Aug 17 2011
By Lynn Walsh, RTDNA Blogger & SPJ Generation J Committee Head

Are you a multimedia journalist or a video journalist? Or are you a multimedia producer? Or maybe you consider yourself a digital journalist?

As the technology in the newsroom continues to change, the responsibilities of each person in the newsroom is also changing.

A reporter may now also be considered a photographer, an editor, a web producer, etc. More and more of us do more than just write stories or make the phone calls and do the research for the stories. We are also responsible for taking the pictures, shooting video, creating an online story and more, all while still reporting.

So, what does that mean for you? What do you list your title as on social media sites, your business cards, etc.?

These questions have been raised several times at conferences and during discussions with journalists and it made me think, does the title you use matter? Specifically, does it matter while you are applying for jobs?

After raising those questions to several people who are currently in hiring position or have been in the past, the consensus was that the title you are using is not as important as the work you are doing.

“Titles never meant anything to me,” Julie Lane said. She said, she wants to know “what experience a candidate had and how adept was that person in handling his or her responsibilities.” Lane is not currently in a position to hire journalists, she said, but has been in the past.

“The days of pigeon-holing someone into an ‘XYZ’ title are gone,” Patricia Edwards, an editor and publisher in North Carolina said. “In this day and age, the title ‘journalist’ encompasses so much more than it did when I got into the business. I am a journalist by profession but have worked as a reporter, photographer, editor, publisher. And given the current trend in reporting the news, you really have to be a ‘Jane of All Trades,’” she said.

The need to be a “Jane (or Jack) of all Trades,” is what journalism schools are preparing us to be and it is why, I think, we wonder what to call ourselves.

“I do think in today’s market, having experience that goes beyond one medium is important,” Lane said. “You may be a newspaper reporter, but are likely expected to write for the paper’s website and to provide still photography, video clips and slide shows for the web.”

So, when you have all of that experience and you want to market yourself accordingly, what title do you use? I posed this question to members of the SPJ Generation J committee.

“Newscast Producer,” committee member Mike Brannen said. Brannen works at a television station in Seattle, Washington where he produces the station’s morning newscast. “We have web editors, and by title I would call our reporters our journalists (even though producers take part),” he wrote in an e-mail.

Nathaniel Miller, also an SPJ Generation J committee member, lists himself as an “online content developer,” on business cards. “It’s the official title here,” he said. Miller works at the Sacramento Bee newspaper in California.

“Although, I’m a producer,” he said and “overall, it’s best to describe myself as an editor. That’s a technically correct answer, considering I’m the online editor on Sundays. But it’s not entirely correct. Web producer with editor responsibilities is probably the most exact.”

“I think now the definition of ‘(Title) Journalist’ is applicable to the folks utilizing social media more than the ones on the traditional platforms,” Brannen said.

For employers, Miller said he would also use the title “editor” because “that would grab their attention.”

I list my title as an “investigative multimedia journalist.” For me, I have decided to add “investigative” because it shows a niche or area of news that I am experienced in. That said, I would probably drop the word if I was applying to a general assignment reporter position.

I chose “multimedia” over “digital” or “video” because I like and want to continue to do more than just video editing and I think the word “multimedia” encompasses more of my skills than “digital.” But, I think those two words may be more interchangeable, than others.

Bob Beyette, a longtime reporter and news manager in Athens, Ohio believes the word “multimedia” says a reporter does more. “‘Digital’ says to me that they only work on the Internet,” he said. Beyette is also a professor at Ohio University.

As for choosing ‘journalist’ over ‘reporter,’ I again believe it encompasses more. I want people to see my title and think that I do more than report, which we probably all do and it may be assumed, but I think by saying ‘journalist’ I am telling people that I want to continue to be a reporter, a producer, an editor, etc. I don’t just want to produce or just report, I want to do a little bit of both.

“I wouldn’t put ‘radio’ reporter on my business card, so I don’t think I would put ‘multimedia’ or ‘digital’ on that,” Beyette said. For Beyette, the most important word is ‘reporter.’

Aug 09 2011
By Lynn Walsh, RTDNA Blogger

As news consumption and delivery continues to change, your role in the newsroom probably continues to change too. Sometimes probably more quickly than you would like.

While you cannot always control what story you are covering on a particular day, you can work to help shape the topics and stories you become remembered and known for.

I think the best way to do this is to think about what you want to become an expert in. Think of it as the go-to person in your newsroom when someone needs a source, story idea or advice about a particular story.

You could be an expert in almost anything. Maybe it is a particular beat (city council, the local school board political races, etc.) or maybe it is a type of reporting (investigations, consumer, breaking news, etc.) You could also become an expert based on mastering certain skills (mobile reporting, creating multimedia and interactive web tools, public information requests, etc.)

Whatever it may be make sure you enjoy it!

Once you have figured out what you want to work on becoming an expert in, here are some tips on how to become the expert for your newsroom.

Build sources. While you may not always be the one covering the story it is important that you have the contacts related to your particular expertise if you want to be considered the expert. Keep contact information for everyone you talk to and keep it organized in a way that is easy to understand and share. Don’t forget about finding sources on social media sites like Twitter and Quora too. Also remember to create follower lists and join groups on these sites.

Obtain information. Sign-up for all the email updates. Ask to be sent all the press releases related to the topic or beat. Create google alerts related your subject. Sign up for local, state and federal newsletters related to the topic. More information provides you with more story ideas and keeps you informed.

Network with the real experts. Look up local experts and meet with them. Do it one on one or find group meet-ups or events planned by them and attend. It is a great excuse to talk to them and you never know when they may have a tip or story for you!

Practice makes perfect. If you like reporting from your phone or using new technology then practice these skills. Attend and apply for trainings to develop skills. Sign-up for webinars and take advantage of all of the free online training that are available on journalism organization sites like RTDNA.

Participate. Whether it is at an event or on a social media site, don’t just sit and observe people, participate in the conversations. Ask questions, share your stories and other stories related to the topics.

Also, remember to give back when you can. Even though you are not a doctor and did not go to medical school if your best had been covering the medical field for years, you can provide information and a different insight many in the medical field may not have heard before. If they ask you to speak at a conference, consider it. And also, remember to share your knowledge with other journalists. Whether that is at conventions, running a webinar or just making yourself available to other journalists, it will pay off in the end!

How are you working to become an expert in your newsroom? Let me know, Lynn.K.Walsh@gmail.com or on Twitter @LWalsh.

Now available online: TrentTV webinar on getting military information, podcast on FollowTheMoney.org
Tuesday, Jan 25, 2011, 04:37PM CST
By Jennifer Peebles

And if you haven’t already, please “like” our pages on Facebook for both TrentTV and Transparency Talk Radio to keep up with all the latest news about show times and topics — and feel free to use those links to send us your feedback, comments, questions and topic ideas.

What’s Your ‘News-Year’ Resolution?

Dec 28 2010
By Lynn Walsh, Texas Watchdog

Another year is coming to an end and for most people that means promises of new beginnings for a new year.

New Years resolution stories pop-up in news coverage all of the time, but what about taking the time to make your own journalistic-resolutions to welcome in 2011?

Think of the impact committing to just a few changes in the way you report stories could do for your audience. Think of how much better the coverage could be with a few slight changes. Or maybe it is as simple as reviewing your own personal journalism ethics? Below are some ideas to get you thinking:

1. Say no to “press-release reporting.” Press releases come into newsroom mailboxes and in-boxes in hoards it seems. When on deadline it can be easy to pick one out of the pile and use it as your pitch for the day, but is easy what you want to be known for? I am not saying press releases are useless but with the increase use of technology your viewers have probably already heard the news of what is in the press release. Also, the internet has made it easy to share the news from the press release in other ways than taking up valuable minutes in a news cast. Use them for guidance sure, but don’t take the easy way out.

2. Create/Review your personal code of ethics. There are a variety of ethics codes for journalists out there and it is great to check those out, but I think you should also have your own. If you do not, take some time and create one. If you do, take some time to update it. Use the ethics codes that already exist to get some ideas and have a baseline for your own.

3. Vow to make phone calls daily. I have been told this time and time again from veteran journalists and when I actually do this, it really does pay off. (I have learned that two to three calls a day is pretty manageable.) Call people when you do not need them for the story you are working on right now, call them just to chat and ask how they are doing. Sometimes these phone calls can lead to blog posts, twitter updates, or future stories. I know this is one that I will be putting on my resolution list.

4. Learn a new skill. Whether it is HTML, taking better photographs or learning more about social media, learning something new makes you a better journalist, more valuable to your news organization and leads to better stories for your viewers. Think small or if you have the time think big, but learn something new.

5. Think like your viewers. Sometimes you get used to covering education or government and you start using the jargon that goes with it in all of your stories. Take a step-back and make sure the words you are writing, saying or tweeting would make sense to someone who does not follow your beat or your story on a daily or even weekly basis. When it comes to budget stories, make it easy to understand and relate to something your viewer would buy.

6. Use and develop multimedia reporting techniques. The internet is not going anywhere and it will continue to change. If you want to have a future in this industry, I truly believe you have to attempt to learn and understand multimedia reporting techniques and new technologies. There is a lot to take in and it is always changing, so start small if you have to, just remember: taking baby steps is better than standing still.

7. Give back to the industry. Join one of the many non-profit journalism organizations in your area or field. Whether it is just becoming a member and interacting with fellow journalists or taking a bigger role and sitting on a committee or becoming a mentor, it is important to get involved. Journalism is not dying and there are a lot of really great journalists out there. Get in touch with them, young or old, because sometimes the reporting world can feel a little lonely and with all of the writing and reporting that is going on across the country there is no reason to feel lonely!

You could get your whole news organization together to join in on the fun too! The more people you have involved the easier it will be to stick to the promises you made to yourself and your viewers. If you still need a push, think of how much better your coverage as an organization would be if you and every other reporter in the company agreed to do be better reporters by making a few changes!

Green Room Blog
By Lynn Walsh

Flashing lights, awards and a room full of inspiring journalists.

That was the scene Monday night in the Green Room at the Radio Television Digital News Association Edward R. Murrow Awards show as journalists from across the country accepted awards for excellent electronic journalism stories.

If you wanted to congratulate someone for a win or ask someone how they were able to produce, write, shoot or edit such a great story then the Green Room was the place to be. After receiving awards in categories ranging from best use of sound and best use of video to best feature report and hard news story.

Of course there was lots of picture-taking with some of the most well known broadcast journalists in the news industry (Ann Curry, Brian Williams, John Roberts, Harry Smith, Jim Sciutto, Keith Olbermann), but the Green Room was more than a photo-op; it was a room where colleagues could congratulate one another on a job well done and most importantly gain knowledge and insight from other award-winning journalists.

While interviewing the awardees for the RTDNA YouTube page I was reminded of two things; one the role and importance of new technology and two the need for great storytelling.

The winners Monday were able to tell a story to audiences across the country while eliciting emotions and providing valuable information.

The key to telling a great story many said is capturing great characters. Capturing great characters can mean spending a lot of time with the subject of your story, something many awardees put into action while working on their broadcast pieces.

But, it is not just the people in the story that make a broadcast narrative roll off the tip of the tongue. Many awardees expressed the viewers and listeners need for information and without fulfilling that need they will tune out and be left unsatisfied.

While storytelling may be more of an art than using new technologies that does not mean the newest gadgets available to journalists are not helpful when it comes to putting together award-winning stories.

Over and over again, awardees mentioned how by using an iPhone or small recording device captured they were able to capture the best sound in the story. Most of the winners did not have huge production crews but merely the phone in their pant pocket to capture the natural sounds and video that surrounded them at the scene of their stories.

Online tools, like Twitter, were also valuable to many of the awardees as they monitored breaking news and tracked down sources to interview.

The knowledge and desire in the Green Room Monday far outweighed the bright flashes of the camera—something, that in a time when some may say the future of the news industry is bleak, should be inspiring to journalists everywhere as we continue to search for the truth and tell stories that matter.

Brian Williams:

Ann Curry:

Keith Olbermann:

John Roberts, 2010 presenter:

John Roberts, 2010 presenter:

John Roberts, 2010 presenter:

NPR’s Social Media Outreach Helps Gain Younger Audiences
By Lynn Walsh, Texas Watchdog

NPR is not just for members of the older generation results from recent National Public Radio social media surveys show.

According to the NPR surveys, the median age of an NPR radio listener is 50, Facebook fan is 40 and Twitter follower 35. NPR received more than 50,000 survey responses from their Facebook fans and Twitter followers and learned:

-55 percent of NPR Twitter fans follow between 2-5 NPR Twitter accounts
-About 75 percent of NPR Twitter followers and Facebook Fans interact with NPR content on a daily basis
-NPR Twitter followers and Facebook Fans interact with NPR using the radio, podcasts, mobile apps and the Internet
-More than 3 million of NPR’s Twitter followers drive less than a fifth of the amount of referral traffic than the 1.25 million Facebook fans

The statistics go on and on and offer an amazing insight into how a news organization that is known for its popularity among the older generation is not just using social media but is capitalizing on it and seeing results with younger generations.

As reports show, news consumption is on the rise and these surveys prove that younger generations are consuming news just in different ways. According to a recent article featured on the social media and technology website, Mashable, NPR is not the only news organization seeing an audience shift in news consumption:

“Here’s a stat just for news sites: The average Facebook user who “likes” content on a news website is 34 — that’s about two decades younger than the average newspaper subscriber. We’ve known for some time that the future of journalism and social media are, at this point, inextricably linked; this stat provides a little hard evidence for that conclusion.”

Looking at surveys by NPR and as a follower of many news outlet’s social media accounts I think it is important to point out a few key finding in the NPR surveys.

1. NPR actively uses multiple social media accounts to interact with viewers. NPR has Twitter accounts based on subject matter (@NPRpolitics) and specific to shows (@NPRamericanlife.) The accounts not only exist but are active accounts in which they each interact with followers. According to the survey this is paying off:

“Following more NPR accounts equals a richer experience. We asked Twitter users to rate a series of statements on the 1-5 scale. Heavy users of NPR Twitter accounts (following 10+ accounts) were more likely to click through links posted Twitter than more casual followers of NPR Twitter accounts (1-5 accounts): 4.2 vs. 3.9 on a 1-5 scale respectively.”

2. NPR Twitter and Facebook followers are news-centric. According to the survey, this applies to consumption of news by NPR and other news organizations. Social media followers are reading, viewing and listening to news using multiple platforms and multiple news organizations. Social media is a great tool to get news headlines out to the public, NPR said.

3. NPR Twitter and Facebook followers get most or all of their news online. Social media users prefer getting their news from online organizations. The debate over the future of print publications will continue and there may not be a known solution or answer anytime soon. One thing we do know is that online news consumption is a favorite among many.

NPR has capitalized and managed to effectively reach a younger audience through the use of social media. The use of multiple social media accounts, a variety of mobile apps, and the ease of free online access to podcasts has helped the news organization remain a major player in the ever-changing world of news while at the same time introducing a new, younger audience to what they have to offer.

The use of social media and new technologies by NPR is just one example of a news organization thinking out of the box and pushing forward during the challenging time news organizations are facing. NPR seems to be embracing the challenges and changes news organizations across the world are facing, are you?

HISD’s Apollo 20 program needs to raise just $6M more — but cost is up $9M
Thursday, Oct 07, 2010, 09:11PM CST
By Lynn Walsh

The Houston Independent School District is $6 million short in the private donations it must raise to fund a program to reform failing schools — meanwhile, the estimated cost of the program is now $9 million more than the school system originally said.

HISD has secured more than $23 million for the Apollo 20 program to target 20 troubled schools — including $10.45 million just since August, school officials said.

That month, the district gave Texas Watchdog a cost estimate of $20.2 million for Apollo 20.

Now, HISD Chief Financial Officer Melinda Garrett says the overall cost of Apollo 20 is $29.5 million this year, and that the district still needs to raise $6.1 million in private donations.

Why the difference? Garrett said it is simply a misunderstanding.

“The total cost associated with the school programs is $20 million,” Garrett said. “But when you add in the central office costs, close to $9 million, the total comes to $29.5 million for this school year.”

The central office costs include overhead administration costs like money spent on the overall planning of Apollo 20, training costs and the addition of two new positions — a school improvement officer and a secretary for the new SIO position.

Those costs weren’t accounted for when district spokesman Norm Uhl answered Texas Watchdog’s questions in an e-mail Aug. 3: “The high schools are costing $11.4 million for 2010-11. We have to raise an additional $120,000. The middle school cost is $8.8 million, and we have to raise an additional $7 million,” Uhl said then.

This is not the first time HISD has reported discrepancies in estimated costs for various projects. Last month HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said a district-wide construction program was $39 million over budget. On Thursday, a private consultant working for the district said the same program was $4 million under budget.

The Apollo 20 program includes 20 high schools, middle schools and elementary schools that HISD has identified as under-performing. All of the money HISD has received will pay for longer school days, a longer school year, tutor salaries and transportation costs.

The program has already launched at Lee, Kashmere, Sharpstown and Jones high schools, as well as Fondren, Key, Ryan, Attucks and Dowling middle schools. Eleven elementary schools are slated to enter the program next school year.

Where the money is coming from

When asked for the most recent funding numbers associated with Apollo 20, district spokeswoman Sarah Greer pointed Texas Watchdog to HISD trustee Harvin Moore’s recent blog post on donations to the program.

That post details $9.5 million in grants and private donations for the 2010-11 Apollo 20 program since Aug. 3:

* $28 million three-year Title 1 Priority Schools Grant from the Texas Education Agency awarded Aug. 12 to six Apollo 20 schools. That is $9.3 million annually.
* $100,000 private donation from Bank of America on Aug. 27.
* $100,000 private donation from Wells Fargo Bank on Sept. 22.

The district also received an additional $950,000 from the Brown Foundation last week, for a total of $10.45 million.

HISD had secured $13.08 million in funding prior to Aug. 3, bringing the total amount raised to $23.5 million.

Greer said the HISD Foundation, the district’s nonprofit fundraising arm, expects more grants over the next two years. “Because corporations and foundations have different times when their boards meet or when they do their annual budget, it is a continuous, ongoing process,” she said in an e-mail Friday.

Reach Lynn Walsh at lynn@texaswatchdog.org or follow her on Twitter at @lwalsh or @texaswatchdog.

Learn how to investigate schools and school districts with our TrentTV Webinar, now on YouTube
Thursday, Oct 07, 2010, 04:49PM CST
By Lynn Walsh

Learn some tips and tricks on investigating school systems on the latest episode of Trent TV.

The September episode can be viewed below or on the Texas Watchdog YouTube page.

Watch live streaming video from newmediatvorg at livestream.com

Questions about investigating school districts or general education investigation questions can be directed to Lynn@TexasWatchdog.org or @LWalsh and @TexasWatchdog on Twitter.

Next month Texas Watchdog staff will shed light on environmental investigations. The show will air at 11:30 a.m. CDT Tuesday, Oct. 26, on the Texas Watchdog homepage or at www.newmediatv.org.

Viewers are encouraged to submit questions to Texas Watchdog prior to the live broadcast to News@TexasWatchdog.org and @TexasWatchdog on Twitter.

Trent TV is a free monthly training webinar for journalists, blogger, activists, and citizen-journalists. It can be viewed LIVE once a month on www.newmediatv.org. Archived episodes can be viewed on our site, on www.newmediatv.org or on the Texas Watchdog YouTube page.

HISD magnet programs to undergo performance reviews
Thursday, Sep 23, 2010, 06:33PM CST
By Lynn Walsh

Magnet programs across the Houston Independent School District will soon receive a full performance review that is expected to be complete by the end of the year, according to a presentation given to school district trustees Thursday.

In August, HISD trustees approved an outside review of all of HISD’s magnet programs. The review will be conducted by an outside group, Magnet Schools of America, and will not cost more than $275,000.

The review will be divided into two phases, according to HISD. Phase one will focus on community and district feedback; phase two will focus on individual magnet programs.

HISD has scheduled the parent and community forums for Oct. 11-15, with four sessions in the evening and two daytime sessions. Location and time details have not yet been announced. Magnet Schools of America will visit individual magnet programs Oct. 25-29.

Magnet programs in HISD have come under fire before. In April, trustees debated whether or not apply for federal funding to bring more magnet programs to HISD. Then and now, magnet schools remain a hot issue in the district between board members, parents and HISD administrators.

Before the presentation started, trustees and HISD Superintendent Terry Grier began to criticize the current ways in which magnet programs operate within HISD.

“There are lots of comments about the magnet program review taking away choice, but we are looking at providing more choice, but quality choice,” said HISD’s chief academic officer, Chuck Morris.

Trustee Larry Marshall said open enrollment, where parents can chose to send their child to a school outside the zone in which they live, is just the beginning. “This is kind of like the first shot over the bow, and this board better get ready,” Marshall said. “Somewhere down the line open enrollment has to be revisited.”

When students chose to attend a magnet program out of their zone, students living within the magnet program zone get blocked out. Grier said every year his office receives complaints from parents because their child cannot attend their home school and are forced to attend a school that is farther away.

HISD trustee Mike Lunceford said he wants to see the terms used to describe magnet schools defined more clearly. “We have to define what terms mean. What does it mean to be ‘exceptional’? What does ‘quality’ mean?” Lunceford said.

At the board workshop meeting Thursday, Grier said he was concerned with the way magnet programs are currently being funding. “There is little rhyme or reason about who (magnet schools) gets what money,” Grier said. View his entire comments in the clip below.

Magnet schools in HISD currently range from stand-alone schools to school-within-a-school programs. Morris said some magnet schools call themselves magnets but have never received board approval to do so.

According to HISD, a preliminary report is expected Dec. 1, and the evaluations are expected to be complete sometime in late December.

Magnet Schools of America is a private nonprofit that was originally based in Houston before moving to Washington, D.C., in 2000.