The easy answer would be, "yes!"
But, for argument's sake, let's discuss.
On quick glance, it seems today's reporter is being asked to do more, much more, than reporters of the past decades. Today's reporter is asked to tweet news from their beat, provide unique coverage for both print and web products, take photos, write detailed reports for print, shoot video for the web, and "crowdsource" for information using the public and the Internet. Today's reporter is asked to juggle multiple duties with multiple deadlines for multiple products.
In the 1980s life of a reporter, they were asked to write reports for print and, in some cases, take photographs for print. They had one deadline, and in many cases, one medium to concern themselves with — and they struggled to meet those demands because the technology was not there to do much more. Reporters had to wait to return to the office in most cases to begin filing their stories. They had to develop their film to begin processing their photographs for print. So much time was dedicated to their old-style processes that were done behind-the-scenes that it did not allow the reporter to do much more in terms of content gathering.
This is where today's reporter has a great advantage. With today's technology, a reporter can take a photo with their SmartPhone and upload it to the web, or email it directly to the design and web desk. They can file stories right from the scene of a fire, or from a press conference, using wi-fi or cell phone tethering technology. They can live blog from the event using free tools available on the web.
No more wasting time in the darkroom, as now reporters and photographers can upload images minutes after the event takes place from the field.
With a digital camera, a laptop, and a SmartPhone, a reporter can do their work in all mediums — print, digital, video and broadcast — and never step foot in the office.
Yes, reporters are asked to produce more content today than they were 20 years ago, because they have better tools to do so.
What may reporters today fail to grasp is that they can also do much of the work described here simultaneously. Tweeting, live blogging, note-taking, recording audio, etc., can all be done on one laptop in multiple windows/tabs.
ReplyDeleteA strong web lead and supporting 'graphs can be sent before the reporter leaves the scene and updated as appropriate.
Some argue it is more work. It really isn't and is LESS time-consuming if done correctly. By the time the reporter gets back to the newsroom, he would only have the print story to file. Which he would have had to do anyway in time gone by.
The challenge is overcoming a false perception of more work and teaching reporters new and more efficient processes.
Great blog, Rick. I read every morning. When I get back in a classroom, this will be a great teaching tool.