Friday, December 10, 2004
GILLMOR AS METAPHORTim Porter sees Dan Gillmor's decision to leave print for an as-yet undisclosed citizen-journalism project (post below) as a metaphor for the newspaper industry. Porter writes that the industry has:
Managed to preside over the decline of its original delivery vehicle, paper. Failed to take full advantage of its electronic replacement, losing an increasing number of classifieds to eBay, Craigslist, Monster and elsewhere while still, with a few exceptions, wielding a shovel to build online sites that mimic the printed parent. Not recognized — to the point of vocal disdain in many cases — the emerging technical ability and unleashed desire of all citizens to publish their own news, a direct threat to the core competency of the newspaper: local news. And he adds:
As anyone who reads me regularly knows, I remain a strong proponent of newspapers and newspaper journalists. We, as a society, need their capacity for independent reporting and collective identity, but as institutions they are failing us because of their inability to change with the times. They are also failing the innovators who work for them, driving them out through inaction to other ventures. I think Porter overstates the case a little in two ways.First, thousands of talented and innovative reporters, writers, photographers and editors are doing great and innovative work at newspapers. And some of those papers grasp that the landscape has changed and are struggling to change with it. And secondly, good, creative people have always left newspapers to explore other ways of using their skills.
But his main point remains: newspapers aren't, by and large, innovating nor answering new competition. And because of that, it is a troubled industry. |
Last update: 12/26/04; 7:03:47 AM .
