbeenapowershiftthemutualizationofjournalismishere.ThisisAlanRusbridgersidea:
themutualisednewsorganization.HestheeditorofTheGuardianintheU.K.Whathemeansis#
Webringimportantthingstothetableeditingreportingareasofexpertiseaccessatitle,orbrand,
thatpeopletrustethicalprofessionalstandardsandanextremelylargecommunityofreaders.The
membersofthatcommunitycouldnothopetoaspiretoanythinglikethataudienceorreachontheir
owntheybringusarichdiversity,specialistexpertiseandonthegroundreportingthatwecouldnt
possiblyhopetoachievewithoutincludingtheminwhatwedo.#
Webringimportantthingstothetable,andsodotheusers.Thereforeweincludethem.Seeingpeopleasa
publicmeansthat.#
4:Describetheworldinawaythathelpspeopleparticipateinit.Whenpeopleparticipate,theyseekout
information.Informationproviderswoulddowelltorecognizethisconnection.AsItoldTheEconomist:#
Myownviewisthatjournalistsshoulddescribetheworldinawaythathelpsusparticipateinpolitical
life.Thatiswhattheyarefor.Buttoooftentheypositionusassavvyanalystsofasceneweare
encouragedtoviewfromacertaindistance,asifwewerespectatorstoourowndemocracy,orclever
manipulatorsofourfellowcitizens.Weird,isntit?#
AsawriterforTheEconomistsaidafterthiswaspublished:Perhapspoliticalisunnecessarilylimiting.
Moregenerally,itisthejobofjournaliststodescribetheworldinawaythathelpsusparticipateinalllife
political,local,civic,cultural,etc.Correct.#
5:Anyonecandoesntmeaneveryonewill.StudentsofsocialmediaandbehaviorontheNetarehighly
awareoftheonepercentrule,whichhasbeenobservedinawidevarietyofonlinesettings:#
Itsanemergingruleofthumbthatsuggeststhatifyougetagroupof100peopleonlinethenonewill
createcontent,10willinteractwithit(commentingorofferingimprovements)andtheother89will
justviewitSowhatstheconclusion?Onlythatyoushouldntexpecttoomuchonline.Certainly,to
echoFieldofDreams,ifyoubuildit,theywillcome.Thetrouble,asinreallife,isfindingthebuilders.
#
Mywayofputtingthisis,anyonecandoesntmeaneveryonewill.Butthefactthatanyonecanisstill
importantbecauseyoucanneverpredictwhowillacceptyourinvitation.Knowingthisrulehelpsuskeep
ourexpectationsincheck.Seeingpeopleasapublicdoesntmeandeludingourselvesaboutwhattheyare
willingtodo.Itsimportanttoneitherunderestimatenoroverestimatewhatthepeopleformerlyknownas
theaudienceareupfor.#
6:Thejournalistisjustaheightenedcaseofaninformedcitizen,notaspecialclass.Journalismisntlike
brainsurgery,orpilotingaBoeing747.Aprofessionaljournalistknowshowtogetinformation,ask
questions,tellstoriesandconnectisolatedfacts.Thesearenotesotericorspecializedskills,justheightened
versionsofthingsanysmartcitizenshouldbeabletodo.Weseethismostclearlywhencitizenshavea
chancetosubstituteforreportersandaskquestionsofcandidatesduringdebates.Theygenerallydoaswell
asorbetterthanprofessionaljournalists.Thatisaclue.#
7:Yourauthoritystartswith,Imthere,yourenot,letmetellyouaboutit.Ifanyonecanproduce
mediaandshareitwiththeworld,whatmakestheprojournalistspecial,orworthlisteningto?Notthepress
card,notthebyline,notthefactofemploymentbyamajormediacompany.Noneofthat.Themostreliable
sourceofauthorityforaprofessionaljournalistwillcontinuetobewhatJamesW.Careycalledtheideaofa
report.Thatswhenyoucantruthfullysaytotheusers,Imthere,yourenot,letmetellyouaboutit.Or,
Iwasatthedemonstration,youwerent,letmetellyouhowthecopsbehaved.Or,alteringmyformula
slightly,Iinterviewedtheworkerswhowereonthatoildrillingplatformwhenitexploded,youdidnt,let
metellyouwhattheysaid.Or,Ireviewedthosedocuments,youdidnt,letmetellyouwhatIfound.
Yourauthoritybeginswhenyoudothework.Ifanamateurorabloggerdoesthework,thesameauthorityis
earned.Seeingpeopleasapublicmeansgrantingthatwithoutrancor.#
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8:Somehow,youneedtolistentodemandandgivepeoplewhattheyhavenowaytodemand.TheWeb
effortlesslyrecordswhatpeopledowithit.Thereforeitiseasytomeasureuserbehavior:whatpeopleare
interestedin,whattheyaresearchingfor,clickingon,turningtorightnow.Whatshouldasmartjournalists
dowiththisliveinformation?Ijusttoldyou:youshouldlistentodemand,butalsogivepeoplewhatthey
havenowaytodemandbecausetheydontknowaboutityet.Infact,thereisarelationshipbetweenthese
things.Thebetteryouareatlisteningtodemand,themorelikelyitisthattheuserswilllistentoyouwhen
youdemandofthem:payattention!Youmaynotthinkthisisimportantorinteresting,buttrustmeit
matters.Or:Thisisgood.Ignoringwhattheuserswantisdumbinonewayeditingbyclickrateisdumb
inadifferentway.Respectfortheusersliesinbetweenthesetwo.Getit?#
9:Inyourbidtobetrusted,donttaketheViewFromNowhereinstead,tellpeoplewhereyoure
comingfrom.Treatingpeopleasapublicmeansrefusingtofloatabovethem.Insteadofclaimingthatyou
havenoview,nostake,noperspective,no(sorryfortheacademicterm)situatedself,trytolevelwiththe
usersandletthemknowwhereyouarecomingfrom.AsDavidWeinbergerputsit.transparencyisthenew
objectivity.YoumayfindthattrustiseasiertonegotiateifyoudontclaimtheViewfromNowhere,but
insteadtellthemwhereyourecomingfrom.(Heresmyattempttodoexactlythatasacritic.)#
10:BreathedeeplyofwhatDeTocquevillesaid:Newspapersmakeassociationsandassociationsmake
newspapers.AlexisDeTocqueville,aFrenchman,visitedtheUnitedStatesinthe1830s.Amongthe
observationshemadewas:newspapersmakeassociationsandassociationsmakenewspapers.WhatIthink
hemeantwas:whereverpeoplehaveacommoninterestandwishtodiscussit,thereliesanopportunityfora
smartjournalist.Todayoneofthethingsthatisfastchangingourworldisthefallingcostforlikeminded
peoplepeoplewhosharethesameinterest,problemorfascinationtolocateeachother,shareinformation,
poolwhattheyknow,andpublishbacktotheworldtheresultsoftheirinteractions.TheNetmakesthisact
increasinglycommon.Forexample,peoplewithahealthproblemthatmedicalsciencehasbeenunableto
treatwillfindeachotherovertheNetandbegintodiscusstheircondition.Theyreanassociation.Smart
journalistswillpickuponthisandrealize:theresastorythere.Wanttobeusefulonline?Findapreviously
atomizedgroupthatsharesacommoninterestandcreateaspacefortheirassociation.#
Iconclude:Thestruggletomakethefictionofaninformedandengagedpublicmorefactualthatis,realer
continueson.Whentechnologyandmarketschange,newthingsbecomethinkablewithinthatstruggle.
Andsojournalismitselfhasgraduatedtothenextstageofitsdevelopment.Bonnechance!#
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1Comment
1.CivicandPublicJournalism|LivinginaMediaWorldsays:
September20,2010at2:41pm
[]Andfinally,anewpostfromProf.RosentodayTheJournalistsFormerlyKnownastheMedia:
ApostfromSundaythatcontinuesonhislookathowonlinemediaistransformingtherelationship
betweenaudiencesandjournalists.ThisentrywaspostedinChapter2,Chapter6andtaggedcivic
journalism.Bookmarkthepermalink.10/10/10NewMediaConferenceinOmaha[]
TheVirtualAssignmentDeskandTheLaunchoftheLocalEastVillage
WhyIamNotaJournalist:ATrueStory
Introduction
"WeneedtokeepthepressfrombeingabsorbedintoTheMedia.Thismeanskeepingthewordpress,
whichisantiquated.Butincludedunderitsmodernumbrellashouldbeallwhodotheseriousworkin
journalism,regardlessofthetechnologyused.ThepeoplewhowillinventthenextpressinAmerica
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andwhoaredoingitnowonlinecontinueanexperimentatleast250yearsold.Ithasapowerful
socialhistoryandpoliticallegendattached..."Readmore
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RecentEntries
FacebookbacksoffontheViewfromNowhere
DependsonyourpointofviewTheseareweaselwordsforpoliticaljournalists.
Afewthingstokeepinmindwhenyoureangry,frustrated,orboredwithcampaigncoverage.
Wetemporarilylostourminds.SomethoughtsonSBNationsDanielHoltzclawdebacle.
Journalistsashitsquad:ConnectingthedotsonSheldonAdelson,theReviewJournalofLas
VegasandEdwardClarkininConnecticut
TheAdelsonforcesbuyanewspaper,journalistsfightback:ajournalofmyupdatesonthisstory
Influentialnewsoutletshavesetasidetraditionalnotionsofbalance
Tonepoemfortheleaveittherepress
SoIwilltrytoexplainwhytheTrumpcandidacyhasbeensoconfoundingtoourpoliticalpress.
Bloggingisdoingyourworkinpublic.
WithitscurationproductTwitterbecomesaneditorialbeast.Doesthisbeasthaveasoul?
HuffingtonPostsaysitwillframeTrumpscampaignasentertainment.Isupportthat.
Ineedpeoplewhocanmakegooddecisionswithouttiltingittowardtheformstheylearnedon
ortheskillstheyidentifythemselveswith.
TheannouncementthatNBCdidnotmakeaboutBrianWilliamsgettingasecondchancethere.
Campaignreporters:youaregrantednoroleintheprocess.Itisyourpowersagainsttheirs.
Search
Highlights
AudienceAtomizationOvercome:WhytheInternetWeakenstheAuthorityofthePress"
Intheageofmassmedia,thepresswasabletodefinethesphereoflegitimatedebatewith
relativeeasebecausethepeopleonthereceivingendwereatomizedconnecteduptoBig
Mediabutnotacrosstoeachother.Andnowthatauthorityiseroding.Iwilltrytoexplainwhy.
Itseasilythe[]
"ReadmoreThePeopleFormerlyKnownastheAudience:
Youdontowntheeyeballs.Youdontownthepress,whichisnowdividedintoproand
amateurzones.Youdontcontrolproductiononthenewplatform,whichisntoneway.Theres
anewbalanceofpowerbetweenyouandus.
ReadmoreMigrationPointforthePressTribe:
Likereluctantmigrantseverywhere,thepeopleinthenewstribehavetodecidewhattotake
withthem.Whentoleave.Wheretoland.Theyhavetofigureoutwhatisessentialtotheirway
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oflife.Theyhavetoaskifwhattheyknowisportable.
ReadmoreBloggersvs.JournalistsisOver:
Hereisoneadvantagebloggershaveinthestruggleforreputationfortheuserstrust.They
areclosertothetransactionwheretrustgetsbuiltupontheWeb.Theresabigdifference
betweentappingabuiltupasset,liketheSt.PeteTimesbrand,andcreatingitfromscratch.
ReadmoreWherestheBusinessModelforNews,People?
Itsremarkabletomehowmanyaccomplishedproducersofthosegoodsthefutureproduction
ofwhichisindoubtarestillatthestageofaskingotherpeople,Howarewegoingtopayour
reportersifyouguysdontwanttopayforournews?
ReadmoreNationalExplainer:AJobforJournalistsontheDemandSideofNewsThis
AmericanLifesgreatmortgagecrisisexplainer,TheGiantPoolofMoney,suggeststhat
informationandexplanationoughttobereversedinourorderofthought.Especiallyaswe
contemplatenewnewssystems.ReadmoreTheBeastWithoutaBrain:WhyHorseRace
JournalismWorksforJournalistsandFailsUs.
Justsoyouknow,themediahasnomind.Itcannotmakedecisions.Whichmeansitdoesnot
getbehindcandidates.Itdoesnotdecidetoopposeyourguyorgal.Itisabeastwithouta
brain.Mostofthetime,itdoesntknowwhatitsdoing..
ReadmoreTheyreNotinYourClubbutTheyAreinYourLeague:FiredoglakeattheLibby
Trial:
ImjustadvisingNewsroomJoeandJill:makeroomforFDLinyourownideasaboutwhats
comingon,newswise.Dontletyourownformula(blog=opinion)fakeyouout.Aconspiracy
ofthelikemindedtofindoutwhathappenedwhenthenationalnewsmediaisntinclinedtotell
usmightbewaymorepracticalthanyouthink.
ReadmoreTwilightoftheCurmudgeonClass:
WereatthetwilightofthecurmudgeonclassinnewsroomsandJschools.(Thoughtheycan
stilldoalotofdamage.)Youknowtheyregivingupwhentheynolongerbothertoinform
themselvesaboutwhattheythemselvessayishappening.
ReadmoreGettingthePoliticsofthePressRight:WalterPincusRipsintoNewsroom
Neutrality
Theimportantthingistoshowintegritynottobeaneuter,politically.Andhavinggoodfacts
thatholdupisabiggeradvantagethanclaimingtoreflectallsidesequallywell.
ReadmoreAMostUsefulDefinitionofCitizenJournalism
Itsmine,butitshouldbeyours.Canwetakethequotemarksoffnow?Canweremovetheso
calledfrominfront?Withvideo!.
ReadmoreTheMasterNarrativeinJournalism:
Werewinningtosomehowberemovedorretiredastheoperatingsystemfornews,campaign
reportingwouldimmediatelybecomehardertodo,notbecausetherewouldbenonews,but
rathernocommon,repeatableinstructionsfordecidingwhatisakeydevelopmentinthestory,a
turningpoint,asurprise,atrend.Masternarrativesarethushardertoalterthantheyareto
apprehend.Forhowdoyoukeepthestoryrunningwhileaswitchismade?
ReadmoreHeSaid,SheSaidJournalism:LameFormulaintheLandoftheActiveUser
9/15
28/07/2016
Anygoodblogger,competingjournalistoralertpresscriticcanspotandpublicizefalsebalance
andthelameacceptanceoffactfreespin.Dousersreallywanttobelefthelplessinsortingout
whosfakingitmore?Thehesaid,shesaidformsaystheydo,butIsaydeclinehassetin.
ReadmoreUsersKnowMorethanWeDoJournalism:
Itsaputuporshutupmomentforopensourcemethodsinpublicinterestreporting.Canwe
takegoodideaslikedistributedknowledge,socialnetworks,collaborativeediting,thewisdom
ofcrowds,citizenjournalism,proamreportingandputthemtoworktobreaknews?Read
moreIntroducingNewAssignment.Net:
Enterprisereportinggoesproam.Assignmentsareopensourced.Theybeginonline.Reporters
workingwithsmartusersandbloggingeditorsgetthestorythepackwouldnt,couldntor
didnt.ReadmoreWhatILearnedfromAssignmentZero
Herearemycoordinatesfortheterritoryweneedtobesearching.Igotthemfromdoinga
distributedtrendstorywithWired.comandthinkingthroughtheresults.
ReadmoreIfBloggersHadNoEthicsBloggingWouldHaveFailed,ButitDidnt.SoLetsGet
aClue:
Thoseinjournalismwhowanttobringethicstobloggingoughttostartwithwhypeopletrust
(some)bloggers,notwithanethicstemplatemadeforapriorplatformoperatingasaclosed
systeminaonetomanyworld.ReadmoreTheViewFromNowhere:
Occupythereasonablemiddlebetweentwomarkersforvocalcritic,andcriticslook
ridiculouschargingyouwithbias.Theirsymmetricalexistencefeelslikeproofofanunderlying
hysteria.Theirmutuallyincompatiblechargesseemtocanceleachotherout.Theminute
evidencetheymarshallevenshowsatouchoffanaticism.
ReadmoreRollback:
ThisWhiteHousedoesntsettleformanagingthenewswhatusedtobecalledfeedingthe
beastbecausethereisalargeraim:torollbackthepressasaplayerwithintheexecutive
branch,tomakeitlessimportantinrunningtheWhiteHouseandgoverningthecountry.Read
moreRetreatfromEmpiricism:OnRonSuskindsScoop:
Realist,aclassicterminforeignpolicydebates,andrealitybased,whichisnotaclassicterm
butmoreofaninstantclassic,aredifferentideas.Weshouldntfuzzthemup.Thepressis
capableofdoingthatbecauseitnevercametotermswithwhatSuskindreportedin2004.
ReadmoreKarlRoveandtheReligionoftheWashingtonPress:
Savvinessthatqualityofbeingshrewd,practical,wellinformed,perceptive,ironic,withit,
andunsentimentalinallthingspoliticalis,inasense,theirprofessionalreligion.Theymakea
cultofit.AnditwasthiscultthatKarlRoveunderstoodandexploitedforpoliticalgain.
ReadmoreJournalismIsItselfaReligion:
Wereheaded,Ithink,forschism,tumultanddivideasthereligionoftheAmericanpress
meetstheupheavalsinglobalpoliticsandpublicmediathatarewellunderway.Changing
aroundusarethetermsonwhichauthoritycanbeestablishedbyjournalists.TheNetisopening
thingsup,shiftingthepowertopublisharound.Consumersarebecomingproducers,readerscan
bewriters.ReadmoreNewsTurnsfromaLecturetoaConversation:
Someofthepressuretheblogsareputtingonjournalistsshowsup,then,inthedemandfor
newsasconversation,moreofabackandforth,lessofapronouncement.Thisisanideawith
longrootsinacademicjournalismthatsuddenly(asinthisyear)jumpedthetracktobecomepart
ofthenewsindustrysinternaldialogue.
10/15
28/07/2016
ReadmoreLayingtheNewspaperGentlyDowntoDie:
Anindustrythatwontmoveuntilitiscertainofdaysasgoodasitsgoldenpastiseffectively
dead,fromastrategicpointofview.Besides,thereisanalternativeifyoudonthavethefaithor
willorcourageneededtoacceptrealityanddeal.Thealternativeistodrivethepropertytoa
profitabledemise.
ReadmoreGrokkingWoodward:
WoodwardandBernsteinof197274didnthavesuchaccess,andthisprobablyinfluencedfor
thebettertheirviewofwhatNixonandhismenwerecapableof.Watergatewasntbrokenby
reporterswhohadentreetotheinnercorridorsofpower.ItwastwoguysontheMetro
Desk.ReadmoreMaybeMediaBiasHasBecomeaDumbDebate:
Thishereisapostforpracticallyeveryoneinthegameofseizingonmediabiasand
denouncingit,whichispartofourpopularculture,andofcoursealoudpartofourpolitics.And
thisisespeciallyforthewerefairandbalanced,yourenotcrowd,whereverImayhave
locatedyou.ReadmoreBillOReillyandtheParanoidStyleinNews:
OReillyfeedsoffhisownresentmentstheestablishmentsneeringatInsideEditionandlike
HowardBeale,themadprophetoftheairwaves,hisresentmentsareenlargedbythemedium
intopublicgrievancesamongamassofAmericansunfairlydeniedvoice.
ReadmoreThoughtsontheKillingofaYoungCorrespondent:
Amongforeigncorrespondents,thereisaphrase:parachutingin.Thatswhenareporterdrops
intoforeignterritoryduringanemergency,withoutmuchpreparation,stayingonlyaslongasthe
storyremainsbig.ThehighprofilepeoplewhomightparachuteinarecalledBigfootsinthe
jargonofnetworknews.TheproblemwithbeingaBigfoot,ofcourse,isthatitshardtowalkin
otherpeoplesshoes.ReadmoreTheAbyssofObservationAlone.
Therearehiddenmoralhazardsintheethicofneutralobservationandthebeliefina
professionalrolethattranscendsotherloyalties.Ithinkthereisanabysstoobservationalone.
AndIfeelithassomethingtodowithwhymorepeopledonttrustjournalists.Theydonttrust
thatabyss.
ReadmoreFindSomeNewInformationandPutitIntoYourPost.StandardsforProAm
JournalismatOffTheBus:
Opinionbasedoninformationeveryonehasislessvaluablethanopinionjournalismbasedon
informationthatyoudugup,originated,orpiecedtogether.Soitsnotimportanttousthat
contributorskeepopinionout.Whatsimportantisthattheyputnewinformationin.Readmore
SomeBloggersMeettheBossesFromBigMedia:
Whatcapacityforproductdevelopmentdonewsorganizationsshow?Zip.Howaretheyon
nurturinginnovation?Terrible.Isthereanentreprenurialspiritinnewsrooms?No.Dosmart
youngpeopleevercomeinandoverturneverything?Never.
ReadmoreTheWeblog:AnExtremelyDemocraticForminJournalism
Itspirateradio,legalizeditspublicaccesscomingclosertolife.Insidethebordersof
Blogistan(arealplacewithalltheproblemsofarealplace)wereclosertoavisionofproducer
democracythanwearetoanyoftheconsumeristviewsthatlongagotookholdinthemass
media,includingmuchofthejournalismpresentedonthatplatform.
ReadmoreNoOneOwnsJournalism:
AndBigMediadoesntentirelyownthepress,becauseifitdidthentheFirstAmendment,
whichmentionsthepress,wouldbelongtoBigMedia.Anditdoesnt.Thesethingswerealways
11/15
28/07/2016
true.Theweblogdoesntchangethem.Itjustopensupanoutlettothesea.Whichinturn
extendsthepresstothedeskinthebedroomofthesuburbanmom,wheresheblogsat
night.ReadmoreHorseRaceNow!HorseRaceTomorrow!HorseRaceForever!:
Howisityouknowyourethepress?BecauseyouhaveapassthatsaysPRESS,andpeople
openthegate.Thelockerroomdoorsadmityou.Thestorymustbeinsidethatgatethatswhy
theygiveuscredentials.Wegetcloser.Wetellthefanswhatsgoingon.Andifthiswasyour
logic,BillJamestriedtobustit.Fellahs,saidhetothebaseballpress,youhavetorealizethat
youarethegate.
ReadmorePsst.ThePressisaPlayer:
Theanswer,Ithink,involvesanopensecretinpoliticaljournalismthathasbeenrecognizedfor
atleast20years.Butitisneverdealtwith,probablybecausethecostsoffacingitheadonseem
largerthanthelighttaxonhonestyanyopensecretdemands.Thesecretisthis:pssstthepress
isaplayerinthecampaign.Andeventhoughitknowsthis,aseveryoneknowsit,the
professionalcodeofthejournalistcontainsnoinstructionsinwhatthepresscouldorshouldbe
playingfor?
ReadmoreDie,StrategyNews:
Ithinkitsabankruptform.Itservesnoclearpurpose,hasnosensiblerationale.Thejournalists
whoofferusstrategynewsdonotknowwhatpublicservicetheyareproviding,whytheyare
providingit,forwhomitisintended,orhowwearesupposedtousethisstrangevarietyof
news.ReadmoreHeSaid,SheSaid,WeSaid:
Whenjournalistsavoiddrawingopenconclusions,theyaremorevulnerabletochargesof
covertbias,ofhavingaconcealedagenda,ofnotbeingupfrontabouttheirperspective,of
unfairlybuildingacase(for,against)whilepretendingonlytoreportwhathappened.
ReadmoreIfReligionWritersRodetheCampaignBus:
Maybeirony,backstagepeakinganddemystifytheprocessonlygetyousofar,andpastthat
pointtheyexplainnothing.Puzzlingthroughtheconventionstory,becauseImheadingright
intoitmyself,mademetorealizethatjournalismscontemptforritualwasdeeplyinvolvedhere.
Ritualisnewslessthereforeitmustbemeaningless.Butisthatreallytrue?.ReadmorePhilip
Gourevitch:CampaignReportingasForeignBeat:
Apresidentialelectionisalikeagiganticmovingtelevisionshow,hesaid.Itistheextreme
oppositeofanoverlookedevent.Theshowtakesplaceinsideabubble,whichisasecurity
perimeteroverseenbytheSecretService.Ifyougooutsidethebubbleforanyreason,you
becomeasecurityriskuntilyouarescreenedagainbyhand.ReadmoreWhatTimeisitin
PoliticalJournalism?
AdamGopnikarguedtenyearsagothatthepressdidnotknowwhoitwaswithinpolitics,or
whatitstoodfor.Therewasavacuuminjournalismwherepoliticalargumentandimagination
shouldbe.Nowtherearesignsthatthisabsenceofthoughtisending.
ReadmoreOfftheGridJournalism:
Theassignmentwasstraightforwardenough,writesMarjieLundstromoftheSacramentoBee,
talktopeople.Whenawriterdissentsfromitordepartsfromit,themasternarrativeisavery
realthing.Herearetwoexamples:onefrompolitics,onefrommusic.Readmore
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