Economics and media ethics

Meanwhile, MediaDailyNews's Eric Sass uses the recent Washington Post's now-rescinded plan for sponsored reporter/editor-administration sources-industry representatives parties to ask whether economic pressures are pushing media (especially newspapers) into ethically-challenged areas. Short answer: yes.

It's another of his good columns that should be read by every journalist, professional or still in school

Some thoughts on planted "scoops" and conventional wisdom

Speaking of the New York Times, Executive Editor Bill Keller offered some interesting comments in a Time magazine "10 Questions" feature. Of special note were his responses to the questions about the Times' behavior before the Iraq War and on the future of newspapers. Asked about why the Times' basically parroted the administration line on Iraq (that's my characterization, not his), he responded: "It was partly the insatiable desire for scoops people in the Administration were feeding about the potential threat in Iraq. But a lot of it was just that we floated along with the conventional wisdom, the worst enemy of journalism." Asked about the future of newspapers, he replied: "I think this talk about the death of newspapers is a little exaggerated. While online is clearly more and more the future, print has a lot of life left in it."

I was especially struck by the implications for journalists in his answer about the war. Given media's reliance on online publishing, I would think "scoops" would be even more important. As Keller said, scoops often rely on planted "tips" by sources including administrations, businesses, unions, etc. Seems to me that as media put more and more pressure on journalists to come up with instant scoops, they become even more vulnerable to planted stories. And relying on conventional wisdom is one of the many signs of poor (or missing journalism), which really shows up in so-called "citizen journalism," which far too often really means uninformed opinion.
Journalists are taught to be leery of planted stories. Far too often, they don't follow that teaching.

I subscribe to the idea of "journalism of verification," where journalists check out anything they're told. That becomes harder to do if you are being judged on how many tweets or blog items you post each day or how often you update your site's "news digest" as many media outlets do. It's like the No Child Left Behind law's unintended consequences where teachers teach to the test, not what students should be learning. Reporters will be rushing items into print rather than carefully verifying them.

NY Times may charge for Internet access

New York Times appears set to charge Internet viewers. It's floating the idea of a $5 monthly charge. Subscribers to the print edition would pay half that. Look for a flood of other newspapers to start charging for at least part of their websites. It's probably the only way for them to survive.

Even citizen journalism needs more money

In another setback for citizen journalism, Korea's Ohmynews is facing money troubles. The problem for the organization, which is built around non-staffers writing stories that then are edited by professionals, is the worldwide advertising slump, which has cut sharply into revenues. It once again raises the question of whether media money problems are because of lack of interest in news or due to advertising cuts. Or maybe a little of both.

Computers and writing, some observations

There are a couple of interesting stories out there about how computers are affecting our minds.
One, from Newsweek, is about something called cryptomnesia in which we unconsciously plagiarize material. Although the story doesn't say it, I think our new lives on computers, with all the information we take in, makes it easier for us to subconsciously plagiarize. What the story does say, and this is the most important part, is that journalists must be aware of this possibility and really battle it.

The second story is from the Atlantic. It suggests that extensive use of Google (and I would add other Internet sources) is affecting our concentration and reading habits. For example, the article cites a former College literature graduate who now can't concentrate enough to read books. I find that my concentration levels needed for long-form writing isn't as strong as it used to be, and wonder if that's because I'm spending so much time reading short bursts of information.

Where newspapers are more than just news

     Speaking of culture shock (OK, so we weren’t, but maybe we should), I arrived in Melbourne on Sunday to be greeted by the Sunday Age, Rupert Murdoch’s original newspaper, which boasted it’s 52-page special Games section with pages of Sudoku, several variations of it, crosswords, word and math puzzles, and logic puzzles.

     With only two and a half pages of the 52-page section devoted to advertising, it was a throwback to the ages when newspapers really wanted readers. Again, maybe American newspaper publishers will look at what works in the rest of the world, and what worked for so long in America, and go after readers.  The key in building American newspaper readers was to give them much more than just news. Sure, newspapers a hundred years ago were news-oriented, but that was the era when comics, columns, and even fiction was used to bring in readers only marginally interested in news.

     I used to get so annoyed trying to get the old Journal management to go after readers instead of having advertising drive every decision. I felt that once we had readers, advertisers would follow.  Strong readership should translate into advertising.

     What’s annoying is that this is the formula that built that strong readership for American newspapers, but they’ve spent the last forty years ignoring readers using the mantra “advertisers” want this or that. Murdoch understands that advertisers want sales, and strong readership brings sales for advertisers. His newspapers are making lots of money. How many American newspapers can claim the same?

      Earlier this month, I spent two weeks in Italy reading Italian newspapers, all of which were filled with features aimed at readers – and advertising. Now I’m in Australia where the formula is followed. It makes me sick to see that American newspapers have apparently decided online – and news instead of entertainment – is the only way to go. Not necessarily.

Media atwitter over new media

First off, I apologize for that outrageous pun in the heading. I couldn't resist. Anyway, newspapers are all over the place in laying down rules for new media like Facebook and Twitter, reflecting the vast uncertainty many of them feel about social media. (I'm not sure some of them have a clue about social media; they sure don't act like it.) Guidelines range from very strict "thou shalt not 'friend' a source" to "keep it loose and conversational." My personal belief is that ethics rules really should rule. For example, I don't "friend" students until they graduate and ask. Seems to me that professional relationships should also be fairly easy to establish.

Nature abhors a vacuum

     With the Detroit newspapers now online most days a week, it was almost inevitable that someone would attempt to replace their printed editions with a new print product.  Well, they have. A new newspaper is expected to be launched within 60 days.  When the Detroit papers announced their plans, which include printing newspapers only on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, I wondered since Detroit is such a big sports town and Monday newspapers, especially during the what-seems-like 10 months a year NFL season, are important to readers.

Site offers future for citizen journalist

     New web site seeks to build on entrepreneurial journalists. Staffers could be paid by the traffic they draw. Entrepreneurial journalism is a concept that is going to grow as we redefine the media world.

     I'm not sure this is the way to go because things are changing so rapidly. But at least it offers journalist some pay as opposed to those new media folks who scream citizen journalists and free news. Frankly, news, like everything else, is generally worth what you pay for it.

Ad spending continues to decline

News flash!  Ad spending down all over. In fact, Nielsen reports, it's down 12% in the first quarter alone.

This isn't a surprise to anyone, but the breakdown is. The worst category is newspaper Sunday supplements. The best is Hispanic cable networks. All newspaper categories are below the average decline. 

Lenders may take over Tribune Co.

Reports say the Chicago Tribune Co. lenders may take over the company from Sam Zell.  They can't run the company any worse than he has been.

Outsourcing the news

Interesting column by a writer in New England about his newspaper's attempt to show what outsourced news looks like. His auto column was replaced by one written by a writer in India. 

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I don't think American media can safely farm out writing and editing news, which depends so much on institutional memory.  However, design, copyediting national and international stories and some columns are a different matter.  For example, an auto column. Having written one for the old Milwaukee Journal, I can say that local climates affect driving enough that I don't think a writer in India can really speak to the local issues.  Still, most car reviews don't depend on climate conditions (I remember four cars and trucks where Milwaukee's climate was mentioned in the reviews).

On the other hand (remember we're talking about India where the Hindu god Vishnu has four hands), I spent two weeks teaching students at an Indian college backpack journalism a few months ago, and was taken with their seriousness and dedication to learning. They are going to be formidable journalists, and I am proud to have helped them.

My bottom line is that as long as it is JOURNALISTS writing the news, it's not all that bad. I am not a fan of amateurs writing the news. There are standards and ethics that shouldn't be overlooked.