Get out of the newsroom and into the community
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
When I started my first journalism job at a medium-sized newspaper, I was surprised by how many reporters rarely left their desks to do their work. It wasn't that they were lazy or not producing stories — they just did their reporting over the phone. Now that e-mail, Google, and other internet technologies are a permanent fixture in newsrooms, many more journalists are doing their work from the comfort of their chairs.
This is why I was excited when California Watch, the investigative reporting team for which I serve as a multimedia producer, announced the "Open Newsroom." For one day, the California Watch team is hitting the streets in neighborhoods around the state and inviting readers to come chat with us, share ideas, or just share a cup of coffee.
The idea was born out of necessity — the team is transitioning to a new work space — but I personally love the idea of going into the community and inviting readers to meet us face-to-face. Journalists are already doing this somewhat using social networks like Twitter to interact with readers, but nothing beats in-person interaction.
Shortly after I discovered my colleagues at my first newsroom were conducting most of their reporting over the phone, I was introduced to the concept of "parachute journalism," or visiting a community only to cover a story and then leaving shortly after. Journalists should avoid parachuting into communities and should whenever possible get out of the newsrooms and meet the people in the communities they cover.
As for me, you can catch me at the Starbucks at 2224 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, January 19. Drop by and say hello and let's see if we can't make journalism a little more awesome.
This is why I was excited when California Watch, the investigative reporting team for which I serve as a multimedia producer, announced the "Open Newsroom." For one day, the California Watch team is hitting the streets in neighborhoods around the state and inviting readers to come chat with us, share ideas, or just share a cup of coffee.The idea was born out of necessity — the team is transitioning to a new work space — but I personally love the idea of going into the community and inviting readers to meet us face-to-face. Journalists are already doing this somewhat using social networks like Twitter to interact with readers, but nothing beats in-person interaction.
Shortly after I discovered my colleagues at my first newsroom were conducting most of their reporting over the phone, I was introduced to the concept of "parachute journalism," or visiting a community only to cover a story and then leaving shortly after. Journalists should avoid parachuting into communities and should whenever possible get out of the newsrooms and meet the people in the communities they cover.
As for me, you can catch me at the Starbucks at 2224 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, January 19. Drop by and say hello and let's see if we can't make journalism a little more awesome.
Labels: news on the news
6 Comments
Adam Glenn Says:
So true! When I started my first reporting job in 1985, if my editor saw me at my desk, it was "Glenn, what the hell are you doing at your desk? Why aren't you out reporting?" Then, 30 years later, in my last reporting job, if my editor *didn't* see me at my desk, it was "Where the hell is Glenn? Why isn't he here reporting?" ... And so it goes. Nice initiative. I'll look forward to the results!
Roberto Rocha Says:
This is important in more than one way. Being a regular in a community gains trust. People will come to you with stories. And, who knows, they might actually read the paper you work for.
paulbalcerak Says:
Mónica Guzmán from seattlepi.com has been doing this for a while and while I can't speak to how much it benefits her in terms of story ideas (though since she's been doing it so long, I gotta figure it's at least somewhat helpful) I can say, from a reader's perspective, that it makes her one of the most visible reporters in the city. She'd probably be a good person to talk to for anyone looking to start up a weekly "office hours" type thing and make it successful (not that you can't go your own way, too).
Says:
I'm both happy and dismayed by your post - I've worked in radio for years and have spent a lot of time out of the office interviewing people. I know that spending a lot of time on the phone is often a necessity but the fact that it seems unusual to meet your audience is, frankly, very disturbing! So yes, let's get out of the office and find out about stories and issues that matter to more than the five people who sit around your desk!
Señora X Says:
Very good initiative. I worked in a newspaper for 8 years and the truth is that the system were not made to reporting in the streets. I struggled a bit and took some personal costs to cover some stories personally, because I think that nothing can replace face to face contact with your sources. It is vital but, in part because of the speed imposed by new tech, many organizations don't make the appropriate balance between desk and street. Finally, it is a lot about organization culture and editorial will.
January 19, 2010 11:19 AM