Friday, January 12, 2007
Specialization Fades for Journalists and Public Relations Professionals
byThe reorganization at Gannett newspapers – where newsgathering efforts are becoming more audience-centric and delivered through the most appropriate medium – means current and future journalists must become less specialized, think visually more often, and increase their comfort with technology.
Steve Outing, writing for Editor & Publisher (via Shel Holtz), even suggests that small newspapers should avoid hiring print-focused employees:
My advice is to ONLY hire people whose skills cross media platforms. Look for people who not only understand and are enthusiastic about online media, but who also can serve the print edition well. If a job candidate says she has always aspired to be a newspaper reporter, and doesn’t come in the door with some multimedia skills and experience such as video and audio production, frankly I’d keep looking.
In addition, one California newspaper requires new reporters to shoot video for stories in addition to writing for print. Experienced reporters have this option but it isn’t required.
As Shel points out, journalists and public relations types must shift to multi-channel, multimedia thinking. At the same time, our colleges and universities will need to catch up with this trend. New graduates are certainly savvy technology users and media consumers, but academic departments and individual educators must break out of the traditional print/broadcast divide as they prepare tomorrow’s professionals. As the Gannett model (or a variation of it) becomes an industry reality, the story will increasingly drive the medium.
