Lynn Walsh

A story written for the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA):

Real News in a World of Celebrity Culture
Sep 27 2010
By Lynn Walsh, Texas Watchdog

Will Lindsay Lohan go back to jail? Or will Ms. Lohan will just be sent to rehab?

No one knows but most local television stations, and even the national news organizations, spend valuable news time covering Lohan’s latest stint in rehab and other celebrity gossip.

I realize our culture has an obsession with celebrity where-abouts, relationships, etc., but, with websites like Perez Hilton, television stations like E! and shows like TMZ and Access Hollywood, why are minutes of news shows being dedicated to the glitz and glam of Hollywood?

I will admit that I too follow pop culture and even DVR TMZ daily, but I question whether a local news station and national news organizations should air so many stories on celebrity culture.

Why? I feel it is a disservice to the viewers who tune into our stories every day.

Yes, people like celebrity culture and yes, a lot of people enjoy watching the latest celebrity gossip headlines on their televisions or computers. But that does not mean they are not interested in other issues going on in their community. It also does not mean they want to see celebrity news every time they turn on their TV.

While working in newsrooms I have heard colleagues say, “viewers do not care about politics,” or “viewers will not understand that financial story,” etc. I say make them understand, show them how politics and the financial world affects them every day.

How? Focus on what they care about: money, family, their homes, the schools their children attend, parks, their health, etc.

Think about why you care about the story or why your mother or father would be upset if a certain ordinance was approved by City Council. Think about what is changing when new laws go into effect. If a government organization is spending money in one area it normally means there will be cuts to another, what will happen then? Will services be lost? Will people lose their jobs? Or maybe there are not any cuts, what does that mean for next years budget or for taxes?

Do most people talk about the latest city council vote at the water cooler? Maybe not. But, is it really because they do not care or is it because they do not know? I think it is the later and while stories about local government or the spending of stimulus dollars may be more difficult, don’t you think they are also more informative?

I say leave the celebrity news to the celebrity-focused shows, blogs and stations. As journalists, we play an important role in people’s lives and the world; let’s not take it for granted. Let’s do the most with it and do our part to inform, engage and empower viewers.

A story written for the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA):

Build a Wall or Invest in an App?

Sep 14 2010
By Lynn Walsh, Texas Watchdog

How will newspapers and journalism organizations make money in the future? It is a question journalist, investors and readers ask themselves every day. Possible solutions are thrown around everyday and maybe one of the most popular is the use of a pay wall.

A pay wall for the New York Times will begin in January 2011. How will it work? Readers will be able to view a certain number of articles per month for free on the website, but after the “free threshold” is broken, readers will have to pay for a subscription to the website to view any more articles during that particular month.

Will it work? That has yet to be seen but here is my opinion:

I, like most journalist and news fanatics, view a lot of news from a lot of different sources. I subscribe to RSS feeds from newspapers, bloggers, magazines, online puplications, etc. My news and information does not normally come from a single source; normally it comes from whichever news organization has the top story in a Google search.

In January 2011, IF I happen to reach my “free article threshold” on the New York Times website, I mostly likely will just search for the same information from a different source. The key word though is “if.” I do not think I have read more than one article a week from the New York Times. I would probably never even pass the “free article threshold.”

And I think that is just one reason why the pay wall is not going to work. In the age of the Internet, readers and viewers have grown to expect that content will be free. Whether right or wrong it is the norm. For websites like the New York Times, the Washington Post, and other newspapers that carry a variety of content, I do not think a pay wall will work.

I do think websites that write for more of a niche market, like Mashable and ESPN may be able to. These sites cater to a crowd that expects news on subjects they care about immediately and daily. Readers subscribe to and read their feeds daily – even hourly – and do it for leisure.

So what is the alternative to a pay wall? In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales said that applications for devices like mobile phones and iPad’s could help news organizations make money off of their content.

In the interview, Wales argues that since buying applications has become almost a “one-click process,” it allows consumers to make “impulse buys.” Readers and viewers no longer have to enter credit card information or fill out a form; that information is already stored in an iTunes account or an Amazon account, so when you do buy something all you get is the bill.

I think Wales has a great point and it may be a better solution then a pay wall for news organizations across the country. Just look at music downloading: less than five years ago it seemed like everyone was downloading music for FREE. After one free file-sharing site was shut down another appeared. Now, we actually pay for music (if you would have told me this five years ago I would not have believed you.)

Why are people paying for it now and refused to before? I think it all traces back to the ease of use. You no longer have to wait to be by a computer to buy a song or an album-you can do it from your phone, e-reader, etc. and all with one click.

Applications for mobile devices are very similar. You see a friend with a new app that you must have, but, it is a $1.99, what do you do? Well, your friend will probably talk about how amazing it is for 10 minutes and keeps using it in front of you, so most of the time you break down and buy it. Since your credit card information is connected to your iTunes account it doesn’t feel like a purchase and you may not even remember doing it until you get the bill from Apple.

With the ease of use, I think applications may be just one solution to the money crunch facing the news organization. Will the pay wall work? I cannot wait to see! And I think both pay walls and applications are just the beginning of solutions the news organization will develop and use to keep the web of information spinning.

A story written for the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA):

Vacation? You’re Never Really Off As a Journalist
Sep 02 2010
By Lynn Walsh, Texas Watchdog

Whether you work in a television station, a radio station or you are a freelancer, the number of hours worked vary and can be very demanding. So when it comes time to use some of that very precious vacation time you are ready for a break!

If you are anything like me though the vacation can sometime turn into more writing, more blogging and even more tweeting–not because you HAVE to, but because you WANT to.

I recently met my family for a week long vacation in Gulf Shores, Alabama. At first when my mom told me where the family was vacationing this year I was not that interested. Then the biggest oil spill this country has ever witnessed happened and I took the whole week off. (To be with my family of course.)

The thought of being able to see firsthand what the beaches in Alabama looked like was too much of a temptation for me personally and professionally. I wanted to see the oil on the beaches firsthand, I wanted to see how the local tourism industry was being effected and I could not wait to tweet all about my experience.

I believe that journalism never stops and being a journalist is more than a career choice–it is a lifestyle choice. Whether it is leaving a family dinner to take a call from a sought-after source or making vacation plans based on what is going on in the news; journalists can find themselves constantly working and sometimes forget to stop and just enjoy the little free time we have.

Ever-changing new technologies and the need for up-to-the-second news updates makes it even more difficult to disconnect from our jobs. Social Media sites like Facebook and Twitter create a need to always get involved and share new information about the big stories of the day.

The thought of not tweeting for a day and possibly loosing followers or becoming less relevant to the public you report to every day can drive you wild. Or is it just me?

For those not in the “business” this post may seem completely ridiculous and exaggerated; they may even say it is not healthy to be that connected to your job. To that I say welcome to my world and the world of any serious journalist who loves what they do day in and day out.

I will also argue that is not unhealthy. If journalists did not feel the need to take pictures, tweet, or blog about their experiences day in and day out, the public would not see news that is dedicated to helping communities and uncovering corruption.

While it is great to want to interview the shop keeper at the boardwalk at Gulf Shores about the decrease in tourism because of the oil spill or take video and pictures of “tar balls” washing up on the beach; it is important to also take a breath and enjoy family, friends and vacation.

Here are some tips I have for remaining connected and being a journalist while still enjoying some time off:

1. Use technology to your advantage. Sites like Twitter and Facebook make it easy to upload photos and even video instantly to the world. Put the blog on hold and take advantage of micro-blogging–the information still gets out there but without the hassle of full-blown stories or blog posts.

2. Take advantage of LIVE broadcasting. From my iPhone I can broadcast video live through services like Ustream. While walking up and down the beach I can record what I am seeing, describe it and share it with the world instantly. This cuts down on editing and posting time later. It does not have to be perfect–remember you are on vacation not in the newsroom.

3. Leave your computer at home. I have to admit this is hard for me to do, but it works. Any e-mail, phone call or tweeting you want to do, do it–but from your phone. Anything that involves more work than that should probably be left for when you return to work. If all else fails you can always find a local library or Internet cafe!

4. Let people know you will be out of town. This is probably the most important thing I have learned. Create a vacation responder for your e-mail addresses, work phone number, etc. I make it clear that I am on vacation BUT if it is something urgent I should be contacted on my cell. It gives me piece of mind to know that I do not have to check my e-mail if no one is calling then that must mean nothing is urgent. Also, let sources and others you work with daily know you will be out of town–send them an e-mail, make a quick phone call, etc.; that will give them a heads up and help you enjoy some time off!

A story produced for Texas Watchdog:

Investigating schools up for discussion during the next TrentTV | Sept. 28 on newmediatv.org
Wed Sep 1 14:02:00 2010 CST
By Lee Ann O’Neal

Interested in digging into your local school system? Then please join us for the next TrentTV, when we’ll be talking about strategies and tips for investigating schools, using examples from our coverage of the Houston Independent School District. The interactive webinar is free and open to the public. We hope you can join us at 11:30 a.m. CST on Tuesday, Sept. 28 at newmediatv.org.
TrentTV is a monthly training webinar for journalists, activists, citizen-journalists and bloggers. It’s produced by Texas Watchdog and New Media TV.

A story written for the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA):

Using QR Codes to Your Advantage
Aug 27 2010
By Lynn Walsh, Texas Watchdog

QR codes are everywhere lately, on New York City garbage trucks, at music festivals and even in print advertisements.

QR or Quick Response codes are scanable bar codes that can be read by QR readers on mobile phones. Some codes just link to one website, others link to a whole list of contact information for an individual or a company.

Mobile QR apps are everywhere and most of them are free. It is also free to scan the QR codes and with plenty of QR code generators that are also free, there is no reason why journalists should not experiment with them as well.

As an individual there are plenty of ways to take advantage of QR codes. From generating one for a personal business card with all of your contact information in one code or having one specific to a website you work for-the possibilities are endless.

But how can QR Codes be used effectively by a news organization? Since QR codes are one of my new favorite things I have have a few suggestions:

1. News Scavenger Hunts. At station events use QR codes to link back to your station’s news coverage. Have fliers or printed boards with questions about recent news events or trivia that link back to stories the station has covered. The viewers would scan the code and be sent to view a story on the station website. It sends traffic back to the site while being a source of entertainment for viewers.

2. Added Value to News content. Sometimes a story could benefit from more than 15 seconds of coverage. Expand the stories on the web and create a QR code that is specific to that page of the site. When reporters are out in the field they can hand out the codes or even wear the code on clothing or a badge so people can easily find where more information is located.

3. Branding. Working for an online news publication that is new in a city can be hard at times–people may not recognize the name right away and you may not always have the time to explain it for longer than 10 seconds. Create a code that can go on a business card, press badge, clothing, microphones, cameras, etc. that can be scanned on the run. Have the code direct people to the site to learn who you are and what you cover.

4. Breaking News. Develop a code that goes directly to the station’s Twitter account or breaking news page of the website. Better yet-why not paint it on the news trucks? When people see a news van they normally wonder what the big story is–now you can tell them! Create a page on the site or a twitter account for each truck or car, make sure to update the account when it is out in the field and they could then be used for teasing stories that will air later or to create social media buzz around a story.

Technology is here to stay. Embracing it is going to only help us as journalists and the entire news industry.

Those are just some ideas I had but I would love to hear what you think? Let me know on Twitter @Lwalsh or e-mail, Lynn.K.Walsh@gmail.com. I truly believe the possibilities are endless.

A story written for RTDNA-Radio Television Digital News Association

Audio Tweets: The Future of Online Reporting?
Jul 29 2010
By Lynn Walsh, Texas Watchdog

A little bit of social media heaven revealed itself to me this week: audio tweeting.

It showed up as most social media news does, through my Mashable iPhone application.

But, this article on the technology and social media website is more than just a first look at how to send audio clips over social media sites. It reveals yet another tool journalists can use to better connect communities to the stories being reported every day.

Whether it is a quick sound bite or a descriptive audio clip-they can now be shared instantaneously with audiences across the world with just a few clicks.

While the possibilities of how journalists can use these services is endless, in my opinion; the greatest part is the ease of use.

Most reporters are already tweeting throughout the day as they run to and from interviews, press conferences, events, etc. Sometimes the messages are timely and deliver breaking news as it happens-other times the messages prepare the audience for what to expect in a story coming later that day or night.

Now, instead of describing the noise of the construction site or quoting a school board member during a meeting, journalists can actually share the sounds with their followers as they happen. No more typing out quotes in 140 characters or less-just hit record and the 15-second sound bite can be shared on Facebook and Twitter in less than a minute.

Some may argue sharing a compelling interview clip or providing too many details may reveal too much of the finished product-leaving listeners and viewers with nothing new to see later. I disagree.

Think about how many times you have been forced to choose between great sound bites, leaving the “leftover” sound to just be recorded over the next day. Now you not only have a way to let your source tell more of their story in their own words, but you can create a compelling, interesting and multimedia story that ropes listeners and viewers in throughout the day.

It could be an informative, day-long teaser for your audience. Plus-it is interesting, innovative and provides more levels of engagement for the community.

Another great reason to audio tweet: the possibility of increased transparency for the public. They are not just reading quotes you heard someone say, they are actually hearing the same sounds and comments you are, just a few seconds later.

As journalists across the country are expected to do more with less, new technologies can be overwhelming; I encourage you to not give-up. New technologies are allowing journalists to tell better stories that make a bigger impact in communities everywhere-embracing the changes and new technologies can help the world become more engaged and better informed.

The five services Mashable suggests are:

• Chir.ps
• AudioBoo
• Twaud.io
• Chirbit
• ShoutoMatic

The services all offer web-based platforms and AudiBoo also has both iPhone and Android applications. Short and longer recordings are both possible with the above services (Twaud.io will allow around 30 minutes of audio to be recorded and uploaded.)

Lynn Walsh is an investigative video journalist at Texas Watchdog, a nonprofit online journalism organization focusing on government accountability and transparency in Texas.

A story written for Texas Watchdog:

How does your Houston school rate? Local parents, teachers and community members are letting you know online.
Mon Jun 28 16:33:00 2010 CST
By Lynn Walsh

Want to know how HISD schools rate? Parents, teachers and community members are letting you know….online.

For example, here’s a sampling:

“These teachers can’t maintain order in their classrooms therefore can’t teach…”

“this school have a very low discipline… this year was the worse. I have to talk with the director this year four times, because my daughter was bully on the bus and nothing happened…”

I’m going there next year and went last year it’s the best school!! You find so many friends of all different races and backgrounds I recommend you go to SFMS or your child does it’s an awesome school!! )

These opinions are on Everyblock, a public record and information aggregator that has been popping up all over the nation to cover neighborhoods. It now has a Houston site and with it comes school reviews for schools in the Houston Independent School District, as well as private schools in the area.

The information on Everyblock, is aggregated from another school rating website, GreatSchools, an independent national non-profit funded by national and regional organizations, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Results for Houston Independent School District campuses show schools with four stars, like Carnegie Vanguard High School, and some with just two, such as Marshall Middle School.

Parents, community members and teachers can log on and rate the schools by awarding a campus between one and five stars. On the school rating pages, GreatSchools says: “A great school has…Excellent teachers, Strong principal/school leadership and Challenging academic programs.” While reviewing you can identify yourself as a “parent, teacher/staff member, or other.”

But how non-biased are the comments?

GreatSchools Spokeswoman, Karissa Sparks, said that their policy how comments are monitored and how schools are rated has evolved.

“A team of parents used to be responsible for deciding which comments and rating were approved on the site,” Sparks said. “We recently have changed that.”

Now, GreatSchools requires people to verify an e-mail address with the website and if problems or questions arise from the comments the site will contact those involved to gather more information.”

Sometimes the site will even put school ratings on hold, Sparks said, if they have found a violation of the websites terms of use.

The page outlines basic federal libel and slander laws and also outlines “GreatSchools Parent Community Guidelines.” Some of their guidelines include:

* Do not use ALL CAPS in your post

* Do not believe everything you read

* Do not re-post deleted content

New technology and the Internet continues to open new doors to local communities allowing their voices to be heard. But will a bad rating deter parents from sending their children to a particular campus? And will four or five star campuses draw more students?

Let us know what you think of the site and if you have used it or plan on using it, Lynn@Texaswatchdog.org or on Twitter: @Lwalsh.

A story written for Texas Watchdog:

Texas Watchdog’s Lynn Walsh reflects on broadcast training at the Poynter Institute
Mon Jun 21 16:48:00 2010 CST
By Lynn Walsh

Multimedia seems to be the key word in the world of journalism right now — whether it is “tweeting” or livestreaming on the web.
Working for an online news organization I use multimedia on a daily basis, but I learned at a recent conference sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists that multimedia convergence has become the norm at TV stations across the country. I joined a group of journalists last week for SPJ’s Broadcast Reporters Institute, at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla.

cellphone camera
TV reporters and anchors are not just encouraged but expected to add to the news they are covering by uploading scene photos, sharing links, recording web extras…the list goes on and on.

To me, one of the most exciting multimedia components I learned about is the use of mobile communication tools in the news industry. A video can be recorded, edited and uploaded in minutes, and all that is needed is a phone — something that can be carried around in your pocket.
The Missouri School of Journalism uses iPhone video and audio for stories in its newscasts on a daily basis. The students are editing, uploading and creating entire video stories from the palm of their hand.

New technologies provide publishing opportunities for the public, beyond traditional newsrooms. With the right equipment, anyone can create a video in minutes, upload it and share with the entire world. Exhibit A: Rabbi David F. Nesenoff and his flipcam.

Mobile video uploading and editing can make citizen journalists more powerful while bringing more watchful eyes to the streets. As an advocate for government transparency and accountability, I say, “the more the merrier.”

Texas Watchdog is always trying to use the most relevant, powerful technologies to reach our readers and viewers. If there is a technology you want to see used more or less, let us know at news@texaswatchdog.org.
If you shoot video you think we may want to see, send it my way. I’m on Twitter, @Lwalsh. E-mail lynn@texaswatchdog.org. Call 713-228-2850.

A story produced for Texas Watchdog:

Click here to see the TRENT TV Webinar On Databases: How To Get Them, Read Them, Use Them
Tue Apr 27 14:51:55 2010 CST
By Lynn Walsh

Want to get your hands on a government employee salary database? Maybe you want to see which companies in your city are being awarded government contracts? Or how your schools are shaping up in connection with test scores — or even health violations!

That information — and much more — is a public record. But how do you get it? What does it all mean? And what do you do once you have it?

Texas Watchdog has the answers to those questions and much more in the most recent episode of Trent TV: Databases and Spreadsheets-Getting it, reading it and using it.

Still have questions? Are you hitting a roadblock? Texas Watchdog is here for you; contact us anytime online or over the phone.

Contact us at 713-980-9777 or email us at trent@texaswatchdog.org

Trent TV is a free monthly training webinar for journalists, activists, citizen journalists and bloggers.

newmediatvorg on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

A story produced for Texas Watchdog:

Trent TV is back: Tune in today to Texas Watchdog to learn all you wanted to know about obtaining government databases and using them effectively
Tue Apr 27 11:39:00 2010 CST
By Trent Seibert

Tune in today at 11:30 Central time to Trent TV, a monthly journalism webinar led by the staff of Texas Watchdog.

The topic this month is all about databases: finding them, getting them, using them.

Tune in at www.newmediatv.org. And, it’s interactive, so you can twitter us questions or submit them vis New Media TV.

See you then!

Any questions? Email Lynn Walsh at lynn@texaswatchdog.org