NIEMAN REPORTS THE NIEMAN FOUNDATION FOR JOURNALISM AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY

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—Agnes Wahl Nieman, the benefactor of the Nieman Foundation.

Vol. 60 No. 4 NIEMAN REPORTS Winter 2006 THE NIEMAN FOUNDATION FOR JOURNALISM AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Publisher Bob Giles Editor Melissa Ludtke Assistant Editor Lois Fiore Editorial Assistant Sarah Hagedorn Design Editor Diane Novetsky

Nieman Reports (USPS #430-650) is published Editorial in March, June, September and December Telephone: 617-496-6308 by the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University, E-Mail Address: One Francis Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-2098. [email protected]

Subscriptions/Business Internet Address: Telephone: 617-496-2968 www.nieman.harvard.edu E-Mail Address: [email protected] Copyright 2006 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. Subscription $20 a year, $35 for two years; add $10 per year for foreign airmail. Single copies $5. Second-class postage paid at Boston, Back copies are available from the Nieman office. Massachusetts and additional entries.

Please address all subscription correspondence to POSTMASTER: One Francis Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-2098 Send address changes to and change of address information to Nieman Reports, P.O. Box 4951, Manchester, NH 03108. P.O. Box 4951, ISSN Number 0028-9817 Manchester, NH 03108. Vol. 60 No. 4 NIEMAN REPORTS Winter 2006 THE NIEMAN FOUNDATION FOR JOURNALISM AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Goodbye Gutenberg Sensing the Change

5 Caught in the Web BY JON PALFREMAN

7 A Dinosaur Adapts BY KEVIN CULLEN

8 Risk-Adverse Newspapers Won’t Cross the Digital Divide BY CHRIS COBLER

10 Capital Crisis in the Profitable Newspaper Industry BY ROBERT G. PICARD

13 Newspapers and Their Quest for the Holy Grail BY MICHAEL RILEY

Pushing Forward

15 Tired of Waiting to Move Ahead BY GENEVA OVERHOLSER

16 Media Convergence: ‘Just Do It’ BY ULRIK HAAGERUP

19 Navigating the Road to Convergence BY RALPH GAGE

23 Meshing Purpose With Product BY PHILIP MEYER

Building Community

25 Community Building on the Web: Implications for Journalism BY CRAIG NEWMARK

27 The Challenge of Community Building BY GARY KEBBEL

29 Why Anonymity Exists and Works on Newspapers’ Web Sites BY STEVE YELVINGTON

Finding Our Footing

31 Are Journalists the 21st Century’s Buggy Whip Makers? BY WILLIAM DIETRICH

34 Looking Past the Rush Into Convergence BY EDWARD WASSERMAN

36 We Can Adjust to Changing Demands, But Should We? BY JOE ZELNIK

37 Evolving Definitions of News BY TOM BETTAG

39 Toward a New Journalism With Verification SPEECH BY BILL KOVACH

42 Journalism and Web 2.0 BY FRANCIS PISANI

Cover photo: A medal by Scharff of Vienna from “A Short History of The Printing Press And of the Improvements in Printing Machinery from the Time of Gutenberg up to the Present Day,” printed and published for Robert Hoe, New York, 1902. Expanding Our Reach 45 Gathering Voices to Share With a Worldwide Online Audience BY REBECCA MACKINNON AND ETHAN ZUCKERMAN

48 Blogging News in China BY LUWEI (ROSE) LUQIU

50 Puzzling Contradictions of China’s Internet Journalism BY FONS TUINSTRA

52 Will News Find a Home on YouTube? BY MORRIS JONES Converging on the Web

54 Myths and Realities of Convergence BY RANDY COVINGTON

57 When Walls Come Tumbling Down BY JIM KENNEDY

59 Enterprising Journalism in a Multimedia World BY JOHN SOLOMON

62 Confronting the Dual Challenge of Print and Electronic News BY PAUL E. STEIGER

64 Feeding the Web While Reporting the Story BY NEIL CHASE Exploring New Connections

66 Taking the Big Gulp BY JANE ELLEN STEVENS

70 Sights and Sounds of a Newspaper’s Editorials BY SUSAN ALBRIGHT

72 An Optimistic Plunge Into Multimedia Reporting BY JOE HOWRY

74 Narrative Journalism in the Era of the Web BY LEE HANCOCK AND MARK MILLER

76 Finding New People to Tell the Stories BY CRAIG COX

78 When the Web Feeds the Newspaper BY ERIC BLOM

80 Inviting Readers Into the Editorial Process BY ELLEN FOLEY

82 The Digital Reach of a Newspaper’s Code of Ethics BY DEAN MILLER Taking Words

84 Plagiarism Goes by a Different Name on the Web BY JUDY MULLER

86 Teaching Journalism Students to Value What Is Authentic BY BRENT WALTH

88 The ‘P’ Word in the Book Business BY MARGARET ENGEL

3 Curator’s Corner: Examining the Core of the Nieman Experience BY BOB GILES

91 Nieman Notes COMPILED BY LOIS FIORE

91 Newspapers Have Met Their Enemy Within BY WATSON SIMS 92 Class Notes

102 End Note: Goodbye To All That—A Memoir BY EDWARD C. NORTON

2 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Curator’s Corner

Expanding Our Reach Examining the Core of the Nieman Experience 45 Gathering Voices to Share With a Worldwide Online Audience BY REBECCA MACKINNON AND ETHAN ZUCKERMAN The Curator explores how the foundation can best cultivate the skills journalists

48 Blogging News in China BY LUWEI (ROSE) LUQIU will need in the digital era. 50 Puzzling Contradictions of China’s Internet Journalism BY FONS TUINSTRA By Bob Giles 52 Will News Find a Home on YouTube? BY MORRIS JONES n almost any gathering of journalists these days, the • Nieman Reports utilizes eMprint templates, developed topic eventually turns to the state of our craft and the by Roger Fidler at the University of Missouri’s School of Converging on the Web Icommercial enterprises that support it. A rapid trans- Journalism, to create newsbooks of its articles on specific formation is taking place in journalism. The changes are themes in an easy to read and download format. 54 Myths and Realities of Convergence BY RANDY COVINGTON driven by digital technologies, many of which have been • The Nieman Watchdog Web site encourages investigative brilliantly adopted by entrepreneurs capitalizing on op- reporting by drawing on authorities in various fields to 57 When Walls Come Tumbling Down BY JIM KENNEDY portunities they’ve seen that mainstream news companies offer analysis of issues and questions the press might 59 Enterprising Journalism in a Multimedia World BY JOHN SOLOMON failed to anticipate. consider asking. Members of the last Nieman class were consumed with • The Nieman Narrative Digest, launched in April, advances 62 Confronting the Dual Challenge of Print and Electronic News BY PAUL E. STEIGER worry over the demise of Knight Ridder newspapers and its the practice of narrative journalism by providing useful potential implications for newspapers owned by publicly and inspiring resources for writers, editors, teachers 64 Feeding the Web While Reporting the Story BY NEIL CHASE traded companies. (Two members of that class returned and students of narrative, and offering a forum for the to jobs at their former Knight Ridder newspapers to find exchange of ideas and resources. different ownership than when they’d left.) The relentless Exploring New Connections demand of institutional shareholders for extremely high The foundation also can be helpful through its occasional 66 Taking the Big Gulp BY JANE ELLEN STEVENS profit margins and strong stock prices is incompatible seminars for journalists and the annual Nieman Narrative with the historic role of the printed press as a public trust. Conference. Such initiatives are part of the foundation’s 70 Sights and Sounds of a Newspaper’s Editorials BY SUSAN ALBRIGHT During an afternoon discussion in late spring the fellows service to journalism. Though each is educational in na- worked through two case studies with professors from the ture, they don’t fully address the question of what role the 72 An Optimistic Plunge Into Multimedia Reporting BY JOE HOWRY Harvard Business School; they examined how Google, a foundation, as a whole, might play. start-up, and Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, from The answer might be found in thinking about the core 74 Narrative Journalism in the Era of the Web BY LEE HANCOCK AND MARK MILLER the mainstream media, had shaped their business models strength, which is the fellowship program. Through the 76 Finding New People to Tell the Stories BY CRAIG COX to succeed in the digital age. years, Nieman Fellowships have been held largely by print During their weekly discussions at Lippmann House, journalists. Will the print media, especially newspapers, 78 When the Web Feeds the Newspaper BY ERIC BLOM our fellows also examined and reexamined the more tradi- continue to provide the most serious, authoritative content? tional issues of journalistic performance and, in particular, In recent Nieman classes, an increasing number of broad- 80 Inviting Readers Into the Editorial Process BY ELLEN FOLEY challenges to the watchdog role of the press. They were cast and online journalists, documentary filmmakers and haunted by the acknowledgement that the press failed to freelance writers have been represented in the applicant 82 The Digital Reach of a Newspaper’s Code of Ethics BY DEAN MILLER report aggressively and authoritatively during the months pools and in the fellows selected. In future years, we need leading up to the Iraq War. And they were troubled by the to ask ourselves, as part of our selection process, what the Taking Words deepening conflicts news organizations are experiencing best mix of skills and work site will be to meet the needs with the Bush administration and the federal courts over of the digital era. 84 Plagiarism Goes by a Different Name on the Web BY JUDY MULLER the journalistic disclosure of information, held as secret, Every news medium, from newspapers to blogs, needs that the public should have. journalists who are committed to adhering to—and, we 86 Teaching Journalism Students to Value What Is Authentic BY BRENT WALTH During a recent meeting of the foundation’s advisory hope, elevating—the standards of journalism, who under- board, I asked for thoughts on how the Nieman Foundation stand the press’s role and responsibility, and who can bring 88 The ‘P’ Word in the Book Business BY MARGARET ENGEL might serve as an educational force in the transformation of authoritative knowledge to the stories they handle. journalism. It is a question we are still considering and one The Nieman experience can encourage more investiga- 3 Curator’s Corner: Examining the Core of the Nieman Experience BY BOB GILES that invites thoughts and ideas from our family of alumni. tive reporting, contribute to a breadth and depth of global The influence of digital technology on journalism is understanding, open fellows’ thinking to new possibilities, 91 Nieman Notes COMPILED BY LOIS FIORE realized largely through the Internet, which has become a help them continue a serious dialogue about journalism, powerful interactive platform, engaging voices that have not renew their commitment to serving the public interest and 91 Newspapers Have Met Their Enemy Within BY WATSON SIMS usually been as occupied as they are now in the conversa- sustaining our enduring values, and prepare them to con- 92 Class Notes tion about news and newsgathering. The Nieman Founda- tribute to the learning and development of their journalistic tion makes good use of online opportunities to encourage colleagues. When we are able to accomplish these things, 102 End Note: Goodbye To All That—A Memoir BY EDWARD C. NORTON transformative thinking about journalism. What follows are the Nieman Fellowships will have an essential role to play examples of how we serve this purpose: in a challenging time for journalism. I

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 3 GoodbyeGoodbye Gutenberg Gutenberg

Journalism is on a fast-paced, transformative journey, its destination still unknown. That the Web and other media technologies are affecting mightily the practice of journalism is beyond dispute. Less clear is any shared vision of what the future holds. Newsrooms are being hollowed out, and editors who resist such cutbacks are losing their jobs. Digital video cameras and tape recorders replace reporters’ notebooks as newspapers—and other news organizations—train staff in multimedia storytelling. In this issue, words about journalists’ experiences in the digital era transport our vision forward, while our eye takes us on a visual voyage back to a time when newspapers wove communities together. For the use of photographic images in our “Newspaper Gallery,” we thank Karen Wyatt, the Director of Collections and Visual Resources at the Newseum, and her colleague Carrie Christoffersen, Curator of Collections, for their guidance and assistance. For enabling us to include artists’ renderings, we are grateful to Shaun O’L. Higgins, coauthor of “The Newspaper in Art” and “Press Gallery: The Newspaper in Modern and Postmodern Art,” and to Julie Read, marketing assistant at New Media Ventures, Inc., the publisher of these art books. Permission to publish these pictures was granted by David L. Kencik, Collections Data Manager at the San Diego Museum of Art, and Paul Richelson, Chief Curator at the Mobile (Alabama) Museum. To them, we say thank you. The photograph on this page was donated to the Nieman Foundation by Curator Bob Giles in 2003 and now resides, along with the photograph on page 48, at Lippmann House.

NEWSPAPER GALLERY

Max Schwartz and his brother Jacob often sold newspapers until 10 p.m.. Newark, New Jersey. December 1909. Photo by Lewis W. Hine/Courtesy Bob Giles.

4 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Goodbye Gutenberg | Sensing the Change Caught in the Web ‘With the Web, we could be witnessing the most important development in expressive media since the advent of writing.’

By Jon Palfreman

n 1992, I helped produce a PBS ment and culture, along with our criti- the Web means for work we do in re- television series about the history cal recording of events (our news). No porting and disseminating news and Iof the computer, grandiosely called field of human endeavor has escaped information. Given its transformative the “Machine That Changed the World.” the Web’s reach. capacity, we can regard the Web as a The episodes recounted humankind’s On this glass highway, gossip has problem or we can see it as a potential failure to grasp that computers were thrived: from cell phones––the fast- solution to a broader problem that we not simply number crunchers. They est adopted global technology––to would have had to face anyway. were “universal machines” that could “spaces” where (mostly) young people Let’s look first at the problem. do just about anything—from process- show off, meet and hang out. Com- Arguably, the Web has exacerbated ing words to arranging music, from merce, government and culture have journalism’s woes, contributing to the decoding genes to editing video. also made smart uses of the Web: from loss of advertising, the consolidation The computer did change the world, online trading to public outreach, from of media ownership, the erosion of but not nearly as much as what fol- international scientific collaborations readership/audience (especially among lowed it. The Internet, in 1992 a clumsy to national archives. the young) with traditional media, system linking university researchers, As journalists, we think about what and the loss of public trust. It’s hard was about to morph not to be offended into the World Wide watching media bar- Web, a seamless, ons jostle to sell off NEWSPAPER GALLERY user-friendly, global “old” media assets infrastructure con- like newspapers, necting potentially radio and television every human on the stations and snap planet. I never saw up “new” ones like, it coming. for example, the so- Today, we’re all cial exchange sites caught in the Web. MySpace, Facebook Physically, it’s em- and YouTube. Jour- bodied as a plan- nalists fret that such etary necklace of outlets will lead to ultra pure glass, the abandonment of through which traditional core val- pulses of laser ues of journalism, light whiz back and such as indepen- forth (we connect dence, autonomy, to this necklace objectivity and fair- either directly or ness. by wireless). Cul- turally, its reach is Engaging the much greater. For Young those pulses carry Newsroom at the New York World. January 1890. National Park Service Research the world’s gossip, Library/Courtesy Newseum. But there’s a more commerce, govern- positive possibility.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 5 Goodbye Gutenberg

The Web may have arrived just at the generations of test takers. productions combining text, stills, right time to re-engage a generation A generation reared on video games audio and video. that has abandoned newspapers. is primed for an interactive multimedia Over time, how will the Web, our Why don’t they read? Partly because platform like the Web. Indeed, the love first meta-platform, change our me- today’s 20-year-olds—who have fest between the MySpace generation dia landscape? I suspect our platform grown up immersed in an audiovisual and the Web may signal a profound distinctions will not be completely world of computers, video games, moment in human culture. With the eroded—nor will it lead to a total con- cable and satellite television––might Web, we could be witnessing the most vergence among them, either—since, be neurologically wired differently important development in expressive after all, the various platforms relate to from their baby-boomer parents. A media since the advent of writing. One sights, sounds and language, which are 2004 Michigan State study found that exciting if disruptive possibility is that the primary channels that humans use eighth-grade boys spend on average 23 under the influence of the young, the to communicate. But the Web will likely hours a week—that’s nearly an entire Internet will usher in a new era of in- force television, radio and print jour- day each week––playing video games teractive, audiovisual literacy. Though nalists to get to know each other better. (girls spend about half as much). Even By bringing these formats together, the college-age males average 16 hours Web should facilitate complementary a week of gaming. According to The NEWSPAPER GALLERY storytelling approaches, something John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur that should enrich the journalistic Foundation, “On a typical day, more enterprise. than half of U.S. teenagers use a com- These speculations should be taken puter and more than 40 percent play a with a large pinch of salt. Media tech- video game.” This generation’s gossip nologies have a history of developing is also shared in audiovisual ways, with in unpredictable ways, surprising even exchanges involving not only written their pioneers. In 1947, for example, and spoken words but photos, videos the Harvard computer engineer How- and music. ard Aiken argued that six electronic Different wiring doesn’t mean computers would satisfy the United dumber wiring. While middle-aged pro- States’s computing needs. There was fessors moan about today’s students’ no way that he could imagine that poor grammar, by other measures the one day there would be hundreds of MySpace generation is the smartest millions of them used (mostly) for in history. Historically referenced IQ A blue painted wooden newsboy wagon anything but arithmetic. scores have been rising steadily since with white lettering that was used to So my vision of what’s ahead could World War I, by a few points a decade. deliver The Buffalo Evening News. 1915. be quite wrong. But if I’m right, the If you accept that IQ tests measure Newseum collection/Courtesy Newseum. Web arrived just in time to re-engage intelligence, then the world is getting what has turned out to be the MySpace smarter. Today’s average child (with a generation. And even if old media con- score of 100) would have been consid- tinue their decline, there is still hope. ered a near genius 50 years ago (scoring written words will remain critical to hu- Perhaps, with some guidance from around 115, as measured against the man communication, it’s likely they will us, our newly minted game-playing 1956 average). no longer dominate in the exchange journalism graduates will find ways to This strange phenomenon of ris- of news and information. reinvent the art of storytelling in the ing IQ scores is known as the “Flynn Journalists will have to meet this age of the World Wide Web. I effect,” named after the New Zealand- challenge—or perish. based psychologist James R. Flynn who Jon Palfreman, a 2006 Nieman Fel- uncovered it. And most significantly, New Ways of Telling Stories low, is KEZI Distinguished Professor the tests that show the greatest gains of Broadcast Journalism at the Uni- are abstract and visual. Students who Before the Web, storytelling was versity of Oregon. A veteran of both might struggle with a history essay platform specific. Newspapers and U.K. and U.S. television, he has made make short work of tests like Raven’s magazines focused on text and pho- more than 40 BBC and PBS one- Progressive Matrices. In this nonverbal tos, radio told stories with audio, and hour documentaries including the intelligence test measuring spatial rea- television dealt with moving pictures Peabody Award-winning series the soning, subjects are presented with a and sounds. Each platform has its tools “Machine That Changed the World,” series of figures with a missing piece. and specialized skill sets, advantages the Emmy Award-winning NOVA They must choose the correct piece and disadvantages. The Web forces “Siamese Twins,” and the Alfred I. from a set of similar looking choices, these platforms to integrate. Today’s duPont-Columbia University Silver and their scores beat out all previous best media Web sites are multimedia Baton-winner, “Harvest of Fear.”

6 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Sensing the Change A Dinosaur Adapts ‘Unencumbered by the need to squeeze words into a finite space, the Internet proved better for me, as the writer, and I’d argue for readers, too, than newsprint.’

By Kevin Cullen

ast summer, on a glorious morn- correspondent for a Weblog they set up their sports pub in the middle of a ing in Manhattan, I was sitting on to chronicle the World Cup matches in Sarasota strip mall less than two years L Jimmy Breslin’s deck, 16 stories Germany. And so I found myself sitting earlier, after arriving from their native above the Upper West Side, bitching in an English pub in Sarasota, Florida Newcastle. Like many Geordies, they and moaning about how much the with my 12-year-old son, Patrick, are warm and welcoming, and Tony newspaper business has changed. As I about to watch England play Portugal. took an immediate shine to Patrick, whined, Breslin almost snorted coffee There are more British people living in who was wearing an England jersey. through his nose. Florida than in any other place outside But not for nothing is Newcastle’s most “Business?” he asked, incredu- of Britain and, if you have to ask why, famous musician named Sting. The lously. then you’ve never felt the lashing rain Geordies, like all the English, know He put his mug down and waved of Blackpool, Manchester or London pain when it comes to losing on the his hand at me, dismissively. “The busi- on your face. soccer pitch. ness,” Breslin said, “is gone.” I was based in London for several When, in the 62nd minute, England’s Sometimes, it feels that way. The years, and in the course of living there talented but impetuous striker Wayne newspaper game my generation got Patrick became a devoted England Rooney kicked a Portugal player where into 25 years ago has changed dra- supporter, much to the chagrin of our it hurts and received a red card, there matically. At many papers, circulation Irish friends in Dublin, my previous was a collective groan in Champions. is falling, and the money growing on posting. The English team is to soccer The young yelped, and their elders re- classified trees that let us do just about what my beloved Boston Red Sox are called when a young, immature David anything is gone. The bean counters to baseball. True, they did capture the Beckham delivered a similarly ill-timed are everywhere. Consultants tell us World Cup in 1966, just as the Red Sox kick to an Argentine that resulted in a what news is. We click onto Romenesko won the World Series in 2004. But, red card that precipitated an England every day, checking not for tips on historically, like the Red Sox, England loss on penalty kicks in 1998. This had how to do our jobs better but to see loses big games and loses them in such all the makings of a preordained, Shake- who else is getting bought out or laid spectacular, heartbreaking fashion that spearean tragedy: the English, down a off. There are fewer reporters and too their failures are far more memorable man, kept missing scoring chances and many editors who seem to think it’s than their successes. a coy, calculating Portugal side seemed their job to suck the life out of copy, I decamped to Tony Middlemiss’s determined to have the game decided lest we be accused of bias or pride. sports pub, Champions, fully expecting on penalty kicks after overtime. Getting a story into the paper simply to chronicle yet another excruciating Almost inevitably, it came to penalty because it’s a good read is so much loss by England. I was on vacation and kicks and, predictably, England lost, harder than it used to be. initially thought only of filing a blog and the crowd at Champions cursed What the hell happened? entry, but decided to pitch a story to Joe and cried and ordered more pints of “They took all the fun out,” Breslin Sullivan, The Boston Globe sports edi- Newkie Brown Ale to drown their sor- said, nodding sagely. But as he’d be tor. Joe, who’s a pleasure to do business rows. Patrick and I drove back to our the first to admit, maybe he and the with because he encourages creative rented condo, and in less than an hour rest of us who think journalism is sup- writing, signed on quickly, intrigued by I’d written and filed my Globe story and posed to be fun at the same time it’s the idea of all these sun-worshipping sent off a similar version to the blog. being important are just dinosaurs. ex-pat Brits crammed into a Florida The blog took me about 10 minutes to And, like dinosaurs, if you don’t adapt, bar in the middle of the day. He saw write, a task made easier because I’d you die. the piece as a sidebar, part of a pack- already hashed out themes and tran- Trying desperately to adapt, a little age with stories filed from Germany sitions. But after I realized how easy more than a month after that cup of by Frank Dell’Apa, our soccer writer, it was to write for the blog, I thought coffee I took my first assignment as a and John Powers, one of the nation’s that maybe I should have done it the blogger. For reasons still unclear to me, finest newspaper writers of sport and other way around. the Goethe-Institut, a German cultural anything else. Later, the sports copy desk called to organization, asked me to be the U.S. Tony and his wife, Joy, had opened say I needed to trim the piece. Space

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 7 Goodbye Gutenberg

was tighter than expected. So I began story. It wasn’t much longer, maybe and his wife, Ronnie, at the Cape Cod doing what I increasingly find myself by 300 to 400 words, but those extra premier of his 9/11 play-in-progress, doing as the years go by and the news words contained some good quotes, “Love Lasts on Myrtle Avenue.” hole, in its inverse relationship with my some stylistic segues, and a little more “So whaddya doin?” Breslin goes. waistline, grows smaller and smaller. I color. It was, without a doubt, a better “You workin on any good stories?” chopped and cut, agonizing about what read. Unencumbered by the need to I told him I was writing a blog and words, what quotes, what transitions squeeze words into a finite space, the that it was better than writing for the had to go to make the damn thing fit. Internet proved better for me, as the paper. All the while, my blog entry circulated writer, and I’d argue for readers, too, “Blog?” Breslin growled. “Sounds in cyberspace, being read by Germans, than newsprint. like a (expletive) monster.” and who knows who else reads such Now if the bean counters could Could be, Jimmy. Could be. I things. only figure out how to make enough The next day, I compared my words advertising dollars off this stuff, we’d Kevin Cullen, a 2003 Nieman Fellow, that had gotten into the paper with be all set. is a projects reporter for The Boston what I wrote for the blog. The blog en- A few days later, I called Breslin, Globe. try seemed better than the newspaper making plans to meet up with him Risk-Adverse Newspapers Won’t Cross the Digital Divide ‘Newspapers lacked the external vision necessary to see the vast range of opportunities created by the Internet.’

By Chris Cobler

hen a University of Northern as we had it, rather than waiting for the TV is important, too. To get more com- Colorado (UNC) punter next day’s paper. We shouldn’t tip off fortable, these journalists must develop W stabbed his competition in the Denver TV stations to the details, new skills so they can be the ones tell- the right leg, the story attracted na- one veteran reporter told me. ing stories on multiple platforms in our tional attention. At the Greeley (Colo.) digital age. To do this, newspapers must Tribune, UNC’s hometown newspaper, invest in them, staffing newsrooms we didn’t hesitate to post the story on By combining their print adequately and training journalists for our Web site as soon as we had it, scoop- and online operations, this growth opportunity. ing our print edition by more than 12 Instead, most large news media hours. The beat reporter also blogged newspapers will remain companies are slashing staff in a about the news, and our multimedia profitable longer. Even desperate bid to reduce expenses as editor shot and posted video of the profits plunge. This death spiral makes injured punter visiting practice after with this approach, me fear for the future of an industry his release from the hospital. [Robert G.] Picard I love. As the spiral keeps spinning in This might be called a success story this direction, what will metropolitan in our company’s quest to merge our predicts, the day will newspapers have left to offer Internet- newsroom’s print and online cultures. come when newspapers savvy readers? Media economist Robert However, the story also revealed how G. Picard estimates that only 15 percent far we have to go. Our staff didn’t will have to shift entirely of their printed content is unique to think to call our multimedia editor to a new business model. their newspaper. The low percentage when the UNC athletic department helps explain how vulnerable metro called a press conference to discuss newspapers are to digital competition. the stabbing. Instead, we staffed it Print journalists still struggle with [See Picard’s article on page 10.] the traditional way—with a reporter the idea of having what they do each During my Nieman year, I sought and still photographer. And some staff day go up online so quickly—increas- out experts such as Picard, who was members objected when we put the ingly accompanied by audio and visual at Harvard as a Shorenstein Fellow, arrest warrant affidavit online as soon elements. Getting it also on radio and to discuss the future of newspapers.

8 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Sensing the Change

Picard delivered the keynote address The Swift family’s principled owner- evidence also tells me many new read- at the International Symposium on On- ship gives me hope in these uncertain ers are finding us online rather than line Journalism outlining this struggle. times. While publicly traded companies in print. Through my blog, I’ve heard As he put it, newspapers’ days as a plan exit strategies, our owners seek from many younger readers and from cash cow are numbered as newspaper ways to grow their newspapers. They’re many studying or working at our local companies search for a way to extend prepared to drop their profit margins university. For these readers, the print their date with the financial butcher. By if they believe they can build a path newspaper had become irrelevant, combining their print and online op- toward long-term growth. Of course, yet they found the quick-hitting and erations, newspapers will remain prof- that’s a huge gamble with their family interactive nature of the Internet suits itable longer. Even with this approach, business at a time when no one has their needs. Picard predicts, the day will come when figured out the new business model. Newspaper Web sites with the newspapers will have to shift entirely Fortunately, community newspapers highest market penetration are the to a new business model. have an edge in the digital age. We focus ones with the highest percentages on the two ways Picard explained that of original content—not just stories The Internet First Initiative newspapers generate value: through shoveled from the print edition. Some specialization and exclusivity. We newspaper Web sites have four to eight Since the age of 35, when I’d taken specialize in local content that read- times as many online users as print sub- the editor’s job at the Tribune, a ers can’t get anywhere else. With this scribers, according to Clark G. Gilbert, family-owned company, I’d fancied cushion, we can buy ourselves a little a Harvard Business School professor myself remaining in this job for a few more time to learn from the mistakes who worked on the American Press decades at least. And during the first being made by others. Institute’s Newspaper Next project.2 of those decades, the paper did enjoy That time is limited, however. In [See Philip Meyer’s article on page much journalistic success, including my new role as Internet division pub- 23 for more on the Newspaper Next being recognized with the Robert G. lisher, I have tried to instill a sense project.] The catch is that advertisers McGruder Award for Diversity Leader- of urgency in our newsrooms and pay only a fraction for each online user ship and The Associated Press Manag- advertising departments. For the most compared with a print reader. ing Editors’ International Perspective part, journalists get it. They’ve read Award. With our owners’ commitment the industry headlines of the past five Exploring the Business to community journalism, we were able years; they know they need to tell sto- Equation to act like a newspaper much larger ries on multiple platforms. To head us than our 26,000-daily circulation. in this new direction, we’ve taken the I didn’t start my Nieman year with the Our staff was larger than the industry following steps: idea that I’d spend the second half of average, and we were willing to send it at the Harvard Business School. But our reporters wherever a local con- • We’ve asked all Tribune reporters that’s where my search for newspaper’s nection took us—from Mexico to the to blog to help them understand future led me. There, I found Gilbert Dominican Republic and from Ethiopia writing for a different medium. and Clayton Christensen explaining to Liberia. • Our online readers vote on stories new business models, disruptive tech- But while I was at Harvard, our for the front page of the next day’s nologies, and growth creation. Their company changed its name from Swift print edition. faculty colleague Rosabeth Moss Kanter Newspapers to Swift Communications • We’re training our staff to produce illustrated for me how little attention and prepared to launch an Internet multimedia stories. newspapers pay to managing change, First Initiative. Chief Operating Officer and Elie Ofek, another professor there, Robert Brown persuaded me to lead Even with these steps, we recog- reminded me how little newspapers this initiative for 30 of our community nize we’re a long way from being a spend on marketing and innovation. newspapers while also operating the truly converged newsroom. But we It long has chafed me that soda com- Tribune Web site.1 I still had my doubts are seeing the rewards of our efforts in panies spend billions to convince con- about leaving the job I loved, but I was growing readership. Our Web sites in sumers to spend more than a dollar on touched deeply when one of our two northern Colorado attract more than a drink that costs pennies to produce owners—sisters who carry on the rich 1.1 million page views and 140,000 and is bad for you while newspapers tradition of community service estab- unique visitors monthly. Our surveys produce what is the cornerstone of lished by their father, who founded the show most of these Web readers are democracy and sell it for 50 cents, company—personally thanked me for not print subscribers, yet most live yet readers regularly complain about taking on the Internet challenge. within our coverage area. Anecdotal the cost.

1 www.greeleytrib.com/ 2 Clark Gilbert’s article, cowritten with Scott D. Anthony, about disruptive technologies is in the Spring 2006 issue of Nieman Reports at www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/contents.html

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 9 Goodbye Gutenberg

One of my bigger aha moments came newspaper industry, on the other hand, profit margins. One question worth during Andrew McAfee’s “Managing has barely awakened to this need. The asking is whether we have the guts to in the Information Age” class. The Newspaper Next project is a small first go after market share at the expense Readership Institute’s research has step in the search for a new business of the bottom line. told us about newspapers as defensive model for an industry so focused on The days of our monopoly business cultures, but this hit home as I read a protecting its once lucrative classified practices are over. Gone, too, are the case study about a German investment advertising franchise that it couldn’t times when journalists can write a banking company that experimented see how to grow the business in en- story for print only and reach a mass with creating an employee wiki. Here tirely new ways. Without a sense of audience. The Harvard Business School was what is perceived to be a conserva- vision, some appetite for risk, and a professors, among others, advise that tive company in a conservative industry willingness to invest in future strate- we can view this change as a threat or trying to find a new way to flatten its gies, the path to irrelevance becomes an opportunity. To choose the path hierarchy and encourage contributions much shorter. of opportunity means rewriting job from its workers. It was a sobering mo- descriptions of everyone who now oc- ment as this example made me even Thinking Like a Disruptor cupies the newsroom. It means looking more aware of how strongly newspa- for new partners and being willing to pers fight change. As the Newspaper Next project rec- collaborate far outside of our comfort Newspapers lacked the external ommends, those of us at newspapers zone. And it means knowing that we vision necessary to see the vast range must learn to think like a disruptor. have to cannibalize our print edition of opportunities created by the Inter- Such a mentality would tell us to act rather than grudgingly having it happen net. Instead, the questions they asked either by playing offense or defense. because of a corporate dictate. pointed inward. Why create a search At the Tribune, we’ve chosen to go on If we aren’t ready to compete fully engine that might make it easier for Web the offense; in doing so, we’ve made in this digital game, then to punt might users to read something other than the aggressive moves into new markets be the way to go. I doubt, however, that newspaper? Why give away classified such as creating a Spanish-language we’ll get very far by stabbing Google advertising online for free? Why con- weekly and a youth-focused entertain- in the leg. I struct a social network for people who ment weekly. Each reaches readers well might post questionable material? Ask beyond the county boundaries of our Chris Cobler, a 2006 Nieman Fel- such questions, and the consequence traditional daily newspaper. low, is interactive division publisher is evident in many newspaper execu- Many of our company’s newspapers for the Greeley (Colo.) Tribune and tives’ slowness to adapt to a change already are successful as free-distribu- Swift Communications. He also has they knew was happening. tion dailies. With the Internet setting worked for The (Colorado Springs) Harvard Business School case stud- the standard of free information, Gazette, The Topeka (Kan.) Capital- ies are filled with examples of pharma- newspapers need to figure out how to Journal, the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Argus ceutical companies spending billions compete. Unquestionably, this search Leader, and the Denton (Texas) on research and development. The for new business models will lower Record-Chronicle. Capital Crisis in the Profitable Newspaper Industry Solving this ‘will call upon levels of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship infrequently found in newspapers in recent years.’

By Robert G. Picard

he recent sale and breakup way in which the nation’s leading and This crisis arrives at a time when the of Knight Ridder is symptom- midsized newspapers get capital, is newspaper industry is struggling, too, Tatic of the broader problems increasingly regarded as a less viable to respond to changes in technolo- newspaper companies face due to investment option by financial firms. gies, society and in how consumers their difficulties in creating value for This circumstance also has led to ap- use media. Audiences are less willing readers and investors. These problems prehension among journalists and to spend time and money on newspa- have resulted in a capital crisis in the industry observers, since managerial pers, and this induces advertisers to industry because financing through behaviors have changed in an attempt increase spending and to seek other the stock market, which is the primary to satisfy investors. market mechanisms in new media to

10 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Sensing the Change reach customers. The pace of change The secondary deals reduced the how can there be a crisis in an industry seems especially striking since the sec- acquisition prices of the papers that in which journalists and media critics ond half of the 20th century produced McClatchy wanted, because the total consistently characterize it as pleasing such dramatic advertising growth and asking price had undervalued the un- investors by providing high returns, an extraordinary era of journalistic and wanted papers. sometimes to the detriment of how business success. But the conditions Why did McClatchy and others want those who work at the paper are able leading to that growth have all but van- to buy these papers when Knight Rid- to do their jobs? ished. In the past decade, news compa- der no longer had the will to stay in nies have slashed Lacking a newsroom re- Long-Term sources, made NEWSPAPER GALLERY Vision staff reductions, and cut back on Although overall the product they newspapers are produce. Concur- highly profitable, rently stress lev- publicly traded els in newsrooms newspaper com- and boardrooms panies often show rose while morale weakness in com- sunk to its lowest parison with indus- point ever. tries such as major There is a wide- drug manufactur- spread sense that ers, telecommuni- investors, as well cations services, as some newspa- restaurants, resorts, per owners and department stores, managers, are property and casu- giving up on the alty insurance firms, industry. Knight major aerospace Ridder could have and defense con- fought for its sur- tractors, and hos- vival, but there pitals. While news- apparently was papers tend to have little fight left in better-than-average its board or top Newsboy holding newspapers, St. Louis, Missouri. He stands by the lightpost with net profits and divi- company execu- the front page in his hand, scowling at passing pedestrians who aren’t buying his dend yields and tives. The board paper. May 1910. Photo by Lewis W. Hine. National Archives/Courtesy Newseum. produce average sold the firm and returns on equity its 32 newspapers and average price/ to McClatchy for earnings ratios, they 4.5 billion dollars also tend to engage plus the assumption of two billion dol- the newspaper business? The primary in short-term planning rather than de- lars in debt. McClatchy subsequently reasons are these: The new owners veloping longer-term strategic visions began selling off papers that were not believe in the papers’ future; they de- and promoting company development. in growth markets to private compa- termined the papers can be operated Investors pressure them for short-term nies in the United States and Canada, profitably without the management returns more than they do other types including MediaNews Group, smaller fees each paper previously paid to of companies that are able to articulate newspaper groups such as Ogden Knight Ridder, and they believe lower a vision of a sustainable future. Newspapers, Schurz Communications, profit margins will still produce good In many instances, management, and Black Press Ltd., and a private returns on their investments. journalists and industry critics appear investor group formed specifically to Given this willingness to invest in to have a skewed vision of what it is acquire The Philadelphia Inquirer and newspapers, how can there be a capi- that investors expect. About 90 percent Daily News. McClatchy accepted two tal crisis? And how can it exist in an of shares in newspaper companies billion dollars for 11 of the unwanted industry that consistently produces today are held by institutional inves- papers, covering 28 percent of its above-average profits compared to tors—pension and investment funds, original purchase price and reducing other industries in which these same insurance companies, and financial the papers acquired by just one-third. investors place their funds? Finally, institutions. Although those who are

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 11 Goodbye Gutenberg

critics of public ownership often ac- strategic vision, becomes a self-fulfill- tion of regular readers for only about cuse these institutions of only being ing prophecy. three percent of their waking time, interested in short-term profits, the new delivery methods are necessary truth actually lies somewhere else. Creating Better Value to entice customers at different parts What these investors are looking for is of their day. a good return on their money; to get Investors’ interest in newspapers is The challenge this presents to that they are willing to trade short-term waning at a time when capital invest- newspapers—and the level of capital profit for long-term growth and stabil- ment is very much needed as these investment that will be needed—will, ity. But most publicly traded newspaper companies transition themselves to of course, vary depending on whether companies offer no credible plans (or compete in an era of new media. But the core market is national, regional or a vision) for anything beyond the de- many newspaper companies are con- local. But if any of these newspapers livery of higher-than-average quarterly fronting a crisis of value creation for are to survive, capital investment will profits. With this mentality in place, investors because their ability to grow be essential to their ability to func- investors pressure boards and manag- appears limited, consumption trends tion now and to innovate for future ers for high returns so that they can are poor, profits are expected to di- growth. To warrant investors’ dollars, recoup their investments in a shorter minish in the future, and high levels new revenue streams must be found; period of time. of uncertainty surround these enter- keeping revenues stable will not suf- Newspapers have tried to improve prises. For this situation to change, fice. Achieving this, however, will call their market conditions in recent years owners must demonstrate new value upon levels of creativity, innovation by altering journalistic content and its by demonstrating long-term stability and entrepreneurship infrequently presentation, by improving customer while also creating new products and found in newspapers in recent years. service, and slightly altering their business models that emphasize their An alternative is to find investors who business models. These actions have ability to establish connections (and regard newspapers as socially respon- been quite limited and relatively weak interactivity) with readers using a range sible investments and thus might efforts to woo readers, soothe inves- of different technologies. be willing to produce lower profits. tors, and give the impression of active Forward thinking requires newspa- Similarly, there is the possibility of managerial responses to the changing per companies to rethink their roles seeking private ownership structures environment. Few real innovations to as creators and purveyors of informa- that are not dependent upon the stock expand markets, reach new audiences, tion. Nowadays newspapers still try market. Or another alternative is to or provide new products related to to provide something for everybody remove investors interested only in company growth and sustainability through a wide variety of features short-term financial gain by creating have actually been made. In short, and sections; some of this is wanted or supporting nonprofit newspapers such surface change has done little to by nearly everyone, but a lot is not or foundation ownership. alter negative investor perceptions of wanted by many. Large amounts of Whatever solutions are pursued, the the industry. material arrive on the pages from news industry’s capital crisis will need to Concurrent with these limited inno- services and syndicates but this same, be addressed. It is fundamental to the vative efforts has been a constant and or nearly identical material, is widely other issues newspapers—and journal- deleterious chipping away of resources available in other places. Thus it is ism—confront today. If ignored, the within newspapers. But such measures not surprising that the average reader situation will only worsen. Concerted are only effective if they are accompa- doesn’t bother with three-fourths of the action is needed now for newspapers nied by strategy-driven reorganization newspaper content they’ve purchased; to secure a sustainable future.!I and reconfiguration that produces new in time, consumers become unwilling value, improves the quality of products to purchase them at all, especially Robert G. Picard is Hamrin Professor and services, creates something new, when much of the content is available of Media Economics and director of and attracts new customers. Such en- elsewhere for free and at a time when the Media Management and Trans- terprise is what appeals to investors. they want to read it. formation Centre at Jönköping Inter- Yet newspaper executives are rarely To create lasting value, the business national Business School, Jönköping engaged in this developmental part fundamentals of who they are, what University, Sweden. In the spring he of the change process; instead cost they are, and how they serve readers was a fellow at Harvard University’s cutting is their standard annual activ- and advertisers need to be examined Shorenstein Center on the Press, Poli- ity. This, however, abets uninterested by newspapers. What is offered in tics & Public Policy and is the author investors by draining resources from print must be unique and extremely and editor of 20 books on media eco- newspapers they believe have a limited relevant to the lives of readers. To do nomics and editor of the Journal of (or no) future and leaves newspaper en- this might mean publishing not one Media Business Studies. His Shoren- terprises without sufficient resources but different types of newspapers for stein report on this topic can be read to renew themselves. The prospect varied audiences in their markets. And at www.ksg.harvard.edu/presspol/re- of demise, coupled with the lack of because newspapers gain the atten- search_publications/papers.htm

12 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Sensing the Change Newspapers and Their Quest for the Holy Grail Putting the Web first might be ‘the most difficult transformation in our mindset, but we should go ahead and flip our world on its head.’

By Michael Riley

ost leading-edge thinkers continue to grow at the explosive rate Principles for the Transition long ago accepted the digital of 40 percent each year—and that’s a Mrevolution’s transforming daring leap of faith—it will be more No one has found the answer, and reality and are now engaged in what than three years down the road be- that’s because there is no single amounts to the news industry’s Quest fore there’s enough revenue to cover correct answer. There are, however, for the Holy Grail: the development of a only the cost of running the news some overarching principles that will business model that will pay for quality operation. And that’s to say nothing be important guides as we shape our journalism in a digital world. of supporting any other departments, future: Like those brave knights of olden like advertising or circulation, or even days, they are quickly learning that this about generating a profit margin (and Adopt the new thinking: The old news- Holy Grail is not easy to find. The search most newspapers, as we know, have paper model is on life support, and is not to determine whether online long been accustomed to margins ap- we need to recognize and ride the operations can drive new revenue and proaching 30 percent). meta-trends playing out in communi- turn a profit; they’re doing that already, Put another way, and assuming a cation. Newspapers are no longer an in a modest fashion. Instead, the quest continuing rosy (or even delusional) all-powerful gatekeeper for news and is to find a robust business model that scenario of 40 percent annual growth, information; anybody with a computer can support newsgathering enterprises it would take the Daily News almost a can be a publisher. News has become a during the bumpy transition from decade to generate online the same multilayered conversation, not a mono- print to online and then whether that amount of revenue it enjoys today. But logue. Power resides in the individual, financial engine can fuel and sustain a by the time those 10 years pass, the not a central authority, and newspapers complete digital transformation so that world will have become so radically ignore the power of the individual and journalism exists at the other end. reshaped that today’s assumptions will the network at our peril. Perhaps the best way to understand no longer prevail. It would be foolish to where newspapers are—and where bet all your chips on this scenario. Put the Web first: This might be the they need to go—is to follow the In short, it doesn’t look easy to get most difficult transformation in our money. from here to there, at least not in a mindset, but we should go ahead and Ponder for a minute the predicament straight line. So how should newspaper flip our world on its head. Think of the of a hypothetical daily newspaper, the companies think strategically about Web first and print second. Imagine Digiton Daily News, and consider a few their survival, and what should they do what might happen when we invert back-of-the-envelope calculations. The to build a robust business model? the traditional paradigm: It opens up Daily News has long been a profitable Some big players have recently a wide range of possibilities, many of midsized regional newspaper, with joined the quest for the Holy Grail which we cannot see from where we daily circulation of about 150,000. Its in a big way. The Los Angeles Times now look. annual revenues hover around $100 has dispatched a team of investigative million, with about five million dollars reporters as part of its “Spring Street Embrace the smorgasbord: Print will coming from its Web site. While circu- Project” to figure out its future. One remain vital during the transition, lation and print ad sales are slipping, former Knight Ridder executive has but it will need to change and adapt. online revenues continue to surge, called for creation of a newspaper Swit- Newspapers need to reenergize their increasing by some 40 percent over last zerland, an ostensibly “neutral” group print side by inventing an array of niche year, a blistering pace of growth in an to organize the balkanized industry products to better target readers and otherwise stagnating business. around an online future. A two million serve advertisers. Smart ways must be But is that online growth alone dollar industry white paper—called found to keep the core newspaper enough to save the journalistic enter- “Newspaper Next”—has put forth a strong. prise? Heck, right now that revenue blueprint of sorts. And most every doesn’t even cover the cost of the other newspaper is desperately dash- Don’t be afraid to experiment; be coura- newsroom, which runs about $12 mil- ing forward in some fashion to figure geous about change: Some new ideas lion a year. So even if online revenues out its future. will work and some won’t. That’s OK.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 13 Goodbye Gutenberg

Try new ideas, like ancillary Web sites strength and create a Web site with or the like. And there are other ways or niche publications. Evaluate their tentacles reaching far beyond our cir- to find revenue beyond run-of-site success. If they work, keep them go- culation area. No, we haven’t yet done advertising and online classifieds ads, ing; if they don’t, kill them and try that one, but every newspaper should including e-commerce, generating something else. identify similar opportunities and find specific leads for advertisers, tightly a way to own them. targeted ads, search and find results. Don’t milk the cash cow dry: One pre- A successful mix of revenue streams dominant sentiment in the industry Develop a guerrilla video operation: is mandatory. today is that newspapers, which are a Newspapers have long been hesitant to mature business, are cash cows, and embrace video, but rising broadband Build and sell a good idea: Is there an the best thing to do is to milk them for penetration opens the door to develop- online innovation you’ve created that all the profits we can. But that short- ing some new and powerful storytelling can be sold as a one-off product to sighted approach undercuts one of the with online video. And this offers a other operations? Perhaps it’s some best advantages newspapers have: to way ultimately to compete with local social-networking software, or an on- invest, and not simply milk, the profits TV stations for viewers and advertising line video solution, or an interactive by putting substantial portions of those dollars. The trick is to start small, learn database. There are other newspapers margins into online. Just as newsrooms by doing, engage the newsroom, and hungry for smart solutions. You might can become the content engine for the then grow. be able to market and sell yours to Web, newspaper profits, if properly them. marshaled, can fuel our online devel- Think crazy: Not every idea will be relat- opment, if we adopt a true investment ed to traditional news and information; No doubt there are plenty of other mindset. What that means, however, in fact, many of the best ones won’t be. good ideas, and these are meant only is that we must intentionally embrace So look for significant audiences, and to stimulate some creative thinking. more reasonable profit margins and find a way to engage them online in That raises a most important point. invest the difference in online ventures. ways that don’t smack of a newspaper. For so long, newspapers have imag- That’s a bold leap, but if we think of 20 Perhaps your news organization should ined themselves as media enterprises, percent margins as a ceiling, and not a pursue a social-networking and em- assembling news and information for floor, for instance, we can buy a lot of ployment site for the large community the masses by reporting, editing, de- freedom to build a strong future. of health-care workers in your region, signing and publishing. But this new or develop a pure music site for the digital world requires us to imagine Business Possibilities region’s bands and fans. Sure, it’s not ourselves differently as we reinvent journalism with a capital “J,” but it’s a our future. If we adopt these guiding principles to way to create places for audiences to No longer are we purely media com- focus our long-range strategy for cre- gather and share information. That will panies; we must become technology ating a robust business model, then a meet audience needs and strengthen companies, too, and that means we slew of opportunities will arise to drive the business. must raise our technology IQ to com- revenue, increase profits, and build pete in a digitally transformed world. a sustainable journalistic enterprise. Own community information: The big, A big part of our success will be tied Here are a few of these possibilities: bad wolves that threaten newspapers into rethinking what type of people we are Google, Yahoo! and the next wave hire. The premium, moving forward, Create a stable of niche publications: of online wannabees. They want to will rest on attracting more innovators Find targets of opportunity—working steal local audience, and they know into our midst and finding ways to give moms, local businesses, music aficiona- that owning local information—from them the freedom and the backing they dos, pets, resort communities, lawyers, entertainment to employment to res- need to experiment and help move doctors—and develop business plans taurants—is the way to do that. Take us into a new realm in which we can to meet reader and advertiser needs. a crash course to gather up this infor- preserve the journalism and make a These are smaller but often lucrative mation, pour it into a database, offer a robust business model work. I ways to supplement the mass-market dynamite search function, and become newspaper, though sometimes online the best source of local information. Michael Riley, a 1995 Nieman Fel- efforts may make more sense than low, is editor of The Roanoke Times. print. Experiment with different revenue mod- The newspaper’s Web site, www. els: Some newspapers, such as The Wall roanoke.com, was named the overall Own local? Go global: Almost every Street Journal and The New York Times, best midsized newspaper site by the region has something special that can have been able to charge for content Online News Association and Editor play on a larger stage. In our region of online, but most have not. There might & Publisher, and it has won multiple Virginia, for example, bluegrass music be some opportunities to do that if you national awards for its cutting-edge is big, and we should expand on that have a wildly popular sports columnist content and multimedia work.

14 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Goodbye Gutenberg | Pushing Forward Tired of Waiting to Move Ahead With plenty of ideas about how to move journalism into its digital time, a journalist tries to push the industry past its natural inclination to ‘voice the “no ways.”’

By Geneva Overholser

wonder if we could begin by just what works about it and what doesn’t, core principles—such as verification throwing a few notions onto the what are the needs that exist and what and on-the-ground reporting—are table. Not that we’d seek to agree are the various ways they might be met. translated even more richly onto the I 1 on them. Just put them out there, take There are lots of possible approaches. Web. Others will work on fusing the care of everyone’s itch to proclaim— Those who wish to do what they can to power of citizens’ knowledge with and see if this could kind of ease our strengthen the existing media model the principles and processes of jour- way into the heart of things. might push for different board struc- nalism, as is being done by American Let’s say, for instance, that long- tures, incentives for responsible invest- Public Media with its Public Insight time journalists can be confoundingly ing, or punitive taxes on short-term Journalism project.2 Others will want oblivious to the vast opportunities of stock trading. A coalition of veteran to gather journalists (moving across the the digital world and insufferably sure editors and publishers might want to old/new-media border) to grapple with that their way is the only way. Let’s say put their experience at the service of objectivity, verification, accountability, new-media hotshots tend to confuse struggling new media owners. transparency, how to make journalism hooting something down with analyz- Others could ponder different more professional and also more re- ing it and are possessed of a regrettable ownership models. Many a nonprofit sponsive—and how to protect freedom infatuation with the charm of their is doing fine work; consider the in- of information. insults. Let’s say it’s not our fault that vestigative reporting of the Center for I have found, in trying to pierce the citizens are entertaining themselves Public Integrity (acknowledgment: I’m gloom and get word out about the many silly rather than feeding at the deep on the board). How could more such possibilities through my immodestly pool of substance. And also that the models be encouraged? Or what pub- named “Manifesto for Change”3 that wisdom of the many is far greater than lic policy changes could ease the way we are all too ready to spot and voice the wisdom of any single journalist or for media company owners to return the “no ways.” No way can we talk news organization. Let’s say that Wall from public to private ownership? Or, about a role for government (um, how Street … well, enough. You get the in rarer instances, such as that of The about those Sunshine Laws?). No way drill. If we throw out a few of these Anniston (Ala.) Star, what could happen can we sit down with the publishers. gotta-get-it-said messages, can we then to turn newspapers into nonprofit op- No way, no way. move on (as we so rarely seem to do) erations? And how can we better spread Yeah, yeah. We’ve heard it all. We’ll to the challenge: How do we guarantee the word about the astonishingly rich hear it again. Just lay it on out there— to our democracy a continued supply and promising array of public interest and then (please) let’s move on.!I of the information essential to it? work on the Web, so as to encourage This “yes, but what can we do about more entrepreneurialism among “old- Geneva Overholser, a 1986 Nieman it now?” approach can find useful ap- media” journalists? Fellow, is Curtis B. Hurley Chair in plication in many a different discussion. Or consider the question of how to Public Affairs Reporting at the Wash- Take media ownership. If we can’t guide (and speed) journalism’s transi- ington bureau of the Missouri School restore the business model that’s col- tion in these unsettled times. Some will of Journalism. lapsing around us, we can figure out want to pursue means of ensuring that

1 www.journalism.missouri.edu/news/2006/10-19-hurley-projects.html 2 http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/publicinsightjournalism/ 3 www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/Overholser/20061011_JournStudy.pdf

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 15 Goodbye Gutenberg Media Convergence: ‘Just Do It’ Changing people’s way of thinking is key to ‘the media revolution’ in northern Denmark.

By Ulrik Haagerup

o beer was served at the early in which it will be fun going to work worked on a plan for how Nordjyske morning orientation meeting every morning and a newspaper in could avoid the fate of other Danish Nin the Nordjyske newspaper which we will make good stories.” newspapers, where layoffs, depression newsroom in November 2002. As things Overhead, as I spoke, was a headline and budget cuts were part of the daily turned out that day, the absence of from my PowerPoint. It read: “Just do routine. With this plan in mind, my job beer was one of the smaller changes it!” Borrowed from Nike, it spoke to as newsroom leader was to explain to emerge from this gathering of the our tradition of a people not prone to two critical things to the staff as a way 250 staff members at the newspaper. talking so much about things but really of getting them to buy into the need As I walked into the room as the new meaning what little we say. for change: newsroom editor, the reporters knew We had a choice, I explained. Either something else was about to happen. we could do as every other media com- 1. What is the situation now? (Why is And it did. pany was doing and stick with what the toilet on fire, as we say in Danish, At our first gathering, I asked if we we’ve always done. (And then, please, because if you don’t feel the heat, could set two goals to work on togeth- could the reporters by the window why move?) er: It should be fun to be a reporter at do the rest of us the favor of jumping 2. What is the goal? And why will our Nordjyske, and together we should do out the window, so we didn’t have to situation be better then than it is good journalism. fire anyone like they did in so many today? When people don’t share the Arms crossed, the reporters nodded other newsrooms?) Or we could do vision of a better tomorrow, why to me in silence. Through the years something else. change? they had built a reputation of being We needed to stop talking about the heaviest union-controlled news- crises and insecurity and the need for As the reporters and editors took room in Denmark and the one with someone to do something. We should seats in our big conference room they the most strikes in the history of the do it. Change. Believe in the future. We could hear the words of Fleetwood Danish press. But now circulation was should try something new by moving Mac’s “Don’t Stop” playing from big dropping like a piano thrown from a toward a totally media integrated news- loudspeakers: penthouse, and distrust and endless room. And learn while we do it. Having meetings about rules, procedures this destination would put us on a path “Don’t stop thinking about and contracts dominated daily life in with neither tracks nor pavement since tomorrow the newsroom. Most of the report- nowhere else were journalists work- Don’t stop it’ll soon be here ers did their job, but not much more ing in the same newsroom for several It’ll be better than before than that. media at the same time. Yet the future Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone” “The problem is that everybody I told them about—the one that would wants progress but nobody wants happen within 10 months—would find From a big screen at one end of change,” I told them. “If we want to them working at new desks, with new the room an insisting signal from an keep our jobs, we have to develop colleagues and perhaps new editors, SMS-message took over, and a mobile ourselves and the way we work with meeting new deadlines, using new phone in oversize showed the text: journalism. But the consequence of tools, working new hours, and doing “Media revolution broken out in progress is change; we have to do some- all of this with new media. Northern Jutland. Hear more on your thing else than we are used to doing Leaving the meeting, an experienced radio.” Then the morning host at the and that brings with it insecurity. We reporter lowered his voice and told his local radio station “ANR Hit FM” faded get through it together, if we dare.” I colleague, “That guy might become a the music and, in a voice only excited then told them that in 10 months our stress factor ….” radio hosts use, announced: regional newspaper, now slipping into a deep crisis, would become the most Launching the Plan “We interrupt with breaking news. ambitious media house in Europe. “It Media revolution has broken out in will be tough,” I reminded them, “but During the preceding weeks, a group Northern Jutland. Media melt together, when we’ve made it, we’ll have a future of editors and brave reporters had and journalists, who previously only

16 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Pushing Forward have worked for one medium, are now and feelings in pictures from a small different media platforms to tell that getting the opportunity to tell their local bureau in which reporters and part of the story at which that medium stories on radio, on TV, on the Web, photographers had experienced media is best. And by sitting closely together on mobile phones, and in both free integration for about a year. “In the in a newsroom without walls with papers and the traditional morning beginning it was hard and confusing, colleagues with the same beats and newspaper. It is the first time a media but later it was actually quite fun,” the interests, we can share ideas, sources, house goes all the way in the so-called news anchor said. research and thereby produce more media convergence. The goal is to do He then introduced other taped and improve the total quality of our better stories for readers, listeners and interviews with some of the journalists work.” viewers. See more on your TV. And the who were now sitting in the confer- weather forecast for Northern Jutland ence room. Some said they were wor- The TV-anchor ended his portion of is windy with the possibility of later ried about this new direction. Others the show with these words: clear sky and a lot more sun. My name indicated that they would never work is Katrine Schousboe.” in television and had difficulty under- “This morning the staff at Nordjyske standing what all of this talk of change meets to be informed about the plans. Then the news anchor from a TV was about. And some reporters from And right now a special edition of the station from a small, daughter-company the working group explained why they newspaper is being distributed to the in our city, that for years had produced believed that, in time, it could be great reporters. There they can read more a not very popular newscast, could be fun working in a media integrated about the plan and get perspectives heard. Dressed in jacket and a tie, this newsroom: and background material on media anchor introduced a story about this integration and the ambitious project impending media revolution using “The goal is to do better stories. that will change the media picture in television at its best: It showed faces Making sharper priorities and using Denmark.”

NEWSPAPER GALLERY

Marguerite Higgins adjusts her helmet sitting in front of her typewriter. She covered the fall of Adolf Hitler’s war machine as a 23 year old and six years later won a Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting in Korea. July 1950. Library of Congress/Courtesy Newseum.

Fpc. Clarence Whitmore, voice radio operator, 24th Infantry Regiment, reads the latest news in The Stars and Stripes news- paper while eating during a lull in battle near Sangju, Korea. August 1950. National Archives/Courtesy Newseum.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 17 Goodbye Gutenberg

The lights went up, and the working As we launched a new, more focused Now, in 2006, reporters at Nordjyske group distributed the tabloid, “Nord- newspaper and added a free commuter don’t feel as though they work for any jyske Media,” while Fleetwood Mac’s paper aimed at younger readers in the one medium. What they do know is refrain, “Yesterday’s gone,” filled the big cities, in our community we intro- that they work for people in Northern air again. duced a regional version of CNN “Head- Jutland, and by using all of the various Under the headline “No more ex- line News.” These instant updates as media platforms their stories can reach cuses—here we go” the front page story part of local TV-news became an instant 97 percent of people in our area of half appeared below a picture of Nordjyske success. Within six months from our a million inhabitants. And they now with threatening darks cloud hanging launch, we had more paid subscribers believe us when we told them that the over it. The story read in part: to 24Nordjyske, our cable TV station media integration effort is a journalistic that broadcasts regional new s 24 hours project—not a cost-cutting initiative. In “This is a bid on a future which does a day, than we had on our newspaper, fact, this was and is a survival strategy, not come by itself. But it is a bid that which dates back to 1767. while also providing a more satisfying will make it more fun to go to and fun life for reporters. work. It is a bid that will create When a bridge collapsed useful media. Stories that talk to over a freeway in May 2006, both brain and heart. People in Reporters at Nordjyske … now our print competitor published center. Respect for our custom- the news the next morning ers. And—this is not the project believe us when we told them that with the headline “One died, of Ulrik Haagerup. Not alone at the media integration effort is a when bridged collapsed.” The least. We have done our best. problem was that the accident Because the salary has to come journalistic project—not a cost- happened more than 20 hours from somewhere. But mostly cutting initiative. earlier, and the “news” was because we believe in the future. no longer news. When such Hell, yes!” an event is this important to so many people in the area, it The paper explained the plan in Our 250 reporters—no, we didn’t makes sense to use the fastest media 16 pages—clearly showing that the fire anyone—are no longer organized first to deliver word of it: We were able printed paper was not dead but very into groups with the task to fill certain to send out an alert on mobile phones useful if we use it to do what it is best pages or sections in a newspaper. They only minutes after the accident to at: overview, reflection and stopping work together in a matrix organization, warn drivers. Then we stopped play- time. all under the same editor in chief, and ing music on our local radio station to “Any questions?” I asked. each with the same basic task of telling tell listeners to get off the road. The There weren’t any. good stories to people in Northern story then appeared on our Web site, The meeting was finished in 22 Jutland using the media best suited and live broadcasting began from the minutes, making it the shortest in- to the telling. scene on 24Nordjyske. formational meeting in the history of We made it voluntary for newspaper What the newspaper brought read- Nordjyske. Our future had begun, as reporters to work for radio or TV, or ers the next morning was what print different lyrics of Fleetwood Mac es- vice versa. We had to since their union media does best—an overview of what corted the quite silent reporters back contract did not specify anything about had happened; perspective on the ac- to work: working for any other media than the cident, and answers to the questions one for which they were employed. In “Why?” and “What now?” “If you wake up and don’t want to the beginning, nobody dared doing Our reporters also know by now that smile anything new. But when we stopped media convergence is not about them If it takes more than a little while focusing on results and instead ap- doing every story for every media every Open your eyes and look at the day. plauded the courage of the few re- time. When would they have time to You’ll see things in a different way. porters willing to try something new, do research and reporting on stories Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow suddenly more and more got the guts if they spent all of their time repeating ….” to take a chance at failure. Many real- the same story in all these different ized it is not that difficult to do TV, nor media? At its best, journalism ought Making It Work is it that difficult for a radio reporter to to be about telling important, relevant write for the paper. And the work with and original stories to people when So how did our plan work out? In the Web, many found easy. Of course they want them in the form they want short: It works. they all learned, in time, that to become them. In any given week every reporter Ten months later nearly the entire skilled and good at this would require at Nordjyske does stories for two, three staff had changed jobs, offices, dead- training, and we had such an ongoing or four different media. lines, editors, tools and colleagues. program in place. And what these reporters are doing

18 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Pushing Forward has brought them fame. Each week The good old days are gone. Back the highest salary. It will be the news visitors from media companies from then the business model was that we entity that learns how to adapt fast to throughout the world come by to talk gave them what we wanted them to the changing media habits of those with them about their work in what the have, when we wanted them to have it serves, and newspapers have been World Association of Newspapers now it, and how we wanted to give it to notoriously slow in doing this. refers to as the most integrated media them. On top of that, we asked them A fellow newspaper editor gave a house in the world. In two years we’ve to pay one year in advance before we speech recently at an international had so many visitors come through made money on them, once more, by conference. He started out by saying our newsroom that this summer we selling access to them to advertisers. that his time was now so full of consul- launched the first news helicopter Those were the days! tants that he had learned that he is not in Denmark—paid for by the fees we Now people have alternatives to the allowed to use the word “problems” have charged to tell people in the news daily newspaper, which they turn to anymore. They are now supposed to media about the change process. at such a rapid pace that we have dif- be called “options.” So he ended his What we tell them is that the most ficulty keeping up. And this is creating remarks by saying, “So let me conclude important thing about media conver- the most dramatic paradigm shift that that we newspaper people are up to gence is not expensive technology, we’ve seen in centuries. our neck in options.” yearlong training, or the right orga- We tell visitors, too, that success- He was more right than we like to nizational chart—though all of that ful media convergence demands that realize. That is why the push from be- sure helps. The crucial obstacle is the one remember what Charles Darwin ing a remote regional Danish newspa- mental one we impose on ourselves in said. He did not say that the strongest per in crisis to be named the leading sticking with the belief that our job is survive, which so many journalists and media house in the world is a good to print ink on paper and deliver it by newspaper editors wrongly attribute to story in an industry in which the tales the help of small boys in shorts before him. Darwin explained that the species of success are so few. But as they say 7 a.m.. This change can be a hard one that are the best at adapting to change in Northern Jutland: Stop just talking for journalists to make; it means real- will survive. It won’t necessarily be the about it. Just do it! I izing our task is to serve people in our biggest news organization (remember community by telling them useful and the dinosaurs), nor the newspaper Ulrik Haagerup is editor in chief of entertaining stories through whatever that now has the highest circulation or Nordjyske Media in Aalborg, Den- technology they want to use. has the editors and reporters earning mark. Navigating the Road to Convergence ‘Being small and a family-owned company are attributes that have helped us to become a multimedia news organization.’

By Ralph Gage

n the 100th anniversary of his He spoke those words on Decem- other 42,000 households. We operate newspaper, publisher Dolph ber 12, 1991. Even those enmeshed a phone company through our cable OC. Simons, Jr. shared his phi- in this process of change could not infrastructure. It serves 12,500 lines losophy and perspective with those have imagined then how the Internet and, with our cable TV programming, who’d assembled to acknowledge would become our catalyst to make we reach more than 32,000 house- the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World’s colleagues out of competitors and holds. And in 2005, we acquired an milestone and to recognize the 200th precipitate physical and philosophical ABC network affiliate television sta- birthday of the Bill of Rights. “We be- shifts in our newsgathering operations tion in nearby Topeka. We’re also an lieve it is important to look upon our that continue apace today. Internet Service Provider with 20,400 business as an information business, Being small and a family-owned customers. Our Web sites extend widely not merely a newspaper or cable televi- company are attributes that have the impact of what our print and TV sion operation,” he said. “We want to helped us to become a multimedia reporters produce and also the reach stay abreast of new developments and news organization. The daily Journal- of our advertisers. be able to deliver news and advertising, World has about 20,000 subscribers, We’re news people, and this means as well as other information, however but our weekly newspapers—with our to us that we are the storytellers for the a reader or advertiser might desire.” newer ones distributed free—reach an- communities we serve. Our founders

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 19 Goodbye Gutenberg

were journalists, and two members of Once the lessons were absorbed, Groups of newsroom staff mem- our owners’ family have served on the we bought an old Lawrence building, bers—selected by me in consultation Associated Press board; all have been which is now listed on the National with managers—were launched into active in various trade organizations. Register of Historic Places, and remod- a week of exercises designed to help Our organizing principle is that content eled it as our News Center. It became them to analyze how job duties could brings readers and viewers to us and, in the hub of our multimedia newsgath- be shared. Multimedia assignments turn, those readers and viewers bring ering operations and the place from were created to help acquaint them us advertising. It’s an old business which storytelling for our community with one another and with each other’s model to which we are bringing the emerges. responsibilities and prepare them advances our ever-changing technology There was hesitancy and uncertainty for the time when they’d be working allows. We are not afraid to take risks; in the minds of our news staff as we together. They were helped in over- if we’re doing our job well, we know set out to make these changes. For coming their concerns and fears by the we are bound occasionally to upset years these reporters and editors had values they shared, such as honesty, some readers, viewers and advertis- operated in competition, yet now they accuracy and fairness, and by their day- ers. People don’t need to like us, but were being asked to meld into one to-day operations of planning stories we do want to earn their respect. We multimedia organization. The mortar and meeting deadlines. do this by focusing on quality, with that would hold them together was Included, too, in these small groups the belief that if we take care of our prepared in a series of small group were production staff, employees from customers and our community, they “convergence sessions” in which the the business office, circulation and will take care of us. company’s owners and top managers advertising. Almost all of the depart- When our publisher considered shared with employees the history of ments of the broadband company and starting our cable TV operation, an the company and stressed the necessity newspaper—managers and hourly industry leader advised against it; and opportunity for the company to employees alike—were represented he’d scouted the city and observed the serve the community better by com- in the training effort so that everyone numerous television signals available peting with the media from nearby would have some exposure to the off-air. Simons proceeded and later said metropolitan areas instead of among change in operating philosophy. The of his decision, “I would rather have themselves. They also offered assur- intermingling of employees also gave tried it and failed than to have seen ances that the proposed changes had staff members the opportunity to gain someone else try it and succeed.” This their enthusiastic endorsement. an appreciation of the company’s vari- competitive, risk-taking spirit now ous components, but the primary propels us into the era of media intent of these training sessions convergence. NEWSPAPER GALLERY was to focus on how the news staffs would operate in the converged Bringing Parts Together company. The training process stretched With our guiding principles as a over a year because we did not foundation, in 2000 we decided to want this transition to strain the combine our newspaper and cable news departments, which were television news operations, put- short-handed when colleagues ting print and broadcast reporters were excused for the convergence side-by-side in a newsroom, along training. As each group went with a small but growing staff in through the training, members our Internet operation. To do this, provided ideas that were then we gathered as much information incorporated into it, as well as as we could about newsroom con- leadership for the next group; this vergence by talking with people at slower paced, learn-as-you-grow the Chicago Tribune and working strategy provided additional op- with Jimmy Gentry, who was then portunities for larger numbers of dean of the William Allen White “competitors” to blend more easily School of Journalism and Mass into a single organization. At this Communications at the University time, too, print, TV and Internet of Kansas. We traveled to Tampa, news managers were working Florida to see its combined news- together to plan the layout of the paper and television operation, Linotype operators compose stories for The Eve- News Center that would combine and our architects and newsroom ning Star of Washington, D.C. Photo The Evening what had been separate facilities managers came along when we Star. National Archives/Courtesy Newseum. into a converged newsroom. went to the Orlando Sentinel. Technology issues—our TV staff

20 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Pushing Forward used PCs while our print and online room leadership skills have evolved tographers, no matter which is his or people used Macs—were addressed as the expectations of reporters’ and her primary medium, to be able to with the creation of an Internet-based editors’ multimedia engagement have produce images for all media. In other assignment system that enabled ev- increased. Participation in these new words, it has become time to step up eryone essentially to be on the same approaches to storytelling is part of the pace. And we are paying particular platform. each of our employee’s annual review attention to evaluating which medium In August 2001, news staff from process. Three phases of leadership works best with what kind of stories, television, newspaper and online emerged as a part of our convergence or part of a story, and then having our physically moved into the News Cen- efforts: coverage reflect those findings. ter and began to deal with challenges One recent example of news presen- that arose. 1. The first phase laid the groundwork. tation involved this summer’s release A more collegial style encouraged of local census data. The Journal-World The Multimedia Effort rather than demanded participa- reporters did an in-depth look at the tion. It facilitated efforts and was numbers in the course of examining Now the job of the newsroom leaders more project centered. Success was local government policies likely to be changed from designing the workspace more likely than failure because the impacted by the surprising decline in to dealing with the staff issues that nature of the efforts allowed more the city’s population. Our TV reporters surfaced within it. When newspaper time, involved more planning, and used this news as a peg to tell the story staff were uncomfortable with ap- in many respects enabled staffers to of a family who moved from Lawrence pearing on television, they were not self-select for involvement. to a small town nearby; their circum- forced to do so, and TV staffers who 2. The second phase involved less stance and concerns illustrated some didn’t feel comfortable writing for hands-on management. It became of the factors influencing the census the paper weren’t forced to do that. what we termed “organic” conver- numbers. On our Web site we created Workloads were stabilized to assure gence. Fewer projects were planned; an interactive database to help readers that multimedia responsibilities would more sprang from breaking news and viewers navigate through graphs not overwhelm any individual staff and the daily routine of more com- of these trends; we also gave online member, yet everyone was encour- fortably and confidently dealing with visitors an opportunity to post their aged to look for ways to contribute the multimedia tools and jobs. comments and offer feedback and tips that took advantage of the converged 3. The recently instituted third phase to the news staff. newsroom. When reporters found puts in place a manager with clearly documents to support their reporting, defined authority. A managing edi- Growth Comes With Lessons they would be scanned and used on tor for convergence can now make the Web site. If a tape recording was news decisions across all media. Convergence is neither easy nor sim- made of an interview, key quotes would He doesn’t need to encourage; he ple, and the commitment to it must be extracted and used to enhance the can command. This ensures that be renewed daily. In the transition to Web site display of that story. As time we do not miss opportunities that convergence, we’ve lost no staff mem- went on, peer-to-peer training helped “organic” convergence might have ber, but as we seek applicants for jobs integrate more of reporters’ work into overlooked or passed by. The author- in our multimedia newsroom we em- multimedia presentations. ity and responsibility vested in this phasize an expectation that employees Soon the work of our reporters and new leadership position demand a bring a multimedia background. We editors was being featured in textbooks, vision that transcends any one me- seek versatility in our new employees and they were being invited to share dium and a vision to maintain the and also look for an eagerness on their experiences at major industry company’s role as the community’s their part to join with long-time staff- seminars and conferences. Faculty from historian, storyteller and whistle- ers who have achieved status in their the University of Iowa and Kansas State blower. It definitely requires the gift professional lives because they were University came by to study what we of encouragement. “early adopters” of our convergence were doing, and the Associated Press efforts. Today, in our News Center, Managing Editors sponsored credibility Training for employees is being print reporters also report and present studies examining facets of our opera- reinstituted at a time when news staff stories on television and TV report- tions. Recognition of this kind offered a know that the expectations for their ers and anchors produce stories for real boost to our small media company involvement in multimedia storytell- the newspaper. Their early embrace and reassured our newsroom staff of ing are increasing. We are instituting of multimedia storytelling has made the value of their innovative work. more frequent online chats with print them leaders within our newsroom; Internally, the company recognized its reporters and pushing responsibility among them is Joel Mathis, who is now top performers with a special round of onto newspaper section editors and our managing editor for convergence. pay increases. others, not simply leaving it to our These multimedia staffers are paid bet- During the past five years, news- online personnel. We also want pho- ter than one-dimensional peers at other

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 21 Goodbye Gutenberg

news operations our size, too. NEWSPAPER GALLERY Our print circulation climbed steadi- ly as we ventured into convergence. In measuring our cable television view- ership we found that our local news programs beat the networks. We are in 80 percent of the households in our core market, which has a low satellite dish penetration compared to other markets. Our company also has the highest penetration of cable broadband Internet customers in the nation. Our main Web sites record about 30 million page-views each month; Internet traffic has increased beyond our expectations, and this means we’ve virtually sold out of advertising “space” on our Web sites. Our experience with newsroom convergence also moved us into other “converged” efforts involving advertis- ing, the business office, and human resources. Convergence is expensive. As a private company, our financial circum- stances are not revealed to the public, but we have invested significantly, especially for a company of our size. A newsstand in New York City. January 1903. Library of Congress/Courtesy Newseum. In 2005 our online revenues were just under one million dollars—profitable for the first time. The early years are offices, preparing agate lists for use in we’re developing, information will be ones we consider a long-term business the newspaper, and the information brought more directly to the neighbor- investment. We expect profitability go- can also be used on television and hood level, and our customers will ing forward and intend to capitalize on podcasts. be involved in dialogues with us and the abilities of the Internet to deliver It is possible we will rely more on their neighbors through online com- customers for our advertisers. contracted employees than we do ments, blogs, forums and file-sharing What’s next? More convergence, of today. Instead of continuing to add opportunities. course. Although we already produce staff, we might seek out talented in- Doubtless the road ahead will have podcasts and vodcasts and SMS-mes- dividuals for specific assignments to unexpected twists and turns; we intend sages, they seem destined to become supplement the work of our full-time to drive it, as we always have, with our more prominent parts of the commu- employees. Citizen journalism will brights turned on. Only now we will nications streams. We’re reexamining play a significant role, too. In October, be delivering information in many our entire organization to look for with the University of Kansas School of different ways and letting consumers other opportunities to use resources Journalism and Mass Communications, decide on the delivery method they of our combined news staffs in a more we conducted a citizen journalism prefer at the time they want to access integrated, efficient fashion. Such op- academy, offering a level of practical our product. No longer is this a one- portunities include creating new Web training for some people, and for way street: While they are choosing sites with the potential to capture others a look at the ethical and other how to absorb what we can offer, we’ll national audiences. Achieving this considerations that guide our work. be listening carefully to them and to goal will put a premium on the ability The courses also served to demystify our newsroom staff to figure out new of our journalists to excel in the use the process of gathering information and better ways of interacting with of our multimedia platforms. We will and editing it for presentation to the one another. I likely also need to find or develop community. specialists—staff members who gather Even given an expanded region for Ralph Gage is chief operating officer content for multiple media outlets but our efforts, our focus remains intensely for The World Company and a jour- who do not themselves present it. One local, which is what our surveys tell us nalism graduate of the University of reporter, for example, might cover our readers and viewers want. With new Kansas. routine police, fire and city or county content-management system software

22 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Pushing Forward Meshing Purpose With Product Heeding the warning against forcing ‘existing quality standards into new technology,’ a journalist is cautiously optimistic about the digital future.

A popular Government, without popu- Part of the problem was that the drill or borrow their neighbor’s, they’re lar information, or the means of ac- industry was less interested in radi- hiring it to get a job done. quiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce cal ideas than in cheap ways to tweak The API project, called Newspaper or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowl- content to draw more readers. As it Next,1 instead of providing a list of edge will forever govern ignorance: turned out, there weren’t any, at least potential new products for newspa- And a people who mean to be their none with sufficient power to turn back pers, creates a process for enabling own Governors must arm themselves the tide of change. them to innovate. That avoids the with the power which knowledge gives. A potentially strong exception to very familiar “not invented here” syn- —James Madison, letter to William T. this pattern surfaced in September drome so common with newspapers. Barry, August 4, 1822. when the American Press Institute (API) To prove that it works, Christensen’s released the results of a project led by team walked seven news organizations Harvard Business School professor through pilot projects, and they came By Philip Meyer and new technologies marketing guru up with a provocative list of jobs that t is still possible to save journal- Clayton M. Christensen. This effort was customers require. A few examples are ism, but maybe not journalism oriented to the business side, but that’s listed here: Ias we know it. James Madison’s okay. The first duty of a publisher, as postpresidential remark is often cited my former Washington bureau chief, • Help me find local services (Subur- in support of First Amendment issues. Edwin A. Lahey, likes to remind report- ban Newspapers of America) I have cited it myself to make a case ers, is to stay solvent. • Help me plan my kids’ activities (The for trying to save newspapers. But the Christensen has built on a tradition Dallas Morning News) context of the ex-president’s observa- started at Harvard by the late Theodore • Help me reach a targeted, upscale tion included neither journalism nor Levitt, who urged businesses to look audience in a specific community newspapers. The purpose of his letter for customer needs and work backward (Richmond Times-Dispatch). was to encourage Kentucky’s develop- from there to develop their products. ment of a public education system and Nearly three decades ago, I quoted a It is not a bad thing that this kind of suggest that it model Virginia’s with its much-used Levitt aphorism (without thinking leads mostly to niche publica- egalitarian provisions for educating the knowing its source) to my colleagues tions, either print or online. If there poor as well as the rich. at Knight Ridder’s Viewtron team when is a common thread running through “Learned Institutions ought to be we were trying to invent an electronic technological change since the end favorite objects with every free people,” home information system. “People of World War II—including FM radio, Madison wrote. “They throw that light don’t buy quarter-inch drills,” I said. cheaper high-quality printing, comput- over the public mind which is the best “They buy quarter-inch holes.” er-assisted target marketing, and the security against crafty & dangerous en- The Christensen metaphor, de- Internet—it is that specialized media croachments on the public liberty.” scribed in his and Michael E. Raynor’s do better than mass media. Newspaper Saving journalism might be easier if 2003 book, “The Innovator’s Solution: Next helps news people to see this and we would zoom back and think broadly Creating and Sustaining Successful to figure out a way to adapt. about ways to use the same technol- Growth,” is broader: People don’t buy But how do these specialized activi- ogy that is disrupting the newspaper products as much as they hire them ties correspond to the journalism we, business to “throw that light over the to get specific jobs done. I could have as a people, depend on? What about public mind.” Getting newspapers to used that notion in my Viewtron days. James Madison’s concern? perform the task is not yet a lost cause. I remember Al Gillen, the head of In my humble opinion, the basic But we shouldn’t wait. Since the read- the Knight Ridder subsidiary charged job that newspapers traditionally do ership decline was first documented with creating Viewtron, responding: “I (remember, this is from the customer’s by Leo Bogart and other newspaper don’t buy quarter-inch holes. I borrow point of view) is to help me structure my researchers in the 1960’s, newspapers my neighbor’s quarter-inch holes.” time. A newspaper can do this because have hired experts to tell them how to Christensen’s formulation would have it is simultaneously informative and reverse the decline. All failed. covered that. Whether people buy a entertaining. It has to be entertaining

1 www.innosight.com/newspaper_next.htm

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 23 Goodbye Gutenberg

to compete with all of the other ways Journalism, I touted it to some fellow vision since “popular information,” of technology has given us for structur- educators. They were appalled. “Poor which he spoke, never was distributed ing time. quality,” they said. “That has nothing uniformly across the population, not An example from Newspaper Next to do with journalism.” even in the glory days of mass media. illustrates the point. The free newspa- But citizen journalism has the capac- Paul Lazarsfeld, the Viennese-born pers distributed at public transporta- ity to get better, just as Sony gradually mathematician who helped create tion centers in some cities are not of built from its teenage base toward modern sociology, found this out when particularly high quality. But they do he and his colleagues studied the 1940 compete with other ways of structuring presidential election in Erie County, time; if the only competition is bore- Products using new Ohio. Direct effects of mass media, dom or looking out the window, the they discovered, were less important newspaper is an attractive option. technology can start than personal contacts. Media were As journalists, we’d prefer the pub- out with lower quality still powerful, but the flow went “to the lic to say, “Help me understand the opinion leaders and from them to the workings of our government so that than established ones less active sections of the population,” I can hold it accountable.” It is pretty because they are he and his colleagues observed in their clear how much the public wants that 1944 book, “The People’s Choice.” job done when a crisis arises, and the cheaper or more easily This effect is now institutionalized in clever circulation manager knows that’s available, and they the political communication literature the time to order an extra large press as the “two-step flow,” from mass media run. But it’s not a day-in, day-out job capture a previously to the elites and then to the public. to be done. The daily job is more like nonconsuming share of What the new media forms now give us what academics call “the surveillance is a three-step, or even a multistep, flow. function,” giving broad but shallow the market. An idea or news report gets launched information so that a citizen will at least by a blogger, a citizen journalism site, be alerted when something important or a nonprofit investigative site, and happens. Thus alerted, readers can the high end of the audio market. Jay then it diffuses. seek out more specialized media for Rosen, a journalism professor at New The model is robust. Diffusion steps the desired depth. York University and author of Press- can go through whatever is left of the When new functions arise, the entity Think, a Weblog about journalism, mass media or they can link and net- doing them does not need to be of has created NewAssignment.net to work their way from citizen to citizen particularly high quality because, if the add editing and verification to citizen by what some call a “viral” transmis- job is not being done, the only compe- efforts and move them up the scale. sion consisting of e-mail forwarding tition is nonconsumption. The transit This seems a logical place at which to across all sorts of super-specialized rider’s choice is reading the paper or begin. After all, Christensen and his media, some of which, by virtue of riding while bored. This way of thinking coauthors warn against “cramming” their performance, will have captured is the source of Christensen’s advice existing quality standards into new the public’s trust. to be satisfied with “good enough” technology, citing Kodak’s decision to Whether newspapers survive or at the start of new product develop- enter the digital camera market with not, the hope is that this process will ment. Products using new technology a $30,000 product to make images eventually lead to the citizens whose can start out with lower quality than competitive with film. When digital job it is “to arm themselves with the established ones because they are photography finally took off, it started power which knowledge gives.” cheaper or more easily available, and at the low, point-and-shoot end. I choose to believe that James Madi- they capture a previously noncon- There is, of course, a brilliant coun- son would have approved. I suming share of the market. Then, ter-example to this principle. Charles as products improve, they can move Lewis started at the top after he walked Philip Meyer, a 1967 Nieman Fellow, up-market. Sony’s transistor radios, away from his job as a “60 Minutes” is Knight Chair in and professor of cheap, tinny and appealing mainly to producer at CBS and began a nonprofit journalism at the University of North teenagers when they were introduced group to perform investigative report- Carolina at Chapel Hill. His book, in the 1950’s, are one example offered ing at a higher quality level than CBS “The Vanishing Newspaper: Saving in “The Innovator’s Solution.” would permit. That might not be a fair Journalism in the Information Age,” Journalism’s equivalent to those comparison because his Center for was published by the University of radios might be the citizen-journalism Public Integrity is nonprofit, an entirely Missouri Press in 2004. This article is Web sites where the audience supplies different ball game. And its consum- based on remarks given in November the content. When I discovered MyMis- ers are elites, not the average citizen for the Dutch-Flemish Organization sourian.com, an online news product looking for a job to get done. But the for Investigative Journalists in Mech- of the University of Missouri’s School of case still holds promise for Madison’s elen, Belgium.

24 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Goodbye Gutenberg | Building Community Community Building on the Web: Implications for Journalism The founder of craigslist speaks about online lessons he shares with new media journalists.

By Craig Newmark

n creating craigslist—an online as resembling “a marketplace on the then we give those who come into our community of shared information, ancient model—chaotic, unruly, and community real power to self-police. Iservices, activities and ideas that vividly human.” We do light management but, mostly, has more than five billion page views Somehow, the craigslist commu- we stay out of the way and let people each month—and doing customer ser- nity—its users and company—has set the tone of the site. Somehow this vice, my colleagues approach works. and I developed a Reinforced for reasonable sense us is the sense of what the deal is NEWSPAPER GALLERY that folks on the with how people Internet are over- want to use the whelmingly trust- Web. After being in- worthy. But as vited by journalists in daily life, bad into discussions guys exist, and about new media, a few of them I’ve come away surface occasion- with a few clues ally in our online about how what I neighborhood. deal with online We’ve found them might help them as to be a tiny but the news industry loud minority, undergoes massive an experience change in the digi- echoed by every tal era. And now I successful Web offer my outsider’s site I’ve heard take on how my about. There are experience might “spamvertisers” have some meaning and scammers, to those engaged in and dealing with journalism. them involves a Craigslist is a balance between place where people Sailors eagerly read an American newspaper during World War II. National Archives/ passionate desire can give each other Courtesy Newseum. to pursue these a break regarding bad guys and an everyday needs, interest in pre- such as finding a serving the rights place to live or getting a job. From constructed a culture of trust. Basically of the accused. On occasion these one perspective, it’s basically a classi- people feel they should treat others as Internet bad guys push us to provide fied ad site. Penelope Green, writing they want to be treated. Where we start the cops with a quick lesson in Inter- in The New York Times, referred to it from on craigslist is in trusting people; net forensics, privacy principles, and

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 25 Goodbye Gutenberg

law. (Sometimes this involves asking on trust, this poses problems for the had what amounts to a tutorial about for help from the Electronic Frontier Web. This is especially problematic for journalism. In his essay entitled “The Foundation, which does a lot of heavy news providers and news consumers End of Objectivity,” Gillmor describes lifting.) since damage done to trust can be very reasons why reporters set out to tell costly on many levels. both sides of a story, even in the face of Disinformation on the Web After being invited to join some overwhelming evidence that one side conversations involving journalists is likely to be wrong. His conclusion: Beginning early in 2004, we noticed who were thinking about “new media,” fairness, rather than objectivity, ought a surge of Web-based efforts in our I started thinking a lot more about to be the goal, and I agree. In listen- online forums to smear political can- the role journalists play in a vigorous ing to them talk about how journalism didates, such as John McCain. What democracy and about the Internet as works, their words reinforced in me was most disturbing is that the folks a distribution medium. (An early reac- a lesson from when I read “The Boys doing this would spamvertise political tion I had is that at least on the business on the Bus,” a book about coverage of talking points, even ones known to be side of journalism people seemed to the 1972 presidential campaign, when fraudulent. Those who posted these be exaggerating the effect craigslist was I realized that “news” is determined notices would occasionally pretend to having on newspaper revenue.) But for by group thinking among editors be different people—and post the er- me, sitting at a table surrounded by who decide what news is and dismiss roneous information again. (One man journalists offered an opportunity to what’s considered by them to be crazy posted at times as a woman.) In this way, absorb what it is reporters and editors thinking. this decentralized network of posters do and why what they do matters to While mainstream journalism has its would keep information in circulation, someone like me. What they wanted faults, today’s excitement about the po- and then they would virulently discuss me to think about with them was how tential of “citizen journalism” fails, too possible fetishes of candidates in terms to do this in a new media that they often, to take into account the ethics, that were unusual even for those of us figured I understood. standards and skills of journalism—re- in San Francisco. What my experiences added up porting, writing, editing, fact checking, Witnessing this online behavior, I to was one major piece of advice: and publication—practiced usually in started to think a lot about disinforma- The central requirement for news this order. In most of the citizen jour- tion campaigns not only happening organizations has to be trust. Which nalism I’ve observed, fact checking and on craigslist but throughout the Web. version of a story can be trusted? As a editing happens after publication, if at Other Web sites—Wikipedia is a well- consumer of news, this core issue of all. However, a strength of good citizen known example—have suffered from how to establish—and maintain—trust journalism is when the correspondent this problem. Of course, whispered can be frustrating. For example, when has the courage to speak truthfully even rumors and smear campaigns in politics I watch interviews and can tell when in the face of powerful opposition. aren’t new; they’ve been used since a reporter knows someone is lying, I In some respects, these 21st century elections in ancient Greece. In late wonder why they don’t challenge the Web correspondents (like some of the September, the policy director in the veracity of what’s been said. This hap- best journalists) are following in the congressional office of Representative pens in what I consider to be clear-cut footsteps of Martin Luther, John Locke, Charles Bass resigned after it was dis- cases in which I, the viewer, know the and Thomas Paine, whose words led closed that he posed as a supporter of reporter knows that he is being lied to large scale, effective change. his boss’s opponent in blog messages; to. The only news source that shares From where I sit, the highest pri- the intent of what he posted was to with viewers the video that shows this ority right now seems to be finding convince people that the race was not is “The Daily Show.” Often Jon Stewart ways to encourage the convergence of competitive. (Bloggers traced his post- will show a person saying one thing, what’s now being done by journalists ings to his system.) then contradicting what he just said; with what can be done when citizens Nor is this phenomenon solely po- similar clips are rarely, if ever, shown add their voices to the mix. And this litical. People try to use sites like ours to on broadcast news. Some reporters includes journalism’s essential role of attack commercial competitors, often have told me of times when they knew being a watchdog on government and by spreading rumors; and posters rec- someone was lying, but they couldn’t other important social and economic ommend their own services while not report this. institutions. In that regard, some in- forthrightly identifying themselves. teresting things are happening on What’s troubled me is that disin- Learning From Journalists the Web. For example, the Sunlight formation campaigns and information Foundation is behind Congresspedia,1 warfare appear to be amplified by the Meeting with journalists—including which is like Wikipedia for Congress, an Internet. When the scent of bad infor- leaders in new media such as Jeff Jar- idea also being pushed by the Center mation can taint a relationship built vis, Dan Gillmor, and Jay Rosen—I’ve for Media and Democracy, best known

1 Congresspedia: www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Congresspedia

26 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Building Community for exposing fake news in the form of • Jay Rosen, who writes the PressThink tracked back to public relations firms video news reports. blog3 and teaches journalism at New that act as fronts for people who hold Its Web site is overseen by an editor York University, is seeking a new elective office. Is this site trustworthy? “to help ensure fairness and accuracy,” model of investigative journalism If feels so, but I really do want what I and tools are provided to help people at NewAssignment.net. find there to be fact checked. investigate congressional “corruption,” • Jeff Jarvis, who writes the BuzzMa- We all wonder whom and what to whether it involves illegal or unethical chine blog,4 is working with Upendra trust and want to know how informa- behavior by those who serve or in leg- Shardanand, a former Time Warner tion is verified. And we can only hope islators’ efforts to earmark funding to executive and cofounder of Firefly that people have opportunities, as I’ve special projects. For example, earlier Network, to build a new kind of had, to really think about how a free this year on the site an investigation news aggregator site, daylife.com. press preserves democracy. I’m hope- was pursued into whether a home- • Dan Gillmor runs the Center for ful that what I’ve learned about trust district “earmark” by Speaker J. Dennis Citizen Media,5 where among in our online community can help Hastert resulted in him making a two other efforts he is trying to figure journalism achieve this in their digital million dollar profit on the sale of land out what’s happening with citizen enterprises. I’m here to help, and I’ll he owned. A similar effort is evident at journalism. try not to get in the way. I Porkbusters,2 where a Weblog that high- lights wasteful spending encourages Finally, there’s one effort that cap- Craig Newmark is customer ser- constituents to track what’s happening tures much of my concern and hope for vice representative and founder of in their state and congressional district the future of news media. There’s an craigslist (www.craigslist.org) and and post what they discover; on this investigative effort at The Patriot Proj- is involved in a consulting role with site, too, a secret senatorial hold on a ect6 that is focused on disinformation NewAssignment.net, citmedia.org, bill, which would put federal contract campaigns that attack military heroes, and daylife.com, currently in alpha. data online, was revealed. such as the one used against Repre- Newmark adds that he has “a micro- There are other notable efforts of sentative John Murtha, a decorated scopic financial interest” in daylife. merging what is best about journal- war veteran whose strong opposition ism and the Web (and with which I’ve to the Iraq War has made him a target been involved): of smears. On this site, the attacks are

2 http://porkbusters.org 3 http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/weblogs/pressthink/ 4 www.buzzmachine.com/ 5 www.citmedia.org 6 http://patriotproject.com The Challenge of Community Building Knight Foundation asks whether the community role newspapers play can be replicated by new media and offers to support those who show it can.

By Gary Kebbel

story told at most online jour- to where their audiences are. But in forward. We asked ourselves whether nalism meetings is about the getting there, news organizations also the digital world is being used for the A editor who said at a recent must figure out how to retain the values verification journalism and community conference, “I don’t know what to do and standards of journalism. building that Jack and Jim Knight did to make my paper successful in the Knight Foundation is on the lookout at their newspapers. Then we asked digital age, but I’m ready to do it. Just for the next big idea to revolutionize whether news and information in tell me what it is.” the news industry and build geographic cyberspace are used to bring people It is abundantly clear that the communities as audiences for news together in real space and to help search for “it” is going on at all news head online. people where they live and work. organizations. New products and new Oddly, perhaps, we decided to look If they aren’t filling these roles, then distribution methods are needed to get backward as our guide to moving is this an editing issue or a technology

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 27 Goodbye Gutenberg

problem? Have newspapers lost read- Newspapers and television networks the dynamic world of the Web. And the ers because they stopped delivering are losing subscribers and advertis- journalistic skills to succeed on the Web what their audience want—school ing revenue to companies without differ vastly from those employed today. menus and a watchful eye on prop- journalism’s backbone, no grounding Journalists on the Web tell stories in erty taxes, little league scores and in its ethics and principles, no obliga- nonlinear, multimedia ways, and news city council votes? (Youth soccer and tions for its First Amendment duties exists in real time, with the expectation high school football do more to bring and responsibilities. At the same time, of accuracy, depth and insight. together communities than nearly any online destinations or games such In our digital age, neither newspa- city council meeting. Woe to the com- as Monster.com, craigslist, Flickr, pers nor newscasts can be a news or- munity newspaper that doesn’t report MySpace, YouTube and Mortal Kombat ganization’s primary product, yet they the game scores—via instant text mes- are gaining revenue and absorbing the will continue to exist in the foreseeable saging each quarter.) Are newspapers time of those who might have turned future. Managers and journalists must uniquely able to bring people together to newspapers. avoid, however, being so wowed by in their geographic communities? If so, The Knight Brothers 21st Century flashy techniques that old and essen- as readers migrate to other media, will News Challenge is an open, interna- tial values are abandoned. Newsroom there be less on-the-ground commu- tional competition for innovative ideas management will need to change, too, nity building? What other implications that offer ways of using news and infor- for creativity to rise. An authoritarian would this change have for our lives mation online to create or strengthen manager accustomed to employees and public institutions? on-the-ground communities. We’ve set “paying their dues” will not heed the When we raised such questions, as few rules as possible to give our- advice of an inexperienced new hire answers were elusive. So we created selves the best chance to find creative who likely knows more about how the Knight Brothers 21st Century News thinkers and passionate entrepreneurs. young people communicate and what Challenge—a $25 million, five-year Our award categories follow the cycle they want to read and view than the investment designed to encourage from idea to pilot project to broader entire executive committee. Nor will the formation of connective threads distribution to commercial product or a newspaper built around journalists among what journalism does and newly formed company. Maybe we will as gatekeepers easily adapt to citizen what communities want and need. We find the teenager who asks “What if” journalism and blogging. An important hope journalists, as well as community and has an idea worth backing, or the change they’ll be missing is why they members, will help us arrive at some college student who refuses to conform should become information guides, answers and steer this initiative in to “the way things need to be.” not gatekeepers, as people seek help promising directions.1 Our challenge Each quarter, as a result of the de- in finding the news and information goes out to anyone seeking ways to use clining newspaper numbers revealed they need. digital news and information to build by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, Cyberspace comes closer to the geographic communities. new media converts emerge out of old infinite than anything humans have Newspapers—with their ability to media newsrooms. They understand ever invented. It operates at a speed go a mile wide and an inch deep—give the future of journalism doesn’t lie nearly beyond human imagination. neighbors the ability to debate, discuss with printing presses. What is less It is unfettered by geography—a Big and act as members of a shared place clear is whether a place in cyberspace Bang of thought and ideas and news and enterprise. Can the Web—with its can be found for those who value on- and information that is remaking what borderless dimensions—also do this? the-ground civic engagement and re- we know and how we see and express Or on the Web are we headed toward sponsibility. Does the role newspapers ourselves. If more of cyberspace’s a time when our sense of shared play as community conveners have any power could be directed toward ener- space—our feeling of belonging to a meaning in cyberspace? Will younger gizing our on-the-ground obligations community—will be experienced only generations, many of whom have never and benefits of community, then those in virtual ways? If so, how can this be received their information from a news- who convey news and information will reconciled with our geographically paper, even understand what this role understand better the significance of based political system? is and why it is important? what they do and the essential role Our democracy has organized itself The 21st Century News Challenge they play. I around geography since our nation’s sets in motion a process to see if new founding, and news has breathed life media can—or should—replicate Gary Kebbel is the journalism initia- into our civic debate and engagement. certain old media functions. But for tives program officer at the John S. But at the dawn of the 21st century, changes like this to succeed, news and James L. Knight Foundation. He news entities confront numerous is- cultures also need to change. A pub- was news director at America Online sues in this digital transformation. lishing culture built around deadlines and helped create USAToday.com Layoffs of journalists are on the rise. and the printing press doesn’t exist in and Newsweek.com

1 www2.knightfdn.org/newschallenge/home.html

28 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Building Community Why Anonymity Exists and Works on Newspapers’ Web Sites ‘If we require real names in print, shouldn’t we do the same thing online?’

By Steve Yelvington

s more newspapers integrate access and Web sites gained forum ca- on the Sociology of Anonymity.” He print and online operations, pabilities, they quickly attracted users wrote that “there are many contexts A print editors confront a strange from other cultures more accustomed in which most persons would agree new world, in which all of the familiar to using “handles.” Many early users that some form of anonymity or iden- rules are being broken. In print, letters were young and came from dial-up tifiability is desirable. But there are to the editor must be signed and, in bulletin board systems, where some others where we encounter a thicket news stories, sources identified, except borrowed the identities of comic book of moral ambiguity and competing in specified cases. But when newspa- heroes such as Judge Dredd. A huge rationales and where a balancing act pers move online, people in forums, influx of users from America Online, may be called for.” chat sessions, or in comments find which allowed multiple screen names Marx lists a few: liberty and order; themselves engaged in conversations per account, permanently changed the accountability and privacy; community with the Mad Hatter or a Salty Dog. culture of the Internet. and individualism; freedom of expres- Mad Hatter? How did we fall down Once a culture is established, it can sion and the right not to be defamed this rabbit hole? be difficult to oppose. “I used to post or harassed. His list continues along Should newspapers be running their under my real name … but I felt like those lines and ends with “the desire Web sites this way? If we require real the only naked person at a clothing- to be noticed and the need to be left names in print, shouldn’t we do the optional beach,” wrote “Salty Dog” in alone”—a conflict we see being played same thing online? Aren’t there ethical a discussion of this issue at BlufftonTo- out on MySpace.com today. considerations? day.com. And for many people, posting Marshall McLuhan observed that It’s not that simple. Anonymity and under a pseudonym is a protective mea- communications technologies reshape pseudonymity are not merely common sure. “When your 13-year-old daughter the world into a global village. Anyone to Internet culture, there is a con- picks up the phone and hears, ‘We’re who’s ever lived in a small town knows siderable historical, ethical and legal going to burn a cross in your yard,’ … that “everybody knows you” can be foundation for it. you change your attitude toward being suffocating. One middle-aged man, In its early pre-Web days, most ‘out there,’” wrote “Wiley Coyote.” a closeted homosexual in a southern Internet discussions took place on a community, wrote to me privately system called Usenet. Messages com- Identity: Practice, Ethics and about how he felt a need to express monly were signed with real names and the Law himself in blog postings about gay were sent from legitimate research and rights but feared he would lose his educational institutions. Exceptions Earlier this year, I was part of an ethics job if his employer found out. Another tended to be jokes, such as the April 1, symposium convened by the Poynter frequent blogger’s spouse is employed 1984 posting from “Konstantin Chern- Institute at which a mixed group of by the school district that he criticizes enko” at “Kremvax,” sent long before Internet media leaders and Poynter vigorously in his postings. For them, the network extended into the Soviet faculty tried to clarify a number of ethi- anonymity is essential to their ability Union. Early public online forums, cal issues that are encountered when to participate. such as the Whole Earth ’Lectronic Link publishing online. Identity was quickly These issues are not unique to the (WELL) and many CompuServe interest seen as one of those questions with no Internet. Indeed, early American jour- groups, also were dominated by real simple answers. Instead, it raises more nalists often wrote under pen names, identities. The first newspaper online questions: Who is being served? Who particularly in the Revolutionary pe- site I built, at the Star Tribune in Min- is being hurt? riod, when the oppressive danger was neapolis, required real names. The contextual details are important. not merely a tyranny of the majority But the Web unfolded in a different Gary Marx, professor emeritus at the but a tyranny backed up by military direction. Those cultures of identity Massachusetts Institute of Technology, force. Founding Fathers Ben Franklin, still exist, but they have not grown at confronted the ethical questions sur- John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and the rate of the overall Web. And once rounding anonymity in a 1999 paper, James Madison were among those the Internet was opened to commercial “What’s in a Name? Some Reflections who occasionally took advantage of

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 29 Goodbye Gutenberg

pseudonyms. The “seditious libel” of Silenced Voices Now Heard newspaper disappears. Is there a vital which John Peter Zenger was accused and continuing role for newspapers, or included contributions from a number There is a political value embedded in even for journalists, to play in provid- of anonymous and pseudonymous American journalism, a belief that what ing such a forum for civic and social critics of the Crown. we do is essential to sustaining our conversation? But how does the law treat such participatory democracy. Editorial and Community conversation can ben- anonymity today? Who is responsible op-ed pages exist to provide a forum for efit from a framework of goals, ground for the content of these postings? Here discussion of issues of public interest. rules and leadership, and newspapers a common Internet acronym applies: Almost without exception, American can perform a real public service by IANAL (I am not a lawyer), so an edi- newspapers require writers of letters helping provide this. In online forums, tor must consult his or her own legal five basic identity models exist, and resources and ultimately make an below they are ranked from the “order” informed decision about risk. NEWSPAPER GALLERY to “liberty” ends of the spectrum: A well-versed lawyer can cite the relevant cases—Stratton Oakmont, Inc. 1. Real, verified, published names. It’s v. Prodigy, Cubby, Inc. v. CompuServe, almost impossible to do this without Inc. and Zeran v. America Online, Inc.. requiring credit-card transactions. The courts have struck down much of 2. Real names required but not verified. the Communications Decency Act, but Most “real name” forums on the net the surviving portion includes a statu- today operate this way. tory “safe harbor” provision for opera- 3. Pseudonyms allowed, tied to unpub- tors of interactive services, and it is clear lished real names. Most newspapers that Congress intended to promote the with Web registration systems can development of open conversation by implement this model easily. freeing hosts from responsibility for 4. Pseudonyms allowed with complete actions taken by guests. anonymity. There have been several non-Inter- 5. Completely open systems—post net cases in which courts have made under any name. This “most free” it clear that freedom of speech does Remington 2 typewriter, circa 1880. This environment is the most abuse- not come with a hidden price tag typewriter was the first of its kind to have prone, but a peer-moderation sys- of speaker identification. The Elec- upper- and lowercase letters. The space tem (such as found on Slashdot. tronic Frontier Foundation has said bar is made of wood. Newseum collection/ org) can mitigate the damage of an “the Supreme Court has repeatedly Courtesy Newseum. abusive minority. upheld the First Amendment right to speak anonymously,” citing Buckley v. Among these routes, there is no “cor- American Constitutional Law Founda- rect” path, just a need to consider all tion, Inc., McIntyre v. Ohio Elections or op-ed pieces to identify themselves. these issues and strike a balance. The Commission, and Talley v. California. In Perhaps this reflects that in our culture middle road—public pseudonyms, pri- writing about continuing challenges to order is more valued than freedom vate identity—might be the optimal, if anonymity and pseudonymity, a brief- and accountability more than privacy, not ideal, solution. The mask provided ing paper written for the conservative if we return to Marx’s list of competing by a pseudonym might entice shy per- Cato Institute calls these ways of pro- rationales. One result, however, is that sons to contribute, just as they might tecting one’s identity the “cornerstones many voices are being silenced by fear open up at a costume party. But as with of free speech.” of social consequences. the real event, it helps if the host knows Even if the law ultimately shields Those voices are now being heard on the identity of everyone in the room; the forum’s host, there is a danger of the Internet, where anyone can become knowing this tends to keep behavior having to defend against nuisance suits a blogger in the two minutes it takes from getting out of hand. I and attempts by plaintiffs to intimidate to fill out a form and create an account pseudonymous bloggers by demanding on any of the many free blog-hosting Steve Yelvington was a newspaper disclosure of their identities. In unrav- and social-networking sites. There is reporter and editor for two decades eling this knotty problem, it’s helpful no longer a scarcity of places in which before moving to the Internet in 1994 for editors to ask: Why do newspapers public conversation and interaction as founding editor of Star Tribune host online conversations, anyway? can happen. Some journalists, such Online in Minneapolis. He now What are our real goals? To each of these as blogger Jeff Jarvis, have begun to focuses on strategy and innovation questions, an editor should be able to question whether the editorial page for Morris DigitalWorks, the online answer with something other than “so has outlived its usefulness. Community division of Morris Communications we can get the page views.” conversation will thrive even if every in Augusta, Georgia.

30 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Goodbye Gutenberg | Finding Our Footing Are Journalists the 21st Century’s Buggy Whip Makers? Newspapers might vanish, too, if they continue to ‘dream of past dominance while taking their product and trying to fit it into their competitor’s terrain.’

By William Dietrich

n 1990, at the height of the Pacific no longer can afford. culation to new digital competition. Northwest battle over whether to The direct cause of shrinking news But my questions—and they are still Icut the last virgin “old growth” staffs is a loss of advertising and cir- only questions—are whether recent timber, many loggers layoffs because of loss of and sawmill owners pan- revenue are only part of icked. Their specialty was the technological earth- NEWSPAPER GALLERY cutting and sawing giant quake. Will the ubiquity trees and, if the nation- of information make al forest supply disap- traditional journalism peared, their equipment less valuable or even and skills were obsolete. obsolete? Environmentalists were not sympathetic. These Thinking Ahead woods workers, they argued, were no differ- To paraphrase Andy ent than the buggy whip Warhol, in the future ev- makers put out of work eryone will be a journal- when the automobile ist for 15 minutes. When arrived. After all, times crime victims can post do change. wrenching accounts Today, the availability of assaults (and ac- of inexpensive digital companying photos of cameras and recorders, bruises) and politicians the triumph of the Inter- bypass the press with net, and the explosion Web-based campaigns, of amateur Web-based then the role journalists publishing—MySpace. traditionally play is be- com, blogs, e-mails and ing usurped. Instead of Web sites—puts similar sitting in the front row stress on those of us who of history being made, remember the “good old we’re now two or three days” of fat and sassy rows back at hurricanes, monopoly newspapers. tsunamis, wars and cam- When anyone can re- paigns, with our view cord and post informa- sometimes obstructed tion—the commodity for by on-the-spot, com- which reporters, editors, peting amateurs whose producers and photogra- accounts of the event phers are paid—journal- A man reads The Detroit Times. August 1942. Library of Congress/ provide immediacy, pas- ists are in danger of be- Courtesy Newseum. sion and, yes, rumor, coming a luxury society exaggeration and mis-

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 31 Goodbye Gutenberg

interpretation. That’s exactly the point, journalists protest. We aren’t simply descriptive Vanishing Jobs at Newspapers witnesses of spot news, but careful, accurate and fair reporters of what we Employment news at newspapers is of Newspaper Editors has newsroom observe. We collect vast amounts of bad, but just how bad depends on employment nationally rising from disparate information and synthesize who’s counting. Between 1992 and about 42,000 in 1977 to today’s 52,000, it into coherent stories. We cover the 2002, the number of full-time editorial a 19 percent increase in 29 years, even whole range of news, not the day’s employees at U.S. dailies fell 8,438, or after the recent cuts (compared to a 36 fancy of the blogosphere. We provide a almost 13 percent, by the estimate of percent increase in U.S. population in sense of history and perspective. We’re Indiana University professor David H. the same time frame). eloquent. We’re witty. The world’s Weaver, a coauthor of “The American Editorial layoffs are making news: 45 pundits, gasbags and gadflies take their Journalist in the 21st Century.” The jobs at The New York Times, 75 at The cue from what we produce. In short, Project for Excellence in Journalism Philadelphia Inquirer, and 85 at the Los we’re indispensable. cites a smaller total of newsgathering Angeles Times in 2005; and this year, But let’s face it; a fair amount of tradi- and editing jobs—a peak of 56,400 50 at the San Jose Mercury News, 111 tional journalism has been mechanical, in 2000—that had fallen to 52,000 by at The Dallas Morning News, and 80 shoe-leather stuff. Sit through a routine 2006, with most of the losses at the at The Washington Post, to cite some council meeting or congressional hear- bigger papers. The American Society examples. I —W.D. ing. Check the police blotter. Travel to a disaster. Record what is going on in stenographic fashion. And the less inspired the reporting is, the more it we can buy is The New York Times, A New Media Terrain becomes obsolete in the Internet age. published 3,000 miles away. This adds Why cover a council meeting, publish- up to one mega coffee corporation While journalists might be becoming a ers might ask, when the handful of plus one mega media corporation luxury the media business is ready to do readers who care about it can access equals local journalism be damned. without, media jobs aren’t disappear- documents and testimony online? Why Seattle’s dailies, by their admission, ing. In fact, they are on the rise as Web travel to a distant forest fire when those are more “Seattle-centric” due to news- sites and blogs emerge to disseminate who want to follow its progress can go room budget cuts. [See accompanying an ocean of information in ever more on the Web to find photos, a wire story, box with newsroom cuts elsewhere.] clever ways. For someone who yearns and some eyewitness accounts? Coverage of national and regional to shuttle or repackage information, People used to pay newspapers to news—not to mention international or comment on it instead of generate gather information that was often ex- stories—is increasingly left to the five it, the good times are rolling. Specialty pensive or tedious to find. But with the big national newspapers—the Times, newspapers and magazines—aimed at Internet, we have lost our monopoly the Los Angeles Times, The Washington enthusiasts—which pull in advertis- on information. Yes, newspapers have Post, The Wall Street Journal, and USA ing by doing friendly pieces on the numerous advantages, but so did Today—and the wire services. industries they cover are thriving. horses. They were quieter than cars, From an old-line journalist’s per- The number of books published and less likely to get stuck, could be fu- spective, what’s even worse is our movies made each year grows, and TV eled in a field, and didn’t depreciate declining relevance to advertisers. I channels are proliferating. as quickly. But have you commuted by shop for an automobile, appliances, But the on-the-ground newspaper horseback lately? electronics and even clothes online. I reporter—whose purpose is to fulfill an I live in a small city of about 15,000 found my house online. Some people essential function of our democracy not about 60 miles north of Seattle. Citizen find spouses online. Is it any wonder just by disseminating information but Web sites on contentious land use and newspaper revenues are shrinking? also by analyzing it, detecting patterns, community issues often offer more And this same earthquake has rocked spotting trends, and increasing soci- detailed information and trenchant the travel industry, the advertising etal understanding—is being starved analysis than the local weekly. Their industry, the real estate industry, the of resources. Lifetime security is long weaknesses: one-sidedness and a telecommunications industry, and even gone. Travel budgets are disappearing. tendency to come and go. Still, ama- the movie industry, where “a cast of Overseas bureaus are closed. The most teurs with a cause have more time to thousands” is replaced by digitized veteran and knowledgeable report- devote to researching an issue—and extras. Guidebooks and maps give ers—expensive to keep on board—are more Web space to show what they’ve way to handy navigation systems and being encouraged to leave through discovered—than the harried reporter Web sites. Receptionists were long buyouts and cutbacks. on the tiny staff of a paper publication. ago replaced with robotic telephone Despite this depletion of resources, At our Starbucks, the only newspaper menus. the need to “make sense” will not go

32 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Finding Our Footing away. Those who are adept at being cartoon or an explanatory graphic, all in from their jobs will likely migrate to incisive and eloquent will be even the process of just turning the page. special-interest publications. And this more valuable, migrating to national But newspapers rarely do a very might be fine for the survival of our publications. (And I’ll read what they good job of making their case. Rarely species (the reporter), but writing for write at my local Starbucks.) But what do they directly challenge their com- narrow audiences sounds like a recipe of local yeomen, journalists who make petitors by touting the quality of their for boredom and not particularly good government and society function with information; instead they dream of for democracy, either. Our society more accountability and understand- past dominance while taking their already has too few who know a little ing because of their reporting on re- product and trying to fit it into their bit about a lot and can make sense of gional, state and local issues? Will they competitor’s terrain. Yet newspapers the big picture. continue to serve this purpose or has have expertise and archives that dwarf The Web, meanwhile, has too few evolution of technology doomed them the competition. Reporters use only a well trained in the pursuit of accuracy, like the dodo bird? fraction of their notes. Almost none of fairness and perspective. Like the Platte Newspaper journalism has a strong a newspaper’s decades of accumulated River, Web journalism threatens to be- case to make. At its best, it offers a information—its archive of history—is come a mile wide and an inch deep. combination of perspective, authority, effectively marketed and sold. Surely folks want to keep us buggy penetration, accuracy, comprehensive- Maybe newspapers can—and will— whip makers around. But then again, ness, brevity and ease of use that other reinvent themselves. It seems almost sawmills did close, and if you want a media can’t match. And newspapers certain that journalists will write with buggy ride, go to Central Park. I offer something the Web can never more expertise for more targeted really duplicate—the serendipitous audiences willing to pay for slices of William Dietrich, a 1988 Nieman Fel- discovery of an intriguing article or a premium information. Some of the low, is an author and Sunday maga- remarkable picture, an eye-opening daily newspaper reporters laid off zine writer with The Seattle Times.

NEWSPAPER GALLERY

A copyboy is about to tear off a dispatch from The Associated Press wire at The New York Times. September 1942. Library of Congress/ Courtesy Newseum.

Copyeditors in a newsroom of a city newspaper. 1952. National Archives/Courtesy Newseum.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 33 Goodbye Gutenberg Looking Past the Rush Into Convergence As technology drives big newsroom changes, what will happen to journalism?

By Edward Wasserman

uring the next few years, the business will continue to marginalize 4. Intelligently blending powerful migration of news media to the journalism, as yesterday’s newsrooms communications technologies could DInternet will start to become transform themselves into tomorrow’s be a boon to journalism, but only a background reality, a given. Paper market-driven, multimedia informa- if enhancing journalism replaces publishing will still be around, as will tion utilities. marketing objectives as the chief over-the-air broadcasting. But both goal of the process. will be on their way to becoming niche Concern About Convergence artifacts. The technological superiority To the first point: It’s a common- of online distribution for multimedia Concern about the consequences of place to note that convergence has presentation and its vast potential for this technological transformation for been driven by a recognition among interactivity will make the Internet the journalism brings us to the topic of the people who own and run news op- principal venue for news and topical convergence, which so far consists erations—especially monopoly metro commentary. primarily of integrating audio-visual dailies—that their future audience is So much for the objection that the media and round-the-clock Internet turning to the Web for informational concerns I’m about to raise are signs distribution into formerly print-based needs and that legacy organizations of resistance to technological advance. news operations. (I applaud the inter- must create a strong and vital online I’ve long argued that the news busi- active initiatives of some news organi- presence. Leveraging their capabilities ness needs to learn from Hollywood. zations, but I don’t see them as part by developing sites and customizing A half-century ago, moviemakers sold of the convergence paradigm, which their offerings to suit the Internet audi- five times the tickets they sell now mainly concerns news distribution, not ence are essential to business success (to a population half its current size). collaborative conversation.) and, indeed, survival. If Hollywood had stuck to the belief Convergence has swept the news Fair enough. I’m all for survival. that its business is to pack theaters, it business and has prompted, in some I simply want to point out that this would no longer have a business. It places, a radical overhaul of newsroom technological redirection is not being has prospered, as Edward Jay Epstein operations, affecting workloads, as- decided in the name of better journal- recounts in “The Big Picture,” by being signment philosophies, production ism, of seeking better tools with which technologically nimble, becoming the expectations, and service goals. It has to create more powerful reporting premier source of home-based enter- become, as a colleague observed, “the about matters of compelling interest tainment content—first via broadcast new orthodoxy.” It is also, in its current and concern. TV (initially viewed as a mortal enemy), form, deeply flawed. Once, news organizations embraced lately for cable, Web delivery, DVDs, Here I have four basic points to the telegraph, installed telephones, podcasts, mobile and so forth. make: and issued walkie-talkies so they The news business faces a similar set could gather news more efficiently. of technology-related opportunities. 1. Convergence has principally been Not so with the migration to the Web. But as it addresses them, my question a response to business needs, It hasn’t been a response to demands is, what will happen to journalism? And not journalistic ones. That seems from reporters for smarter technolo- by “journalism” I mean a professional obvious and trivial, but I think it’s gies with which to get the news, bet- practice constituted by independent important. ter techniques to plumb realities that truth-telling that’s intended to serve the 2. Convergence isn’t really “platform have heretofore been inaccessible, and public by illuminating important social agnostic” at all, but instead privi- new ways to hear from people who and political realities. Some would ob- leges certain technical capabilities have important realities to share and ject that this definition might exclude over others and certain kinds of until now have been beyond report- coverage of celebrity pregnancies and information over others. ers’ reach. basketball drafts, and for the purposes 3. Convergence seems to engender Those are the sort of things ad- of this polemic it does. management practices that degrade vanced communication technologies I worry that the answer to my newsroom working conditions and can enable us to do, and they might question, judging by the industry’s that encourage journalism that is have huge importance to the practice performance to date, is that the news thin and hasty. of journalism. But those aren’t the

34 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Finding Our Footing concerns that are driving convergence. near-news? Sometimes, perhaps they For now, convergence efforts have Instead, convergence is about enabling are. But in a larger sense I’m struck by proven that you can convert a city room the legacy news business to colonize the paradox of a business that wrings into a 24/7 cyber-news mill, tarted up cyberspace. That is its DNA. its hands ceaselessly over its shaky with pictures and sound. But is this Secondly, we hear declarations from credibility and that is now reshaping the only way to go? Of course it isn’t. news executives about making their itself to fit an operating mode in which Maybe the needs of the thoughtful, cou- operations “platform agnostic,” a term half-understood stories are published rageous journalism that contributes so embraced, most recently, by New York with wire-service haste, in the belief much to civic life won’t fundamentally Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.. that fixing them later, as facts are shape the way the news business makes I know what the executives mean—they clarified, will repair the harm done by its historic movement online. Media want their staffs producing great work earlier versions. strategy, after all, may be too important irrespective of whether it runs in print to be left to journalists. or with sound and pictures on the Web. And to be fair, it’s early yet. The cur- But the hard fact is that technologies Newspaper staffs rent state of convergence recalls the are not media-agnostic. period soon after USA Today debuted Once deployed in specific ways to accustomed to meeting and newspapers discovered plumage. accomplish certain objectives, they’re end-of-day deadlines Suddenly, everybody had to have color. anything but indifferent. Once you com- What followed was a wildly iridescent mit to nourishing a round-the-clock are now running period, which one savvy design person Web operation that’s programmed to on round-the-clock later described as “Fruit Loops,” colors be on top of the news, you’ve taken lavished promiscuously and pointlessly on a hungry young monster, one that’s Internet time, as if around humble columns of gray. In happy to devour whatever it’s given, that was essential to time, good taste reappeared. but which must be fed. Do we hear In that spirit, I can’t help but wonder journalists clamoring for the chance to their authority. Is it what will happen when key decisions post multiple versions of stories as the really? Is the public about technology are made by report- day progresses, or hungering to record ers and line editors, who ask how this and edit video they’re barely qualified perpetually hungry for epochal array of powerful tools will to make, just in time to prepare radio real-time updates on help them do their jobs better: How scripts so they can post multimedia will it enable them to bring greater streams and feed audio to affiliated fast-breaking intelligence and reach to their report- stations? near-news? ing? Or to hear people who have been Welcome to the converged news- silenced? Or tell stories more vividly room. and compellingly? Or inspire and par- To the third point: What kind of a ticipate in a richer communitywide job is that, anyway? Based on recent Publishing now, editing later—that conversation? coverage of convergence efforts in the seems an odd way to regain public That’s not about branding, reposi- American Journalism Review and Edi- trust. tioning, leveraging, monetizing or line tor & Publisher, what I’ve described We’re likely to see many of the same extension. It’s about journalism, which isn’t far from the realities of some en- issues arise with the accelerating use is what the news business, converged thusiastically converged newsrooms: of citizen-generated videos and pho- or not, is supposed to be about. I The working conditions of journalists tographs—generically referred to as are being degraded, and reporting en- “user-generated content”—on news Edward Wasserman holds the John ergies are being drawn away from the Web sites and in newscasts. As with S. and James L. Knight Founda- richly detailed, thoughtful reporting any information that comes from out- tion chair in journalism ethics at that exemplifies the best in journalism siders whose identity, circumstance Washington and Lee University in and that makes a difference in the lives and purpose are not known, authen- Lexington, Virginia. Since 2001 his of our communities. ticity has to be a constant concern, biweekly column on the media has Much of the problem seems to especially as news organizations come been distributed nationally by the derive from enshrining speed as an under greater marketing pressures to McClatchy-Tribune wire. This essay operational priority. Newspaper staffs welcome YouTube-like input. True, is an expanded version of a column accustomed to meeting end-of-day nonprofessionals have given us historic first published in May 2006 and deadlines are now running on round- news images, from the Kennedy assas- archived at http://journalism.wlu. the-clock Internet time, as if that was sination to the South Asian tsunami, edu/knight/2006/05-22-2006.htm essential to their authority. Is it really? but recently we can also thank them Is the public perpetually hungry for for supplying images of the Loch Ness real-time updates on fast-breaking monster and Bigfoot.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 35 Goodbye Gutenberg We Can Adjust to Changing Demands, But Should We? ‘People can adapt to anything if the order comes from the person who signs the paychecks.’

By Joe Zelnik

Adapt or Die” is the headline on Man and the Sea.” Virgin’s first novella, a newspaper while I watch “House.” an article from American Journal- titled “Ghost Town,” about a homeless And when the show’s over, I frequently “ism Review posted on the bulletin teenager, was written by one of its have to ask my wife, “What disease did board at the weekly newspaper I edit. copywriters. The teenager probably got he have?” Golly gigabyte, that sounds serious. thrown out of his house for running I do detect the onset of schizophre- Life’s not easy for some us who still up his cell phone bill or becoming ad- nia at newspapers. Most papers beg remember typewriters—and typeset- dicted to porn on the Internet. readers to go to their Web sites. But ters. And management isn’t helping I am not going to knock this because, The New York Times Web site urges us when it keeps sticking stories on the if it flies, many journalist victims of to “Think Outside the Screen” and fol- bulletin board suggesting newspapers downsizing (a kinder form of laid off) lows with a $2.99-a-week subscription are going out of fashion. The most could pay the rent by writing novellas. offer to receive the paper version. recent posting on our board, this one Just shorten that novel now gathering Last December, I wrote a column from Publishing Executive (What do dust in the bottom right drawer of about my newspaper being “on the they know?) was headlined, “Have You your desk. cutting edge” and, tongue in cheek, an- Started Planning for E-Paper?” Graduates of Northwestern’s Medill nounced that we’d be selling “Hipods” “What is the e-paper,” you ask? It’s School of Journalism, we discover, will for $9.99 “cash and carry.” The Hipod, I evidently a “paper-thin, page-sized, be expected to have learned how to tell explained, was solar-powered, the size flexible plastic monitor on which digital their stories “across all of the print and of a driver’s license, and fits in one’s images can be displayed.” An e-head digital platforms in words, audio and wallet, while combining a computer, who works here wrote on the posted video.” To do that, they will train for cell phone, camera, A-GPS receiver, clipping that “it’s easy to envision this new era of journalism by heading calendar, address book, voice recorder, someone carrying a ‘tab-sized’ piece out the door with a laptop computer, bottle opener, and flashlight. Most im- of e-paper which plugs into a PDA or digital audio and video recorders, and portant, my weekly newspaper’s stories phone.” video iPods. Presumably chiropractic would be posted to it as they are being It might be easy for him, maybe. Not care will be a new demand of The written. Why wait until Wednesday to so easy for me. All this downsizing of Newspaper Guild. read my words? reading space sounds like a plot by Does my attitude personify gen- Two readers called to buy one. optometrists, if you ask me. erational differences? Possibly, but The acceptance of new ideas is an But who would ask me? Linus car- don’t despair. A recent story in Parade individual thing. When I go on a trip, ries a security blanket. I carry a pica magazine assured its readers, I mean I have found AAA’s maps and direc- stick (metal ruler) with me every time audience, that “old dogs can learn new tions vastly superior to those I find on the production department calls. I tricks.” A 10-year-old German shepherd MapQuest. When I rent a car, I decline borrowed it from the Columbus (Ga.) was taught to sit, come, or go to bed navigational devices that tell me to Ledger 50 years ago when Specialist on command. I can do all those things “turn right in 100 yards.” I’ve found Remer Tyson (also a Nieman Fellow) and more. It all depends, said Parade, my wife’s directions to be a lot more and I were in the army at Fort Benning on who gives the command. My view: dependable and her commands a lot and got to go “in town” in civvies once People can adapt to anything if the or- more familiar. a week to oversee make-up of The (Fort der comes from the person who signs But where the improvement is un- Benning) Bayonet. the paychecks. deniable, I join right in. Those Crest Reading teeny tiny print might not Of course age is a factor. The Wall Whitestrips really do work. I be a problem for many. Virgin Mobile is Street Journal reported that anyone beaming novellas to cell phone users. under 30 “grew up with the Internet in Joe Zelnik, a 1970 Nieman Fellow, is They come in 160-character install- one hand and a cell phone in another.” editor of the Cape May County Her- ments through two text messages a day Sure, but they have to put one down ald in New Jersey. for five weeks. The cost is five cents to drink a beer. per message. Don’t look for “The Old My multitasking is limited to reading

36 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Finding Our Footing Evolving Definitions of News ‘Journalists may have thought it was necessary to set the old school aside to accommodate the new realities, but with the new realities there is no new ethic.’

By Tom Bettag

he Internet explosion has left us to 9/11 the two biggest stories on What Is News? with no shortage of data, but the cable “news” had been shark attacks TWeb as a source of “news” comes and the Gary Condit scandal. Those In thinking about what constitutes “real with a credibility problem. The Internet three anchors gave those stories little news,” I wrote the following words in turns out to be a magnificent source airtime and were criticized for failing 2000—and the questions and issues of gossip, rumor, conspiracy theories, to recognize what people really cared they raise remain relevant today. and fascinating urban myths. Using about. Rather had been particularly When I first heard the question it, one can find pictures of Hurricane ridiculed for refusing to spend a single “What is news?” in journalism school, Katrina that haven’t been seen any- minute on the Condit scandal, saying I was a bit shocked by the arrogance of where else. The reason: They weren’t that in his judgment it wasn’t of endur- the answer. “News is what I say it is.” taken during Hurricane Katrina. Such ing significance. That’s how one earns That’s the way it was in the old school. discoveries leave viewers wondering credibility. The old pros who said it, meant it. whether any picture found online has Americans need to know where to News is what we say it is. They spoke been doctored by Photoshop. turn to on the Web when they are ask- as members of the journalism profes- In my world of television, people ask ing, “Who can I trust?” Already they are sion, which was to them almost the why a network anchor should be paid searching for places in the new media priesthood. They spoke as people who so much money just “to read the news.” that they can count on for accuracy, for took pride in their training and experi- There is a good reason, other than the reporting without agendas—in short, ence, their discipline and professional perceived power of celebrity, and that for real news. ethics. They talked about journalism as is credibility. Cred- public service. They ibility is so valuable even used the phrase today because it is NEWSPAPER GALLERY “a sacred trust.” so scarce. That was the way When al-Qaeda it was in the old attacked on 9/11, school before things the spectrum of started to change. possible informa- Former Vice Presi- tion sources was dent Spiro Agnew’s huge. In fact, a large attack on the “east- majority of Ameri- ern elitist nattering cans picked one of nabobs of negativ- just three sources: ism” was at least cor- Tom Brokaw, Peter rect on the “eastern” Jennings, and Dan part. It was about Rather. Each had this same time that been broadcasting television began hav- five nights a week for ing enormous im- more than 20 years. pact, and we began Before that each had to cope with the spent decades re- notion of journal- porting throughout ists as celebrities. the world. That’s Walter Cronkite had how journalists earn problems reporting credibility. Three men look at a picture display in The Detroit News window. July 1942. on campaigns and In the summer Library of Congress/Courtesy Newseum. candidates because months leading up he drew more at-

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 37 Goodbye Gutenberg

tention than those who were running There were new realities. If you can NEWSPAPER GALLERY for President. People started calling cover it, you must. Be first, and don’t anchormen “400-pound gorillas.” The worry what it is you are first with. News question became “Who elected them?” is anything you can cover live. or Richard Nixon’s well-remembered But here comes the Internet and the words, “Mr. Rather, are you running ability to send video to your laptop. for something?” (Today, it can come into our phones.) That criticism made us uncomfort- It’s a pipeline that dwarfs the 24-hour able. Accepting accountability for cable channels. A desperate call has providing news to our democracy was gone out for “content providers.” It’s a heavy burden. We knew we weren’t where the money is, and journalists omniscient, and we asked ourselves, once again are scrambling to respond “Who are we to think we should set an to new realities. Those realities are all agenda for the nation? What made us about big money. The words “public any smarter than the next guy?” service” do not even get lip service, A sociologist once asked me how much less “sacred trust.” What content? we decide what news is. He was ap- Any content—anything that will keep palled at my response: Those of us in the pipeline from running dry. Is it the newsroom decide what news is. accurate? Maybe. Who’s to say? News His question was, “How can you call This model #1 linotype machine, built is what fills the pipeline. yourselves responsible when you don’t between January and June 1893, was first Is it small wonder that the American base your judgments on any scientific used in the Baltimore, Maryland area. people have become cynical about the research?” His research tools were polls It was sold to The Rappahanock Record news media? The only people more and focus groups. circa 1925. Newseum collection/gift, Mr. cynical are the journalists. Last year It wasn’t long before every network and Mrs. Fred Gaskins and Mrs. Clara journalists were polled by the Pew had a “research” department. Some Christopher/Courtesy Newseum. organization. Asked if bottom-line pres- journalists resisted, but management sures were hurting television news, said that was “old school.” We wouldn’t 53 percent said yes. Asked if news be slaves to research, they assured us; that journalists were obsessed with organizations are moving too far into it would only be used for “guidance.” a level of quality that meant nothing entertainment, 74 percent said yes. Focus groups were asked what they to the viewers. We could produce The Committee of Concerned wanted to see on daily newscasts. In popular broadcasts without all those Journalists gathered more than 1,000 all too many places that move took foreign bureaus, without all those signatures on a “statement of con- much of the decision-making off the people. Cheaper operations would cern” that is quite stunning. It reads, shoulders of the news staff. News yield greater profits. News is what in part: “There is a growing debate consultants collated the responses makes money. within news organizations about our of the focus groups and established Then there was an even brighter responsibilities as businesses and our guidelines for the newsroom. Soon idea. News would be a lot better (not responsibilities as journalists. Many every local station had health news, to mention cheaper) if you simply journalists feel a sense of lost purpose. consumer news, happy news, pet removed the middleman, the journal- There is even doubt about the meaning stories. News is what people say they istic filter. It started off benevolently of news, doubt evident when serious want to know about. with C-SPAN bringing debates from journalistic organizations drift toward Then came the day when the net- the floor of Congress or other previ- opinion, infotainment and sensation works were bought up by larger cor- ously unseen events, and it let view- out of balance with the news.” porations whose primary orientation ers watch them in their entirety. Then Listen to Andy Rooney: “Corporate was not television. The Loews Corpo- the Republican convention broadcast America was late discovering there was ration bought up CBS, and CEO Larry GOPTV events brought directly to us a profit to be made with news, and it’s Tisch complained, “CBS News spends by the party without meddling journal- trying to make up for its slow start.” hundreds of millions of dollars. I can’t ists. News is anything you can get a Listen to Keith Olbermann, who believe the people who run broadcasts camera to do. described his old nightly MSNBC and bureaus aren’t businessmen.” The This served the purposes of the broadcast on the Monica scandal “The journalists there tried to strike a more 24-hour cable service magnificently. White House Isn’t in Crisis, but We’ll reasonable attitude toward the unwel- Its constant challenge is how to feed Keep Calling It That Because There Is come marriage of news and business. a gigantic maw, and nothing chews a Graphic.” At a graduation speech, he News, which had never been expected up time like live coverage. It might be said, “I’m having the dry heaves in the to make money, was now to become a repetitious; there might not be much bathroom because my moral sensor is profit center. The new owners insisted information to impart. Not to worry. going off, but I can’t even hear it, I’m

38 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Finding Our Footing so seduced by these ratings.” Journalists are not omniscient. be elitist. And it is dangerous to You are hearing stirrings of con- Journalists are better off if they can suggest that journalists should look science. avoid being celebrities. Journalists are inside themselves for the answer to The old-timers were on to some- not necessarily good business people. the question, “What’s news?” It’s the thing. “News is what I say it is.” They What journalists are is a vital element most dangerous approach except for were putting their reputations on the in the operation of democracy. The everything else. I line. They were taking responsibility, First Amendment was not written to expecting to be held accountable. protect focus groups. The journalists Tom Bettag is executive producer of Journalists may have thought it was who signed the “statement of concern” The Koppel Group at Discovery Chan- necessary to set the old school aside have it right when they speak of “a nel. He was the executive producer of to accommodate the new realities, but sense of lost purpose.” ABC News’s “Nightline.” Some words with the new realities there is no new It has been said that “democracy is from this article were published ethic. We were, in fact, abdicating our the worst form of government except originally in The Harvard Interna- responsibility, letting ourselves off for everything else.” The old-school tional Journal of Press/Politics, Sum- the hook. approach could be arrogant. It could mer 2000. Toward a New Journalism With Verification ‘This journalism must recognize that the distribution, the organization, and the sources of our work must change.’ When Bill Kovach, founding chairman political affairs, about the real state media” believe that no one controls of the Committee of Concerned Jour- of the world, and about their place in information anymore so that problem nalists, was inducted as a fellow into that world. is solved. That potential may reside in the Society of Professional Journalists It was an exhilarating time as we sur- cyberspace, but I have been unable to (SPJ) in October 2005, he also delivered veyed the rubble of an old order based find support for that position. I’d like the keynote address at that year’s SPJ on thought control and looked forward to talk with you about this because convention. An edited version of his to the dawning of the new age—the Age too many journalists, especially of my speech follows. of Information. The lesson Havel taught generation, remain confused about the us that day is, I believe, relevant to us challenges of this new media environ- had a chance to truly understand in the United States today. For now, a ment and remain dangerously passive the power of information in a little more than a decade later, I believe about the opportunities presented to I much deeper way in 1990, shortly we are caught up in a competition of traditional journalism by the new com- after the collapse of the Soviet Empire, our own over the uses of information munications technology. when Tom Winship, the late editor of that includes political uses but goes Any doubt about the competitive The Boston Globe, and I organized the far beyond those to encompass our nature of the media environment was first conference between journalists whole culture in a struggle that tests surely washed away by the recent report from the West and journalists from whether the press will serve a self-gov- by the Center for Media Design at Ball the newly freed press of the crumbling erning public or whether it will serve State University that found the media Soviet Empire. For three amazing days the power elites. today engages more than two-thirds in Prague we listened as speaker after From the moment 24/7 digital news of the waking moments of some 400 speaker talked with great emotion of was introduced the process of verifi- people they studied in “Middletown how the revolution in communica- cation—the beating heart of credible USA.” Such engagement has trans- tions technology breached the Iron journalism in the public interest—has formed citizens from passive consum- Curtain to allow uncensored news to been under challenge. First came the ers of information to more proactive pour through. temptation to publish now because participants as they choose their own As Czech President Václav Havel “we can always correct it later.” Then knowledge of the outside world. Citi- explained, technology was “what al- to publish news simply “because it’s zens have become their own editors lowed us to take back our language, out there,” a challenge made more and publishers. Each day that passes a language which had been stolen by complex in the aftermath of the events swells the number of people who join propagandists to convince us that show of September 11th. this tech-savvy generation accustomed trials were ‘justice’ and slavery was But the threat posed by centralized to receiving and communicating what ‘freedom.’” Only when the language control of information by institutions they want, when, where, how and from had been freed, he said, could people of power is the one I would like to whom they want it. begin to have honest thoughts about address. I know advocates of “we The question is: Do those who pass

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 39 Goodbye Gutenberg

along this information have the time, all others in creating gripping destruction in the run-up to the war the motivation, and the skills this task new realities that spawn a popular on Iraq, assertions Colin Powell now requires? If not, then the question for culture conditioned by fear and confesses to be false and a “blot” on his journalists is: Do we have the skills self-indulgence. Such conditioning career. This dependence is made all the and the will to help citizens gain these creates an environment more con- greater as news organizations, in reac- tools? genial to the marketing techniques tion to shrinking audiences, cut back One concerned news executive told of other mediating institutions: the on their newsgathering resources. me recently that this media environ- you-can’t-trust-the-media-to-tell- The “we media” culture suggests ment so confuses and intimidates both you-the-truth mantra of government that since citizens can communicate the business side and the news side that to cite only one example. with each other more easily, they will it is difficult to find an ally on either be closer to real truth and more accu- side of the organization when trying rate information. No doubt they can to employ new ways to address these NEWSPAPER GALLERY communicate more easily. Millions questions. Our hesitancy to learn how read blogs although the data suggest to put the new technology to our use those numbers may already be stabiliz- has left us at a serious disadvantage ing. Whether or not the end result is to other powerful institutions that be- more verified and truthful information come more important mediating pow- will depend on the degree of commit- ers with the help of this technology. ment to those goals the “we media” Think for a moment about the in- culture develops. For no matter how creasing ability of other mediating in- widespread this movement becomes, stitutions to condition public thought history tells us that society’s more and demand public attention: powerful institutions use new tech- This Nikon camera belonged to Hocine nology in a very disciplined way to • Government institutions carefully Zaourar, an Algerian photographer who do what they have done throughout insert propaganda into the public was awarded the World Press Photo of history—perpetuate their power. information stream to create “con- the Year award in 1998. He is in hiding, The driving force of the Age of En- ditioned” responses to government wanted by his government in connection lightenment out of which the notion actions and proposals. Information with a photograph he made. Newseum of individual worth and a public press is shaped by access to a computer- collection, gift, Agence France Presse/Courtesy grew was a search for truthful informa- ized profile of intimate details of Newseum. tion—information that freed the public each citizen’s behavior and private from control by the kind of centralized life so information can be presented dictatorial or dogmatic power develop- in its most appealing form. Consider • Social institutions, such as churches, ing in our society today. If journalism the deeply sophisticated way the are becoming more politicized and of verification is to survive in the new military first used fusion of data tech- using their communication power Information Age then it must become a nology to engage the enemy on the not to create new realities based on force in empowering citizens to shape battlefield and now uses the same communities of tolerance, love and their own communities based on veri- approach to engage young minds compassion, but to turn major pol- fied information. with devices like video games to icy debates into conflicts between The changes brought by our wired condition responses to issues of war belief and pragmatic science. Many world are much like the change in and peace. Deep research into the of these new realities discourage immediacy and intimacy that print- use of information allows those in and demean independent pursuit of ing introduced in the Enlightenment. the political sphere to create reality knowledge in favor of dependence Then, as now, the public was acutely for us, as an advisor to George W. on inspired individuals for interpre- sensitive to current news. The differ- Bush told Ron Suskind for his report tations of cause and effect. ence is that then when news broke, in The New York Times Magazine. dialogue was sought in public spaces Remember the quote? “[Journalists] Looking at the content of journalism like coffeehouses where communities are in what we call the reality-based today from this perspective, it is hard of interest were incubated. Today when community …. That’s not the way to ignore the fact that in many ways news breaks in the intimacy of people’s the world really works anymore …. journalism is more dependent for its private communications system, they When we act, we create our own content on the handouts and assertions tend to seek out communities incu- reality. While you are studying that of these other institutions than it is on bated in cyberspace. reality … we’ll act again, creating independently verified information. To As Walter Lippmann said more than other new realities, which you can mention only one obvious example, 80 years ago: Citizens in a democracy study, too.…” think of the virtually unchallenged do not act on reality but on the picture • The entertainment industry rivals assertions about weapons of mass of reality that is in their minds. Most

40 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Finding Our Footing of the guiding principles of journalism Can we find in the tools of video, in a way that allows our audiences to are shaped by this concept. As an orga- sound, data mining, narrative and in- use verified information to engage nizing principle for newsroom values teractivity ways to connect our work effectively in self governance? Can we it has served democracy well. But the to the public in appealing even if imagine coverage of foreign aid that world has slipped beyond the reach of educational ways? Can we find here an allows our audiences to track what is the light Walter Lippmann cast. Today opportunity for more civic education sent, where and how it is used? we live in a media world in which com- in a way that helps people unlearn What I am talking about is the kind peting interests are creating realities some of what they’ve been told by the of engaging, verified information that designed to encourage communities popular culture? helps the public resist the messages of of consumers, communities of belief, We can if journalists learn how to fear and self-indulgence they receive so and communities of allegiance. It is in use our information-rich environment frequently from the popular culture: this environment that a journalism of to build more immediate and powerful These messages of fear and self-indul- verification must find its place by us- narratives in the limitless well and the gence are ones that favor a passive, not ing these new technologies to support multiple layering of storytelling forms an engaged and alert, public. communities of independent thought. that this new technology allows. For This new Information Age calls for Journalists must find tools that will example, we can offer stories to dif- a new journalism that recognizes that enlist a methodology of verification ferent audiences in a variety of ways to assure that our principles and pur- in a more citizen-oriented way and using different kinds and forms of pose do not disappear we adjust to help the public to weigh this against data. We can do this if we take as our those things irrevocably changed by what they are told daily by the popular guides narratives like Henry Mayhew’s the new technology. This journalism culture and political spin. 19th century interviews with the street must recognize that the distribution, We have, I think, all accepted the people of London that appeared in the the organization, and the sources of fact that our old gatekeeper role is no London Chronicle and finally brought our work must change. longer a viable organizing principle for into the light of public attention an In June 1997, a group of 25 jour- journalism. But the purpose behind entire layer of society that had gone nalists met at Harvard to organize the that principle—the search for truth- unnoticed until his stories gave them Committee of Concerned Journalists ful information—must continue if substance and visibility; or Joseph P. (CCJ). In our statement of shared pur- informed self-government is to remain Lyford’s “The Airtight Cage” and “The pose, here is what those journalists said a viable form of civic organization. We Talk in Vandalia” in the 1960’s that defines our work: “The central purpose must begin to think of news reports as changed Americans’ views about the of journalism is to provide citizens with in some ways tool kits for these new reality of poverty by the accumulation accurate and reliable information they citizen editors and publishers, just as of minute detail and analysis of daily need in order to make informed judg- the early newssheets were the tool urban and rural life. ments in a self-governing society.” kits that helped the first self-governing The kind of narratives once only Since then the CCJ has been engaged people arise out of the mass. It was possible in book-length presentation in training in newsrooms around the concern for the individual as capable can now more immediately inform country to help journalists think more of self-governing that made our work audiences in ways that allow the public critically about how and whether the unique and of lasting value. to enter into the stories that help them techniques they employ are working to Today we must ask ourselves some discover realities more exciting, more achieve the purpose of journalism. As important questions: Can we open our engaging, and more rewarding than citizens become more proactive con- process of gathering, organizing and any artificially induced world. These sumers, journalism must help equip developing information by using the kind of public affairs narratives could them for that role and not continue interactivity of the new technology to be utilized by our audiences to cre- to see them as a passive audience. make citizens become active partici- ate new communities of interest that Unless journalists can develop tools to pants in a community of verification the sudden renewal of concern about do this, we will abdicate the role we and discussion? Can this be done the plight of poor Americans in New once held—to provide the raw mate- with well-thought-out tools to engage Orleans after Katrina clearly suggest rial of self-government. If, and only their knowledge and experience more are possible. if, we can accompany citizens as they directly as sources for reporting? As Think of the ways other institutions move into cyberspace will we be able analysis experts? As assignment advi- have learned to use technology to to justify the hope placed in the press sors? Can synthesizing technologies create new audiences. Major League by Antoine Nicolas de Condorcet in be used to help our audiences build Baseball and the National Football 1794, when he wrote while in hiding communities based on current news League are creating a new generation from the Jacobin revolutionaries who disclosures and to solve community of fans by helping them interact with would murder him, “We have now a problems? If there are to be new reali- their own teams and leagues. Theirs is Tribune … whose scrutiny it is difficult ties, can we help people build their a world of fantasy, but is it possible we to elude and whose verdict it is impos- own based on verified facts? could imagine coverage of public affairs sible to evade.” I

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 41 Goodbye Gutenberg Journalism and Web 2.0 ‘Tomorrow’s potential readers are using the Web in ways we can hardly imagine, and if we want to remain significant for them, we need to understand how.’

By Francis Pisani

ouTube.com, the Web site where phone communication, and much so journalists’ new thinking needs to people freely upload and view more. begin at the periphery, where change Yvideo of all sorts, has nothing comes quickly among the younger to do with journalism as we know it, Receive/publish/modify: The platform generation of users, and a lot more but it can teach journalists a couple of allows interaction; once information slowly for us. Tomorrow’s potential things that we ought to learn.1 It reveals is received or found, conversation be- readers are using the Web in ways we how many people have broadband and gins. Users comment and they upload can hardly imagine, and if we want to provides a good sense of how many their own words onto blogs and wikis; remain significant for them, we need people produce and publish “content.” they might even modify the platform to understand how. Yet news organiza- It teaches us, too, about the increas- itself. tions have been all too slow to notice ing number of people who seem more movement in places that are away from interested in seeking out this view of Broadband: The number of people what has been their center. the world rather than what journalists whose computers have “big pipes” Start with the search engines. A sig- offer. If we want to reach these same always turned on, and through which nificant part of the traffic of news Web people, we’d better find out what it images, music and video can be trans- sites comes from them; people arrive is about, understand it, and react ac- mitted, is on a rapid rise. at a story without going through any cordingly. of the thoughtful editorial organization Web 2.0 is a catch phrase created Contributions: Broadband makes using usually put in place by editors. For the after the dot-com crash to capture the “read/write/program” capacity of same reason, the content that is kept the dynamic capabilities and vision the platform easier. This means more behind pay-walls is not indexed and, of the Web when many had lost hope people are willing to share what they therefore, does not exist. in its potential. There is no towering have with others. Cragislist.org, with its free online new technology to consider, so the classifieds, siphons key revenue new experience comes mainly from Network effects: Contributions build to sources away from newspapers. But “mash-ups,” the mixing of applica- create a sum of knowledge greater than journalists can learn lessons there, tions and/or content from different its parts. Companies and technologies too, from the way in which content is sources to create new services.2 The harness “user generated content” and generated. Users place on the site what experience is significantly different, develop business opportunities. This they have to offer, using a multime- though, and journalists need to learn changes the nature of knowledge, dia format if they desire and without a lot more about it, if only to figure suggesting the potential to harness limitation of space. Interactive software out effective ways to use it to do the collective intelligence. facilitates group creation that, in turn, work they do. contributes to brand recognition and Though Web 2.0’s definition remains Journalism and Web 2.0 people traffic. in flux, its broad elements include Wikipedia.org demonstrates that ac- these: Change starts at the edges. That’s cess to information and the capacity to where people—our readers and view- publish are no longer the privilege of Platform: The Web is the platform ers—probe new practices. That’s also a select few. The tendency to produce through which nearly everything can where their emerging culture is form- errors is compensated by the capacity be done: e-mail, document writing ing, a culture in which they look at to correct them, or so the thinking goes. and sharing, commercial transactions, media from a different perspective. And This dynamic approach offers context

1 Founded in February 2005, YouTube delivered more than 100 million video views by mid-2006 and was bought by Google for $1.65 billion on October 9, 2006. 2 One of the more well-known examples is HousingMaps (www.housingmaps.com) which brings information about houses for rent or sale from craigslist and puts them on Google Maps.

42 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Finding Our Footing quickly, and with hyperlinks there objectivity, balance and fairness. of blogs, moblogs, vlogs, stories told is instantaneous access to in-depth • ChicagoCrime.org is a mash-up that through maps (43places.com) or games information, an aspect of storytelling puts crime-related information com- (kumawar.com) cannot be ignored. that news companies tend to ignore. ing from the police department on At the same time, the role of edi- (Information about the structure of a Google map. It can be browsed tors is under attack from three sides. the World Trade Center towers and a by street, ward, zip code, types of On Google News and on sites such documented hypothesis about their crime, and news stories. as Le Monde.fr, algorithms are used collapse on September 11, 2001 were • In Eugene, Oregon the Chambers to redistribute stories onto the home first published on this site.) neighborhood (www.cnrneighbors. page. Search engines direct readers to Google News, Yahoo! News, Wiki- org) used the Web to fight a devel- articles, effectively bypassing editors’ news—sites that attract hundreds of opment project with maps, pictures guidance and, with RSS and aggrega- millions of users—have their own news and 3-D images. Journalists can take tors, users grab what they want from offerings that challenge traditional ideas from this experience that can sources they fancy and organize them media. And Craig Newmark (craigslist’s help them approach “coverage” of in personalized spaces like NetVibes. founder) is one of the nonprofit a local issue of intense interest to a com and tag them, too. funders involved with NewAssignment. community. The wildness of the Web means that net, a reporting partnership among • At NewsTrust.net, still in pilot mode, news organizations must format their reporters and editors and citizen content on all kind of platforms and journalists. [See article by Newmark for all kinds of devices—hoping to cap- on page 25.] NEWSPAPER GALLERY ture the attention of users, wherever they are, and however they want to A plethora of lesser-known Web sites interact with the information. Today, also allow users to handle information users expect to engage the journalist in ways that go far beyond the one-way directly and to “be” journalists, too. approach of traditional media. Although citizen journalism is still looking for viable formulas, it is clear • At del.icio.us readers share articles that journalism, as Dan Gillmor likes to by tagging them and setting them say, is now less of a lecture and more “free” for others to read. This a conversation. “folksonomy” replaces traditional Signs of such change abound. taxonomies, and it substitutes for Madrid’s El País makes it simple for work normally done by editors. readers to report an error. Next to • At Digg.com articles are submitted This 1990 Toshiba laptop was used by its list of links of most recommended and voted on by readers. Winners John Burns of The New York Times to stories, Le Monde’s site displays recent move to the top of the screen. cover assignments in Bosnia. Newseum comments about articles. Clarin.com • NewsVine.com adds the option for collection/gift, John Fisher Burns/Courtesy (Buenos Aires) lets users select the users to write their own articles. Newseum. sections they want on the home page. • Wikio.com is designed to be a kind The BBC has a special page on which of integrated Google News + Google people can upload pictures, stories and Reader (an “aggregator for dum- volunteers “help people identify comments, and Korea’s OhMyNews’s mies”) that pulls together stories quality journalism—or ‘news you online example of citizen-generated from traditional news media and can trust.’” News is rated based on news coverage is spreading fast.3 Jour- blogs. Users create word associa- journalistic quality, not just popular- nalists will have to learn to practice tions with personalized tags. ity, and comes from hundreds of al- their trade with the same rigor and • Socializing in blogs. A small button ternative and mainstream sources. demanding values in a much humbler dragged to the browser toolbar al- manner. lows the user who reads an interest- These sites—and thousands of oth- ing article to “sphere it,” and thereby ers—affect journalism profoundly. What’s Ahead? gain access to other articles or blog Multimedia presentation replaces entries about the same topic. This storytelling that has taken place in Blogs, forums and readers’ polls are provides a range of opinions and just one medium. The issues involv- ubiquitous, and the list of Web experi- information to the user, adding the ing story selection, organization and mentation is as lengthy as it is prudent. dimension of diversity to move be- presentation become preeminent in But despite these reactive activities, a yond the journalistic benchmarks of a time when the phenomenal growth successful transition for journalism is

3 A list of such initiatives can be found at www.cyberjournalist.net/cyberjournalists.php

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 43 Goodbye Gutenberg

far from guaranteed. During a recent for themselves what distrusted institu- peared on the media’s margins before panel discussion about the new media tions, such as the press, once did for being adopted by many mainstream business, Gillmor spoke for many when them. Yet journalists can have a hard news organizations. But change does he raised the specter of a “complete time understanding this shift—and not need to happen in this way. Rather unraveling of business models for tra- the diminishment of trust with which than assuming a defensive position to ditional journalism.” Others spoke of their work is viewed—since many see these challenges, journalists ought to the extreme slowness of the responses themselves as critics of some of these join in conversation with those who by traditional media. Yet all seemed institutions, too. aren’t trained as we are and find ways to agree that no clear business model Journalists want to hold tightly to to help them understand and acquire exists for the Web as a platform for the their ethics and standards, yet they the values and skills that make what practice of journalism. also realize that a business model must we do socially useful. I A new news ecosystem has to support their enterprise. The real dif- evolve, adapted to the multifaceted ficulty is that the broad participation Francis Pisani, a 1993 Nieman Fel- participation of people who not long of others through Web 2.0 challenge low, is a freelance blogger and ago were called an audience. Just journalists’ share of the power they columnist covering information this adjustment in language indicates once held as conveyors of news and technology and new media in the the enormity of the cultural changes information as much as it does their San Francisco Bay Area for several underway. Confidence in many public ethics and sustainability. Their ideas European and Latin American news- and private institutions has also dimin- will continue to bring change from the papers. He has lectured on these top- ished—in some cases, been lost—and edges that will affect the work of jour- ics at the University of California at people use technological tools to do nalists, as blogs did when they first ap- Berkeley and Stanford University.

NEWSPAPER GALLERY

Francis Luis Mora. “Morning News” (circa 1912). Oil on panel, 11 3/4 x 16 inches. San Diego Museum of Art. Bequest of Mrs. Henry A. Everett. From “The Newspaper in Art,” Shaun O’L. Higgins, Colleen Striegel, and Garry Apgar, plate 153, page 139.

44 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Goodbye Gutenberg | Expanding Our Reach Gathering Voices to Share With a Worldwide Online Audience ‘Global Voices pulls together interesting threads of conversation and reporting from the global cacophony of blogging voices.’

By Rebecca MacKinnon and Ethan Zuckerman

n Thursday, September 21st, NEWSPAPER GALLERY Being an Eyewitness Blogger “gnarlykitty” wrote on her Oblog from Bangkok: “Looks Contrary to the fears of some news like things are getting back to normal, editors, most bloggers don’t set out to despite the country being under Martial challenge news organizations for mass Law. One new little change that this audiences. Most are like gnarlykitty: law brought us is the whole new level people who write (or post photos, of censorship. No political gathering, video or audio) online to share their no discussing politics, and of course lives and interests with friends and no voicing your opinions whatsoever family. Many others, including us, about the whole mumbo jumbo coup. use personal blogs to share ideas and (Oops did I just do that?)” brainstorm with circles of colleagues The next day gnarlykitty decided and peers who are interested in similar to check out an anticoup protest subjects or issues—topics that tend she had learned about from another not to be a focus of mainstream media blog—“Just to observe, I swear.” Upon stories. returning she posted photos of a mob Bloggers with small readerships of what seemed to be several dozen occasionally find themselves in the journalists “all over the Guy With midst of an event of great interest to Mask and his crew,” and she linked millions—a tsunami, hurricane, coup to an Associated Press story on the or war. Or “niche bloggers,” who are International Herald Tribune Web site Courtesy Newseum. experts on topics such as constitutional with the headline, “More than 100 law, computer typeface (as happened people in Thai capital protest coup as during the CBS “Rathergate” blog undemocratic.” That story made no storm), seismology or avian flu that mention of there being many times staged a coup against Prime Minister suddenly emerge as being important more members of the news media Thaksin Shinawatra, gnarlykitty be- to large numbers of people, might start present than protesters. Gnarlykitty let came one of several English-language reaching an international audience of readers draw their conclusions from blogs providing firsthand accounts—in hundreds of thousands. What happens what she showed them. nearly real time—of what it feels like next can be interesting to observe. This 20-year-old college student de- to live through a military coup. With gnarlykitty’s blog, her site’s scribes herself as being a “shopaholic, Bloggers throughout the world dis- sudden spike in traffic brought her mobile phone dependent,” among oth- covered gnarlykitty’s words through many new readers who held different er things. Her audience usually consists blogs linked to friends, who linked to expectations than her usual audience. of people who know her—though not others, and who linked to her in a viral Yet she refused to change her chatty all live in Thailand—and she tends to spread of links. Those who wanted to style or her pink-themed background. write about gadgets she covets, videos learn more about Bangkok’s situation Feeling pressure to be something she of bands she likes, accounts of nights that day found her blog through search didn’t want to be, five days after writ- out clubbing in Bangkok, and com- engines. Soon journalists were quoting ing her first words about the coup, plaints about school. But on September her posts and asking her to get more she found it necessary to “clarify some 19th, 2006, when the Thai military information. stuff ”:

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 45 Goodbye Gutenberg

“… I am no expert at the subject Western press, and the frankness of are buzzing about. Seven multilingual (Coup, or politics in general). I don’t his analysis was in stark contrast to bloggers translate content from blogs even know how to use some of the the tone of Bahrain’s official English- written in Chinese, Arabic, Persian, terms to identify those ‘officials’ in Thai language news sources. He earns no French, Spanish, Portuguese and Rus- or even in English. But the reason why money from his blog, yet his words sian into English. I am blogging about this is that it is the allow him to participate in his region’s Every post published at Global least I can do to help report what is political discourse, and they create a Voices, an “edited aggregator” of blog really going on while other channels necessary bridge between East and content, is tagged with labels identify- of communications are altered, tam- West. As he tells readers who come ing the country and topic. This allows pered, or even stopped. Over here in to his blog, “Now I try to dispel the visitors to the site to easily locate Thailand, to tell you the truth, there image that Muslims and Arabs suffer what they are looking for. What blog- really isn’t much going around because from—mostly by our own doing I have gers post is published by us under a all sources are monitored, some cen- to say—in the rest of the world.” Creative Commons license, and we sored, by this new Martial Law. encourage other blogs and Web sites “So I apologise [sic] if I cannot fully The Role of Global Voices to republish it as long as they link back answer your questions about the Coup, to Global Voices and also credit the or have a more ‘professional’ looking For journalists, blogs are tempting original source. Sharing our content blog. I know people are coming here sources of good information. But it as widely as possible is consistent with from all sorts of directions and I thank can be challenging to try to find those our mission, which is to get develop- you all so much for linking but I’m just with reliable information about news ing world voices heard by as many in a girl who’s trying to graduate so she events, the political climate or social the developed world as possible. [See can get out of this big mess of a country, issues, especially when a story breaks. Global Voices Manifesto, written by the or at least get out there to help try to Even at less demanding moments, meeting’s participants, on page 47.] improve it.” reporters wonder how to find time to We do this work because we don’t track hundreds of relevant blogs. believe enough people in the West—es- Apart from these accidental mass- Global Voices1 pulls together in- pecially in the Western media—make audience bloggers, there are now tens teresting threads of conversation and enough effort to listen to or report of thousands of “bridge bloggers,” who reporting from the global cacophony on developing world perspectives. blog routinely about events happening of blogging voices. It provides a handy On a given day, CNN.com is 12 times around them for a broad global audi- daily guide to online words, images, as likely to have a story from Japan as ence. Perhaps the first bridge blogger video and audio selected from various it does from Nigeria, even though the discovered by the news media was a “citizen media” (primarily blogs) whose countries have similar-sized popula- young Iraqi architect using the pen home is outside of North America and tions. With the closure of overseas name “Salam Pax,” who offered pow- Western Europe. Our nonprofit proj- news bureaus, the vast majority of erful firsthand, “nonprofessional” ac- ect is hosted by Harvard Law School’s developing world coverage comes counts in English of living through the Berkman Center for Internet & Society from nations where Western powers U.S. invasion of Iraq. Today, voices in and this year won Knight-Batten’s In- are militarily entangled. Developing the thriving blogospheres of Cambodia, novations in Journalism award.2 nations not in conflict—specifically not Kenya, Jordan and China (to name just The Web site evolved organically in conflict with the U.S. or European a few) engage with and, at times, chal- in the wake of a modest gathering of countries—see little or no media atten- lenge the reporting coming from wire bridge bloggers from various parts tion unless they’re affected by natural services and foreign correspondents; of the world—Kenya, China, Iran, disaster.3 these bloggers also serve as alternative Iraq, Japan, Malaysia, Latvia and else- While Global Voices aims to redress voices to the customary news media where—in December 2004. Our team news media imbalances, our com- coverage in these nations. of 10 part-time blogger-editors—hired munity of bloggers is not seeking to Mahmood Al-Yousif, an engineer because each is a respected blogger in supplant the mainstream media. We living in Bahrain, wrote a biting (often his/her regional “blogosphere”—se- think this site can help journalists to bordering on sarcastic) analysis on lects interesting and pertinent blog forge new synergies between their his blog (Mahmood’s Den) about his posts. They also oversee the work of reporting of events and conversations country’s parliamentary elections in about 60 bloggers, all volunteers to this taking place on the Web. It is with this November. Details on his blog were project, who contribute lengthier posts intent that the global news agency, Re- not available in the English-language about what bloggers in their countries uters, has become a key Global Voices

1 globalvoicesonline.org 2 www.j-lab.org/ba06finalists.shtml 3 See Ethan Zuckerman’s Fall 2004 Nieman Reports article at www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/04- 3NRfall/51-54V58N3.pdf

46 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Expanding Our Reach

learn about events and people who The Global Voices Manifesto live on the other side of the world. In the past, a businesswoman in Boise, We believe in free speech: in protect- understand each other more fully. We Idaho depended on journalists to tell ing the right to speak—and the right seek to work together more effectively her what her counterparts in Kenya to listen. We believe in universal access and act more powerfully. might be thinking about. So when to the tools of speech. We believe in the power of direct reporters couldn’t be bothered to in- To that end, we seek to enable ev- connection. The bond between in- terview professional Kenyan women, eryone who wants to speak to have the dividuals from different worlds is she might not ever discover that women means to speak—and everyone who personal, political and powerful. We white-collar professionals exist even wants to hear that speech, the means believe conversation across boundar- in Kenya. Now a Kenyan lawyer, such to listen to it. ies is essential to a future that is free, as Ory Okolloh (a.k.a. the “Kenyan Thanks to new tools, speech need fair, prosperous and sustainable—for Pundit”), speaks directly via inexpen- no longer be controlled by those who all citizens of this planet. sive, easy-to-use blogging software, as own the means of publishing and distri- While we continue to work and the Internet spreads rapidly into the bution, or by governments that would speak as individuals, we also seek to developing world. restrict thought and communication. identify and promote our shared inter- This should not be viewed as a blog- Now, anyone can wield the power of ests and goals. We pledge to respect, gers vs. journalists’ zero-sum game. the press. Everyone can tell their stories assist, teach, learn from, and listen to Both can win when we keep the goal to the world. one other. in mind—of increasing access to inter- We seek to build bridges across We are Global Voices. I national journalism. When journalism, the gulfs that divide people, so as to in whatever venue it is practiced, serves the public discourse well, it does so by offering people what they need funder. Breaking news coverage on the global blogosphere the emergence to make informed choices. Bridge Reuters.com increasingly includes a of a new kind of media ecosystem, in bloggers such as Okolloh, Al-Yousif, special section on the Web page invit- which journalists, bloggers and creators and gnarlykitty contribute by offering ing readers to “see what bloggers are of online citizen media increasingly co- valuable perspectives of those who live saying” about what Reuters journalists exist in beneficial and complementary in the midst of events that journalists are covering. ways. The Internet changed something tend to report about—or should be As Global Voices evolves, we see in fundamental about the way people can reporting about. An important ques- tion for journalists to consider in this new digital era is whether and how NEWSPAPER GALLERY they can improve the job they do by listening more closely as people speak out of their experiences, with each other and to the global community. It just might be time for journalists to incorporate these new global voices into their storytelling. I

Rebecca MacKinnon and Ethan Zuckerman are cofounders of Global Voices and are research fellows at Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society. Zucker- man focuses on information tech- nology in the developing world. He is cofounder of Geekcorps, a global technology volunteer corps. MacKin- non is a former CNN bureau chief in Beijing and Tokyo who has spent the past two years examining how blogs and citizen media are changing jour- People reading the newspaper on Broadway in New York City. 1861. Library of Congress/ nalism. In January she will join the Courtesy Newseum. journalism faculty at the University of Hong Kong.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 47 Goodbye Gutenberg Blogging News in China ‘In China, the Internet enjoys relatively greater freedom than other media. Even so, three of the articles I posted on my blog vanished without notice.’

By Luwei (Rose) Luqiu

n November 2005, a friend NEWSPAPER GALLERY who works for Sina, one of the three major Web I 1 portals in China, invited me to write a blog on the site. As executive news editor of a very well respected television chan- nel in China—Phoenix Satel- lite Television, based in Hong Kong—I was very reluctant to accept her offer. But given our friendship, I e-mailed her two articles I’d written for a Chinese newspaper, one about U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s visit to China and the other one about the bird flu. I was unwilling to waste time learning how to make a blog work, so I asked her to just post them on a blog they created for me. The next day, I opened my blog. I was astonished; my blog already had 80,000 hits and 100 comments. The reaction to Newsboys return unsold Sunday papers. Many of them had been out since 5 and 6 a.m.. what I’d written was universally Hartford, Connecticut. March 1909. Photo by Lewis W. Hine/Courtesy Bob Giles. positive. And my words were sparking debates about some of the points I’d made, and these debates almost 10 years. Our programs are avail- Even the top Chinese leaders have told were taking place right on my blog. For able to those living in Southern China, people that they watch it every day. me, it was love at first sight; I loved and the Chinese government allows What I’ve discovered is that my my blog’s interactivity, something tra- them to be watched by those who stay blog offers people without access to ditional media were not able to offer. in high-priced hotels (primarily popu- my programs a way to be connected I named it “Rose Garden” and started lated by foreigners) and in residential with news. Among Sina’s more than to write on it nearly every other day. buildings where foreigners live in 3,000 blogs (some of them written by By now I have more than two million China. Our audience in China numbers China’s celebrities), mine is the only regular readers, and some get a lot of more than 100 million people. This one focused on analyzing news and their words into my blog by regularly privately owned, 24-hour news channel political affairs, domestic and interna- posting their comments. also reaches Chinese who pick up the tional. Perhaps this is what helps my What’s been created is a small (or signal by satellite in countries around blog to be among the portal’s top 100 maybe not so small) community. the world. Those who watch it tell us favorites. I try to give this community The news programs I oversee are they turn to it for its more objective detailed information—background among the most heavily watched on and balanced presentation and faster stories behind news—along with my Phoenix TV, where I’ve worked for delivery than state-owned TV channels. point of view. On my blog, I am able

1 The other two big ones are Sohu and Netease.

48 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Expanding Our Reach to go beyond the limitation of time I and how they might have caused the it is still only text and images because have on my TV programs. On it, I also river to become polluted. I checked Sina hasn’t launched video and audio have more freedom and can receive with my local contacts, and they con- uploads for its bloggers.) For Phoenix immediate feedback. firmed that the local government issued TV, my blog serves another function: During my time at the TV station, I the notice but without giving a reason. I On it, I can extend my reporting—for have gone with almost all of China’s top sent a crew to the scene, and the result example, by writing about political leaders when they have visited foreign was a big story that we broadcast long leaders, the Cultural Revolution, and countries. At the end of 2005, during before other media were reporting even the debate about democracy (sub- the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation about this disaster. Only after China’s jects not permitted by China’s press meeting, I wrote in my blog about what official news media, Xinhua, confirmed authorities in traditional media). To I’d seen and heard and felt during my the pollution later that day did other do this, however, I need to try to skip trip there with Chinese President Hu news media go with the story. using certain key words in my writing. Jintao. My words attracted a very large According to organizations in China And sometimes other bloggers and Web volume of traffic to my blog and taught that track the growth of Internet use sites will link to them. me that people are bored by typical and blogging there, close to 125 mil- Although Phoenix is based in Hong reports that come from traditional (and lion people use the Internet and, by Kong, the company decided to put the in the case of China, official) media. the end of summer, bloggers were said portal server in mainland China; by What interests them doing this, the speed are the more human is faster for those aspects of their govern- who reside in China. ment leaders—forbid- … some in China use blogs to release the kind of But that means the den ground in China’s information usually handled by journalists. Web site must obey news media. When I the government’s wrote columns for a regulations, just as newspaper in China, other local portals I was told not to write anything about to be reaching 75 million of them. As do. These regulations don’t give the the leaders. Hong Kong’s news media, happens everywhere, most people Web site’s reporters or anyone (other including Phoenix, had fewer restric- who blog express their thoughts and than Xinhua reporters) the right to tions of this sort, but with limited describe their lives, but some in China conduct interviews; only Xinhua stories airtime and not a lot of pictures, I was use blogs to release the kind of informa- and quotes from other print media’s not able to tell some of the more vivid tion usually handled by journalists. stories can be used (and what is used stories from this trip. On my blog, must fall within the regulations). But I could, and did so with words and Blogs, News and China on my blog, I am able to write about photographs I took. and show video from news I report, In China, the Internet enjoys rela- Some people believe that with a blog even in some cases when, for some tively greater freedom than other me- anyone can do a reporter’s job and reason, the story did not appear on dia. Even so, three articles I posted on do it with greater speed and more our TV programs. my blog vanished without notice. The firsthand information. From what I’ve We are left to wonder whether Sina editor told me the government’s observed, bloggers can provide a lot in the near future China will allow Internet monitors took them away. This of information and sometimes give citizen-journalism Web enterprises also happened with my blog on the clues that will lead to a big story, but like Korea’s OhMyNews to exist. If Phoenix Web site, where sometimes few bloggers have the time and sources so, Chinese people would have more I’ve not been able even to post my ar- to go further with the reporting; often access to information about what is ticle. The editor at Phoenix told me this they also lack the ability to be a neutral happening in their country and in the was because of a key word search that observer, as journalists try to be. world. However, the restrictive changes revealed my piece, and this is also how My experience has shown me the Chinese officials recently instituted for those other articles disappeared. value of having a blog featured on a the news media—both domestic and What’s written on blogs can also lead well-respected and popular portal. foreign—indicate they fear the power me to news stories. Only a few days after With one of my recent articles, before and the influence of the Internet. I I started my blog, someone in the city Sina put the article on its front page of Harbin wrote the following message only 2,000 visitors had seen it. Within Luwei (Rose) Luqiu, a 2007 Nieman to me: “It was rumored that the city two days, it received 80,000 hits. Fellow, is executive news editor of government was going to shut down Phoenix TV launched my blog on its Phoenix Satellite Television. Her the water supply and people started to portal in March as a way of attracting blogs, in Chinese, can be found at panic.” These words reminded me of more hits and more advertisements. http://blog.sina.com.cn/m/luqiuluwei the explosion in a refinery plant at the (News video produced by Phoenix and http://blog.phoenixtv.com/user1/ neighboring city about 10 days earlier can go on my blog, whereas on Sina roseluqui/index.html

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 49 Goodbye Gutenberg Puzzling Contradictions of China’s Internet Journalism A journalist who has worked in China says that ‘the Internet has strengthened the power of the central government, not undermined it.’

By Fons Tuinstra

ook at the Chinese news media NEWSPAPER GALLERY through Western eyes, and the L view can be depressing. What dominates most of the West’s news coverage about Chinese journalists are stories about reporters being brought into court and incarcerated and censor- ship of new media that appears to con- strain rather than enlarge the realm of free speech in China. Fortunately, this perspective offers a limited view of the revolutionary changes China’s news media are experiencing. In China, as in so many places throughout the world, the key propulsion for the enormous change is the Internet. That the pace of change doesn’t match expectations of the digital vanguard, which predicted that authoritarian regimes would fall like autumn leaves, does not mean that the Internet in China is not profoundly reshaping its media terrain. When I settled at the East China Normal University in Shanghai in the summer of 1994 to prepare myself for a stay as a foreign correspondent in China, my most important communica- tion tool was my bicycle. The Internet was unknown. To send a fax abroad would cost $15 for the first page, and mobile phones were also outrageously expensive. Chinese news media only A man reads a newspaper while on a commuter train to New York City from Westport, brought forth boring propaganda. With Connecticut. Fall 1941. Photo by John Collier. Library of Congress/Courtesy Newseum. a hundred other foreign students I shared two phone lines to the world outside Shanghai, and that was only if language she would turn up her radio was charged an outrageous surcharge the moody telephone operator was not so loudly that any conversation would by the government department with just enjoying her lunch, her lengthy be impossible. a monopoly of importing foreign afternoon nap, or just busy talking to International newspapers were newspapers. The one Reuters corre- another colleague. Conversations, she delivered—wrapped in brown bags so spondent in town had just purchased told us, should be held in Chinese or nobody else could read them—two to a direct computer connection to the English, so she could improve her own three days after they’d appeared else- Shanghai stock exchange, so he didn’t language skills. If you spoke another where in the world. For this delivery, I need to spend hours in transport. The

50 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Expanding Our Reach device did not work. expected?” he asked me with a smile release denouncing Chinese censor- The main source of information— when he had finished. ship on the Internet. and entertainment—for us was the He let me ask some questions. I dis- But before I went to bed, the blogs rumor machine. Just like the Chinese covered that day just how isolated my reappeared on the Internet. It turned students, I learned the art of picking Shanghai dissident was. Few people at out that these Chinese journalists up rumors and passing them on. With the university, apart from his students, played a practical joke on the West- ample ways to get these rumors con- dared to talk to him about anything ern news media, as they later told firmed, corroborated or denied, pass- more than the weather. There was no us, misusing what they regard as the ing them on was the most interesting network he belonged to. Apart from Western obsession with censorship activity at the campus. Fact checking some direct family members, he was on the Internet in China. Only later would kill almost any good rumor, so not supported by anybody. He was as did they learn that such humor is not people didn’t do that, even when they isolated, well, as isolated as I was on appreciated when it crosses cultural could. One rumor being spread around my bicycle riding around the city and boundaries. But from my perspective, at campus—true in this case—was that probably like others among the 1.3 a prescient event had taken place in I was a journalist. After a few weeks billion Chinese. these 24 hours, for the episode offered at the campus I was approached by a a snapshot of the Internet’s powerful Chinese student who said he had heard An Internet Hoax in China position in China. the rumor. I confirmed the story. The Internet affects not only how “Then you must be interested in Move the clock 12 years ahead, to journalists are able to collect and meeting a real dissident,” he said. 2006. More than 125 million Chinese distribute their information, but I was. In those post-Tiananmen years are online. That is less than 10 per- also the ways in which media func- dissent was the most important subject cent of its total population, but in the tion. Even editors, like Li Datong of for my foreign colleagues in Beijing. larger cities the percentage exceeds Freezing Point, who was removed by Shanghai’s economic changes were half of all households. More than 500 party authorities from his job in part in a very early stage and offered few million mobile phone numbers have because of a critical internal memo he interesting angles. Political activists been issued, and each year billions of wrote and published on the Internet in Shanghai mostly bought a one-way short messages are being exchanged. (before it was censored), remain op- ticket to Beijing to pursue their activi- China is at the brink of yet another timistic. (Not only did Li Datong lose ties in the capital. So I gladly agreed communication revolution as the third his editor’s position, but also Freezing to meet our local dissident. generation mobile phones will allow Point was closed—then reopened—by He was a rather young assistant wireless broadband access, a move Communist party officials.) According professor in Chinese literature. At that might likely double the number of to journalist Philip J. Cunningham who the massive student demonstrations people with broadband Internet access wrote in Nieman Reports (Summer in Shanghai in 1989 he had been in five to 10 years time. 2006) after meeting with Li Datong, one of the leaders. Unlike Beijing, On March 8, 2006 I woke up on this Chinese journalist believes that Shanghai—where the demonstrations another continent, in Brussels, and “China’s press is freer than ever while ended without violence—officials only checked my e-mail and RSS-reader. The paradoxically it remains as under con- rounded up the leaders of the unrest mailing list of Global Voices, a project trol as ever. One way to illustrate this a few years after 1989. My assistant of the Berkman Center for Internet and is an expanding balloon marked by a professor was jailed for some time Society at Harvard Law School, let me design that gets bigger as the balloon and had returned to his old campus a know that the government’s Internet gets bigger.” few years earlier where he now taught authorities had possibly closed down literature in what seemed a dead-end three Weblogs, written by Chinese Government Oversight job. He was loved by his students, journalists, who use them to circulate since he read sexually explicit poems stories they cannot get published in In its early days the Internet was from the classics and was famous for the heavily censored traditional me- seen—mistakenly in my opinion—as a an endless string of affairs with female dia. [See article about Global Voices tool that could undermine the sitting students. on page 45.] powers and change the political situa- After a short handshake he exploded A string of e-mails emerged a few tion in China. My sense now is that the in a 30-minute exposé, denouncing hours after the blogs disappeared. opposite is the case: The Internet has the government, attacking its human While I made an entry on my own blog, strengthened the power of the central rights record, lack of openness and others did the same, and soon news government, not undermined it. I say democracy, almost without taking a of this event raced around the globe. this because for the first time in China’s breath. He did not often have this kind Reuters and the BBC started to file history the central government has a of opportunity to unburden himself stories later that day. Reporters Sans popular and relatively easy means of of his beliefs and feelings in front of a Frontiéres in Paris, an NGO focusing on eavesdropping on what is happening foreign journalist. “Was this what you press freedom, issued an angry press and being said in their country.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 51 Goodbye Gutenberg

From its first discussions about the is that when Chinese citizens engage are neither amazed nor shocked that Internet in the early 1990’s, China’s with the Internet they do so not in fear their government tries to control these bureaucracy has been heavily divided of what the government might learn, new media just as they’ve controlled about this new media tool. Depart- but knowing that what they are doing forms of media that have come before. ments focused on economic develop- offers them a powerful new way to Rather, they tend to see this control as ment saw the need to invest heavily reach the government. an inherent part of their reality—and in the rollout of the Internet. Without The central government, and more most of them would rather look for this online technology, China would and more provincial governments, ways to deal with it than have their not be able to develop economically, monitor closely what is happening on energy consumed by opposing it. they argued. In the end, the central the Internet. They do this to control The hoax in March reminded us government supported their position, its content, but also to listen carefully of how we tend to rush to judgment despite fierce opposition from the to the increasingly powerful voice of when what we think is happening fits more security-oriented departments, their online citizens. In this way the conveniently into our worldview. But which viewed their task as keeping a Chinese Internet fits very well into the nothing is quite so straightforward in lid on the societal tensions. This job, long-standing tradition of other media China when it comes to the interaction as they saw it, would be heavily chal- by acting as a negotiation tool between of new media and old politics. For those lenged by the Internet. the state and its citizens. Unlike Western trying to understand what journalism’s This internal power struggle still media, China’s media have never been future might be like in China, the ones plays a critical role in the exchanges and are not perceived by its audiences who bring a willingness to look beyond among competing bureaucracies. And a as an independent constituency. where Western eyes usually look are basic knowledge of this power struggle The Chinese government regards most likely to unearth the story. I is necessary to better understand the the Internet, as it does other media, often conflicting signals that arise out as a way to relate to its citizens. Too Fons Tuinstra, a former foreign cor- of China—on one hand, journalists are much censorship would serve only respondent, is a Shanghai-based In- jailed while, on the other hand, a sense to cripple the very useful function of ternet entrepreneur and consultant of personal freedom seems rapidly to the Internet for the government. Like focusing on new and old media, the be emerging. What might be difficult other media channels, the Internet is Internet, telecom and China-related for us in the West to comprehend, but more often seen as an extension of the policy issues. which I’ve come to understand after government than as a meeting place years of living and working in China, for opposition. Chinese Internet users Will News Find a Home on YouTube? With little original news reporting surfacing on this Web site, ‘perhaps an important lesson learned is that tools don’t make a tradesman.’

By Morris Jones

he success of YouTube has YouTube rather than try to compete And it was the South Asian tsunami in amazed a media world already with it. December 2004 and the London un- Tacclimated to the hyperbole of Millions of people have digital video derground bombings in July 2005 that the Internet’s developing traffic pat- cameras, either as stand-alone devices demonstrated the potential for video terns. This free online hosting service or as part of their digital cameras and of significant events to be recorded by for video clips established itself quickly cell phones. If a person is in the right amateurs in ways that the mainstream as the leading platform for this next place at the right time, what gets on media couldn’t duplicate. wave of personal online activity. By of- video—and gets sent to YouTube—can Such is the buzz about YouTube, at fering a quick and easy way for citizen entertain millions and/or it can propel least, among new media proponents. videographers to post whatever they a news story into the mainstream press. In practice, however, it’s hard to find shoot, and with broadband access ex- (Witness the person whose camera examples of high-quality amateur news panding, uploading video to YouTube captured the campaign-stop remarks on YouTube. In fact, the majority of is now as common as starting a Weblog. of Virginia Senator George Allen when content on YouTube is fairly trivial. It’s little wonder that Google, despite he referred to a campaign worker affili- Most of the clips have nothing to do its own might, decided to simply buy ated with his opponent as “macaca.”) with news. What news is to be found

52 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Expanding Our Reach on YouTube consists of clips recorded news. Blogging—the next big trend for any witness, and whatever images are from mainstream news broadcasts and online publishing—is even easier than captured, no matter their quality, will reproduced on the site; highlights from the work involved in updating a Web be much in demand and viewed as Jon Stewart’s punditry on his satirical page, but it has generated a stream of news. In other circumstances, personal “Daily Show” rank high on the listing self-styled commentators and pundits. judgment might be called upon and of what’s popular. The standard fare technical prowess will matter. seems focused mostly on gory voy- NEWSPAPER GALLERY Even without technical barriers, eurism such as police shootings and there is an entrenched social paradigm footage of burning buildings, which that can be hard to shake off: Jour- appear occasionally in a raw, unedited nalism is regarded as an occupation format. for those trained in how to interview At times, however, videos show sources, gather information, and dis- newsworthy events that have not tribute it. It’s not been perceived as found—and are likely not to find—their a hobby or a recreational activity. In way to regular news reporting. For fact, increasingly those who do it have example, the actions of paramilitary earned advanced degrees, often in the groups in South America can be wit- study of journalism. Newsgathering is nessed, and in one instance this fall, therefore seen as work, not play, and the posting of a video showing the creative expression has been viewed as sniper-like shooting to death of young better served through the arts, such as Tibetan pilgrims on the Nangpa La Pass writing stories or painting. (at China’s border with Nepal) by Chi- There still appear to be plenty of nese soldiers reverberated across other amateur video reporters who aren’t Web sites and into the press. Video deterred by these factors. But they images of these murders pushed the are not the ones who seem attracted Chinese government to acknowledge This Kodak digital camera was used by a to YouTube, where money does not the deaths; the official news service Time magazine photographer during the exchange hands. For them, when in China claimed the soldiers were coverage of the Branch Davidian siege in footage is newsworthy, why not sell it “forced to defend themselves,” yet Waco, Texas. April 1993. Newseum collec- to someone who wants to pay for it? the video clearly disputes this claim. tion/gift, Time, Inc./Courtesy Newseum. Mainstream news organizations are It is certainly true that some videos a more attractive outlet; at the very are placed on YouTube by activists least, going through this media offers promoting their interests, yet the The majority of content in the blogo- more prestige. content can be interesting—and, at sphere is uninspiring. Perhaps the sheer accessibility of times, even significant—even if it is Perhaps an important lesson learned YouTube acts as a deterrent. The medi- not a news report. is that tools don’t make a tradesman. ocrity of its content could scare people While it is true that most people will away. Can something serious really sit never witness anything as newsworthy Why News Isn’t on YouTube alongside college party antics? And as the London bombings, plenty of YouTube, as a site, seems only half- newsworthy events happen through- A combination of factors appears to be interested in attracting amateur news. out the world each day. Yet such foot- preventing YouTube from delivering to It features a category vaguely entitled age fails to show up on YouTube with its millions of viewers a cornucopia of “News & Blogs,” which collects content any consistency. Does this indicate that clips from legions of citizen journalists. so haphazardly that much of it has no YouTube might be another example Digital video cameras might be cheap relation to the category’s stated theme. of new media technology that has the and accessible, but using them still YouTube’s overseers do seem inter- power to transform newsgathering and requires skill and effort. Not everyone ested in policing the site for illegal or news distribution but is, for whatever can hold the camera steady or compose offensive content, but they aren’t strict reason, failing to do so? a shot. Also, to state the obvious, the on enforcing categories. With so many There have been trends like this person holding the camera steady videos being uploaded, this makes the before on the Internet. Free Web host- needs to be seeing something in the site logistically challenging for an army ing services provided the opportunity viewfinder that’s worth recording. of volunteers, and the result is that to turn anyone—and everyone—into This requires the cameraperson to videos generally float amidst thousands publishers, cheaply and easily. But also have the ability to recognize that of others, carried along like detritus when one looks at what’s happened what he or she is seeing is newsworthy in a fast-moving, constantly updated in that sphere, relatively few amateurs and why. In some cases—the London stream of material. It’s easy for mate- are taking the fork in the road that bombings, again, as an example—the rial with a potential of being watched heads in the direction of reporting event’s news value will be evident to by millions to get lost and attract only

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 53 Goodbye Gutenberg

a few dozen viewers. the length of videos that can be up- site, and possibly some editing of it, It also appears that the YouTube loaded for free, a move that’s ostensi- similar to the way that editorial staff user community has, in its own way, bly designed to prevent the site from handle the content of conventional defined what content on the site is re- being used for hosting pirated movies. news publications. The way YouTube ally about. Most of the popular videos But this can also make it difficult for is set up right now, it’s a warehouse are focused on fun and frivolity, similar a serious, lengthy report to be hosted and not a producer or editor. Without in format to the style used on the “Fun- on the site. proper management, online amateur niest Home Videos” television show. At some point in the future—and video is likely to remain as generally YouTube is for entertainment, like most using this model—an online portal pointless as the home pages and blogs television programming. The very use could establish a universal reputation that preceded it. I of the title “YouTube” implies a parallel as a source of quality news videos filed to conventional broadcast television. by the community at large. However, Morris Jones is a lecturer in journal- The medium, and the message, have it does seem as though such an on- ism at Deakin University, Australia. both been cloned. line experience would require close YouTube has also placed limits on supervision of what’s going on the

Goodbye Gutenberg | Converging on the Web Myths and Realities of Convergence ‘… news organizations will be best served if they focus on stories—not delivery platforms.’

By Randy Covington

he ways in which people acquire not exist two years ago could attract train on next generation techniques news and information have more viewers than the most watched for handling the news. It really does Tchanged far more than most programs on network television? Yet not matter what language is being newsrooms. It is a simple truth that the most popular videos posted on spoken or whether we are working explains why news organizations are YouTube.com do just that. I wonder with broadcasters or print journalists. struggling to match their journalistic how many editors, the ones tasked The conversations and concerns are values, traditions and strengths with with attracting younger readers and remarkably similar. the changing and sometimes fickle viewers, have ever spent time on the The Newsplex philosophy, boiled tastes of news consumers. YouTube site? How many have even down to a sentence, is that news organi- Statistics on news consumption heard of it? My hunch is not many, for zations will be best served if they focus tell the story. Newspaper circulation there truly exists a widening disconnect on stories—not delivery platforms. The in the United States is falling at a rate between traditional news organiza- focus on production once made sense, of roughly five percent per year, and tions and those who consume news but in today’s interwoven media en- viewership of television news is also and information. vironment, in which consumers track in decline, while new media outlets stories throughout the day from a lot and fresh formats for telling the news Training in New Techniques of sources, news organizations need are growing explosively. Internet to meet these consumers in places penetration in the United States ap- We observe this struggle for rel- and formats that are meaningful and proaches 80 percent, and high-speed evance—perhaps even survival—from relevant to them. broadband accessibility is becoming the vantage point of the Ifra Newsplex It sounds so simple. Just focus on commonplace. at the University of South Carolina. stories, which is after all the reason Who could have imagined that a Journalists arrive here from countries most of us went into journalism. But home video on a Web site that did throughout the world to study and this reality is far from simple for most

54 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Converging on the Web news organizations, which are con- nature to give up power willingly, no acquire the higher-cost software—and fused about how to respond to the matter how beneficial the change might train staff to use it—then do so, but if changing patterns of news consump- be. That’s why someone at the highest resources are tight, lots of good alterna- tion, especially at a time when budgets level of the organization must declare tives exist. are constrained. There are so many that convergence is important, set pri- questions—and so many priorities that orities, and then provide the resources 4. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. seem to conflict: to make necessary steps happen. How- Au contraire! Even reporters who covet ever, top-level commitment alone is their typewriter are capable of generat- • Do I file first for our Web site, or do not enough; grass-roots engagement ing content to be used in new formats I hold my story for the next day’s must be part of this strategy. Creative and for different media. Some of our newspaper or evening newscast? people with good ideas will play im- best students are traditional print • If the story does go to the Web first, portant roles, but their success will be journalists with little or no multimedia will news consumers pick up the stunted if they are working in silos or experience. From what we’ve discov- paper the next day or watch my duplicating each other’s efforts. That is ered, most newsrooms already have on newscast that night? why fundamental, structural change is staff journalists who would enjoy the • When my editor asks me to produce so important. opportunity to do cross-media work. rich, deep content for use on new media platforms, will I do this on 3. Convergence requires technology, 5. Every reporter should be a backpack top of my usual workload or instead which is difficult and expensive. Not journalist. The premise certainly is allur- of some of what I already do? so. In Newsplex, we usually work with ing, but in our hearts we all know that cheap and sometimes even free software not everyone is going to be successful These are, indeed, difficult ques- programs. We select them because they working across formats in different tions, but answers are starting to are easy to learn. Excellent programs media. Those organizations like the become clear. Much has changed in like Dreamweaver, Flash or Final Cut BBC that have tried to go this route our understanding since Newsplex Pro can be purchased, but the learning have been displeased with the results. opened here four years ago. (A parallel curve can be pretty steep for journalists The reporter who has the governor’s facility, Newsplex Europe, opened in who would prefer to be at their beloved private phone number and can get a September 2005 at Ifra headquarters in Royal typewriter. If resources exist to return call in the middle of the night Darmstadt, Germany.) Drawing upon our experience with some of the lead- ing media houses in the world, what NEWSPAPER GALLERY follows are 10 common concerns, perceptions and myths about conver- gence, as well as some perspective we’ve gained in addressing them:

1. Convergence is just a nice way of say- ing the organization wants to cut costs. The truth is convergence costs money because usually it requires additional staff and more technology. Efficiencies are associated with convergence, but or- ganizations that approach convergence as a way of saving money invariably are disappointed. Convergence needs to be undertaken as a growth strategy, not a cost-cutting measure.

2. News organizations are full of creative people with great ideas who will figure this out. Sorry, a successful convergence strategy requires a strong vision and commitment from the top. Providing news and information seven days a week, 24 hours each day, across delivery Staff of the Daily Reporter, Utah Territory, in front of their tent office. 1869. National platforms requires a different kind of Archives/Courtesy Newseum. newsroom structure. Yet it is not in our

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 55 Goodbye Gutenberg

remains just as valuable, regardless of 8. Posting community-generated con- organization VG reports it now makes whether he or she is podcasting or do- tent will draw an audience. In 2006, more money from new media than its ing slide shows. However, if no one on user-generated content has been one traditional newspaper. your staff is working across a range of of those “flavor of the month” trends. media, an opportunity is being missed. Newspaper editors believe they are 10. Our newsroom staff is already Plus news organizations are stronger connecting with their readers by cre- stretched too thin, how can we possibly when everyone on staff has at least an ating Web sites where they can post be asked to do more? No question gets appreciation for the strengths of dif- pictures and comments. The idea of asked more by those in newsrooms ferent media and formats, even if they inviting citizens into the editorial pro- dealing with convergence issues than don’t work in them. cess is a good one, but then dumping this one. Certainly, there is a lot of truth their content into a Web site ghetto in it, especially in an era of limited re- 6. Print reporters do not have sufficient does not work. The most successful sources. But is the work that stretches skills to do TV work. It is true that most examples of news organizations using everyone so thin relevant to your read- print reporters are less than successful community content include profes- ers and viewers? This is an obvious sec- when someone thrusts a ond question that microphone in front of typically receives them and tells them to NEWSPAPER GALLERY far too little atten- report for television. But tion in newsroom that doesn’t mean print debates. A good journalists are doomed convergence strat- in a broadcast environ- egy requires setting ment. In Newsplex, we priorities; for man- have developed a format agers who want it that helps print report- all, remember that ers be successful by em- if everything is a phasizing their strengths priority, then noth- (knowledge of the story) ing is. and de-emphasizing their weaknesses (typi- Obviously, much cally, their on camera more can and will performance). be said about the The press room at the Houston Forward Times, a black-owned and operated evolution of news 7. Audio and video are newspaper in Texas, circa 1960-69. National Archives/Courtesy Newseum. delivery and con- easy. This statement sumption. Perhaps is half true. Audio is the single most relatively easy. It usually important thing takes just a few minutes to transform sional editing and usually involve the journalists troubled by these changing an inexperienced print journalist into a integration of that material with work times can do is to look out the window podcaster. Certainly it takes much lon- done by professionals. OhMyNews in or even in a mirror to see how they ger to do more complicated mixes, but Seoul, with more than 40,000 citizen themselves use media to acquire news most print journalists pick up the tech- journalists and generally regarded as and information. I niques fairly quickly. However, video the world’s most successful community is much more difficult to learn. Some journalism initiative, has a professional Randy Covington is director of the newspapers are hiring a core group of staff of 70. Ifra Newsplex (www.ifra.com/news- television or video professionals to pro- plex) at the University of South Caro- duce this content. As broadband access 9. We make most of our money in old lina (USC) and an assistant professor becomes more pervasive, multimedia media, so a significant commitment to in the USC School of Journalism & content, including video, becomes more new media just doesn’t yet make sense. Mass Communications. He worked important. What is exciting to see is It is a given in the world of advertising for 27 years in television news, that some newspapers are reaching out that money follows eyeballs. As those serving in management positions beyond the traditional one minute and eyeballs increasingly shift to new me- at television stations in Houston, 30 second TV clip to create new story dia and formats so, too, will revenues. Louisville, Boston, Philadelphia and formats that work well on the Internet. For most U.S. news organizations, the Columbia, South Carolina. I often tell our university students that percentage of revenue coming from some of the best TV jobs in the future new media is still relatively small, but will be on newspapers. trends are clear. In Norway, the news

56 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Converging on the Web When Walls Come Tumbling Down The Associated Press is making ‘radical adjustments’ to its news reports and business strategies in response to the Web.

By Jim Kennedy

en years ago this October, The As- to enjoy a few years of subscription-like their parents and grandparents were sociated Press (AP) launched its viewing, but when the 9/11 attacks conditioned to do. Tfirst multimedia service for the brought unprecedented numbers of This new generation of news con- Internet. Appropriately, it was called sumers is already aggregating and “The Wire,” and it quickly enabled sharing news across multiple screens hundreds of AP affiliate newspapers NEWSPAPER GALLERY (handheld, desktop and set-top) and and broadcasters to display breaking adding their own comments and origi- news on the Web in a format that linked nal coverage to a new media ecosystem text stories with photos, audio, video where consumers, creators and dis- and motion graphics. tributors of content all share power. For its time, The Wire was cutting Will the so-called “mainstream me- edge. It provided news in real time, dia” survive this revolution? Almost instead of in tomorrow morning’s certainly—but not without some radi- newspaper. Video, despite painfully cal adjustments to their news reports slow dial-up connections, was avail- and business strategies. able on demand on the PC and not just by appointment on the tube at 6 The Old Meets the New and 11 p.m. It was a time when everything we At The Associated Press, the world’s thought we knew about the news was This camera is The Associated Press oldest and largest news agency, the about to change. Just a decade later, Nikon N90 NC 2000e digital camera challenge is huge. We had just reached it has. with a Kodak motor and a Nikkor 135 the peak of our “old” media model Fast forward to 2006, and we are mm lens, which was built for the AP. when the Internet turned it upside still coming to grips with the revolu- Newseum collection/gift, The Associated down. For a century and a half, we had tion those early days unleashed. Even Press/Courtesy Newseum. carefully built up strong, media-centric those of us who have been along for businesses—one to churn out text and the whole ride have been surprised photos for newspapers, another repur- by the magnitude of the speed and people online, the bookmarked sites posing the text for radio and adding the bumps. It was supposed to be just couldn’t keep up. And a geeky little audio, and a third repurposing all that another medium, like the coming of search engine called Google taught and adding video. Each business had radio and, later, TV. But the Web turned the world how to “search” for news, its own journalists, its own production out to be so much more, even in spite instead of subscribe. We’ve been play- and distribution system, even its own of a sudden collapse midway through ing catch-up ever since. business administration. its first decade. The Internet of 2006—many call it Those were the days. We could chase In 1996, it was all about “repurpos- “Web 2.0”—is no longer repurposed. a story for print and give a polite nod ing”—taking what had already been It is chock-full of original content, pro- to our colleagues from broadcast at produced for an established medium duced more by the audience than by the scene, each flank confident that (the newspaper, radio and television) professionals, and on-demand access AP’s customers and audience would be and repackaging it for the Web. What’s has permanently replaced the quaint ably served by one media type or the more, we all aped the “news by ap- notion of surfing the Web. Hardly other. Today, the demands are entirely pointment” model, expecting Web anyone under the age of 25 knows any different. Journalists are organized viewers to “bookmark” news sites like other way to consume the news. You and deployed across media type, and loyal subscribers and return day-in and can bet that most of them won’t be content flows into a single database day-out when they “logged on” to the padding out to the driveway for their for production and distribution. Our new-fangled Internet. morning newspapers or tuning into the customer base, too, has changed. We We were in for a shock. We managed network TV news in the years ahead, as serve AOL, Yahoo! and scores of new

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 57 Goodbye Gutenberg

media companies in addition to news- As Web 2.0 unfolds and becomes 3.0, • Gartner proclaimed in December papers and broadcasters. 4.0 and beyond, the online environ- 2005 that search would become Since 2003, coinciding with the ar- ment will increasingly feed off search, the “main entry point into a con- rival of new Chief Executive Officer Tom links and sharing, and news providers tent experience” by 2008 and that Curley, the AP has been on a mission need to harness that new energy and “architectural planning [by content to make an uncompromising digital get into the new flow. The bottom line providers] must begin in the next shift. That mission has necessitated a is that no publishing or broadcasting 18 months.” total overhaul of our strategy so that “container” will be strong enough to • Outsell, in a March 2006 alert, ad- we put online news production ahead maintain a hold on any digital con- vised its news industry clients to of other formats. tent of value. No printed paper, no pursue “three-year transition plans” Embracing new technology has scheduled television broadcast, no to digital platforms and strategies, been key to that transformation, and bookmarked Web site will be able to or risk being left behind. we are installing new engines in the match the power of the user and his AP jumbo jet even as we keep flying it. or her search “remote.” Indeed, if The stock market then chimed in We have our multimedia database in content is to realize its true value in a with an even more brutal message, place and are in the process of retiring search-driven economy, it must meet as it pounded and, in some cases, the old legacy systems that served up users wherever they are. dismembered old media companies one media type at a time. The database Research firms have been telling whose responses to the online shift combines—and cross-references—sto- us for more than a year that we must were too slow. ries, photos, graphics, audio and video, change to meet the new needs of the When we talk about the challenges and it can be searched via a password- online audience: ahead of us at AP, we often reflect on protected browser by our journalists the circumstances surrounding our and customers alike. • Forrester urged its media clients birth in 1846, when the smart found- The shift is enabling changes in our at the end of 2005 to prepare for a ers of the agency organized around the business as well. With the database in future defined by search and other telegraph—the Internet of its day. Back place, AP can serve its core newspaper Web-based software programs for then, the telegraph so dramatically im- customers with more news content accessing and manipulating content proved the gathering and distribution than ever before (video, for instance, on the fly. of the news that old solutions—pony in addition to text and pho- express, pigeon carriers, and tos) and many new custom- the mail—were rendered ers—commercial Web sites, quickly, almost comically, NEWSPAPER GALLERY mobile networks, etc.—can obsolete. be served worldwide by Such is the magnitude segmenting their access to of the change now upon particular slices of the same us. “The wire” of the next database. In the coming year, century and a half will be AP will make it possible for its plugged into a database that member newspapers to share will be able to deliver almost their own branded content any kind of news experience, with each other and to link from text headlines to rich to one another’s Web sites images and sounds. by sending their stories and Has AP completed the photos into the database to transformation necessary receive standardized “meta- to enable that new world data.” of newsgathering and con- The invisible, but machine- sumption? Not yet. But the readable, metadata will be next two to three years will be used to electronically tag an exciting time to be inside everything from bylines and the walls of a big mainstream headlines to famous names media company—because in the body of the content, so those walls are coming that news from all providers down. I can be automatically linked and accessed whenever a Web Copy is prepared on a linotype machine in the composing Jim Kennedy is vice presi- traveler searches or clicks for room of The New York Times. September 1942. National dent and director of strate- more related information on Archives/Courtesy Newseum. gic planning at The Associ- a news topic. ated Press.

58 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Converging on the Web Enterprising Journalism in a Multimedia World With video, audio and interactive data, The Associated Press makes its investigative reporting accessible, useful to other news outlets, and compelling to its consumers.

By John Solomon

hen people first see the title Ask any of our team members today, wasn’t fully plugged in. on my new letterhead—Di- and they’ll explain. Fortunately our growing pains were W rector, Multimedia Inves- Arriving from our print orientation, overshadowed by stories the team’s tigative Reporting—they often greet this was the journalistic equivalent of reporters investigated and by the limit- me with a blank stare or funny smirk. “Survivor” contestants trying to fashion less possibilities these various formats “What? Were all the good jobs already rocks into flints so they could light a provided us in presenting what we’d taken?” my brother joked during his fire. Every tool, term and colleague found in our reporting. It didn’t take recent visit to the Washington, D.C. from another AP news division seemed long for team members to rally around bureau of The Associated Press. completely foreign to us. Our first a concept that became our mission I can’t blame my brother or numer- interactions with TV producers must statement: “Don’t just tell readers ous other wisecrackers for wondering have looked like American tourists the news, let them experience it and what’s going on. For years I held some in Paris rifling through a translation interact with it.” of the more standard management guide trying to figure out what was just Here are some ways in which our titles in the AP, such as news editor or as- said. None of us had ever worked in a mission has translated into work: sistant bureau chief. But I’ll confess that “cutting room” before nor responded my new one is growing on me, much to a request for “b-roll.” At one of our • When Ted Bridis obtained Pentagon as is the work that goes with it. first organizational meetings, I tried to memos showing a growing number A little more than a year ago, Ex- introduce the team to software used to of crashes caused by hot-dogging ecutive Editor Kathleen Carroll and create Web interactivity. “Anyone here military pilots, he wasn’t satisfied Washington Bureau Chief Sandra John- ever heard of Flash?” I asked innocently. with just documenting the evidence. son put me in charge of an intriguing “That’s what the digital camera does He wanted readers to be able to experiment to combine multimedia when you press the button, right?” experience the consequences. So reporting with investigative reporting. one reporter replied, relieving all of he persisted and eventually located Their idea was as straightforward as us of some of the tension attending video—shot from inside the cockpit it was tantalizing: take a half dozen our transition. of a helicopter—that showed a pilot of AP’s best print reporters, tell them Our first efforts bordered on com- ignoring the advice of his copilot as they can pursue any investigative story edy. A reporter new to carrying a digital he tried to squeeze his Apache heli- across the globe but only if they can video camera shot what he thought was copter between two trees at a high command audiences in the AP’s four compelling video—until he realized the speed. The rotors clipped the trees, news formats simultaneously. The chal- lens cap was still on. Great sound, but a the cockpit started shaking, and lenge, which was a new one for many very black picture greeted his return. A the copter crashed to the ground. AP reporters, was to produce compel- loud scream (and a few choice words) Bridis’s doggedness and ingenuity ling journalism that would captivate a reverberated through the office on the meant that our online and TV news wide variety of news consumer tastes. day when videotapes of interviews with consumers were introduced to what It also meant adapting to the different September 11th survivors got lost in he’d uncovered from a seat inside attention spans and interests of print, the mail between AP departments. The that chopper. Web, television and radio audiences. tapes were a key part of an investiga- • Sharon Theimer and Larry Marga- When I heard the proposal, I thought tive project looking into government sak sought to expose the ruse of this would be easy. I’d made a few disaster loans that went to companies congressional caucuses. Even with friends through the years in AP’s TV that weren’t hurt by the September their official sounding names, they division. I listened to NPR during my 11th attacks. Headlines we proposed often turn out to be nothing more daily commute, and I’d even gotten to tease Web stories came back to us than social clubs that collect special into the habit of reading newspapers reading in ways we found nonsensical. interest money to fund recreational online, often leaving the print copies And an important interview recorded activities for lawmakers. The re- in the driveway for my wife to read. for its ambient sound had to be redone porters used a camera to “catch” How difficult could this really be? when the microphone on the recorder lawmakers shooting with lobbyists

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 59 Goodbye Gutenberg

at a gun range and playing golf sound and Web widgets. The resound- and report issues that crossed borders with them while Congress was in ing answer is no. In fact, the pressure and transcended regional interests. session and they were supposed to on the team’s reporters to work with As a result, reporters and editors in be doing the people’s business. The a 4-D vision serves to improve what the field who had great sources and video footage anchored the Web and we do in print. insight on issues in their statehouses video packages, and this reporting Reporters go back to videotapes or cities began proposing investigative provided the lead anecdote for the they shot to review details that make projects that far exceeded their local print story. their print stories richer, livelier and resources. • Theimer and Margasak did video deeper. Rita Beamish and Frank Bass Two of the team’s projects with the interviews with lawmakers running spent days going through their video greatest impact started this way. Dirk to catch planes at Reagan National Lammers, a newsman in South Dakota, Airport for the weekend to highlight first spotted a September 11th disaster another story that examined how NEWSPAPER GALLERY loan going to a local country radio lawmakers collected personal fre- station and questioned whether the quent flier miles on airline tickets federal government was giving away paid for by taxpayers and special money unnecessarily. After months interest groups. In documenting of investigation involving dozens of how former Congressman Tom reporters, AP had an award-winning DeLay spent one million dollars project that appeared in hundreds of he’d raised from donors to fund newspapers. Likewise, Chicago News lavish trips to Caribbean cliff-top Editor Niki Dizon first spotted a loop- resorts, outings at PGA golf courses, hole in the No Child Left Behind law and meals at five-star restaurants, that allowed schools to ignore test the Web, TV and print audiences scores of underperforming minor- were taken inside some of DeLay’s ity students. Before long, another favorite destinations. Web viewers nationwide investigative exposé was could look at the menu for one of under way. these restaurants and see that the From the start, we’d expected this prize of appetizers started at $35. experiment to pay dividends in lever- • Mishi Ebrahim, who joined AP aging AP’s global resources to change from “60 Minutes,” teamed with the genre of storytelling. But an intan- several colleagues to transport A replica of the form used to print Poor gible benefit surfaced once our efforts news consumers inside the Bush Richard’s Almanack in 1773. Newseum were underway. With the attention and administration’s briefing room on collection/gift, Michael Anderson/Courtesy feedback that our stories on the Web the day before Hurricane Katrina Newseum. and television generated, the interest hit. Watching this scene, viewers by newspapers in using our stories saw how relaxed President Bush and multiplied. Editors who had to make Homeland Security Secretary Mi- nighttime wire copy decisions would chael Chertoff were—unsuspecting footage and digital pictures—and call me to say they’d heard about a of the magnitude of the tragedy that their notebooks—before crafting their story from bloggers or seen a clip on would soon befall the Gulf Coast. exposé on how the march of human TV, and this was prompting them to • Ebrahim also found ways to tell the development has spoiled the great consider using the AP story. Likewise, poignant story of two whistleblow- vistas of America’s national parks. As a when AP obtained the videotape of ers who were fired for exposing result, their print stories sang like few Bush’s final briefing before Hurricane how their company stole September I’ve seen before. Likewise, in getting Katrina, the footage received global 11th relief supplies, only to become the videotape of the hot-dogging he- play on TV newscasts within hours. This devastated when the company licopter pilot—and watching what his meant that morning newspapers were wasn’t prosecuted. The reason: FBI reporting had suggested was happen- compelled to showcase the print story agents had also stolen items related ing—Bridis’s print story also became on their front pages. In other cases, to September 11th. exponentially richer. some large newspapers have written This new approach to investigative editorials about subjects highlighted by Benefits to Traditional Print reporting also prompted the AP to AP investigative stories even when their Media better leverage its geographic expanse paper has not run the original story in and wide-ranging expertise. This, too, print. The reason: These stories had One obvious question is whether we improved what we are able to do in created such a buzz among bloggers have left the traditional print media print. Reporters in every state and that editorial writers felt compelled behind as we focus on making video, country were activated to investigate to weigh in.

60 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Converging on the Web

Documents, Data and they had calculated for the health risks tacks demonstrated the power of this Transparency of the air Americans breathed in every approach. In Utah, member news or- neighborhood in the United States, we ganizations reported on the Salt Lake We now have the ability to routinely created an accessible database that was City dog boutique that received such offer readers access to multiple lev- easy to use. Hundreds of thousands of a loan at the same time that Caribbean els of reporting, including original readers each day punched in addresses news organizations focused on a Virgin documents, photographs and video, and got risk scores that most likely led Islands perfume shop. Similar stories as we present our investigative work. to some interesting conversations at engaged reporters at hundreds of news This gives our reporting a new and dinner tables across the country. outlets—based only on our original re- welcomed transparency, and we porting of this story and the access believe it also expands its impact. to the data we made possible. Last year, we exposed that federal NEWSPAPER GALLERY Likewise, Bass, Dizon and sev- researchers had been using foster eral colleagues across the coun- children to test experimental AIDS try teamed together to expose drugs with serious side effects. how nearly two million mostly In most cases, the researchers African-American students across had failed to get permission from the country were having their parents or provide safeguards test scores excluded from being required by federal and state law. counted under the No Child Left AP brought Web and TV viewers Behind Act because of a loophole inside the foster homes where that was letting failing schools these children lived and let viewers escape penalty. Every AP member see and hear from the children and in the United States had the op- the foster parents. Documents we portunity to highlight children unearthed were put online to il- being “left behind” in their local lustrate how researchers promised schools. And parents could look up protections to the children that the record of their schools on the they never provided. Within days, Web. Our story—and the chorus congressional, U.S. Department of local reporting prompted by of Health and Human Services, it—produced outrage and forced and local investigators had down- the Bush administration to quickly loaded AP’s information from the close the loophole. Web and begun investigations that Interacting with readers. Lo- led to sweeping changes. Sargeant Bill Mauldin, cartoonist for the World calizing news. Experiencing the Readers now have a chance to Telegram and The Stars and Stripes, holds a news. Influencing policy. These interact with the news. When our drawing pad. June 1945. Library of Congress/ are the early byproducts of AP’s reporting exposed bad decisions Courtesy Newseum. experiment. And members of the the Homeland Security Depart- multimedia investigative team feel ment made during Katrina, Mar- liberated by their ability to tell their gasak crafted a popular interactive stories in multiple formats and by quiz that let Web viewers play the role The AP’s member news outlets also being able to reach and engage people of homeland secretary. Six decision- benefited from our team’s work by be- who probably would not have seen making situations were presented, and ing able to report important stories in similar investigative stories a few years they chose their option to each. After their local areas. On six major investi- ago. Our reporters continue to embody submitting their answers, they could gative projects we worked on during the journalistic values embedded in see what Secretary Chertoff decided the past year, AP was able to obtain solid investigative reporting, even as in the midst of the crisis and what never-before released federal data they are emboldened to bring to their the experts in the after-action reviews that covered every city in the nation. work more than just a pen and pad. In determined was the better course of AP’s TV and newspaper members were just a year, the digital video cameras, action. Likewise, when we wrote about given advanced access to the data and tripods and lavaliere microphones an obscure agency that has a four-let- to our stories so they could highlight have become comfortable—dare I say ter acronym, Web readers got to play related stories in their communities to nonexpendable—tools in their report- an “alphabet soup” game we created produce a local angle. For example, ing arsenal. I in which they tried to match federal Bass and Lammers’ award-winning agency acronyms with their missions. project exposing how September 11th John Solomon is the director of mul- And when AP learned that the govern- recovery loans went to companies timedia investigative reporting for ment was keeping secret the scores that were not hurt by the terrorist at- The Associated Press.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 61 Goodbye Gutenberg Confronting the Dual Challenge of Print and Electronic News ‘To make best use of both editions, we need to be increasingly disciplined about what goes where.’

By Paul E. Steiger

short time ago two of my col- form The Washington Post. If I want plunging into search. They hope leagues returned from a visit to cover business, I’d better keep my to target directly the people whose A with one of the great technology sights on The Wall Street Journal, CNBC Web destinations indicate they are innovators of our age, who blithely told and Yahoo! Finance. And if I want to prospects to buy the advertisers’ them that newspapers would disappear be the leading—or only—daily in my goods or services. Search on the within five years—or perhaps seven local metropolis, maybe I’ll need to Web promises to cure the classic years, to be generous. This man did figure out how to publish every high problem of advertising (and the re- allow that there are some things he school wrestling result in the nine sulting bonanza for publishers) that truly enjoys about curling up with a nearest counties. is perhaps best summed up by the good newspaper. “I’d also like to leave Most of us have recognized that our famously wry comment by a major work early and spend time throwing journalism is more important than the retailer that “half of my advertising a stick with my dog,” he said. “But I means of delivering it. Newspapers and spending is wasted; I just don’t know don’t have time for that, either.” magazines have Web sites, and some which half.” I believe in the future of journal- of those are experiencing growth in ism. That billionaire who likened my revenues of 20 percent a year or more, While this presents a huge challenge print edition to his dog and a stick still even as their print editions struggle to for us, there are things we can do to reads The Wall Street Journal every eke out single-digit growth rates—and enable us to survive and, ultimately, day online. I even believe that print struggle to prevent their circulation to thrive. has a future. But we are not going to from declining. Given this situation, get there without working harder and many are tempted to believe that if Fitting the Web and Print thinking smarter. they can just shift faster to the digital Together There is no magic wand to wave or zone, their troubles will end. time machine we can climb into, to There are two problems with this Powerful journalistic models—such return us to when newspapers enjoyed way of thinking. as Bloomberg’s—have emerged in the monopolies in many of their markets, electronic space and others undoubt- making their investors and employees 1. It is a blessing and a curse that be- edly will. Of course, news organizations comfortable, if not rich. Newspapers cause of differences in advertising that have grown up in print confront struggle now with broken business rates a print reader is worth three a task that can be more complicated; models and expanding competition, times as much to a news organiza- while they pump increasing resources amid rampant disrespect by the young tion as an online user. Ad rates (and into growing their electronic side, they and Web-adept. possibly subscription charges) will must also continue to nurture the In this environment, journalists have to grow much faster than the print publications that still provide must decide whom we are going to market now seems to allow before the bulk of their revenue. At The Wall serve with our journalism and how to this balance shifts. Street Journal, we are learning how be paid for that service. And we have to 2. More terrifying, search engines such to operate complementary print and be disciplined and hardheaded about as Google and Yahoo! and their online editions, and we’re having con- that decision. While I might want to budding competitors are sucking siderable success marketing the two write about global affairs and culture, much of the oxygen out of the room. editions together. to do so means I must offer something Advertisers who might otherwise The Web’s advantages are speed not available in The New York Times or keep much of their budgets in and efficiency of delivery, personal on BBC.com. If I want to write about print and put the bulk of their Web selectivity, availability on demand, American politics, I’ll need to outper- spending on news sites are instead and the almost cost-free capability to

62 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Converging on the Web store additional content and accept ad- Journal doubled its circulation to two investment—although, as evidenced ditional users. Print favors portability, million from one million between the recently in Philadelphia and Santa the relative ease of reading sustained 1960’s and the 1980’s, in part because Barbara, California, local ownership narratives and longer arguments, and it provided over-the-counter stock is not a panacea for tensions between serendipity. By serendipity I mean the quotations and other financial data the business and journalistic sides of ability of readers to scan full pages or unavailable elsewhere. Now such data news organizations. Another model portions of pages and spot headlines are available everywhere electronically, might be employee ownership. A third and stories that they would not have typically free of charge. So the Journal might involve some form of nonprofit expected to be interested in. There has cut out eight pages of such stats structure, such as has played a role at is a wonderful sense of discovery in in recent years and will cut more. We the St. Petersburg Times. learning something you didn’t think are replacing it with content that we Whether the business models are you needed to know, and print still hope will hold similar allure—more conventional or unconventional—and delivers that best. exclusive stories and proprietary stats I think they will be both—the public’s To make best use of both editions, that give deeper insight into what the need and desire for what news orga- we need to be increasingly disciplined markets are doing than can be gleaned nizations uniquely produce will ulti- about what goes where. More and more from simple stock-price quotations. mately be enough for them to succeed of our readers will get an increasing financially. Some Web advocates argue share of their spot news electroni- against this assumption, contending cally—and we hope it will come from NEWSPAPER GALLERY that the Internet has transformed us. That puts the burden on the print citizens into becoming their own jour- edition to emphasize what it does nalists, thereby obliterating the need best—compelling narratives, investi- people had for journalists to act as gations, explanations, trend-spotters, information gatekeepers. People will context, exclusive interviews—what put online what they see and believe I call “scoops of fact” and “scoops of and, with the help of technology, these ideas.” That doesn’t mean that the Web advocates contend, good informa- print edition abandons reporting of tion will overwhelm the bad. pure spot news. While our readers I don’t doubt that this dynamic increasingly can get their news from happens sometimes. Witness how the Web, they don’t always do it—they fast search engines like Google and might have meetings all day or a kid’s Yahoo! can deliver fascinating arrays soccer game to attend—and when that of information about a limitless uni- happens they depend on us to protect Peter Braestrup used this Olivetti type- verse of people, events and things. them the next morning. But our news- writer during his time as a New York But the capacity to search won’t satisfy paper will increasingly deliver that Times national and international cor- humanity’s quest for knowledge if the pure spot news in the form of briefs respondent. Circa 1963. Newseum Collec- content available isn’t informed by the and summaries, taking a progressively tion/gift, Kate Braestrup/Courtesy Newseum. rigor of inquiry that resides at the core smaller share of total space. of journalism’s standards and ethics. It isn’t enough just to reorder how Even with the incredible search abilities we deliver what we’ve always delivered. News organizations also should that exist on the Web today it is difficult News organizations need to focus hard explore alternative business models. to find a reliable and comprehensive on what it is that should be delivered The Los Angeles Times has been un- analysis of a complicated issue. and to whom. What audience are we dergoing turmoil over cost cuts when People will continue to need infor- trying to attract? Once we decide that, its profit margins—the ratio of profit to mation relevant to their lives that is our next step is to find ways to provide revenue—are in the neighborhood of quickly and carefully gathered, sifted, coverage that in some ways uniquely 20 percent. Those are great margins for verified and reported to them. Said suits that audience, coverage that they many businesses, but publicly traded another way, they will need journal- can’t easily get elsewhere or assemble companies usually must hold out the ism. Our challenge is to find the best for themselves. promise of growth, and that appears to ways to accomplish this in a world My friend Richard Lambert, the be the missing element in Los Angeles that promises to change even more distinguished former editor of the and with the Tribune Company that rapidly in the future than it has in the Financial Times, reminded me the owns the Times. past. I other day that market statistics used This suggests that an alternative to be a prime selling point—perhaps might be ownership by public-spirited Paul E. Steiger is managing editor of the prime selling point—for our re- citizens with enough means not to The Wall Street Journal and a vice spective publications. The Wall Street need a market rate of return on the president of Dow Jones & Company.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 63 Goodbye Gutenberg Feeding the Web While Reporting the Story At The New York Times, multimedia storytelling is becoming more a part of the journalism and less of an afterthought.

By Neil Chase

decade after newspapers began to sources, my questions aren’t simply, story into the paper’s online side,” to publish online, there is still ‘What happened and what does this Revkin said. “In quite a few of the 60- A trepidation about technology mean?’ but ‘What’s going to happen plus back-and-forths with reader/com- among reporters and editors, col- as a result of this?’” mentators, I actually was able to slip umnists and photojournalists. Some Writing quickly for the Web, picking in quotes and other context that had reporters worry that they will look a lead, and then backing it up with a to be cut from the print story.” like traveling junk dealers as they try complete story filed to the paper’s The additional space available to gently approach reluctant sources news desk causes Maynard to focus on online enables new approaches to in the field while juggling video cam- what’s most important and how she’ll journalism: eras, audio recorders, notebooks and approach the rest of her reporting day. satellite phones. Yet fear is yielding to “The Web story is essentially the first • Some reporters use blogs to deliver innovative thinking about how what effort,” she said. “Then that helps me short bites of news during the day we do online can enhance the quality find the thread for the print story that while working on their longer sto- of journalism. will take it forward.” ries for the newspaper, as a team of One example: Having to file midday Science writer Andrew C. Revkin metro reporters does while covering updates for the Web, like radio or wire agreed about the challenges of report- state politics through a blog called reporters already do, seems to conflict ing for rolling deadlines. Not only do The Empire Zone. with the idea that a newspaper journal- Times reporters file to the Continuous • Some articles that have to be ist spends the day doing the interviews News Desk, but they also meet the trimmed for print can run longer and thinking through the analysis that European and Asian deadlines of the online. form tomorrow’s story. But many at International Herald Tribune (IHT), • During the World Cup, reporters The New York Times who have tried which is owned by the Times. “Filing delivered real-time play-by-play this new approach are finding it makes early for CND and the IHT can create coverage online while fans joined their work better, not worse. issues, particularly when the news in a simultaneous conversation. hasn’t quite gelled,” Revkin said. “But Experiencing the Change it always helps me focus my thoughts There are many more examples, but and provides at least a skeleton to build in each case there’s a similar theme: The transition to real-time journalism the final version of the story on.” Journalists are able to cover their sub- is easier for reporters who’ve done it Revkin also enjoys taking direct jects more deeply, in new ways, and before, like Micheline Maynard,1 our questions from readers online, as he deliver more to the reader than was Detroit bureau chief. With experience did in October after he reported on possible before. at United Press International and Re- sharp declines in spending on energy Revkin’s involvement with “Times uters, Maynard knows how to file quick research by governments and corpo- Topics”—Web pages dedicated to in- updates. What is different now is that rations. From such exchanges he can depth examinations of specific top- as she covers breaking news by filing learn the names of new sources and ics—illustrates the long-term value of to our Continuous News Desk (CND) get ideas for follow-up stories while publishing online.2 Newspaper stories she is also working on her next-day he helps readers to better understand are designed to be read the next day, but article for the paper. the news. Revkin’s Web page about global warm- “Now, because I’m going to be writ- And there’s another advantage: ing collects relevant Times articles, ing at least two versions, I have to be space. “The best thing about the recent multimedia reports, links to other Web present tense and future tense in the energy-climate conversation was that it resources, and more. His personal page way I handle a story,” Maynard said. gave me an opportunity to get elements highlights his best articles, his multime- “So as I’m reading a release, or talking that didn’t fit in my energy challenge dia work, and even a window into his

1 http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/micheline_maynard/index.html 2 http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/r/andrew_c_revkin/

64 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Converging on the Web other passion: Readers can download readers and post them with the story. the Web site when a link to the full music from his band, an acoustic-roots Sometimes this means copying a interview is worth adding to a story. In quartet called Uncle Wade. Insight into quick link, but it can also be more most cases, reporters who put in the his work and background on his top- work: “I had to spend a couple of extra effort say they’re pleased with the ics “helps build the credibility of our hours working up a set of links to in- increased readership and enthusiastic product and a connection with us as clude in my energy-climate research reader response. trusted guides to complicated issues,” story,” Revkin said. “But I think it’s Another successful strategy: Play to Revkin said. great to have the extra depth there your strengths. After 25 years of report- for readers who are inclined to seek ing on the U.S. Supreme Court and a How to Get Multimedia it.” Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting, Linda Stories Online Greenhouse was clearly the reporter to write the Whether it’s filing quick- NEWSPAPER GALLERY obituary of Chief Justice ly for the Web, recording William H. Rehnquist video or audio, blog- when he died last year. ging, or just thinking But she also spent a sig- smartly about the way nificant amount of time a story will appear both on something new—a in print and online, one long-form video obituary. strategy has worked The mix of audio, video, well so far at the Times: photographs and Times’ letting journalists de- headlines from previ- cide what’s comfortable ously published stories for them. Rather than offered a compelling way forcing new ideas on to capture in one place people, Web and video the scope of Rehnquist’s producers at the Times lengthy and influential make equipment and career—something that training available and could only be achieved invite participation. with the unique combi- Some of the new nation of Greenhouse’s things reporters are expertise and the archive often asked to do take of stories and photos.3 only a small amount of Reporters and edi- time: tors who think about material they can obtain • Talk to a producer on to enhance the telling the phone for 15 min- of their story—audio, utes about the story Copyreaders at The New York Times foreign desk. In the foreground, video, CDs containing and an audio slide foreign desk editor spikes a story. September 1942. Library of Congress/ data, Web sites—from show of the story will Courtesy Newseum. the beginning of an as- be readied to appear signment often end up online. with compelling online • Sit in front of a cam- packages. Piecing such era for a quick video interview, Other things take more effort, but packages together after reporting has perhaps to relate a different way to the expenditure of time and energy can taken place is more difficult, and the understand today’s news or to cre- prove to be worthwhile. Some report- resulting product can be less reward- ate a video “sidebar” with an angle ers carry video cameras, especially in ing. that won’t make it into the printed foreign bureaus; many use digital audio Economics columnist David Le- story. recorders (simple models are available onhardt uses online components to • Take notes about what Web sites for less than $120) instead of cassette explain some of the complex issues were used in reporting the story. recorders and keep sound files on their he tackles.4 “Throughout the reporting Decide which might be of use to laptop computers that can be sent to for each week’s column, I try to think

3 http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/g/linda_greenhouse/index.html 4 http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/l/david_leonhardt/

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 65 Goodbye Gutenberg

about what will make for good Web questions and hear from dozens more. doing field reporting and shoot pic- extras,” he said. “I ask researchers if “It’s common for subsequent reader re- tures or video,” Revkin said, “while it they’ll send me PDFs or links so we sponses to cite earlier ones, suggesting can be a pain, it can also help the final can post their work online. I talk to that the writer read both the column written product—particularly when the graphics department about what and the replies,” Leonhardt said. I’m in circumstances that prevent a to show online.” Leonhardt sometimes Interacting with readers and doing lot of note-taking, as was the case runs into the problem of having more the extra work required for blogs and when I was on a bobbing fishing boat good ideas than the Web producers or other new forms of journalism does with Carl Safina last summer, and in graphics editors have time to execute, take additional time, and editors are the Arctic. The images and video then and this is becoming a familiar chal- working closely with reporters to provide detail—What color was that lenge. Efforts are underway to develop manage those demands. Sometimes coat?—and a record of conversations tools to allow reporters and editors to it means a change of assignments or that I can review later, when condi- do more on the Web without having dropping something else to make tions allow.” to learn extensive new skills or invest room in the schedule. Sometimes While helping Revkin to refresh his large amounts of time. it means sneaking in bits of online memory, this valuable trove of sounds Perhaps the biggest change in the work whenever there’s time. But the and images—with the Web producer’s newsroom since the advent of Web limited number of hours in the day assistance—will bring his story alive publishing is the response from read- mandates smart time management online. I ers. Reporters sometimes have the joy as the demands of online journalism of watching their story climb toward the continue to grow. Neil Chase is editor of the Con- top of the “most e-mailed articles” list. Multimedia note-taking can create tinuous News Desk at The New York Or they will respond to a few reader advantages for reporters. “When I’m Times.

Goodbye Gutenberg | Exploring New Connections Taking the Big Gulp ‘The Web is its own medium with its own characteristics. It is not newspapers. It is not TV news. It is not radio.’

By Jane Ellen Stevens

he Web is swallowing everything, Web-centric news organizations, they’ll play it. And if you don’t understand and most newspaper companies remain an integral and important part foreign words, you can’t speak the Tare responding by doing what of the journalistic enterprise. If not, language. Another way to look at it is they’ve always done when big news they’ll go the way of blacksmiths—not this: The first film was a recording of stories roll into town—throwing every- disappearing, but pushed into a niche a theater production, and film isn’t thing they can at them. Two years ago, so far off the highway that they no theater. The first TV production was they threw blogs. Last year, podcasts. longer are traveling on it. a radio program, and we know that This year, it’s videos. This journey toward the new be- television isn’t radio. But when the The Web—mysterious, frightening gins with the basics—and this means Web came along, newspapers thought it and inspiring—is all of these things learning the characteristics of the Web. was a place to put text and still photos; (blogs, podcasts, videos), and it is none A journalist might ask why anyone radio news thought it was a place to of them. And if newspaper companies needs to know something so seem- put audio files (and text scripts of audio (as well as television and radio news ingly arcane as the characteristics of a files), and television news treated it as organizations) take the time to under- communications medium, but when a place to put videos (and text scripts stand this new medium and set stra- you don’t know how a game—football, of video stories). tegic goals to transition to becoming soccer, baseball—works, it’s hard to The Web is its own medium with

66 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Exploring New Connections its own characteristics. It is not news- NEWSPAPER GALLERY papers. It is not TV news. It is not radio.

Understanding the Web

Before the Web existed, there was (and still is) the Internet. From the get-go, the Internet was a solution-oriented medium: Ask a question, get an answer. And it was an interactive medium: No longer were you sitting back and wait- ing to be told what you needed to know. You asked the question. The Internet was participatory: You and all of those other people out there were connect- ing—and sharing and talking—with everyone else. Along came the Web, and not only were these basic traits—solution-ori- ented, interactive and participatory— expanded with new technologies, but other facets emerged. Rather than go through the chronology, here are the characteristics as they apply to news organizations: “The stereotypers handle fifty-six tons of metal daily.” Caption and image from “The Solution-Oriented Stories: No longer Detroit News 1873-1917,” William A. Ulman, ©1918 by The Evening News Association, can news organizations just point Detroit, Michigan. out the problem. They’ve got to ad- dress a solution, including looking at other communities that have solved the problem. News organizations can news organizations figured this out a Occasionally, for example, news orga- do this by providing links to these while back and have established con- nizations do a series about domestic successful efforts. Also, no longer are tinuous news desks or are busy doing violence in their communities. Once solutions personal—as in how you can so now. This also means the end of they publish, they won’t tackle the make your home thief-proof? They’re “been there, done that” journalism. subject again for at least a year, usually also community-oriented and aimed at Just because journalists drop in, do a longer, and rarely do they cover this prevention. How can my community be story, and go away, the issue doesn’t. issue with regularity, unless celebrities more thief-proof? How can we prevent people from turning into thieves?

Context: The Web is infinitely deep and all points on it are connected. That Must-Read Books means stories no longer stand alone. They’re embedded in a matrix—a To understand the larger media “We the Media: Grassroots Journal- Web shell—that connects to stories environment in which journal- ism By the People, for the People,” done in the past, to data, to all the ism is practiced—“the new ocean by Dan Gillmor. players and organizations involved in we’re swimming in,” as Jane Ellen the story or the issue addressed, and Stevens calls it—she offers four “Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revo- to resources. must-read books: lution,” by Howard Rheingold.

Real Time = Continuity: For the first “The Search: How Google and Its “Everything Bad Is Good for You: time, a communications medium mir- Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business How Today’s Popular Culture Is rors life. Artificial constructs of 24-hour and Transformed Our Culture,” by Actually Making Us Smarter,” by newspaper deadlines or multiple daily John Battelle. Steven Johnson. I TV or radio deadlines are gone. Most

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 67 Goodbye Gutenberg

or politicians are involved. But domes- pursue their own interests and ques- nonlinear format in which the informa- tic violence is often the leading felony tions that arise when they read, see tion in each medium is complementary, aggravated assault in a community and or experience it. The BBC’s Iraq site,1 not redundant. Emphasis is on the the economic and emotional costs in for example, provides links to maps; visual, with supporting text. In news- dealing with it are enormous. In some updated graphics of oil production, papers, stories have to be told in text, large cities, grappling with the effects civilian deaths, and school openings; with accompanying photographs. On of domestic violence takes a big bite timelines; photographs; historical TV, stories have to be told in video. In out of the budgets of the medical com- information, and others involved in radio, stories have to be told in audio. munity (EMTs and emergency rooms), the conflict. Other news organizations On the Web, the story decides how it the police, adult courts, juvenile don’t do this nearly as well. For ex- is to be told. That sounds a little Zen- courts, welfare agencies, child protec- ample, The New York Times has com- like, but here’s the point: When doing tive services, and schools. a story, a journalist evaluates Now community members what part of it works best in have a communications NEWSPAPER GALLERY photos, what part in audio, medium that is on 24/7 and what part in video, what can absorb input from many part in text, what part in sources to foster solutions to infographics, and then as- problems, whether journal- sembles the story using the ists are involved or not. best parts in each medium. This makes for much more Participatory: Blogs, ratings powerful and informative sites, wikis, MySpace, You- storytelling. Tube, Flickr, etc. To tradi- tional top-down journalists, Becoming a Web- this looks like a cacophonic Centric News community at its best and Organization communication anarchy at its worst. To those who em- By understanding the me- brace the Web, it looks like dium, a news organization a dynamic opportunity for can set goals for a transition continuous worldwide con- to a Web-centric newsroom, versations. The bottom line: which is oriented to doing News organizations need to World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle at his typewriter. March stories for the Web first, then embrace and integrate the 1944. National Archives/Courtesy Newseum. spinning off text, photos, au- community’s conversation. dio, video and infographics Perfectly positioned for Web for print, PDAs, iPods, iPods 2.0, with its emphasis on with video, cell phones, and social networking, news organizations parable news coverage but hasn’t taken any other communications platform. have an opportunity to provide a place such advantage of the Web.2 There’s an A list of steps to take to become a for such interactions and also involve added benefit to this approach: A news Web-centric newsroom emerged after the members of their communities in organization that provides “one-stop two years of cyber, phone and occa- reporting. Besides community Web shopping” for an issue or beat creates a sional face-to-face conversation among sites (with citizen blogs, podcasts place that people come to even before members of a think tank called Journal- and videos), it’s time to institutional- they search across the Web. ism That Matters (JTM).3 JTM involves ize the knowledge of the community, the thinking and experiences of many as Michael Skoler has done with his Multimedia Stories and Information: different kinds of journalists: citizen Public Insight Journalism at Minnesota On the Web, storytelling and informa- and community journalists, newspaper Public Radio. tion become multimedia stories and editors and managing editors, news- information. When done well, these paper reporters, freelance reporters, Personalization: Stories embedded in multimedia presentations offer some bloggers, TV producers, a former chief a matrix of data and resources enable combination of video, text, audio, still financial officer for a major metropoli- people to “personalize” the story to photos, graphics and interactivity in a tan daily, directors of journalism think

1 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/middle_east/2002/conflict_with_iraq/default.stm 2 http://nytimes.com/pages/world/worldspecial/index.html 3 http://bcs.blogs.com/rejournalism/2006/04/the_list_short_.html#more

68 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Exploring New Connections tanks, a media expert from Wall Street, of consequence to the community, and change the content. No more and a general manager from a forward- and as traditional storytellers. breaking news. Putting breaking thinking (and doing) news company. 8. Every story belongs in a Web shell, news in the newspaper is like go- What follows is the collective advice the area where journalists express ing to Jack-in-the-Box, ordering a that JTM generated after a face-to-face their role as managers of infor- hamburger and having it delivered, meeting in October 2005: mation and news in the form of cold and tasteless, on your door- searchable databases, background- step 12 hours later. 1. For those who are entangled, dis- ers, maps and links to resources, 16. Stay in close touch with top-notch entangle from Wall Street and 20- archives and research. Web advertising (or in the case plus percent profit margins. The 9. All stories are multimedia stories. of public radio, fundraising) staff Wall Street average is 11 percent. That doesn’t mean that all stories who are focusing on incorporat- Put the rest into training, updating have video. It means that the story ing local advertisers into the news and research into figuring out how and resources (time and staff) dic- organization matrix to keep tabs to transition from a print-centric to tate the approach taken. Maybe the on the approaching print/Web, TV a Web-centric news organization. story is a few words on a timeline. news/Web, radio news/Web tipping (1A. Stop calling yourself a news- Maybe it’s a series of photos with point. paper! 1B. Stop calling yourself TV audio. Maybe it’s only video. Maybe 17. Use a content management system news! 1C. Stop calling yourself a it’s a mix of stills/audio/video/text. that can handle all of this. radio news organization!) Maybe it’s graphics with support- 2. Set one-year, two-year, three-year, ing text. Moment of Zen: The story This list is just the beginning. No four-year, five-year goals to transi- will tell you. one news organization is doing all of tion from a print-centric to a Web- 10. For local news organizations: these things, but a few have decided to centric news organization. Local. Local. Hyperlocal. That take the big gulp and start the transi- 3. Merge online and print/television/ doesn’t mean ignoring national tion to a Web-centric news organiza- radio. and international news; it means tion. To keep tabs on their progress, 4. Train reporters and editors to be making the connection to the local and to see any changes to this list or multimedia reporters and edi- community. updates that will emerge as part two tors. At the core of the economic 11. Distribute news organization staff of “The Road Map,” keep an eye on model of a newspaper, radio and throughout the community. That Rejournalism—the Journalism That many TV news operations is one means journalists’ main office is Matters group blog.4 It’s a place where story/one reporter. That means all in or near the community they’re the talk is all about what journalism is reporters have to be backpack, or covering. It’s the end of cavernous in the arena of the Web. I multimedia, journalists. Adding a or centralized newsrooms. layer of multimedia producers to 12. News is a conversation, so involve Jane Ellen Stevens does multimedia “enhance” reporters’ print stories the members of the community reporting and storytelling for a va- is not economically sustainable. via blogs, wikis, adding to stories, riety of organizations and consults 5. Hire Web infographics editors and pursuing follow-up on stories, and with news organizations that are database programmers who under- helping to direct stories. committed to making the transition stand news; they are integral to a 13. Set up neighborhood Web sites to a Web-centric presentation. She Web-centric news organization. where stories from community also teaches multimedia reporting 6. If you haven’t, set up a continuous members and professional jour- at the Graduate School of Journal- news desk. The people assigned nalists appear together. In other ism at the University of California to this desk distribute news in dif- words, don’t put citizen journalism at Berkeley and for the Knight New ferent media (audio, video, text, in a ghetto. Media Center’s multimedia reporting photos) to different platforms (cell 14. Set up separate youth, kids, moth- workshops. phones, PDAs, video updates on ers, parents, ethnic, sports, etc. the Web, multimedia stories to the sites. These Web sites—and the Web, etc.). neighborhood sites—are often the 7. Journalists’ major roles: managing first points of entry to the news breaking news (including content organization’s community of sites. from citizens) and contextual Going through the home page is information in Web shells; acting not a given. as community watchdogs who 15. For newspapers, publish a print provide in-depth, ongoing stories edition one to four days a week

4 http://bcs.blogs.com/rejournalism

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 69 Goodbye Gutenberg Sights and Sounds of a Newspaper’s Editorials An editorial page editor describes ‘a wide-open, creative new world for journalists who want to make use of new media and relate to newspaper readers in new ways.’

By Susan Albright

here we were, on a sunny Sun- day afternoon, toiling away in NEWSPAPER GALLERY T my family’s living room: Our daughter’s piano teacher was warming up to play Maurice Ravel’s virtuosic “Jeux d’Eau” while her husband, in real life a classical guitarist, played record- ing engineer. As he placed mikes and adjusted recording levels, I turned off the phones and removed the dog. A few takes later, everyone was pleased: We had the soundtrack for an online slide show of historical Min- nesota photographs. The music would become a component of the Star Tri- bune editorial department’s special, ongoing project on water quality in Minnesota. A few months ago, that scene was still novel. No more. In September one of our editorial writers, accustomed to toting a reporter’s notebook and pen, wielded a digital microphone as “In the editorial department the complexities of life are reduced to their graphic ele- he interviewed a southern Minnesota ments.” Caption and image from “The Detroit News 1873-1917,” William A. Ulman, © farmer about conservation practices 1918 by The Evening News Association, Detroit, Michigan. and pollution runoff—then waited for good late-afternoon light to pho- tograph the farm. From his efforts we created slides to illustrate the farmer’s put most of our efforts into our core to devising new blogging and podcast- recorded words, thereby enhancing work: choosing and editing op-ed com- ing opportunities. Still, no newspaper I another part of the water series, a seg- mentaries and letters and developing know of has extra money to toss around ment on Mississippi River pollution. persuasive editorials that we hope will these days, let alone the kind of money And now the online innovations are change the world—or at least help it would take to hire additional staffers really getting out of hand: Last week our get a local ordinance passed. But my to realize all those possibilities. Yet op-ed editor, working on prototypes for staff and I are spending more and innovations take time—time to imag- a proposed audio satire project, asked more time dreaming up new ways to ine them and time to carry them out. me if I’d be part of a chorus singing interact with our readers, both in print They take skills—like editing audio, the lyrics “Give me Nixon!” as backup and online. for example—that your typical print to a baritone’s rendering of a political, journalist might not (uh, probably “updated” spiritual. Oh, and could we Innovations: Time and doesn’t) possess. Heaven knows, we record that in my living room, too? Money were busy enough already! It’s actually great, liberating fun—a (And now, even as I write this piece, wide-open, creative new world for This is both exciting and daunting. The my op-ed editor is asking me whether journalists who want to make use of expanded possibilities for creating and he can record my doorknob turning new media and relate to newspaper presenting opinions are indeed wide and my door opening and closing. I readers in new ways. Sure, we still open, from recording audio and video don’t even ask why; I just nod.)

70 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Exploring New Connections

Luckily, new technology has helped example, can now peruse an editorial sions, which I must delete or forward to us save staff time that we’ve used for then click and post a comment on it in the right editors; misdirected queries; new efforts. Letters to the editor, for a “talk” area of Startribune.com. Suc- shared/forwarded “wisdom;” list-serv example, used to arrive via snail mail cessive readers can then comment on missives from editorial colleagues or fax and had to be typed and/or the editorial itself or on fellow readers’ from around the country—and just scanned into our publishing system. posts, thereby creating a reader con- enough timely and/or important mail Now most letters arrive as e-mails that versation. Offering this in addition to that I have to keep on my toes or risk can be quickly cut and pasted into the the letters-to-the-editor function isn’t missing a critical meeting notice or a system. This saves so much time that particularly time-consuming for us, query requiring action or a reply. It we were able to shift letters’ person- and it gives readers a way to register takes discipline and determination to nel to different work, including the immediate feedback and interact with deal with it quickly and effectively. writing of a new weekly column on one another. We’ve also created a fea- The most perplexing new wrinkle political blogs. ture called “Netlets,” which are letters in the e-mail world is that some of our For editorial writers, instant Internet from readers that were submitted for e-mailers expect not only a personal access to news-related documents has newspaper publication but didn’t make reply to an initial query or comment, saved incredible amounts of research the cut; they’re perfectly fine letters, which I’m happy to provide, but an time. When the Supreme Court ruled but we have room for a dozen at most ongoing, personal back-and-forth dis- last June, for example, in the Hamdan on a given day in the print publication, cussion on issues of the day as well. v. Rumsfeld case on the treatment so we’re putting the overflow online. Some are bent on becoming pen pals and trial of terror suspects, we were Ironically, technology can also slow on a regular basis. That I cannot do, or able to immediately download and things down. Individual editors and I’d get nothing else accomplished. analyze both the opinion itself and writers receive much more mail now Managing e-mail is truly an art form related documents, such as texts of the that it comes principally via e-mail. I and an acquired skill, one I’m getting Uniform Code of Military Justice and personally receive hundreds of e-mails better at as the snail mail dwindles. This the Geneva Conventions. The same a day, some critical to my work and is good because I need every minute speed applies to locating commission some worse than useless. Yes, company for core priorities—like helping our findings, Government Accountability filters reject or divert much of the spam, political columnist figure out whether Office conclusions, or a U.S. Surgeon but I still get plenty of investment ad- to create a blog or a podcast during the General’s report—and a lot of other vice, prescription come-ons, and offers next legislative session. I documents we need. to check out Russian coeds. Add to that New Web tools have also allowed us dozens of public relations releases, Susan Albright is the editorial page to offer readers new ways of responding which I’ve programmed to plop into a editor of the Star Tribune in Minne- to our work. Our online readers, for PR folder; mass-mailed op-ed submis- apolis.

NEWSPAPER GALLERY

“Train Station” (circa 1940), Saul Berman (American, b. Russia, 1899-1972). Oil on canvas. 20 x 35 ½ inches. Mobile Museum of Art, purchased with proceeds from The Mobile Art Association’s Treasure Benefit and Museum Pur- chase Fund. From “Press Gallery,” Shaun O’L. Higgins and Colleen Striegel, plate 70, page 121.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 71 Goodbye Gutenberg An Optimistic Plunge Into Multimedia Reporting ‘One columnist took on a controversial local issue and covered it in a way we’d never done before.’

By Joe Howry

anging with journalists isn’t a was fragmented and growing more so period of time. I worried that a huge lot of fun these days. There’s every day. We realized the Internet had gap would be left in our daily cover- Ha lot of sobering talk about disrupted our business and showed no age and an extra burden would be put what journalism’s future will be, or signs of letting up. We also knew that on the rest of the staff. But I leapt this even if there will be one. Those who despite fragmentation and disruption, hurdle because I believed that a little are resigned to a hopeless fate come in a strong demand exists for credible short-term pain was a small price to pay two categories: Some only hang tightly and reliable information. What had for a possible long-term gain. Among onto the ship, hoping it doesn’t sink changed, however, is that people now the many pleasant surprises we en- before they retire, while others vow expect and want a choice in how they countered was the willingness of staff to stubbornly, and self-righteously, get to this information; we wanted to members to step up and fill in these go down with their flags flying high. give our readers those options. gaps. They did so willingly because Among those with some modicum of they realized that when they took their hope, many are waiting for someone Training Begins turns for training others would cover to come up with the “Answer” or are for them. A new sense of teamwork paralyzed by fear and leave any risk- The training program Stevens de- blossomed in the newsroom. taking to others. veloped, although streamlined and Through serendipity, we turned out Then there are the cockeyed opti- condensed, requires a considerable to be extremely fortunate in our choice mists. This is the flag to which those of commitment of time. Because of this, as of the first eight trainees. Twenty-three us at the Ventura County Star happily well as limitations with equipment and people volunteered for the initial train- swear allegiance. Not only do we see the ever-present demands of producing ing session, and though I realized the a bright future for journalism, but also a daily newspaper, it became apparent selections were critical, the criteria I we find the present to be a dynamic that we could not train everyone at initially used were primarily based on period of boundless opportunities. once. So we broke the training down minimizing the pain in any one depart- And the source of our optimism is our into six-week segments, training teams ment. I decided to try to spread the plunge into multimedia journalism. consisting of reporters and editors pain around. Later on in the process This is no toe-dipping experiment, but that were supplied with multimedia I figured out that the most important a full-fledged cannonball into the deep equipment, including video cameras, factor to consider was compatibility. end of the pool. laptops and, perhaps most important, But luck was on my side, and the ini- With help from Jane Ellen Stevens, a Flash software. tial group of trainees was compatible multimedia lecturer at the University of During this training time, their and supportive of one another. They California-Berkeley’s Graduate School marching orders were clear: Learn to also became enthusiastic ambassa- of Journalism, in early 2006 we made be multimedia journalists. Learn how dors for the training to the rest of the a commitment to give multimedia to tell stories through a variety of media newsroom and effective advocates to training to all in the newsroom who that allow our readers to get the infor- those who feared the learning curve wanted it. [See Steven’s article on page mation they want in the way they want was too steep. 66.] They learned how to do stories in it. Though it sounds simple—and many Stevens’ program began with three print, online text, with video and au- technical aspects of it proved to be quite days of intensive training. Before the dio, as well as slide shows, sometimes easy to learn and perform—we found training started, each two-member packaged in Flash, and often interactive that the implications of these changes team was asked to come up with a multi- with the readers. In a relatively short are profound and revealing. media story idea. That idea would serve time, each learned how to produce A significant indicator of our com- as the basis for this initial training. The such presentations. mitment—and a real key to the success goal: In just three days’ time each team What did we expect to gain from of our training—was that we freed would produce a project. The idea was all of this? We weren’t quite sure, participants from their daily duties. that in doing this they’d figure out that but we knew a few things, and they As the editor, my highest hurdle was the transition to doing this multimedia were enough to convince us to take in taking eight productive journalists work would be easier than they might the plunge. Our newspaper audience out of the daily newsroom mix for this have expected it to be.

72 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Exploring New Connections

Multimedia Coverage veterinarian, who volunteered to help newsroom’s organizational structures calm the animals, talking about work- will change, as will the ways in which During five weeks, with Stevens’ steady, ing with two traumatized dogs.1 we report the news. This is because guiding hand, teams churned out multi- Reaction to Cason’s presentation multimedia journalism is not just about media projects ranging from features to was immediate. She was flooded with using new storytelling tools; when breaking news. One columnist took on calls and e-mails thanking her for go- done right, it involves journalists think- a controversial local issue and covered ing inside the shelter and showing ing deeply about how to tell stories it in a way we’d never done before. the impact of the fireworks on the in different ways and also what new For many of our staff—and members animals. Supporters of the event were stories can—and should—be told. of our community—this story marked noticeably quiet. Perhaps the newness One thing our reporters have a coming of age in our multimedia of the reporting caught them off- learned in this process is that they coverage. guard. We expected complaints about need to vastly expand their sources. This story involved a massive let- bias—charging that Cason chose to The welcome mat needs to be extended ter-writing campaign into our communities against the city of so new voices will be Camarillo’s planned NEWSPAPER GALLERY heard in our news Fourth of July fire- coverage. To tell sto- works show next to ries that are genuinely an animal shelter. reflective of our com- Those who organized munities and to cover the campaign claimed issues at the core of the fireworks trauma- the community’s con- tized the animals, and cern means transform- the show should be ing our “readers” into moved. Members of partners in the entire the local Lions Club, storytelling process. which sponsored the And finding ways to do fireworks, and some this will be a lengthier, city officials argued but equally important, that the concerns were part of our staff ’s tran- very much overblown sitional training. and portrayed them as Many approaches coming from overzeal- exist in reinventing ous animal rights activ- what we, in newspa- ists. They also argued it pers, can do. I only was too late to change hope there are enough the location. A farmer reading his trade paper. Coryell County, Texas. September 1931. cockeyed optimists Columnist Colleen George W. Ackerman, National Archives/Courtesy Newseum. willing to explore all Cason saw an oppor- of the possibilities. tunity to break away Claiming what is new from the standard “he said, she said” take video of only those animals that and making it ours while refusing to coverage. She decided—with the assis- reacted to the fireworks. But all we leave behind the core values of tough, tance of our Web site and multimedia received were more expressions of honest, courageous and fair reporting tools—to let readers see for themselves outrage and praise. that sustain us now—and will, I hope, the effect the fireworks had on the As quickly as we could, we began in the future—is an exciting yet daunt- animals. She wrote her column for training a second group of eight jour- ing adventure. It’s one our reporters the newspaper, then she prepared a nalists. As important as the first group and editors embarked on without an multimedia story using Flash technol- was, this next one seemed even more absolutely clear sense of where we ogy that used audio and video to take critical to our mission. With them, were truly headed. I think now we readers inside the shelter before, dur- the newspaper transitioned from an know we are headed in the right direc- ing and after the fireworks show. In experiment in multimedia journal- tion, even if we don’t know our final Cason’s multimedia presentation, as ism to establishing the foundation of destination. I the fireworks start, viewers can clearly a full-fledged multimedia organiza- see the effect they have on the animals. tion on which succeeding groups of Joe Howry is editor of the Ventura The online story concludes with a local trainees will build. And as we do, our (Calif.) County Star.

1 http://web.venturacountystar.com/special/2006/05/projects.html

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 73 Goodbye Gutenberg Narrative Journalism in the Era of the Web ‘Once the idea of using footnotes took hold, the question became whether we could use them for more than their usual purpose of attribution ….’

By Lee Hancock and Mark Miller

onsider the footnote. NEWSPAPER GALLERY Long ignored by reporters Cand editors, the old-time refer- ence tool might be what newspapers need to lure readers into complex narratives—and show the depth of work such stories require in the news- paper and on the Web. A recent Dal- las Morning News narrative series on the financial exploitation of a fading beauty queen convinced even some of our newsroom’s skeptics about the value of a device once relegated to aca- demia. The combination of extensive footnotes, source documents and his- torical records and other multimedia elements with cliffhanger storytelling and investigative reporting drew an unprecedented online readership for “Mary Ellen’s Will: The Battle for 4949 Swiss.” The four-day, serial narrative tells the story of Mary Ellen Bendtsen and her “Young Woman in Bed Reading a Newspaper” (circa 1890’s), Louise Lyons Heustis once grand home on Swiss Avenue, in (American, 1865-1951). Graphite on Bristol board. 12 ½ x 16 ¾ inches. Mobile Museum Dallas’s original mansion row. As her of Art/Gift of Mrs. Carter C. Smith. From “Press Gallery,” Shaun O’L. Higgins and Colleen looks and memory faded, the octoge- Striegel, plate 7, page 54. narian grew increasingly desperate to hang onto the decaying palace that had been her home for a half century. the financial exploitation of elders. In It didn’t take long to realize that This meant that Bendtsen was vulner- late March 2005, we heard about the sorting it out would require dozens able when two antique dealers with a Bendtsen case, which had begun the of interviews, as well as exhaustive history of befriending elderly Dallas previous month with a guardianship reviews of thousands of pages of court residents began tussling with her only fight and morphed into a Byzantine files and transcripts, medical records, daughter. At stake was who would will contest lawsuit after she died in and state elder-abuse investigative make decisions about her finances, early March from complications of a reports. It would be a challenge to her care and, ultimately, who would stroke. figure out how to explore the char- inherit her estate. Bendtsen’s saga had irresistible ele- acters and their relationships, telling The tip that led to the project came ments. It revolved around larger-than- the story of Bendtsen’s personal life after the paper published a three-day life Dallas characters and a Southern and her aspiring family’s place in series on problems in the state’s adult gothic plot line that could have been an image-conscious city and explain protective services system, focusing lifted from a Hollywood screenplay. the often-arcane legal issues without on the agency’s abysmal handling of Even early on, it was apparent that overwhelming readers. We knew it was abuse and neglect cases involving the the case’s intricate legal twists would going to take serious reporting before elderly and disabled in Dallas County. illustrate the legal system’s limited we even had a handle on how we’d We kept digging for cases that might ability to quickly protect vulnerable know how to get readers to stay with provide a window for our readers into seniors. such an intricate story—and keep them

74 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Exploring New Connections coming to it over several days. Rodrigue was also enthusiastic. So other Web elements designed to look Before we got very far, Lee was we decided to use footnotes for the like promotional materials for a com- sent to New Orleans the day before online edition and later committed mercial-run movie. Our videographers Hurricane Katrina made landfall and to publishing them in print editions added their clips and put together a ended up spending much of the next of the newspaper. The reasoning: Our catchy introductory video segment. six months covering the storm’s after- traditional readers deserve as much “Because we started early on we math. This meant we wouldn’t focus information about sourcing material were able to put together an experi- on the elder-exploitation series until as our online audience. ence that fit the story instead of just the end of March 2006. Once the idea of using footnotes taking the print content and shoveling took hold, we realized that they offered it online,” Davis says. “Multimedia The Web and Footnotes more than just a vehicle for attribu- presentations are successful when you tion—as they’d been used by other can connect emotionally with some- After about a month of intensive re- newspapers. They could allow us to one, immerse them in a reality, and search and interviews, we agreed on a provide contextual information and take them through it with an online narrative approach. Then we met with let readers dig deeper into topics of narrative.” our online colleagues, Karen Davis particular interest. We realized, too, The result was an unparalleled and Oscar Martinez, to show them the that the Web offered another pos- reader response—both online and extensive documents and other source sibility we had not seen used by any in print. material that they could draw from to newspaper. We could build in “pop-up Consider a few statistics from dal- design the Web presentation. Included boxes” so online readers could click lasnews.com: A recent page-one Sun- were reams of records from Texas Adult on a footnote number in the text and day news story about the difficulty of Protective Services and local courts that reveal sourcing notes. According to keeping track of registered sex offend- demonstrated how one or both of the our online colleague, Davis, it could ers drew 2,369 Web page views. That antique dealers involved with Bendtsen be done by building an html page same day, October 1st, breaking news had previously courted other elderly for each annotation. (By the time the about the Dallas Cowboys trouncing Dallas residents and ended up with project was published, she had built the Tennessee Titans had 6,258 page significant chunks of money, houses 133 footnote html pages.) views. In contrast, “Mary Ellen’s Will” and, in one case, an estate. We also But we wanted to do even more. We drew 7,383 page views on a Saturday alerted them to some amazing visu- asked Davis to add PDF files of original afternoon when the first story in the als—Christmas home movies, family source documents to these pop-up series went up on our Web site; that photos dating back an entire century, footnotes. Those would allow read- happened on the day before it was Depression-era modeling shots of ers to explore investigative reports, published in our Sunday paper on Bendtsen, and decades of newspaper transcripts, medical records, police August 13th. By midnight of that next and magazine articles detailing her reports, wills, deeds and other historic day, more than 26,000 Web visitors youthful flirtation with fame and her documents that had been amassed in had pulled up the first installment. A mansion’s historic significance. the reporting of the story. This added midweek Internet chat drew one of When we called Poynter Institute a level of transparency would leave no the larger live audiences that the News writing guru Chip Scanlan for coaching doubt about the depth of reporting had ever experienced, easily swamping on developing the tale into a mystery that went into a story that we wanted even a recent chat with independent serial, complete with daily cliffhangers, to read like good fiction. gubernatorial candidate Kinky Fried- he mentioned footnotes as a solution After the series was published, Davis man. Before week’s end, the series for providing adequate sourcing with- and her Web colleagues were amazed at and accompanying online multimedia out bogging down this intricate tale. We the popularity of the PDF documents. elements had garnered nearly a quarter already had been thinking about using “People wanted the in-depth infor- of a million page views. And by the end them, so we looked at other projects mation,” she told us. “They became of September, the four-part narrative, that had used footnotes with success. involved. They wanted more in-depth plus an August 16th postscript and To understand possible pitfalls, we information.” several follow-up stories, had received exchanged e-mails with Los Angeles On each day of the series, the Web well over 300,000 page views. Times reporter Sonia Nazario about edition featured new video elements— Enthusiastic e-mails arrived by the her use of them in the 2003 narrative ranging from a home movie of Bendt- hundreds. Several included confes- project, “Enrique’s Journey.” We also sen’s last Christmas to dramatic footage sions from impatient readers who had visited with Morning News projects from a hospital emergency room as the tried to hack our Web server because editor Maud Beelman about her foot- antique dealers and their lawyer friend they didn’t want to wait for installments note-reliant investigative work in her convince Bendtsen to sign a deathbed that weren’t yet posted on our Web site. previous projects post at the Center will. News Web designer Mindy Leichter There were a few harrumphs about for Public Integrity. also created a lush character page, a “eye-glazing annotations” and “going News Managing Editor George family “scrapbook” photo album, and all David Foster Wallace-ey,” but most

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 75 Goodbye Gutenberg

of those came from journalists. about wider use of footnotes, online Lee Hancock is an enterprise reporter Many of our newsroom colleagues multimedia elements, and other Web for The Dallas Morning News. Mark recognized that something special hap- technology. Miller was assistant managing editor pened between our readers and us with Perhaps the most gratifying reaction for Sunday and enterprise reporting “Mary Ellen’s Will.” The overwhelming came from one of the paper’s assistant at The Dallas Morning News from reader response has strengthened metro editors who’d been skeptical May 2004 until October 2006, when their interest in narrative storytelling. about the idea of footnotes in a daily he was named assistant managing That online readers kept coming back paper. After reading our day one install- editor of Newsweek. He now works to explore source documents, video ment, he called Lee on his day off to in New York. clips, and other online elements has declare, “Footnote 32 alone was worth also prompted continuing discussions the $1.50 for the Sunday paper!” I

Finding New People to Tell the Stories ‘… progress in democratizing journalism doesn’t necessarily translate into more or better news coverage—at least not yet.’

By Craig Cox

ate in July, when a former member her work was worth publishing, and captivate and confound editors trying of the Minneapolis City Council keen to reveal her own political biases to build and maintain the credibility of Lwent on trial in a high-profile (she had worked on the campaign of their publications while encouraging bribery case, I received an e-mail from the defendant’s opponent in last year’s ordinary citizens to tell their story. Cap- a local community activist alerting election). But she eventually agreed to tive to the vagaries of personal sched- me to a woman who was determined a deal: She would crank out her daily ules, political biases, and reportorial to sit through the entire proceedings report on the trial, and I would grab it limitations, these amateur reporters and describe the finer points of a trial and post it on the Daily Planet. can require delicate handling even as that was headline news in the Twin The following day, we offered the they bring greater passion than many Cities media. most detailed description of the trial veterans. I went to the blog site where she was available in the Twin Cities, trumping filing her report and spent the next half the sound bites of TV news and the 20- Journalism Isn’t Easy hour or so riveted by the excruciating inch summary on the Minneapolis Star detail she was providing. For better Tribune’s front page. It was, I believed, There is much to applaud about the or worse, her words were the closest the Daily Planet’s first real testimony rise in citizen journalism. From CBS thing to a court transcript the public to the power of citizen journalism. But News to our local newspapers, a lot would ever see. And as the editor of when I went to McLemore’s blog to of people are exploring new ways to the Twin Cities Daily Planet,1 a new on- gather up her words about the third bring news consumers into more ac- line publication covering local news, I day of the trial, I found Day Two still tive roles in shaping the media. The coveted any sort of reportage on a case sitting there like a day-old salad—inter- “blogosphere” is now a major influence that had been awash in controversy for esting to look at, but with little appeal. on our political culture, and pretty the past six months. My zealous reporter, so determined to much anyone who has a computer I dashed off an e-mail to the blogger, chronicle history, was already burned and Internet access can publish his or a south Minneapolis political activist out. The stress of all that reporting and her views. named Liz McLemore, and asked her writing was a bit more than she had But this progress in democratizing if she would allow me to publish her expected. And our big scoop quickly journalism doesn’t necessarily trans- courtroom chronicles for our Daily became yesterday’s news. late into more or better news cover- Planet readers. She was predictably The McLemore “scoop” is an object age—at least not yet. Here at the Daily flustered, curious as to why I thought lesson in the way citizen journalists can Planet, a publication of the nonprofit

1 www.tcdailyplanet.net

76 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Exploring New Connections

Twin Cities Media Alliance (TCMA), As a result, we’re finding that the bulk the TCMA board, teaches a rigorous launched last fall as a way to encourage of our citizen-journalist submissions six-week beginning journalism class citizen journalism and highlight the lean toward the opinion piece, the basic a couple of times a year as a way of work of the neighborhood and ethnic profile feature, and the meeting (city encouraging ordinary citizens to tell press, we’ve struggled to recruit and council, school board, zoning board) their stories through the Daily Planet sustain a stable of citizen-reporters and story. None of these assignments and other media outlets. And on this develop a workable editorial planning hinge on gaining access to multiple evening his students were attentive, process. sources or require several interviews curious and motivated. In my nearly 30-year Having a place where career in journalism, they know their work I’ve logged plenty NEWSPAPER GALLERY can be featured, and of hours assigning an editor who will con- and editing stories sider their submissions by amateur report- with an eye toward their ers. They typically fresh voice rather than bring lots of passion their journalistic cre- to their work and are dentials, is important genuinely apprecia- to these students. And tive of constructive we hope that McGill’s editing. They even pay efforts will help us re- attention to deadlines, cruit and retain a grow- most of the time (and I ing number of citizen know some pros who journalists. don’t). But no matter But we also need to how dedicated they go out into neighbor- might be to following a hoods and explain the story—and even learn- power that can come ing the trade—very from storytelling to few are able to sustain people for whom the their participation for media remains a mono- very long. lithic, authoritarian ma- That’s not because chine that holds little they lack the necessary The editorial staff of the New York Tribune is seen in a group portrait. interest or importance discipline or commit- Seated, left to right: George M. Snow, financial editor; Bayard Taylor; in their daily lives. In ment to following Horace Greeley; George Ripley, literary editor. Standing, left to right: the end, a large part through with assign- William Henry Fry, music editor; Charles A. Dana; Henry J. Raymond. of our challenge is to ments (though some Circa 1844-1860. Produced by Mathew Brady’s studio. Library of Con- teach media literacy to do). It has more to do gress/Courtesy Newseum. those who live in com- with the realities of munities that are too their lives. Reporting, often either overlooked when done well, can in regular news cover- be an all-encompassing exercise—in to complete. age or featured only when crime and identifying and contacting the best While we’re delighted to receive violence intrude. Ultimately, we’d want sources (and getting calls returned), these submissions, the level of jour- such people not to be the bystanders in understanding the broader context nalistic participation by our readers who are occasionally quoted but the of the issue being explored, in gather- (and local citizens) still falls far short tellers of their own stories. ing information through interviews of our goals. This is not an insurmountable and other research, and in writing a challenge—just one that must be un- clear and compelling story that fairly Training Citizens as dertaken on several fronts, including represents diverse perspectives. Journalists journalism training, media literacy These are not easy tasks for even education, and an editorial process the most experienced reporters, so I recently sat in on one of Doug that invites and sustains participa- it’s not surprising that many citizen McGill’s citizen-journalism classes tion. One of the roles editors need to journalists find the process vexing and when he was teaching nearly a dozen play in assigning stories to neophyte frustrating—given that they typically aspiring reporters the basic structure reporters is to gauge their personal have full-time jobs that take up much of a news story. McGill, a former New interests, since those are often what of their day and most of their energy. York Times reporter and a member of keep them focused throughout the

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 77 Goodbye Gutenberg

project. At those times when I receive a couple of solid stories during the her words an edit and posted the piece a submission from a citizen journalist past few months. One of her articles on the Daily Planet’s front page before that is clearly biased in favor of the required a fair amount of city hall it occurred to me that we had actually author’s point of view, I will post the reporting. I helped her locate the beat the local paper to the story. story as an opinion piece and include sources and gave her some context The Star Tribune would catch up to biographical information that clearly and history behind the issue. In this it a few days later, but for that small identifies the author’s connection to case, her story explored the effect a moment, I caught a glimpse of the fu- the issue. major street reconstruction project ture of journalism. And I have to say I One of McGill’s students, a young was having on a struggling, predomi- liked what I saw. I woman named Crystal Myslajek, who nantly black business district in north is passionate about issues revolving Minneapolis. A couple of weeks later, Craig Cox is the managing editor of around social change, has written her story arrived in my in-box. I gave the Twin Cities (Minn.) Daily Planet.

When the Web Feeds the Newspaper The letter ‘i’ in iHerald stands for ‘interactivity, the individual and the Internet.’

By Eric Blom

ur newspaper’s digital journey ments made online found their way for stories or columns in the newspa- started off as a rather old-style into print. But such examples were per. Then, in turn, those stories are Oconversation. In the spring of rare and scattered and, when they did published online and comments on 2005, we were thinking about ways to occur, they did not seem integrated them are encouraged, and this creates attract new readers and came up with into the print newspaper in any mean- an interactive loop. the idea of launching a Monday busi- ingful way. ness section in the Portland (Maine) With this concept in mind, we set out How iHerald Works Press Herald. But as we thought more to create a weekly section that would and more about doing this, it didn’t seek to bridge the divide between In one way or another, readers sug- seem the right approach. what’s in the newspaper and what’s gest most iHerald stories. The Monday Instead, two of our paper’s senior on the Web. “iHerald” launched on section from last March offers a good editors, Jeannine Guttman and Eric September 19, 2005.1 The “i” stood in example. Our featured story arrived Conrad, suggested we move in a com- for a few important “i” words—interac- as a suggestion from a reader who pletely new direction. That’s when I tivity, the individual, and the Internet. knew college students participating was asked to develop a Monday “in- We hoped to create a conversation and, in an alternative spring break in which teractive section” of our newspaper. In as part of that conversation and to the they used vacation to help distressed researching how this might be done, extent possible, we wanted to let read- people, such as those in the Gulf I came across a wide range of innova- ers collaborate in the production of Coast disaster area. We produced a tive newspaper/online initiatives. In each week’s iHerald section, which in staff-written story and married it to a absorbing them, a thought came to me: the Monday paper would be a hybrid first-person essay by someone who’d Nearly all of the convergence strategies of citizen journalism and professionally gone south and could describe the I was reading about involved print produced content. plight of pets that hurricane evacuees journalists producing content for the We also tried to create a loop be- left behind. A graphic artist on our staff Web and using the newspaper itself tween our online site, MaineToday. incorporated pictures taken by those to promote the really cool things that com, and the iHerald. For example, who’d participated in these projects readers could do online. online visitors post comments about into an illustration. We also included I started to wonder about whether newspaper stories at MaineToday and a column by one of our readers who we couldn’t reverse this process by some of them are published in the wrote about another young Maine having the Web bring something to the newspaper after names and towns of relief worker who had died in a Gulf newspaper. I’d run into a few examples residence are confirmed. And their Coast bus crash. of reverse publishing, in which com- comments can be used as a springboard In a different iHerald, the state’s

1 www.mainetoday.com/iherald/

78 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Exploring New Connections middle-school laptop program became used by other newspapers. And other think about what appears on the pages the focus. A staff writer contributed a sections of our own newspaper are of their newspaper. traditional newspaper story describing starting to borrow some of what we This has been a valuable experiment how the program was doing and quoted do. Our opinion pages, for example, in helping our newspaper evolve to experts about its future prospects. With recently began reverse publishing some meet the new digital demands, and the it, we published companion essays by comments posted online along with recognition it has received is gratifying. middle-school students writing about traditional Letters to the Editor. This iHerald was named the 2006 winner their experiences with the laptops; can certainly be used by a sports section of the New England Newspaper As- these were quite candid reflections to get some citizen-generated content sociation Reader First award, which about what worked for them educa- onto its pages. A feature story could be “honors a newspaper for improved tionally and also about products and/or rela- how the computers were tionships with customers sometimes being mis- NEWSPAPER GALLERY and readership growth used. The combination and is designed to in- of stories generated on- crease readership and in- line discussion, and this novation in the industry.” was then reverse pub- It also was named this lished into the newspa- year as a notable entry per to provide another in the Knight-Batten forum for this debate. Awards for Innovations Schools hung the sec- in Journalism that recog- tion on bulletin boards nize organizations that and discussed the topic “spotlight the creative in class. use of new information iHerald is unusual in ideas and technologies the extent to which we’re to involve citizens in able to create content public issues.” across our print and Web- Fr o m o u r f o c u s based platforms. In print, groups, it’s clear that we regularly publish a younger readers are column by an online more comfortable with producer who ruminates a fluid content mix than on a particular topic and The press room of The (Washington, D.C.) Evening Star. Photo older people. The young- also shares people’s re- National Archives/Courtesy Newseum. er readers appreciate marks about that topic having the chance to from their online posts contribute directly to the at MaineToday. We’ve experimented accompanied by first-person accounts section. Our initial strategy was to try with having a newspaper staff writer and reader-generated opinions. News doing this as a way to bring younger produce first-person online-only essays coverage can be enhanced by meshing readers to our newspaper’s pages more that relate to the week’s featured topic. a traditional article with what read- often. One indication that we are hav- When we published a package of stories ers have to say about issues of public ing some success is that schools in the about people no longer wanting their concern and controversy. Newspapers in Education program are tattoos, our staff writer, Giselle Good- Producing the Monday iHerald asking for more copies of the Monday man, shared with readers her regret section is labor intensive. We need newspaper because students want the about getting a certain tattoo. to confirm the identity of individuals iHerald. In another effort to connect our posting anonymous messages online While newspapers are right to be print and online platforms, we regu- to use their content in the newspaper. exploring all sorts of strategies through larly list in iHerald what stories were And the involvement of citizen report- experimentation on the Web, I also most popular at MaineToday during the ers, along with our staff, requires more hope that newspaper sections such as previous week in terms of page views. planning and oversight than would be iHerald demonstrate the potential for A library researcher at the Press Herald required for a traditional section of the innovation to flow both ways. I also puts on our site a feature about paper. It also continues to be a chal- what interesting Web sites people can lenge just to describe the mission of Eric Blom is acting features editor visit. And we write a mini-profile of the Monday section since it is focused of the Portland Press Herald/Maine someone in the community who offers on the technique of interactivity rather Sunday Telegram. He also has their favorite online sites. than a topic such as business or sports. worked as business editor, city edi- Techniques we use in iHerald can be This is a new way for journalists to tor, and staff writer at the paper.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 79 Goodbye Gutenberg Inviting Readers Into the Editorial Process In online polling about story selection, editors at the Wisconsin State Journal learn that ‘the readers who vote consistently do choose weighty stories.’

By Ellen Foley

his September our newly ap- NEWSPAPER GALLERY pointed multimedia editor and Tour managing editor invited 90 newsroom colleagues at the Wisconsin State Journal in Madison, Wisconsin, to a brown-bag lunch to talk about “our rapidly expanding online initiatives.” We expected about a dozen people, so we booked a conference room with 20 chairs. About 50 staffers balancing laptops, cell phones, notebooks and sandwiches jammed into the room, many sitting on the floor or craning their necks from the packed hallway. With hindsight, I realized I made a huge error that day. It had nothing to do with booking a larger room. I should have had the sense to pull out my Smartphone and take a video of the scene to send to the stock analysts who make me crazy with their conclusions that the newspaper industry is not a good bet for investors because it does “Telegraphic dispatches to the news exceed 75,000 words a day.” Caption and image from not have the necessary enthusiasm for “The Detroit News 1873-1917,” William A. Ulman, ©1918 by The Evening News Association, the multimedia world. Detroit, Michigan. In the absence of streaming video, I offer this dispatch from flyover land to answer those critics and scholars that scares me. they would not cooperate with the who are not sure that the newspaper Great journalism has always in- Web operation, mostly out of fear that industry can fulfill the mandate to trans- volved risks. And newsrooms acting circulation would drop and journalism, form itself in the face of the “disruptive with wisdom in this digital era appear as they practiced it in print, would change” of the Internet. to be places in which top editors are disappear. So it is not a surprise that I am intrigued by media consultant comfortable taking big risks often with newspaper editors sometimes get hos- and critic Jeff Jarvis’s “Number One little financial support. There isn’t time tile vibes from their peers on the Web Lesson of the Internet.” He argues to wait for the industry, as a whole, to site. Healing such rifts is essential. Nor that a media company has “to give come up with a patch to put on our tat- does it surprise me that given papers’ up control of the Internet in order to tered business model. Instead, editors bleak advertising picture, large news gain control.” For me, the process of with courage are taking what we know organizations funnel new technology gaining control becomes a little more about journalism and putting it to work to places now generating advertising proactive and involves the serenity in the digital arena while we fervently dollars and not into newsrooms. principle. As editor of the State Journal, hope that the business side can figure None of this means that we who I work very hard to accept the things out the economics to support what inhabit these newsrooms should sit I cannot change, find the courage to journalists are supposed to do. on our hands. Our digital competition change the things that I can, and seek I have worked for seven newspa- is increasingly entrepreneurial and the wisdom to know the difference. pers. At some, editors in charge of nimble and often embarrasses us with It’s the part about finding the wisdom the newsroom made it very clear that its low-cost technological wizardry. In

80 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Exploring New Connections some cases, we should first apologize The Quickening Pace of Change for not “getting it” earlier, even if we were not directly in charge. And then we need to push our slow moving bu- In March 2005, David Stoeffler, The Capital Times, also took pre- reaucracies to give us the tools. If that then vice president of news for Lee cedence. doesn’t happen, we need to figure out Enterprises, issued a challenge to What the Reader’s Choice expe- ways to “create” the generally low-cost the company’s newspaper editors: rience taught me, however, is that tools and skills we need. Give me ideas that will revolutionize there is no substitute for stamina. your paper. We could have given up, but we Reader’s Choice Wisconsin State Journal editors believed in the idea so passionately sent Stoeffler a proposal that called that we refused to let it go. We tried to do this at the State Journal for a daily online ballot through Moving into 2006, the pace of with a very simple yet elegant tool which Web users could select a front- change and responsiveness accel- called Reader’s Choice poll.1 This idea page story for the next day’s print erated. We wanted to buy digital was hatched by Managing Editor Tim edition. Managing Editor Tim Kelley video cameras for reporters and that Kelley and me in an effort to signal to and I felt that empowering readers request was honored. But a paired readers our seriousness about interac- to make such choices would demon- request for a computer that we tivity. The cost involved programming strate our investment in interactivity. needed to edit the images our staff time to create the ballot that appears on This feature, we also felt, could serve would shoot was denied. We pointed our Web site on weekdays—on which as a starting point from which the out to company managers that with- readers vote for which of four or five newsroom’s top editors could push out this machinery newsroom staff story choices they’d most like to see other online initiatives. could not use the cameras; this time on the next day’s front page—and an As simple as this idea seemed to we got a distinctly different answer editor’s time to manage the voting. Ten be, it still took nearly a year for us than wait-and-see. months after we came up with the idea, to reach readers with it. Why the “We’ll get back to you tomorrow the first ballot appeared on our Web delay? The short answer is that this afternoon,” one of Lee’s Internet site. [See accompanying box.] idea was a low priority of the infor- executives told me. The next day he On most days we receive between mation technology crew at Capital called with the resources we needed 100 and 200 votes in a news market Newspapers, which publishes the to buy the editing computers. arena of about 450,000 people. We’d State Journal. More pressing was We’ve also learned that it’s hard like for the number of votes to increase, the creation of other Web features to to argue with success. Good ideas but financial resources to spur more serve users and advertisers. A time- and great execution yield credibility. activity aren’t available. Now, almost consuming redesign of madison. Having success with one small step a year into this effort, we are ponder- com, the Web portal for the State garners attention and resources that ing how the newsroom can take this Journal and its partner newspaper, allow us to take the next. I —E.F. important experiment to a new level. Can we pool e-mail contacts into a group list and send daily reminders Boston, for example, than we do in can-use and entertaining breaks to to potential voters? Which person in Madison. ease the strain of their day. the newsroom could do this using What’s been interesting for us to For now our sputtering experiment Outlook? Can we afford to hire a pro- learn through Reader’s Choice is that continues. As the tool for tallying votes grammer who can improve the online the readers who vote consistently do improves, we will be able to gather balloting process? Should we sacrifice choose weighty stories. On one day more information about what our some of our reporting staff’s time to recently readers voted onto Page One readers want—and expect—from the try to increase participation? a lengthy package of stories on the newspaper. And such strategies will A number of news organizations, gubernatorial election. Competing for equip our younger editors, those in many of them national, have written this front page spot was a story about their 30’s and 40’s, with information and aired stories about our Reader’s physicists’ discovery of what has the that we hope can keep our journalism Choice poll, characterizing it as an potential to produce a Star Trek-like robust in the digital age. enterprising way to connect with cloaking device. Such decision-making readers. But at our paper, we aren’t has surprised—and encouraged—our Advancing on the Web getting much traction for it outside of editors, who’ve been told by studies the newsroom. We find more aware- and in training sessions that time- Two years ago the State Journal2 was ness of our project at conferences in starved readers want only news-you- somewhat sleepily posting three to

1 www.madison.com/wsj/blogs/inciteful/index.php?ntid=69839&ntpid=8 2 At www.madison.com/wsj, the Wisconsin State Journal shares a portal with other media outlets.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 81 Goodbye Gutenberg

five of our newspaper’s stories a day our newsroom excelled in its coverage kind of journalism we will practice. on our Web site. Today nearly every of the day’s tragic events. Our series on My colleagues and I will need to tap print story gets posted to the Web tainted city water and another examin- our collective wisdom on how to rock site, and staff at the paper blog. On ing the issues involved with stem cell the boat because our jobs, retirement the Web site, we present forums on research—each of which had unique funds, and ability to pay for our family’s specific topics, along with audio slide online features—are among the best health care are also on the line. shows, breaking news alerts, and examples of enterprise reporting that From our perch in Madison, Wiscon- other Web-only content. Video is next I’ve seen in 30 years. sin, we look to the broader community for us. Our TV station partner, which What we, as editors, struggle most of journalists for good ideas that might installed a camera outside my office, with is figuring out what we must give instruct and guide us on our way into will air interviews with our reporters up as we try to move in the many new digital journalism. For now, we’re tak- on major stories. After this happens, directions brought to us by the Web. A ing some risks, trying some new things, we will tackle streaming video with our few years ago editors were not obsessed and delighting in the knowledge that new digital cameras. with e-mail pushes, online ballots, journalists who work here will pack While we take pride in steps we reader/user interactivity while, at the conference rooms on their own time are taking to enter the digital era, we same time, working to come up with to figure out how to take what we do remember that our newsroom’s ability fresh angles for print stories about best and find different ways to bring it to report the news remains foremost. school shootings. Our jobs, at least to old and new audiences. I The recent school shooting in nearby how we practice them today, and our Cazenovia, Wisconsin, in which a high comfort level with all the new direc- Ellen Foley joined the Wisconsin school freshman was charged with kill- tions in which we are being asked to State Journal and madison.com/wsj ing his principal, reminded us of this as turn simultaneously has to do with the as editor in April 2004.

The Digital Reach of a Newspaper’s Code of Ethics ‘It offers readers ideas and phrases to use in their criticism of our journalism, which has a way of sorting serious critics from simple haters.’

By Dean Miller

n the Post Register’s Web site reader who keeps a printed copy is practice, such as prohibitions on the we spell out our newspaper’s either planning to sue the paper or use of unnamed sources. They can find Ocode of ethics, thereby em- needs insomnia medication. post-enforcement reports2 about when powering those who want to examine But a paper’s ethics code—and ethics standards were not upheld; our work. Of the many advantages of examples of how it works—should these reports let readers (and staffers) digital-enhanced journalism, this one be readily accessible to readers and understand that the code’s principles arguably does the most to uphold staff.1 When journalists get something will be enforced. Newspapers print and strengthen the important ethical wrong, even a casual reader needs to names of folks who are convicted, and traditions handed down through news- know the ethics standards in detail. even accused, of crimes, so journalists rooms for hundreds of years. And when that reader contacts the should not be exempt from public dis- Few people actually use a printed newsroom, the reporters and editors closure when they violate the paper’s ethics code. Most newsroom ethics need to be familiar with their ethics standards. booklets aren’t even up-to-date, and policy, as well. Along with the code, there are dis- current ones often can’t be found on With the code online, readers can closures of unavoidable conflicts of newsroom desks. Take it a step further click through from lofty principles like interest,3 such as the politically active into the homes of readers, and any “Seek Truth” to specific standards of spouse of the editor or a real estate

1 www.postregister.com/ethics/polestars.php 2 www.postregister.com/ethics/enforcement.php 3 www.postregister.com/ethics/disclosures.php

82 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Expanding Our Reach investment by the person who covers story about a football game brawl, hav- refusal to identify a recovering family the neighborhood. And there is an an- ing the ethics code in front of both of of methamphetamine addicts we’d notated version of a controversial story us is a good place to start with callers. profiled in harrowing detail. that helps readers to understand why It’s a way to talk about the competing When a newspaper does breach its certain facts are left out of a story or forces of seeking truth and minimizing code, a thoughtful correction, promi- how narrative journalism, while read- harm and provides a way to describe nently published, will do as much good ing like fiction, still gets at the truth, or how one newspaper’s code differs for the paper’s reputation as the item how certain assertions find their way from others due to peculiarities of its did it harm—if not more. For six months into an article even without a specific community. we’ve had this kind of ultratransparent source attached to them.4 Ten minutes of give-and-take and newspaper ethics and discovered no Even though the paper’s lawyer will only the most unreasonable critics will downside. It offers readers ideas and quail and the union will gripe, argu- fail to notice the newspaper’s serious- phrases to use in their criticism of our ments against doing this aren’t strong. ness of purpose or realize it’s not as journalism, which has a way of sorting Imagine being an editor who refuses to simple as they thought. And each con- serious critics from simple haters. Most give readers a copy of the ethics code. versation spreads the idea that a code of importantly, it encourages meaningful Any lawyer will have a copy in the first ethics is not some philosophical jujitsu dialogue that reconnects journalists to round of discovery; ditto with the ex- manual by which any bad decision can communities and to the high standards amples of enforcement. And posting be rationalized. Rather, readers learn reflecting the civic obligations of the this material online sends a powerful your ethics, like theirs, are the starting American press. I message to readers. But don’t expect point for searching conversations, the much to happen when it first goes up. weighing of alternatives, and the hon- Dean Miller is executive editor of the The citizenry will not storm the gates, est treatment of what is known and Post Register in Idaho Falls, Idaho. In even if attention is called to it by re- not known. creating the Web pages, which were printing the ethics code in the paper Our Web site’s ethics section was done as part of his public service with links scattered all over the page. built after a year and a half of spirited, project as a 2006-2007 Poynter Ethics But when the newspaper prints—as sometimes acrimonious, debate—in- Fellow, Miller relied on the newspa- ours did—the name of a minor who volving staff and readers—about deci- per’s Web designer, Aaron Avery. stole his father’s police car or includes sions we made to publish the contents the words “Stupid sonuvabitch!” in a of (illegally) sealed court files and our

4 www.postregister.com/ethics/walkthrough.php

NEWSPAPER GALLERY

Old Press Room, Pulitzer Building. 1908. Library of Congress/Courtesy Newseum.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 83 Goodbye Gutenberg

Goodbye Gutenberg | Taking Words Plagiarism Goes by a Different Name on the Web A journalism class experiences firsthand ‘the slippery new terms being used in our slippery times.’

By Judy Muller

f the Internet is the Wild West of Politics & Public Policy at Harvard. Scout program that trained them to be our times, with boom towns sprout- Each school immersed the students junior Border Patrol agents. She and Iing up too fast for the law to keep in a single subject for a semester-long two other students, Millicent Jefferson up, then perhaps “repurposing” is the seminar and then turned them loose to and Karl-Erik Stromsta, traveled to rustling of our times, where original report on that subject during a 10-week Naco to interview the students, their material is stolen from its home pas- paid summer fellowship. The goal: to parents, and the Border Patrol. The ture and brazenly rebranded under the report original, important stories that parents were understandably wary and name of another Internet site. would be published or broadcast on would not let their teenagers appear Of course, repurposing—when professional news media outlets, in- on camera. But our intrepid report- practiced correctly—is not theft. It has cluding television, radio, newspapers ers still managed to cobble together a a legitimate aim: to take news stories and the Internet. story for their class project. Later, they done by traditional news organizations In other words, young reporters sent a copy of the story to the families and modify them to fit other formats, were given several months to learn a they’d interviewed in Naco, which such as the Internet. Yahoo! News does subject in depth, to develop sources established with them a new level of this all the time—and well. Yahoo! and story ideas, and then were pro- respect and trust. News always credits the original report- vided with the time and money to tell As the program moved into the ers and often links back to the original those stories to a large audience. Work- summer workshop phase, the students source material. “Yahoo for Yahoo!,” ing reporters should be so lucky. agreed that the Naco story was worth I say. The problem with repurposing pursuing. But we expanded it to look is that it is open to interpretation by Reporting the Story at the lives of teenagers who live in various outlaws roaming the World the “mirror” communities of Naco, Wild West, who think it’s just fine to At each school, students explored dif- Arizona and Naco, Mexico and the grab original material and post it as ferent topics, but each one fell under ways in which that same border fence their own. the umbrella heading of “National affects their lives. This time, students Where I come from, this is known as Security in a Post 9-11 World.” At USC David Eisenberg and Melanie Roe plagiarism. My journalism students at we chose to focus on immigration, joined the other three reporters for the University of Southern California which has become one of the bigger the trip to the border, since the new (USC) think so, too, especially after stories of the year.1 While happy to be team of five would be creating stories they got burned. concentrating on such a timely topic, for television, print and the Internet. This past summer, I worked with we realized that the competition in This time, because of the groundwork 11 talented graduate students—10 finding original stories to report would laid during the first trip, the teenage from USC and one from Harvard—on be fierce. I cautioned the fellows to Border Patrol scouts were willing to a reporting project called News21, keep their work confidential. talk on camera. funded by the Carnegie Corporation One story, in particular, seemed to The result: a print story by Karl-Erik of New York and the John S. and James have a potential for being scooped. Stromsta that appeared in the L.A. L. Knight Foundation. The program During the seminar portion of our Weekly newspaper in August and a involved journalism schools at USC, program, graduate student Shawna broadcast story by the whole team of the University of California at Berkeley, Thomas found a story in Naco, Arizona five destined for ABC’s “Good Morning Northwestern and Columbia, as well as about a group of teenagers living near America.” A longer broadcast version the Shorenstein Center on the Press, the border who had joined an Explorer appears on the News21 Web site,2 with

1 http://newsinitiative.org/project/immigration 2 www.newsinitiative.org

84 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Taking Words links to the L.A. Weekly story. up with his own research. I know this An editor from Buzzle.com, Michael The students were understandably because I was part of the team that did Wist, wrote back, apologizing to “the proud of the work they’d done on this the reporting on the original article team that worked on the original piece. story. Not only had they managed to …. I’m not completely sure if this is a Although we stand by our author and develop an excellent news report dur- normal practice on this site, but I would assert that no plagiarism took place, ing a period of many weeks on a very say it’s damn close to plagiarism.” the fact that there was even a question competitive beat, but also they had What especially riled the students indicates that we failed in properly learned the rush of digging up original was the photograph that accompanied demonstrating our sources.” The site material and sharing it with the world. the article on Buzzle.com. It showed was “updated” to include references As Shawna Thomas wrote in her re- young trainees aiming guns at targets. to the original article and the author porting blog: “This reporting and misleading photo were fellowship puts us in an envi- removed. The editor seemed able situation where we don’t NEWSPAPER GALLERY to take our concerns seri- necessarily have to make the ously, saying “given our role story we found fit into some as a secondary content source, preconceived notion of what we simply could not function the story was going to be. Our if we made a practice of pla- story actually gets to grow giarism.” from the extensive reporting Now there’s an interest- and interviewing that was ing description—a secondary done on the border. This is content source, to go along in contrast to the current with the new terminology of atmosphere of the profes- “repurposing.” These are the sional news business, which slippery new terms being used sometimes breeds writing the in our slippery times. How story before reporting on it. was this not plagiarism, we Lucky us; we get to write the wondered? And if someone we story after the reporting.” knew hadn’t happened onto this site, how would we ever The Story Gets have known about it? How ‘Repurposed’ would we know that we’d been repurposed into oblivion? The There is a point to this rather answer is we would not have lengthy exposition: It helps known unless we’d somehow explain the outrage felt by stumbled across it. What this the News21 reporters when made us wonder is how often they heard that their story had this happens. Perhaps some- suddenly shown up under one reading this article now is the headline “Border Patrol thinking, “Hey, change a word Trains Teens for Action” on an Newsgirls sell newspapers in Wilmington, Delaware. 1910. here or there—and we can put Internet site named Buzzle. Photo Lewis W. Hine. Library of Congress/Courtesy Newseum. this on our blog.” com. But credit was not given What’s scary is that they to them; instead, the story would probably get away with was credited to the “reporting staff” Our team took many photos, including it. Back in the Wild West, if the marshal of the site. the Explorer Scouts practicing their was out of town, the community just The students were tipped to this, handcuffing technique, but none of gathered up some neighbors and went oddly enough, by the Border Patrol those photos showed anyone han- after those rustlers themselves. Maybe agent interviewed for their story and dling a gun. Wrote Shawna: “It is not what we need is an E-Posse. I who had already seen the piece in the one of the pictures we took, and it is L.A. Weekly. “Isn’t this your story?” he misleading and shoddy journalism to Judy Muller is an associate professor asked. use photographs that are not directly at the Annenberg School of Journal- Well, yes, it was. related to the article.” ism at the University of Southern Shawna Thomas sent an angry e-mail The author of the L.A. Weekly story, California. She worked as a cor- to the editors of the Web site, saying Karl-Erik Stromsta, also wrote a protest respondent for ABC News and CBS “The author of the article liberally takes to the site and, in a separate e-mail to News and is the author of “Now This: quotes from an L.A. Weekly article from me, said “If this is the new journalism, Radio, Television … and the Real an August issue and does not back it I want nothing to do with it.” World,” Putnam, 2000.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 85 Goodbye Gutenberg Teaching Journalism Students to Value What Is Authentic ‘I thought by sheer will I could be the one teacher who led his students away from plagiarism.’

By Brent Walth

You have to watch students nowa- ity mattered. I thought by sheer will I convinced that you’re the one who days,” an experienced professor could be the one teacher who led his has failed. “told me before the first day of the students away from plagiarism. first class I ever taught. “They will get So nothing prepared me for the Confronting Plagiarism away with whatever they can.” crushing feeling when it happened— I had asked for this advice, and and it happened twice in my course. My class didn’t have any Harvard these drops of poison fell into my cup. Inside, you know they’re the ones undergrads. Instead my 15 students Harvard’s summer school program who’ve done the cheating but, as their ranged from juniors in high school to had hired me to teach a beginning teacher, you tumble into a dark spiral, students from other colleges to adults journalism course, and I looking for a new career. sought all the guidance I And they were, overall, could get about how to run NEWSPAPER GALLERY terrific—smart, energetic, a class, what textbooks to eager to please. I piled on order, how to grade papers the exercises and tossed and, generally, how to not them out the door and into be a bore. the world to find stories. I got plenty of advice. But before I did, we talked Eventually, most teachers about ethics—a lot. They mentioned that plagiarism read a Stephen Glass article was a bigger problem than and vigorously debated the ever. Many veteran teach- author’s style and report- ers blamed the Internet; ing techniques—until they others, the general decline realized it was all hokum in education and moral (and plagiarized) and ex- standards. Almost everyone perienced firsthand what it told me to expect it. feels like when a reporter So I girded for the worst. betrays the reader. My syllabus carried Har- I also went over the vard’s stern policy about policy against plagiarism plagiarism and a terse note several times, and we talked of my own: “Plagiarism and about where the word came fabrication are not tolerated from: the plagiarii, Latin for in journalism. That goes for kidnappers. “In this class,” this class, too. Your work I told them on the first day here must be original.” All we were together, “don’t of this I considered pru- steal any babies.” dent, but I didn’t like that “You put your name on the underlying message your work, and that byline sent by so many was this: isn’t for credit or fame,” I You can’t trust your stu- added. “It’s for account- dents. I refused to buy it. I Farmer Fred Wilfang sits on a rocking chair, reading Wallace’s ability. It tells the reader the believed I could show them Farmer while listening to the radio. November 1939. Black name of the person—you— that in all things—and jour- Hawk County, Iowa. Library of Congress/Courtesy Newseum. who is pledging that what nalism especially—original- follows is accurate, original

86 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Taking Words and authentic.” draft using the Crimson article. He took sounded like a finely tuned speech, I got blank stares at the word au- full responsibility for his actions. The not how people really talk. In other thentic. I tried to explain what I meant, college kicked him out of my class, the words, a phony. I felt the rush I often something about putting only what’s $2,200 in tuition his parents had paid had during my years as an investigative real on the page. My words were met for the course flushed away. reporter, the sense you had someone by more blank stares. I knew he had received the proper cornered and you were just about to The course went off without any consequences, but when the student prove it. problems until near the end, when I wrote me a letter of apology, heartfelt I went to online and within 30 tripped over the first case of plagiarism. and full of remorse, I wanted him back, minutes I had discovered that of the I had asked students for the first draft even if Harvard didn’t. With some hard six quotes in her story one came from of a 1,000-word personality profile that work, I thought, he could learn from Wikipedia and two others from her they would later have to revise. Most this experience. Besides, despite the subject’s book. Then I drilled down looked promising. But one student’s condolences from other teachers and on every one of her phrases and soon story was just plain awful. I considered college officials, I still couldn’t shake found eight sentences that she had tried sending the student back immediately the feeling that I had failed him. to pass off as her own she had instead to try again but then I thought I could pirated from the book. help. Looking for Reasons Why The case nailed, I suddenly balked. I recalled the student telling me I thought I could have helped the first that his subject had once been written Had I pushed too hard? I had told stu- student and never had the chance. about in The Harvard Crimson—a fact dents that—if they ever felt panicked— What about this one? One plagiarist was I assumed the student had told me to they should call me and we could work bad enough; a second would certainly prove his subject was newsworthy. So something out. Had I not made myself expose me as a failure. I went looking for the Crimson article, accessible enough? I increased the I went ahead and charged her. suspecting nothing, but instead intend- number of one-on-one conferences Rather than admonishments from the ing to do what I could to help this and spent even more time checking college, I got more condolence and student make his article better. in with students as their writing load even more praise for my diligence. That’s how I found it. Of the seven swelled toward the course’s conclu- But her case proved more complex paragraphs the student had turned in, sion. I didn’t tell my students this, but than the first. Rather than confess, three had been cut and pasted straight I backed off some of the exercises, in the student fought every step of the from the Crimson. My instincts as a part because they didn’t need them, in way. In her letter of defense, she told reporter suddenly kicked in. First I part because I didn’t want to raise the the board she was simply too good a called the student. No answer. Then I odds of another panicked student. writer to ever need to plagiarize. She tried to track down the subject of the None of that mattered the second even brought her mother to class to student’s profile. Couldn’t reach him. time it happened. plead her case to me. So I grabbed a notebook to dash out the One student had already shown her- The college put her on probation, a door and track them both down—and self as a corner-cutter. When I told the punishment that meant her final grade then I stopped and laid down on the class to go cover an event, she instead would forever carry a black mark telling floor of my apartment and covered my stayed in that night and interviewed the world she had been disciplined for face. I’d have to turn the student in, friends about what they had done. dishonesty. The first student I thought and I’d have to resign as well. In another exercise, she had pulled I could reach and help was gone; the “There isn’t a teacher who’s been some statistics off the Internet without one who showed no remorse would through this who hasn’t felt the same attribution—a minor infraction, but stay. way,” an assistant dean reassured me one that got a tough warning from me The program director, sympathetic when I told him that I felt responsible nonetheless. to my situation, sent me a journal article for this. “The guilt is a normal feeling. During one conference with me, she by writing instructor Richard J. Murphy, But just remember—you didn’t do this. told me she would write her profile Jr. called “The Cheating Disorder,” Your student did it.” assignment—due in three days—based which was an excerpt from his 1993 At Harvard, you formally charge a on the author of a new book. She held memoir, “The Calculus of Intimacy: A student suspected of plagiarism and a up the book and said, “His whole story Teaching Life.” council of administrators reviews the is right in here.” I told her that, under Murphy’s candid essay if nothing case and hands out the punishment. no circumstances could she rely on the else told me I was not alone. He spoke The instructor has no say—and that book alone and that she had to cite it of anger toward cheating students, the came as a relief. whenever she drew from it. time squandered in dealing with their The student quickly confessed in a So when I first read her assign- lies, and the growing paranoia that oth- remarkably candid account: He had ment, I saw a lyrical lead, background er students—most innocents—were put off the work to the last moment delicately embroidered with twinkling also conning him. Murphy’s essay and thought he could get by on a first detail, and long, graceful quotes that became painfully familiar when he

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 87 Goodbye Gutenberg

spoke about “the thrill of the chase” as well—I had asked the 13 remaining that authenticity meant not just put- as he suspected a plagiarist and obses- students to make presentations based ting something real on the page, but sively worked to run down the cheater. on the lessons they had learned in the the experience of discovery. The discovery of evidence, he wrote, field as they reported their stories. I stood to speak for the last time. No “promised a solution to the puzzle Most talked about overcoming one looking back at me knew about that had eluded me. They reinforced their fears—of asking for interviews the fate of the two colleagues. None of my sense of judgment and my sense of after facing rejection, watching their them knew that the betrayals had made self-satisfaction at the thought that, in cherished writing undergo critiques their work all the more valuable to some small way, I was preserving the in class. One student, when the course me—or made the authenticity of their integrity of the university.” began, had trembled as she told me experiences all the more powerful. The As the class wound up, I reflected of her fears of interviewing strangers; cheaters stole babies; these students on what these cheaters had in com- now, she eagerly told her classmates of rescued their children and, as it turns mon, and in hindsight I saw warning how much fun she had dashing around out, they rescued me as well. signs: They both had shown little Boston, talking to a dozen people I started to read some final remarks effort in the early assignments and she had never met before, to finish I had jotted down but—out of exhaus- seemed oblivious to my suggestions her final assignment. Some admitted tion, relief, whatever it was—my voice for improvement. They’d also given that they had panicked as deadlines cracked. I couldn’t finish. I paused and themselves away by mentioning their approached—but they didn’t cheat put my notes aside. outside sources. And they had left their and instead crashed through anyway “Look, here’s what I want to really stealing easy to detect: It was just as with work that was sometimes uneven say,” I told them. “You walked in here simple for me to backtrack their steps and erratic, sometimes beautiful and as students, you walk out as journalists. using the Internet as it was for them elegantly plain and clear. I’m so damn proud of all of you.” to dig out their lifted words. And then one student said, “I know I couldn’t say any more. I had trouble now what you meant by authentic.” I meeting their eyes, so I stared straight Understanding Authenticity looked back, perplexed, and then re- ahead, at the two empty chairs. I called how I had struggled to explain On the last day, the woman in the sec- what I had meant all those weeks back. Brent Walth, a 2006 Nieman Fellow, ond case didn’t show up for class. Just They had discovered, on their own, is a reporter with The Oregonian.

The ‘P’ Word in the Book Business ‘Newspapers constantly editorialize about other professionals hiding their misdeeds, but with this they were silent.’

By Margaret Engel

t is the strangest feeling to be by HarperCollins in 1984; ultimately there were those other times, when reading a book you didn’t write we wrote two more editions, in 1991 Allison was Midwest editor for Pacific Iand suddenly realize that you’re and 2000. We also created a television News Service and she saw her enter- reading words that you did write. show based on the book, now in its prise reporting very closely rewritten This happened to me while I was sixth season on the Food Network. by a major East Coast newspaper. Her reading a book about mail-order foods My twin and I were both newspaper editor complained, but no corrections that came out of a major publishing reporters, somewhat accustomed to or apologies ever were forthcoming. house. The words I recognized were the occasional happenstance of see- Parade magazine once printed a cover ones that came from a book I’d writ- ing news stories we wrote show up, story on small towns and dangerous ten with my identical twin, Allison rewritten, on the next-day pages of industries that featured, out of the en- Engel, about regional American food other publications. Sometimes, the tire Midwest, the exact towns, sources companies. Our book1 was published stories borrowed a quote or two, but and sequence of events that Allison had

1 The book’s title is “Food Finds: America’s Best Local Foods and the People Who Produce Them.”

88 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Taking Words highlighted in a story she’d reported a telephone. Blaming the plagiarism on and Embalmers. The book publishing several months earlier. I still bear a press materials that didn’t even exist at world’s culture of silence was sounding grudge against Ms. magazine, where I many of our places was laughable. Of exactly like the hush-hush settlements sent my newspaper profile of legend- course, we also were insulted by the that allowed bad doctors and others to ary Cleveland newscaster Dorothy accusation that we would lift sentences move from state to state, continuing Fuldheim, asking for an assignment from any press releases. to harm the people because the public to expand it for the magazine. No an- The stage shifted from the edito- was kept in the dark. For this to hap- swer, but several months later, a quite rial to the legal department. We still pen to the work of journalists—in a similar profile appeared in Ms.. Just didn’t want to clog the court system publishing arena in which so many of coincidence, I’m sure. with our complaint, but we realized us write—was something we wanted So we didn’t come to this moment we wouldn’t get an apology from this to bring to public attention; with such as innocents of journalists’ bad habit prevaricator dealing editor-to-editor. At exposure, perhaps we could make of rewriting stories and reusing ideas our expense, my sister and I traveled some difference. without credit. But nothing prepared to New York to explain the situation As we wrote to HarperCollins’s us for the willful blindness of major to our publisher’s in-house lawyer. lawyer at the time: “[The plagiarist’s] league plagiarism in the book indus- We received sympathy, but not much crime was all too public. It is impos- try. traction. It took four months of pester- sible for her apology to be private. The ing before the lawyer agreed to send a journalism world needs to know about Reacting to Stolen Words strong letter to the other publisher. this situation .… Neither Allison nor The reason, we learned, is that there I could live with a situation where, in Our first reaction was shock about are so many instances of author bor- the interest of some false feeling of the outright theft. We underlined all rowings that no publisher can afford professional comradeship, we allowed of the similar sentences, not to men- to get high-handed about such theft. plagiarism of our work to be quietly tion product selection, and totaled Too many publishers are linked by the buried.” up the damage. It was bad. Knowing transgressions of too many authors, so how hard we’d worked to choose the a lot of plagiarism goes unremarked or Silence Greets the News best mom and pop maple sugar pro- is quietly settled. We got the distinct ducer, for example, out of the dozens feeling that a lot of horse-trading goes The months dragged on. Finally, be- across the five states we researched, on among the small fraternity of attor- cause we were angry and wouldn’t we had a right to be mad that another neys representing publishing houses. quit, the lawyers from both houses writer used our work as a shortcut. We No lawyer who represents editors who reached a settlement. In exchange for knew how many late nights and early we came across seemed shocked by the us not suing, the offending book was mornings we’d invested in this book, plagiarism. It seemed to us that it was pulled from the shelves, we were sent stealing time away from our husbands a given that it happened frequently. At a check and, most important to us, a and kids. Both of us worked fulltime one meeting, the lawyer for Harper- press release would be issued contain- at newspapers so we’d completed the Collins listed six or seven publishing ing details of what had happened. book on nights, weekends and vaca- houses his office was dealing with then All of this took place before the Web tions, exhausting our modest advance over plagiarism cases—with transgres- (and e-mail) was in use, so the release on travel, phone calls, and buying of sions on both sides. was mailed to every news outlet that products from across the nation. By now we were so angry that the had reviewed or mentioned either So it was personal. But all we wanted offending author hadn’t come clean book. We were prevented, by the agree- from the authors—and company—who and had accused us of lifting others’ ment, from saying much beyond the stole from us was an apology and for the work that we insisted that any settle- press release, but we trusted that the offending book author to either credit ment we reached be made public. As stark words of the statement would us in print or have her book removed far as we could determine, we were speak for themselves. from sale. We contacted our publisher, among the few authors who’d insisted Our biggest surprise—and disap- full of righteous indignation. When on this. For most, a cash payment pointment—of the journey was about the offending author was reached, her ends the unpleasantness. But when to happen. Despite being sent to hun- story was that she must have received this happens, readers, other authors, dreds of news outlets and publishing the same press releases from the food editors and agents never learn about trade publications, our victory over pla- companies as we did, insinuating that this circumstance of plagiarism, and giarism didn’t merit a single mention we’d all lifted identical sentences from this means they never fully confront anywhere. No one cared. Newspapers canned PR materials. the problem. constantly editorialize about other Most of the food companies in our Both my sister and I had covered professionals hiding their misdeeds, book were tiny operations, including regulatory boards, from the Iowa but with this they were silent. We felt monasteries and farms. Many had hand- Board of Medical Examiners to the ashamed of our profession for caring written price lists. One didn’t even have California Board of Funeral Directors so little about other journalists who

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 89 Goodbye Gutenberg

were trying to maintain high standards been greeted with a similar silence. unspoken agreement we saw firsthand in our practice. The publishing house Given bloggers’ ubiquitous practice of appears to be alive and well, except in lawyer wondered why he’d spent so linking and “borrowing” content that rare cases, usually involving bestsell- much effort demanding transparency has appeared elsewhere, our concerns ing authors. But for midlisters, like us, for nothing. about someone taking our words and no one can be bothered to blow the In the era of the Web and blogs, I’d making them her own would likely be whistle on theft. like to think news such as ours would brushed aside. The public is the loser because trust have traveled far and fast and been The offending author went on writ- and accountability vanish. Plagiarism commented on by many. Perhaps some ing for other news outlets. We weren’t breaks the contract between reader industrious blogger would have done trying to put her out of business, but I and writer. Once burned, readers now a comparison of the two books and still wonder if any of her editors ever must view every word with suspicion, displayed how our words were mis- found out that she had used others’ rather than the natural skepticism used. From there, perhaps chat rooms work without attribution. As an as- that any reader would employ. Do we would have been filled with discussion signing editor, I would certainly want really want to finish each article and of these transgressions. Then, perhaps to know. book with the thought, “Well, yes, if pushed by the bloggers’ attention, per- Since that episode, we have heard it’s true.” And for writers, finding their haps some newspapers and Publishers the experiences of several other writ- words plagiarized just kicks up their Weekly would have grabbed onto this ers who have seen their work appear, cynicism another notch. I issue and written editorials about the uncredited, in other books. Unless the silence accompanying its practice. borrowing is extreme, most of their Margaret Engel, a 1979 Nieman Fel- Of course, it’s just as possible this publishers have shrugged it off. It’s seen low, is a director of the Alicia Pat- would not happen. Even in new me- as too messy and too commonplace for terson Journalism Foundation and dia, where transparency is touted, their overworked legal departments managing editor of the Newseum. I suspect that our news might have to invest the hours to correct. The

NEWSPAPER GALLERY

Father and child share the Sunday paper in their backyard in Alexandria, Virginia. 1943. Library of Congress/Courtesy Newseum.

90 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Nieman Notes Compiled by Lois Fiore

Newspapers Have Met Their Enemy Within ‘The question is not whether the newspaper is dead, but whether it can be rescued from unreasonable demands.’

By Watson Sims

hen I left The Associated and Port Huron, Michigan; Boise, “You do,” said Paul Miller, appearing Press (AP) to join the Battle Idaho, and Olympia and Bellingham, surprised. “Well, I’ll look into that.” W Creek Enquirer in 1971, a Washington. Under the new owners, I don’t know where Paul Miller colleague warned that editing a news- Newman won more arguments and looked, but pressure on the news paper would prove far different from the newsroom came under tighter department grew tighter in the years working for a nonprofit organization restraint. Whereas the Enquirer had that followed. Pages were reduced in such as AP. “Your worst enemy will size and number, and some jobs be the advertising director,” said were eliminated. The Enquirer’s Max McCrohon, managing editor circulation declined, but its profit of the Chicago Tribune. “He’ll sell Can the newspaper regain its place margin increased. your children into slavery if you in American society? I believe Bob Miller, Jr., was publisher of don’t watch out.” The Idaho Statesman in Boise, and Jack Newman, the Enquirer’s the answer is yes. While the Web on a visit to Battle Creek he said genial advertising director, was provides unlimited detail for the too much was also being taken out an unlikely choice for an enemy, of that newspaper. “Somebody’s and in fact he became a good dedicated seeker of information, the got to stand up to those bastards,” friend. Even so, the years have average consumer still finds more he told me. convinced me that McCrohon was That someone had to stand up a prophet for then, as now, edi- depth and durability in newspapers for news against advertising was tors and advertisers were locked than in electronic news sources. a cry heard at many newspapers in a struggle for the body and the in the years that followed. Time soul of newspapers. and again, editors answered the Jack’s responsibility was to call, but almost without exception please advertisers, while mine was to received news and photos from AP and their rebellions failed and the editors meet what I perceived as the needs United Press as well as The New York lost their jobs. At some newspapers, of readers. Sometimes we skirmished Times News Service, budget pressures editors chose to resign in protest of over what attention should be paid required me to discontinue all but AP. newsroom budget reductions. to an advertising client, or whether Readers accustomed to the journalistic There was, however, a lucrative certain space in the paper should equivalent of soup, salad and dessert alternative: By joining, rather than carry advertising or news. When we were served only meat and potatoes. standing up against slashing of news- disagreed, the matter was settled by In October 1971, the Gannett execu- room budgets, editors could not only Publisher Bob Miller, whose father tive committee visited Battle Creek, and protect their jobs but share in profits to had founded the Enquirer. Bob often a somewhat apprehensive Bob Miller be made under the new style of man- ruled in Jack’s favor, but on matters of asked me to join him at the meeting. agement. Often they acquired stock principle he usually found for my side. The first question by Gannett Chairman options in public-owned corporations Deeply involved in community affairs, Paul Miller (no relation to Bob) was such as Gannett. he required only modest profits from “Well, how are things going?” Like many other editors, I accepted the newspaper’s operation. Somewhat nervously, Bob replied, stock options, and watched my salary In July 1971, Bob sold the Enquirer “I think you are cutting us too close grow far beyond my earlier expecta- to the Gannett Company, along with and taking too much out of Battle tions at AP. This followed a pattern in newspapers he owned in Lansing Creek.” which many editors joined operating

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 91 Nieman Notes

committees that answered to inves- 2005 just over 50 percent of Americans less than was earned by the Battle Creek tors no less, and perhaps more, than were reading newspapers, compared Enquirer under Bob Miller, it can re- to readers. Many newspapers earned to 77 percent in 1977. claim its role in community affairs and profit margins of 25 percent or more, “Who Killed the Newspaper?” asked perhaps build a better-informed nation well above the average of Fortune 500 a recent issue of The Economist. I by luring readers back from the shallow top companies. believe the newspaper was not killed waters of television news. In recent years the Internet has taken but acquired by owners concerned First, however, the enemy must be advertising that traditionally went to more with profits than public service. identified and, as Max McCrohon sug- newspapers, and publishers, more Its potential for building and binding gested, the place to look is the advertis- likely to be corporate executives than communities remains, but like the ing department, where the demands of community patriarchs, offset the loss of golden goose it has been weakened investors are made known. I income by further reductions in news- by demand for more eggs. room budgets. Inevitably, the depth Can the newspaper regain its place Watson Sims, a 1953 Nieman Fel- and quality of most newspapers were in American society? I believe the an- low, left stock options on the table affected. Front pages once sacrosanct swer is yes. While the Web provides un- in departing Battle Creek to become to news began to carry advertisements, limited detail for the dedicated seeker editor of The New Brunswick (N.J.) and some papers dropped weekend of information, the average consumer Home News in 1978. He retired in editorial pages. Sunday comics that still finds more depth and durability in 1986, and one year later the Boyd once offered magical art to attract newspapers than in electronic news family, which had owned the Home young readers became a jammed sources. “Look at this” or “read this” News for more than 100 years, sold hodge-podge in which dialogue and permits a sharing of experience far the newspaper to Gannett. Sims action were often hard to follow. superior to being shown what has been later directed media studies for The Faced with toughened competition found on a computer screen. George H. Gallup International Insti- for attention, newspapers chose not The question is not whether the tute in the United States and Eastern to improve their product, but to cut newspaper is dead, but whether it Europe. and run. Not surprisingly, a study by can be rescued from unreasonable Washington University found in that in demands. For modest profit, perhaps

—1951— from 1964-1972, began his journalism Portland Press Herald as a reporter career in Maine, working at newspapers and then as editorial director. After his Dwight Sargent was inducted into in Bar Harbor and Biddeford. After years as Nieman Curator, he served as the Maine Press Association Hall of moving to the The Standard-Times president of the Freedom of Informa- Fame in October 2006. Sargent, who of New Bedford, Massachusetts, he tion Foundation at the University of was Curator of the Nieman Foundation returned to Maine to work at the Missouri and as editorial page editor at the Boston Herald-American. He was also an editorial page editor for the New York Herald Tribune and national Corrections editorial writer for Hearst Newspapers in New York. In a note for Julius Duscha, NF ’56, in the Fall 2006 issue of Nieman Sargent was chairman of the Na- Reports, Duscha was identified as a president of the American Society of tional Conference of Editorial Writers. Newspaper Editors and as editor of The Hartford Courant. He did not hold He also conceived the idea for the Elijah either of these positions. Parish Lovejoy Award, given each year In that same issue, NF ’61 John D. Pomfret was confused with his son, by Colby College, as a way to connect John Pomfret, in a note announcing the publication of the book, “Chinese the importance of journalistic freedom Lessons: Five Classmates and the Story of the New China.” The note lists with his alma mater’s concern for aca- John D. Pomfret, the father, as the author. However John Pomfret, the son, demic freedom. who is not a Nieman Fellow, is the author of this book. Sargent died at 85 years of age in Our apologies to Julius Duscha, John D. Pomfret, and John Pomfret for 2002 in Princeton, New Jersey. the errors. I

92 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Nieman Notes

—1958— in his cover stories for Time magazine. and television plays under his byline. People would just talk to him.” Several of his colleagues remembered Dean Brelis died of complications Along with Tia and his wife, Brelis him as the best writer in Kentucky. from throat cancer on November 17th also leaves daughters Doran and Jane “He knew an awful lot, and he in Santa Monica, California, at the and a son, Matthew, who is a 2002 wrote it in a way that seemed effort- home of his daughter, Tia. He was 82 Nieman Fellow and assistant metro less—conversational and literary at and lived in Santa Monica and New editor at The Boston Globe. the same time,” said John Carroll, York City. NF ’72 and Visiting Knight Lecturer at While planning to spend his life as John Edward Pearce, writer and the Shorenstein Center on the Press, a fiction writer, Brelis instead began editorial board member of The Courier- Politics and Public Policy at Harvard, his writing career as a journalist for Journal, died on September 25th, his in the Herald-Leader. “John Ed himself The Boston Globe while attending birthday, from complications of throat came across in his writing as a wry, Harvard University. He then worked cancer in Kentucky. He was 89. admittedly imperfect character who’d as a correspondent for Time-Life from Pearce was the son of a Norton, watched Kentucky politicians come 1949-1954 before his first novel was Virginia newspaperman who founded and go and knew better than to hope published in 1958. “The Mission” was the Coalfield Progress. When the Great for much. … Talented, deeply rooted based on his experiences while sta- Depression hit his family, Pearce, people like John Ed don’t turn up at tioned in Burma, where he worked in one of seven children, took a job in a newspaper very often. He was a real military intelligence for the Office of a meatpacking plant. He later left his gift to the readers of Kentucky.” Strategic Services during World War II. hometown to attend the University Don Mills, former editor of the Two novels quickly followed, “Shalom” of Kentucky, where he ran the school Lexington Herald-Leader, said that in 1959 and “My New-Found Land” paper while waiting tables and clerking of all the Kentucky journalists he has in 1963. at a local racecourse. He spent four known “no one could write better than Brelis continued his work as a years in the Navy during World War II John Ed. No one had a better under- journalist with NBC News, covering and remained in the reserves for an- standing of the English language. … the Middle East, North Africa, Cyprus other 27. During this time he began his He knew Kentucky well, like no other and Vietnam in the early 1960’s. He career as a journalist, which he wrote Kentuckian.” anchored a nightly news program about in his 1997 book, “Memoirs: Pearce also served Kentucky as a in Los Angeles in 1967, worked with 50 Years at the Courier-Journal and governor-appointed original member CBS News, and then returned to Time Other Places.” of the state park board, overseeing the magazine in 1974 as a foreign corre- Pearce was hired as associate editor creation and development of several spondent in the Middle East, South and editorial writer at The Courier- of Kentucky’s parks. Asia, and Southeast Asia. Journal in 1947, where he also wrote Twice married and divorced, Pearce Bryan Marquard, writing in The Bos- features and columns and contributed is survived by five daughters. ton Globe, noted that despite Brelis’s to the newspaper’s magazine, The love of writing fiction, “… he knew Forum. He earned the reputation —1965— well the economic reality of writing with Forum editor Keith Runyon as a full time and that supporting a family “foxy” newsman whose “words rang Smith Hempstone died on No- would be a far cry from living as simply from one end of the Commonwealth vember 19th of complications from as Henry David Thoreau on Walden to the other,” and he was credited as diabetes at a hospital in Bethesda, Pond. ‘There is a great deal to be said key writer in the Courier-Journal’s Maryland He was 77. for living like Thoreau,’ Mr. Brelis said 1967 Pulitzer Prize-winning campaign Hempstone was a syndicated colum- in a 1963 interview with the Globe, ‘and against strip mining. nist who served as U.S. Ambassador to the time comes when every writer has After retiring in 1986 he continued Kenya from 1989 to 1993, during the to make a decision in this regard.’” He writing under contract until The Fo- rule of Daniel arap Moi. Hempstone was, however, able to combine his life rum folded in 1991. From 1990 until began his journalism career as an Af- as a journalist with that of a novelist. his death, Pearce was a contributing rican correspondent for The Chicago He also wrote four nonfiction books columnist for the Lexington Herald- Daily News after having spent four years and had finished the draft of a fourth Leader. in Africa as a fellow at the Institute of novel at the time of his death. Throughout his career he wrote Current World Affairs. He wrote two Brelis’s wife, Mary Anne Weaver, short stories. His first—and many books during that time, “Africa: Angry said to Marquard, “Writing was always subsequent ones—were published in Young Giant” and “Rebels, Mercenar- his love. His writing has always been The Saturday Evening Post. Pearce’s ies and Dividends,” about the attempt very, very evocative. … He could cap- words can be found in the archives of of Katanga, the southern province of ture the essence of personality extraor- The New York Times, The Washington the Democratic Republic of Congo, dinarily well, whether it was in fiction or Post, national magazines, and in books to secede.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 93 Nieman Notes

Following his Nieman year, Hemp- of eccentrics. Smith was perfectly at and as assistant secretary of state for stone was based in London for The home here. Here’s to Smith, an in- public affairs in the Carter administra- (Washington) Star, covering Europe trepid Marine, journalist, ambassador tion until 1980. He then moved into and the Middle East. He became edito- and American, and a good and tolerant public affairs television as a reporter rial page editor of the paper but left in friend for more than 40 years.” and anchor, and panelist for “This Week 1975 over disagreements with the new Hempstone is survived by his wife, With David Brinkley.” During this time, owner of the newspaper, Joe L. Allbrit- Kathaleen (Kitty), and a daughter, he won four national Emmys and the ton. He syndicated his column, “Our Katherine. Over the years, Kitty Hemp- Edward R. Murrow Award for his public Times,” on his own, and it eventually stone has been especially helpful in her affairs television documentaries. From ran in 90 newspapers. work with Nieman Fellows from Africa, 1985 to 1998 he ran MainStreet, a TV In a description of Hempstone’s assisting them in the process of getting production company also specializing tenure in Kenya, Adam Bernstein of to Harvard and coordinating their ac- in public affairs programming. The Washington Post characterized tivities while in the United States. In 1998, Carter became president Hempstone as “… an effective, ag- and CEO of the Knight Foundation, gressively undiplomatic critic of the —1966— where his focus included support for country’s ruler, Daniel arap Moi.” Bern- local journalists in developing coun- stein reported that Hempstone “was W. Hodding Carter, III was hon- tries and journalists at risk. In January, credited with helping usher multiparty ored by the Committee to Protect 2006 he was appointed to the position elections into an African country that, Journalists (CPJ) when he received the of University Professor of Leadership although a U.S. ally during the Cold Burton Benjamin Memorial Award for and Public Policy at the University of War, had little tolerance for political lifetime achievement in the cause of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. dissent.” He continued, “Several of press freedom at an awards ceremony At the November ceremony, the CPJ his jobs ended in a personality clash. in New York City in November. Carter also honored four journalists—from His service as President George H.W. spent almost 18 years as a reporter, Colombia, Yemen, the Gambia, and Bush’s ambassador to Kenya was no editorial writer, editor and associate Iraq—and marked the 25th anniversary less testy, a point he appeared to rel- publisher of his family’s newspaper, the of their organization. ish by titling his 1997 memoir ‘Rogue Delta Democrat Times, in Greenville, Ambassador.’” Mississippi. He went on to work in —1968— At Smith’s memorial service in Wash- Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter’s ington, D.C., the celebrant said, “St. presidential campaigns, served as Jerome Aumente conducted work- Alban’s School is known as a bedlam spokesman for the State Department shops in economic reporting last sum-

Meditating Buddha protected by nagas, seated before a ru- ined stupa at Vat Nak (Temple of the Naga). Photo by Steve Northup (see his note on page 95). From “Naga Cities of the Mekong,” Martin Stuart-Fox and Steve Northup.

94 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Nieman Notes mer in Belgrade and Nis in Serbia for celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2007 —1970— print and electronic journalists. The as the oldest continuing operating last time he was in Serbia was in 1998 press association in the United States. Larry L. King now has a theater when he conducted workshops in The book examines the history of the stage named after him. In late Octo- four cities for journalists who were in newspapers, current efforts to reinvent ber, the Austin Playhouse rechristened opposition to Slobodan Milosevic. Au- themselves within the newer media and its second stage as The Larry L. King mente has also conducted workshops Internet environment, and new educa- Theatre. King, a native Texan, wrote for journalists in Macedonia, Monte- tional and training efforts universities the play “The Best Little Whorehouse negro and Croatia and codirected an must launch in a multimedia era. in Texas,” the musical for which King ongoing program between University Aumente is also program evalua- was nominated for a Tony award; the of Sarajevo and Rutgers University in tor for a six-year program with the Off-Broadway plays “The Night Hank Bosnia-Herzegovina. University of Missouri and Moscow Williams Died” and “The Kingfish,” and He has completed five workshops in State University Schools of Journalism, “The Dead Presidents’ Club,” which is the United States for Arab journalists which concludes in 2007. He travels to often regionally produced. Scenes from from eight countries in the Middle East Russia on a regular basis for the project, the plays were presented at the dedi- and is designing a proposal for an ongo- and his assessments are included as cation. The outdoor theater marquee ing Internet and face-to-face exchange a chapter in a book just published in bears King’s likeness, and in the lobby of American and Arab journalists to Russia by the two schools examining of the theater is a bronze bust of King follow up on the earlier initiatives. He current trends in journalism education made by sculptor Patrick Oliphant. Don was invited to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and professional training. Toner, the producing director/manager last year to conduct workshops for He lives with his wife, Mary, in the of the playhouse, says the newly refur- Arab journalists and deliver a paper Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and bished space will host the annual Larry on the journalism initiatives at the welcomes correspondence on any L. King New Play Festival, along with a university. of his projects, or just to hear from full season of other plays. Aumente is finishing a book, “From old friends. His e-mail address is au- Ink on Paper to the Internet: Past Chal- [email protected]. Aumente —1974— lenges and Future Transformations is distinguished professor emeritus for New Jersey’s Newspapers,” which at Rutgers University and special Steve Northup has a new book out, will be published in spring 2007. The counselor to the dean in the School “Naga Cities of the Mekong: A guide research was supported by the New of Communication, Information and to the temples, legends and history Jersey Press Association, which will Library Studies. of Laos,” with his colleague Martin

The shrine of the Pha Bat, or footprint of the Buddha, in Vat Tham Fai, Pakxe. Photo by Steve Northup (see his note on this page). From “Naga Cities of the Mekong,” Martin Stuart- Fox and Steve Northup.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 95 Nieman Notes

Stuart-Fox and published by Media dusk or in the early dawn light. They he died at his home in Manhattan at Masters Pte Ltd, Singapore. Stuart-Fox had seen what looked like serrated the age of 56. is professor emeritus of The University crests or coiled bodies momentarily Gerald Boyd “… always had a drive of Queensland in Australia and Nor- breaking the surface.” to run a newspaper. That was his love,” thup, a former photographer for Time These images were seen as spirits of said colleague Tom Morgan (NF ’90), magazine, now freelances. Northup the river, “… in the form of snakelike in The New York Times obituary by adds, “Martin and I were a UPI re- water dragons; some fierce and unpre- Felicity Barringer. “He really did have porter/photographer team in Vietnam dictable, some more benign.” The Lao a drive. Most people spend their col- in 1965 and ’66 and have been good called the spirits “ngeuak,” but later lege years trying to figure out what to friends ever since. We’re planning at learned another word for them, the do. Gerald always knew. There was least one more project together.” Indian word “naga.” “In Buddhist my- no doubt.” In a section of Stuart-Fox’s text, he thology,” Stuart-Fox continues, “a great Boyd first connected with journal- tells the mythical story of how the word naga had protected the Buddha when ism as a child, through an aunt who read “naga” came to be used. For over a he was meditating, and the Lao believe newspapers. In high school, despite thousand years, the Laos people settled that nagas will continue to protect all working many hours at a neighborhood and have lived along the Mekong River. those who practise the truth he taught.” grocery where he grew up in St. Louis, While normally a placid river, it did Three cities were seen as protected by Missouri, he wrote for his school news- at times turn dangerous, with severe the naga, Luang Phrabang in the north, paper. In his senior year he applied rapids swirling between high banks. Viang Chan (Vientaine) in the center, for—and won—a full scholarship to When this happened, Stuart-Fox writes, and Champasak in the south. the University of Missouri at Columbia. “… narrow canoes tipped suddenly or “Naga Cities of the Mekong” tells The scholarship was sponsored by The were dashed against rocks, people fell the stories of these cities in historian St. Louis Post-Dispatch to encourage into the water. Some drowned. If their Stuart-Fox’s words and photographer African Americans to become journal- bodies were later found, washed up Northup’s images. ists. Along with the scholarship, he was along the banks, they appeared drained guaranteed a job at the Post-Dispatch of blood, and strangely marked. People —1981— following his college education, and took this as signs that the dead had been he joined that paper in 1973. taken by the creatures they sometimes Gerald Boyd died on November 23 In his rise through the world of glimpsed in those swirling currents at after complications from lung cancer; journalism, Boyd was often the first

Narrative: A Writers’ Guide

“Telling True Stories” is an anthol- In the preface, Kramer and Call ogy of the shared guidance of 51 write that “‘Telling True Stories’ leading practitioners of narrative offers a step-by-step guide that can nonfiction in the United States. help you at every stage, from idea to Plume is expected to publish this publication …. [It] offers nonfiction book in February 2007. Edited by storytellers a sourcebook that helps Mark Kramer, director of the Nie- name and describe many aspects of man Foundation’s narrative jour- this difficult but rewarding work.” nalism program, and Wendy Call, Information about the narrative a freelance writer and editor based conferences can be found at www. in Seattle, Washington, the 90 selec- nieman.harvard.edu/narrative. Au- tions bring to the book’s pages the dio recordings from various sessions voices of narrative practitioners who are available. The Nieman Narrative have offered their experiences and Digest—a compilation of the best in insights to thousands of journalists narrative journalism—is at www.nie- who have participated in annual Nie- man.harvard.edu/narrative/digest/in- man Narrative conferences. dex.html I —Melissa Ludtke

96 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Nieman Notes

A Gerald Boyd Remembrance ity. It’s hard to get past the veneer that people now automatically put up when In the early 1970’s, when I first met Gerald in our journalism classes at they think they’re ‘on TV.’” the University of Missouri, he was a fairly terrifying figure. He was working And in response to a question about hard to win more respect for African-American students on campus, and how he has been able to develop his he was often fierce and unapproachable. When we met years later, cover- sources, he said, “… the advice that I ing some event in Washington, D.C., the anger, but never the intensity, always give to the young journalists had faded. This was the sweet, companionable side of Gerald. Having when they ask that question is this: been a Nieman the year before, he asked about some of the amazing of- understand the people that you are ferings he could choose. He was delighted to be on a campus that didn’t covering. And what I mean by that is require grades, just curiosity. He served as a final judge for the Alicia Pat- learn the culture. Example: When I terson Fellowships and gave the applicants his all, despite the overload covered the Pentagon I could stand in of his editorship at The New York Times. Gerald truly had a passion for front of a general officer or an enlisted our profession and reached its highest levels because of his hard work, man and I could read his history on his enterprise, and talent. I will miss him. —Margaret Engel, NF ’79 chest. I knew what those decorations meant. I knew where he’d served, with what distinction he served, I knew where those units were. I could African American holding his particular He is survived by his wife, Robin read his career.… Many a time I’d call job. He once said, “Throughout my life Stone, and a son, Zachary. somebody at the FBI and never ask a I have enjoyed both the blessing and question about something that may the burden of being the first black this Jim Stewart retired in November have been burning in my mind to and the first black that, and like many as a correspondent for CBS News know the answer to. But I would just minorities and women who succeed, after working for more than 16 years call and gossip with them about the I’ve often felt alone.” with that organization out of his 37 latest promotions announced by the Boyd, who joined The New York years as a journalist. Based in their director. That bought me a lot of entrée Times in 1983 as a political reporter, Washington, D.C. bureau, he covered into an organization that is usually very was named deputy managing editor the Department of Justice, FBI, CIA close-lipped.” in 1997 and managing editor in 2001. and, since 1994, counterterrorism. Stewart has won a number of awards He resigned in March 2004, along with He also contributed to “60 Minutes and honors, including four Emmy executive editor Howell Raines, over II” during its run from 1999 to 2005. Awards (one being the 2001 individ- the scandal involving the discredited Before joining CBS News, Stewart was ual honor for best story in a national reporting of Jayson Blair. In the Times’s national security correspondent for broadcast), the Sigma Delta Chi Gold obituary, Executive Editor Bill Keller Cox Newspapers in Washington from Medallion for National Reporting, and said, “Gerald was a newsman. He knew 1985 to 90. Before that, he spent 12 the National Headliner’s Award. how to mobilize a reporting team and years with the Atlanta Constitution as surround a story so that nothing im- a reporter, special assignments editor, —1983— portant was missed. He knew how to and assistant managing editor for news motivate and inspire. And, tough and operations at the Constitution and the Bill Marimow resigned in October demanding as he could be, he had a Atlanta Journal. from his job as vice president for news huge heart. He left the paper under In an interview on the CBS Weblog and information at National Public sad circumstances, but despite all of Public Eye, Stewart was asked what Radio in which he had supervised the that he left behind a great reservoir of he would miss most about his job. He work of 350 employees and 36 domes- respect and affection.” Recently, Boyd said, “That’s easy to answer. … I will tic and international bureaus. He as- had been working as a consultant in miss people the most. It’s not about the sumed the job of NPR’s ombudsman. journalism at the Columbia University stories, it’s about the people. I learned Then, in early November, he was of- Graduate School of Journalism. after switching from newspapers to fered the job of editing his hometown Boyd was a part of the editing teams broadcast journalism that this job is paper, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the that won three Pulitzer Prizes for much harder to do. You can travel with newspaper from which he launched his the Times, for articles about the first a certain anonymity as a print reporter, journalism career during the time when bombing of the World Trade Center, with your pencil and your notepad Gene Roberts, NF ’62, was that paper’s about children of poverty, and for the and a quizzical look on your face. [In editor. He accepted the job and now series “How Race Is Lived in America.” television news] sometimes you drag returns to a top editor’s position at a In 2002, he was selected journalist of along two-ton trucks, antennas, camera metropolitan newspaper under similar the year by the National Association of crews, producers, bright lights, and circumstances to those he faced at The Black Journalists. televisions. It’s hard to get spontane- (Baltimore) Sun just prior to joining

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 97 Nieman Notes

NPR. Having left The Sun after clashing with the truth of what actually hap- he passed on to his Tribune staff when with its publisher about the tightening pened at these schools,” Wilson wrote he assumed this new job: “One thing of budgets and cutting of newsroom in his review. my father’s death has done is help give jobs, he arrived at the Inky at a time Giago was recently recognized by me a certain measure of detachment of difficult union negotiations with a RezNet (www.reznetnews.org) Proj- and perspective in looking at all the new publisher, Brian Tierney, who as ect Director Denny McAuliffe for his turmoil surrounding our company part of a consortium of local business integral role in establishing the Na- and our industry these days. We’re people bought the paper in 2006 from tive American Journalists Association, only here for a short time, and we can McClatchy. Tierney warned that ad- which began under the name Native only control what we can control. This ditional newsroom cuts appear to be American Press Association. means focusing on producing the finest “unavoidable,” citing the possibility “Tim Giago … was the driving force journalism we can each day and putting that as many as 150 of the remaining behind creating the new group called it in the hands of as many readers as we 415 Inquirer newsroom jobs could be the Native American Press Association can reach. No matter what happens to lost. In his first meeting with reporters [NAPA]. Giago sent letters to known this company, I told them, this is our and editors in the paper’s Broad Street Indian newspapers around the coun- mission and our bond. We’ll see soon newsroom, Marimow reportedly told try, inviting them to attend, and raised enough what’s next.” them, “We have to figure out how to money for the meeting with the help thrive in an era of reduced resources,” of Penn State journalism professor —1997— while acknowledging that the paper Bill Dulaney. In acknowledgment of will focus its limited resources on Giago’s crucial role, members of the Debbie Seward writes: coverage of the Philadelphia area. “We newly created NAPA made him their “My family and I have moved from will no longer be sending battalions of first president. It’s time we start giving New York City to Prague, where I am staffers to cover news like Hurricane Tim Giago his due and recognize his executive producer/newsroom at Radio Katrina and the war in Baghdad,” he important contribution as founder of Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). explained. the Native American Journalists Asso- The newsroom provides reports with ciation, the group that has helped keep audio, which are used by RFE/RL’s —1991— Native American journalism going and broadcasters. This year I have been growing,” said McAuliffe. working to put out a faster, timelier Tim Giago has published the book news report for the broadcasters and “Children Left Behind: The Dark Legacy —1992— to integrate the English-language on- of Indian Mission Boarding Schools” line and broadcast editing staffs into (Clear Light Book Publishing, August George de Lama was named manag- a converged newsroom. It has been 2006. For copies e-mail harmon@ ing editor for news at the Chicago Tri- great to learn new skills, including clearlightbooks.com.) Weaving to- bune. His appointment was announced web publishing and audio editing. gether memoir, commentary, history early in November, three weeks after My husband, Nick, a Nieman affiliate, and poetry, Giago’s book details the the death of his father, Frank, a Cuban has finished novel number two, ‘The extreme policies in mission schools immigrant who never finished high English Lesson,’ and our daughter that denied generations of Indian school yet, in George’s words, “read the Anna (two at the time of our Nieman children their native languages and paper every day, all of it, and gave me Fellowship) is now 12 and a thriving traditions. He drew off his own child- my lifelong love of newspapers when 7th grader at the International School hood experience at a mission school I was a boy. He would have appreci- of Prague.” in writing this book. Giago’s story ated being able to see this happen to “becomes a metaphor for the experi- me, and I’ve felt his loss keenly these —1999— ence of many Indian children, who last few weeks.” He assumed his new were literally ripped from their tribal editing duties following the abrupt Chris Hedges, a senior fellow at The roots,” an experience that for many departure of his longtime colleague Nation Institute in New York City, re- “resulted in isolation, confusion, and and friend, Jim O’Shea, who went to ceived one of five literary awards given intense psychological pain, as they the Los Angeles Times as that paper’s by the Lannan Foundation, a family were forced to reject their own culture new editor, as the rumors of a possible foundation “dedicated to cultural free- and spirituality,” said a press release sale of Tribune Company or some of its dom, diversity and creativity through from Clear Light. newspapers continue to swirl. projects which support exceptional The book was also called “a major The confluence of the loss of his contemporary artists and writers as event in Indian education” by Ryan father, the departure of his friend, well as inspired Native activists in rural Wilson, president of the National and the uncertainty at the Tribune has indigenous communities.” The award Indian Education Association. “He made this “a bittersweet time” for him. recognizes established writers as well challenges Indian Country to co-exist George shared some of the thoughts as those with the potential for excel-

98 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Nieman Notes lence. The financial award, which for Islam is needed for global peace.” Islamic-Western relations. In her 20 the Literary Writing Fellowships totals Writing in The Washington Post, Ste- years as a journalist, she worked as $425,000, is designed to provide time ven Simon said, “The net result, Abdo Iran correspondent for The Guardian, a and support for writers to complete or concludes, is a community increasingly regular contributor to The Economist, continue with specific projects. Hedg- inclined to separatism. Elsewhere, Cairo-based correspondent for The es, who was a foreign correspondent this has provided fertile ground for Dallas Morning News, and Moscow- for nearly two decades, is the author radicals such as Osama bin Laden. The based correspondent for Reuters. of “War Is a Force That Gives Us Mean- United States is scarcely on a slippery Abdo is the author of “No God but ing,” “What Every Person Should Know slope to Europe’s fate, but the secu- God: Egypt and the Triumph of Islam” About War,” and “Losing Moses on the rity of our society, Abdo shows, now and coauthor of “Answering Only to Freeway: The 10 Commandments in depends on a spirit of inclusiveness God: Faith and Freedom in Twenty- America.” His new book, “American and generosity.” First-Century Iran.” Her commentaries Fascists: The Christian Right and the Abdo is currently liaison for the about Islam have appeared in several War on America” (Free Press) is to be United Nations Alliance for Civiliza- national newspapers, including The published in January 2007. tions, a project established to improve Washington Post and The New York

—2001— Anil Padmanabhan’s biography, The Murrey and Frances Marder Fund “Kalpana Chawla: A Life,” was pub- lished by both Penguin Books India and The Murrey and Frances Marder Fund has supported a variety of prominent Puffin in 2003, shortly after Chawla died initiatives at the Nieman Foundation since its endowment in November in February 2003 on board the space 1996. From 1998 to 2001, the fund supported four Watchdog Journalism shuttle Columbia. Chawla was the first Conferences that focused on the roles journalists play in monitoring those Indian woman to travel into space. In who hold positions of power and influence. The fund now supports the Nie- writing the book, Padmanabhan spoke man Watchdog Web site, which was launched in spring 2004. This Web site with her family, friends and NASA col- enables authorities in various fields to suggest questions the press should be leagues to portray the intelligence, asking. The fund has also supported the publishing of conference excerpts perseverance and faith associated with and articles regarding Watchdog-style journalism both in Nieman Reports Chawla and her accomplishments. and on the Nieman Web site. In spring 2006, the fund provided the oppor- After several years as New York bu- tunity for three Guatemalan reporters to travel to Cambridge to enhance reau chief of India Today, Padmanabhan their investigative reporting skills during 10 intense days of training at the has returned to New Delhi where he Nieman Foundation. Marder is a 1950 Nieman Fellow. will be part of the leadership team that is launching a new economic daily for the Hindustan Times group. The following is an accounting of expenditures for the fund from November 1, 2005-October 31, 2006. —2002— Beginning Balance at 11/1/05 $185,798.94 Geneive Abdo’s book “Mecca and Main Street: Muslim Life in America Income After 9/11” was published by Oxford Interest on balance at end of FY06 (7/1/05-6/30/06) 2410.01 University Press on the fifth anniver- Endowment Distribution for FY07 (7/1/06-6/30/07) 115,201.91 sary of September 11th and has been Total Income 117,611.92 called the first detailed investigative work on Muslim life in America since Expense the attacks. Editor’s and Interns’ Fees 162,449.03 “Geneive Abdo’s work captures in Travel/Lodging/Meals 4,118.34 great detail the immense hardships Web site Hosting and Maintenance 6,011.90 Muslims face in the post-September Guatemalan Reporter Hosting 6,209.69 11th world and offers hope for their Miscellaneous 1,608.98 success and co-existence in America,” Total Expense 180,397.94 said Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a quote on Abdo’s Web site. “Her book Ending Balance at 10/31/06 $123,012.92 shatters stereotypes about Muslims and teaches us that more understanding of

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 99 Nieman Notes

Times, and she has appeared on CNN, New Year, but the Star has decided to NPR, BBC, “The NewsHour with Jim re-open our Asia bureau, which was Lehrer,” and other programs. previously situated in Hong Kong, and U.S. Postal Service locate it now in Beijing. Needless to Statement of Ownership —2005— say we’re quite excited about it and at the prospect of having a great reunion Management and Circulation Alma Guillermoprieto is a 2006- with Yaping and Li Hong. [Schiller 2007 Radcliffe Institute Fellow in had been foreign editor of the Star Cambridge, Massachusetts, where but left that post when he became a Title of publication: Nieman Reports. among her projects is the libretto for Nieman Fellow.] Publication no. USPS 430-650. Date an opera. “How soon this will all take place of filing 10/17/06. Frequency of issue: Guillermoprieto, who has been depends on how quickly we can ob- Quarterly. No. of issues published an- writing about Latin America for more tain visas. Last week we began the nually: 4. Annual subscription price: than 20 years, has written for The New application process by contacting the $20. Complete mailing address of Yorker and The New York Review of Chinese Embassy and filing all the ap- known office of publication: One Fran- books, among others. She covered the propriate papers, but there is really cis Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-2009 insurrection against Anastasio Somoza no telling how long it will take. Ideally Middlesex County. Complete mailing in Nicaragua for The Guardian and, in we hope to hit the ground and begin address of the headquarters or general January 1982, was one of two reporters organizing in March. So it’s a period business office of the publishers: One who broke the story of the El Mozote, El of high adrenaline, expectation and Francis Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138- Salvador massacre (the other reporter excited initial planning. What excites 2009. Full names and complete mailing was Raymond Bonner of The New York us most, of course—aside from seeing address of publisher and editor: Bob Times). In that December 1981 mas- Yaping and Li Hong—is all the learn- Giles, One Francis Avenue, Cambridge, sacre, an estimated 900 villagers were ing ahead. Just this past weekend we MA 02138-2009; Melissa Ludtke, One killed by the Salvadoran army. started to accumulate a small library Francis Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138- Guillermoprieto has written four of books on China and have begun to 2009. Owner: Nieman Foundation books, most recently “Dancing With immerse ourselves in endless reading. at Harvard University, One Francis Cuba: A Memoir of the Revolution” Any suggestions you might have are all Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-2009. (Pantheon, 2004). The others are welcome!” Known bondholders, mortgagees, “Samba,” “The Heart That Bleeds,” and other security holders: none. The and “Looking for History: Dispatches Brent Walth, class scribe, has an up- purpose, function and nonprofit status from Latin America.” She has received date on two other fellows [see Walth’s of this organization and the exempt a number of awards for her work over article on page 86]: status for Federal income tax purposes the years, including the Latin American have not changed during preceding 12 Studies Association Media Award in Jon Palfreman has been named months. Extent and nature of circula- 1992 and the 2000 George Polk Award the KEZI Distinguished Professor of tion (first number is average number of for a series she wrote on Colombia. Broadcast Journalism at the University copies of each issue during preceding of Oregon School of Journalism and 12 months, and second is actual num- —2006— Communication. Palfreman, an Emmy ber of copies of single issue published and Peabody Award-winning producer, nearest to filing date): Total number Bill Schiller, reporter for the To- is founder and president of Lexington, copies: 7,000; 7,000. Paid circulation, ronto Star, writes: “… Some of you Massachusetts-based Palfreman Film sales through dealers and carriers, have e-mailed and inquired about Group, which has produced documen- street vendors and counter sales: none; the turbulence here at the Star, after taries for the BBC and PBS, including none. Mail subscription: 478; 478. both our publisher and editor in chief the programs “Frontline” and “NOVA.” Total paid circulation: 478; 478. Free were fired. It has been unsettling to be [See Palfreman’s article on page 5.] distribution by mail, carrier or other sure, but the incoming team has done means, samples, complimentary and much to stabilize the situation, made Takashi Oshima, a reporter with other free copies: 4,443; 4,463. Total swift decisions on reconfiguring the Asahi Shimbun in Tokyo, Japan, is in distribution: 6,561; 5,546. Copies not management team, and announced the midcareer program at Harvard distributed, office use, left over, unac- a number of new appointments and University’s John F. Kennedy School counted, spoiled after printing: 439; assignments. of Government. I 454. Return from news agents: none; “Which brings us to some personal none. Total: 7,000; 7,000. I certify that news: Mary [Kirley] and I are headed the statements made by me above are to China. It won’t happen until the correct and complete: Bob Giles. I

100 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 Nieman Notes

A Nieman Classmate Remembers M.G.G. Pillai

By Hennie van Deventer

In 1977—nearly 30 years ago, remember!—I wrote a Malaysia. January 1984.” In an accompanying letter he fighting article for Nieman Reports trying to explain wrote, “The presence of this vase in a South African South Africa’s racial policies. The headline was: “Some home should at least symbolise a common thread of Misconceptions About South Africa.” My subeditor humanity that transcends political barriers.” was my fellow Nieman and fellow resident of Crimson Now the big man Ganga is dead—the first of our Court, Ganga Pillai, from Malaysia. In his impeccable class to take leave. In Melkbosstrand (near Cape Town), handwriting he suggested certain corrections to my South Africa, I mourn his death. I shall remember shaky English grammar. He also suggested an addition Ganga as a living example of that “common thread or two to my historic arguments—which I appreciated of humanity” he spoke of. even more. The years 1976-77 were not always easy One day on a Nieman outing Ganga jokingly ex- for a white Afrikaner in the liberal academic circles of plained his bulk with the remark that in every fat man New England, and every sign of sympathy or support also lived a thin man. “Yes, and you’re eating for both gave me much needed fresh heart. of them,” I retorted. Ganga laughed. How he would In 1984 I was invited to the Republic of China. I have laughed if he could see me now: also a fat man wrote to Ganga in Kuala Lumpur, supplying my itiner- with a thin man inside. And yes, Ganga, I am eating ary. What about a meeting somewhere in the East, I (and drinking) for both of them! ventured. On my way back I spent two nights in Hong Kong. After my first night out on the town there was Editor’s note: Ganga Pillai died on April 28, 2006. I a note on the floor when I entered my room in the Ambassador Hotel in the bustling, impressive Kowloon. The handwriting on the envelope was unmistakable. Ganga was in town. He had answered my call. We spent an unforgettable day, doing the tourist rounds, talking about a changing world, and remi- niscing over great moments and great people of our Nieman year. When we parted he took a pewter vase that he had had engraved: “To my friends, Hennie and Tokkie [my wife], from Ganga Pillai, Kuala Lumpur,

Ganga Pillai, left, and Hennie van Deventer, 1977 Nieman Fellows, reunited in Hong Kong in 1984.

Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 101 EndEnd Note Note

Goodbye to All That—A Memoir ‘My introduction to daily journalism began with a murder. My introduction to Niemanry also began with a murder.’

By Edward C. Norton

n 1962 I walked into the White city editor to the effect that the R-D reporters knew more than they wrote Plains, New York Reporter-Dispatch did not print stories of local violence and editors slept better when their I(R-D) and asked for a reporting by Negroes. The term “black” was not papers operated on the “Afghanistan” job. Editor Bill Bookman asked a few in use then. principle—all the details when the questions—would I work nights? Did Welcome to the world of American story was farthest from the newsroom, I have a car? When could I start? but when the story was in the It was all easier in the manual circulation area, well, best keep typewriter days, no personnel … there are tens of millions of the bulls and sacred cows quiet.1 forms, no writing tests. That all changed in 1972, of The night shift on an after- bloggers out there—each one his/her course, with Watergate and the noon paper was interesting. It very own reporter-pundit-city editor. two unknown Washington Post meant covering police news and reporters, backed by a gutsy government boards in a string If you doubt the sea change, ask the lady publisher and her brave of affluent Westchester County growing list of print reporters editors. towns—on-the-job training. When I reported for Niemanry The second or third night on who have been found to be plagiarists in September 1972, however, the job I was reading the log at by the unseen, lurking bloggers that journalism sea change was Greenburgh, New York police not complete. But it was time headquarters when two cops waiting in the electronic editorial for the second odd murder, as literally carried a blood-soaked bushes to scream foul. yet unsolved. The class of 1973 fellow into headquarters, while a —as tradition held—met with third cop trailed carrying a short university big shots and medium shotgun. shots at the first introductory The obviously drunk suspect had journalism pre-civil rights era. There reception. One of the Harvard me- just shot his wife. It was her blood on were all kinds of unsaid rules and regu- dium shots was Joseph Strickland, a him. I immediately trolled for details lations about all the news fit to print 1969 Nieman Fellow, ex-Detroit re- and got live quotes from the officers. in those days. They quickly made me porter turned graduate school scout Back at the office later I dug into the understand why my fellow reporters for worthy minority students. We fell story and shortly had a two-take story were so cynical and callous. The play/ into conversation and a few scholarly of a lively domestic murder. movie “The Front Page,” heretofore arguments. He won a few; I won a few. The next day I searched the paper a comedy to me, suddenly became a At the end of the evening he needed in vain for my story. When I got to the documentary. a lift to Roxbury, so we continued our office for my shift I found the copy on The years slipped by and the rules seminar in the car. He declined my my typewriter with a note from the continued. The most basic were that offer to take him to his apartment for,

1 In the late 1960’s I was among the first “official” investigative reporters, duly certified by the American Press Institute at Columbia University. I believe it was my articles about organized crime in New Jersey—pre-“The Sopranos”—that got my Nieman ticket punched.

102 Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 End Note as he said, it was not safe at night for from office. The story drew young responding from Denver, Colorado, a white guy in that black district. people to the trade and to journalism and Kunming, China, and places in Two days later we awoke to read classes and programs all around the between. The Web magazine, which in The Boston Globe that Strickland nation. By the mid 1970’s the movie “All had readers in more than 150 nations, had been shot to death in his apart- the President’s Men” made the young lasted about seven years—to the death ment by a small caliber pistol, and no eschew banks and brokerage houses in 2004 of its founder-editor, radio and robbery motive was apparent. I called for a manual typewriter. television veteran Richard Hughes.2 the Boston detective handling the case During that period I taught news During the same period—late and explained how and where I had writing at two colleges and warned my 1990’s—I became involved with a dropped Strickland. students—as did an article in The Wall novel daily Web newspaper on Cape The story was a two-day news affair Street Journal—that while there were Cod, perhaps a first local daily in the because of the Harvard connection. about 30,000 journalism students, United States without a print version. The detective felt Strickland knew his Woodstein wannabes, there were about As I had done in White Plains, I wan- killer, and perhaps it was a romance 300 jobs in the trade available for cub dered into its tiny office in affluent gone awry. Then and now I feel the reporters—maybe. Osterville, Massachusetts and asked case for the Boston cops was strictly a During that same period an under- the 20-something editor if he could 9-to-5, no overtime, 33-year cold case current ran little recognized outside use a local columnist with lots of print and no solution before the last com- the business offices of newspapers. experience who knew the rules of libel mercial. Over the years I often think that The 19th century newspaper industry and the AP stylebook. Strickland and I might have had lots of was colliding with reality—hot type The Web daily was called The Cape good arguments and conversations. to cold type and union-manning rules Cod Journal (CCJ), and during its excit- It was later in October when I fighting with financial efficiency. The ing run I ran around collecting local fell into conversation with Nieman collision resulted in the 88-day New stuff, reviewing plays, and covering luncheon guest Ben Bradlee, whose York newspaper strike of 1978 that public boards like the old days. CCJ brow was wrinkled with worry about drove me out of the newsroom and was fun while it lasted, but the owner the irregular series The Washington to the corporate world, where—amaz- of the Internet provider decided a few Post was running about the Watergate ing!—they had electric typewriters and, years later that while the Journal drew break-in fiasco. Bradlee was worried soon, computers. advertising and readers, his expenses because: a) most daily papers were From 1983 all my writing was done saw no blue sky ahead. Print or elec- not picking up the Woodstein articles on a computer, including a couple of tronic—the cash register rules. on the Post wire, and b) Bradlee was novels. Big business paid the mortgage, Meanwhile during the 1990’s daily unsure where the story was going and and when folks occasionally asked if newspapers across the nation were how much it could cost the Post if the I missed daily newspapers, I would starting Web sites, offering their daily story were a bust. reply, “Sure, the way I miss steam product free. Result: Today you can With the confidence that comes with locomotives.” read as many newspapers online as a grasp of the obvious, I told Bradlee By the early 1990’s, it was apparent you have time. that of the 1,700-plus daily papers in to all but the really dense that there the United States, about 1,650-plus was a new form of communication that The New Order would endorse Nixon for a second would challenge the traditional news term—thus the lack of interest in the gatekeepers. Reporting and all else had Whither journalism and newspapers ongoing series. Nixon took 49 states. changed radically—first e-mail, then today? Some critics say the end is near And it took the unraveling Watergate the novelty of the Web. for print; optimists predict that historic thread two more years to drive Nixon In that period I connected with a print corporations will soon move from office. Web pioneer in Durham, North Caro- their entire news product to the Web, lina, who framed and developed one to be read on PCs, laptops, phones or The Ground Shifts of the first Web magazines devoted BlackBerries, or the next digital marvel to columns and editorials on books, to spring itself on the public. Watergate was a sea change for Ameri- music, cuisine and my irregular rants The late press critic Joe Liebling can newspapers on many counts—first, on whatever irritation moved me. I once wrote that freedom of the press a new generation of reporters wanted called my contribution The Electric belongs to those who own one. Today to be investigators driving the wicked Ikonoklast. Soon I found I had readers we all own one, in the sense that there

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Nieman Reports / Winter 2006 103 End Note

are tens of millions of bloggers out a few specialize in guerrilla warfare Edward C. Norton, a 1973 Nieman there—each one his/her very own re- against what they call mainstream me- Fellow, has survived three newspaper porter-pundit-city editor. If you doubt dia. As someone said, we’re all entitled crash landings, two major corpora- the sea change, ask the growing list of to our opinions, but no one is entitled tions and has had six novels pub- print reporters who have been found to his/her own facts. lished, and with wife Mildred now to be plagiarists by the unseen, lurk- The future is here, critics say: Ama- lives in retirement on Cape Cod. He ing bloggers waiting in the electronic zon used to be a river; Yahoo was a can be reached at ecnorton@cape. editorial bushes to scream foul. bumpkin; a googol is 100 zeros, and com Is all this good for the reporting Google is a noun, verb and adjective. trade? I think so. The vast majority The past is good for a few laughs with of bloggers write about beekeeping, old colleagues. Do I miss it? Sure, the restoring 1956 Chevys, and where to way I miss steam locomotives. I find the best ice cream in Chicago. Only

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Painting by William H. Jackson depicting the Pony Express and Crossings Station on the Sweetwater. National Archives/Courtesy Newseum.

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