Washington Newspaper Begins Streaming Editorial Meetings

Earlier this week, the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Wash., began online streaming of its two daily editorial meetings. Anyone – including the newspaper’s competitors – can sign on and watch editors critique today’s paper, plan coverage and determine story placement.

It’s a thoughtful effort from a newspaper that already has two blogs: one devoted to editorial decisions and another for reader conversation. The online streaming feature includes technical tips and an interactive diagram of the conference room so viewers know what’s happening.

Steven Smith, the Spokesman-Review’s editor, fully admits it’s an experiment with no certain outcomes. At the same time, he also recognizes the convergence of broadband Internet penetration with rapidly-evolving technology. The most encouraging comments come from Smith in a Q&A with Al Tompkins of Poynter Online:

Our experience is that readers value the interaction, love to participate and often provide information and feedback that informs our journalism and gives it focus. But, as journalists, we always retain the right and ability to set our own agenda, to say “no” to ideas that won’t work for us. We remain independent, that independence in no way compromised by reader engagement.

Although this effort probably won’t revolutionize the newspaper world, it’s an attempt to evolve as the industry faces pressure from new media. Readers benefit from a glimpse into the newsgathering world. Editors and reporters maintain journalistic standards and integrity. Let’s hope it sparks ideas in other newsrooms.