MediaBlather » journalism

106: Freelance Destruction

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:35:27 +0000

As recently as a couple of years ago freelance writing was a popular way for journalists to make a living. The pay wasn’t great, but the work was interesting and most professional freelancers could make a reasonable income.

Today, things are very different. Freelance rates have fallen through the floor as publications have shriveled and community journalism operations like Associated Content and Demand Media have brought legions of writers into the market working for pennies on the dollar. They produce a lot of content, but is it any good?

David and Paul are all for media democratization, but they also believe the quality of some of the information we get today has declined precipitously over the past few years. One example is product reviews and analysis. While more people than ever are beating on the new iPad and documenting their experiences these days, few of them apply the methodological rigor and discipline of professional reviewers. It’s easy to get opinions now, but not necessarily opinions you can trust.

Hands-on technical reviews have been a major part of David’s business for a long time, and he’s adjusting to the new world by self-publishing and finding new sponsors for his expertise. Our hosts tackle the pros and cons of freelance destruction. Are we really better off?

Right-click here to download

77: Judging Citizen Journalists

admin — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:23:32 +0000

Consumer-generated media has caused a lot of excitement among publishers who hope to use it as a low-cost way to generate content. However, a recent article in Folio magazine noted that coordinating an army of citizen journalists to produce publication-quality information is messy and expensive. David and Paul believe media generated by readers has its place, but it will never measure up to material from professional writers. They question whether those standards are realistic, though. Consumer-generated media should be measured on its own merits, not those of professional journalists. Do you agree? Let us know in the comments area below.

Listen to the podcast (right-click and save to download): 19:13

Experiment in Citizen Journalism

admin — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:04:15 +0000

Does print still have value? The people at Neighborsgo.com would argue that it does. This website, which is a spinoff ofthe Dallas Morning News, is using a social network to anchor a community journalism initiative. Local residents create profiles and post information about their interests.

Every week, editors dig through comments from citizens and produce 18 local print editions. Here’s a description of how it works. The opportunity to be featured in print is a major impetus for local residents to contribute, says managing editor Oscar Martínez (left). And it may actually be a jump start for careers. One journalism student has used her trip to Beijing to contribute a series of articles on the preparations for the Olympics. The visibility she’s received has been worth more than any internship could offer.

Martínez is a career newspaper guy who made the switch to online media eight years ago. He understands the difficulties that print journalists are experiencing in moving to a new medium. In this audio interview, he talks about the innovations that are working for Neighborsgo and how journalists can find their distinct value in a new world of consumer-generated media.

To play the interview, click here. To download, right-click the link and save to a local file (49:53)