Monthly Archive:: January 2014
30 Jan 2014
5 tips for print newsrooms shifting to online focus
If the announcements from Digital First Media and the San Francisco Chronicle are any indication, the rest of America’s newspapers are waking up to the reality that Advance Digital figured out a few years ago: Future success in news depends on adapting to online, and that means cutting loose from the print mindset. Steve Buttry,
29 Jan 2014
Welcome to the digital future, Digital First and San Francisco Chronicle
In the last few days, the tide seems have turned in America’s newspaper newsrooms. The San Francisco Chronicle’s managing editor, Audrey Cooper, talked in detail about the paper’s plans to revamp its focus: “You look around this newsroom and it looks like it did in that photo in 1958,” she said. “The only thing that
27 Jan 2014
Indianapolis Star gets wits scared out of it by ridiculous demonic possession story
Offered as an object lesson in reporting: This credulous Indianapolis Star story about the demonic possession of a family. An editor for the Star promoted the piece on Twitter like this: Delusion or demonic possession? You decide. http://t.co/jDtwLav31Q via @indystar — Eric Dick (@IndyStarEric) January 26, 2014 No, no, no. That’s like saying “Earth —
26 Jan 2014
Plain Dealer dumps PolitiFact … and about time, too
The Plain Dealer and its stable-mate, the Northeast Ohio Media Group, are finally doing the right thing about PolitiFact. They’re quitting. It’s for the wrong reason, but I’ll count my blessings. The operation’s Ted Diadiun reports: I should note that although some editors shared my dismay over the Truth-O-Meter, that did not figure in the
23 Jan 2014
Homeopathic journalism, or the rise of the single-source story
I’ve learned that one thing, at least, hasn’t changed in the nearly 40 years since I started journalism school: the reluctance of young students to interview strangers. Some of my colleagues at Kent State, where I’m now teaching a Media Writing class, were talking about assigning interviews in a basic reporting class. Students almost invariably
14 Jan 2014
CJR flings another handful of poo at nola.com and Advance Digital
I’m assuming there’s a dartboard in the offices of the Columbia Journalism Review that has Advance Digital or one of its top bosses in the bullseye, because at least two of its staff — Ryan Chittum and Dean Starkman — seem to be determined to poke as many holes in the Newhouse company’s plans as