Posts
It's not completely finished although it's pretty much done, but I am moving my blog over to Wordpress.com. Point your RSS feed reader and your browser for updates now to jenconnic.wordpress.com.
I'll see you there.
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February 22, 2009
January 4, 2009
What I've been reading, long edition
One of my goals for 2009 could have been to read more about my industry, but I already read quite a bit. I haven't shared some of those articles in quite a while, though, so here is an update on some interesting articles (although some may be dated).
10 Journalists You Should Follow on Twitter
The always fabulous 10,000 Words updated the list of journalists on Twitter that people should follow. There were some changes to the top 10, but Mark Luckie also added some additional people to follow at the bottom.
Of course I'm tooting my own horn here since I appear on the "additional journalists" list, but this is an excellent list of media people to follow. I was already following most of the people on the list before he revised it.
Typepad for Journalists
We can argue all day and all night about what is the best blogging service, but Typepad does provide an excellent service. Small problem is that the service isn't free, and many people don't want to shell out the cash.
But if you're a journalist, Typepad wants to help you out in furthering your career. They have a program was initially intended to help laid-off journalists, but it's a good service for all journalists looking to promote their work and ideas.
Ten Basic New Media Skills Journalists Need to Know
The items on the list aren't complicated, like learning to shoot and resize a photo for the Web. But it's an excellent list of skills journalists should obtain in our changing media climate.
Why Pro Sports Need Newspapers
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban explains quite well why the local media is who covers a sports team best. I agree, and as a hockey blogger on a fan site, I wouldn't be able to do my job without the beat writers. I'm not doing the original reporting. They are. How can I comment on the team without their work? We need them.
But I don't know if I agree with Cuban's approach. In some ways it could cause problems of an appeared conflict of interest. His plan, though, is worth analyzing.
Born to Run -- Jersey's 'Star Ledger' Rocks On
I've written extensively why New Jersey needs the Star Ledger, and Editor & Publisher takes an in-depth look at the newspaper and its recent troubles.
And while the Star Ledger was saved, there is still some hurt. The buyouts meant a large amount of institutional knowledge walked out the door in the last two months. That institutional knowledge is part of what makes the Star Ledger's reporting good.
The Rise of Hyperlocal Information
Is it really shocking there are more and more tools for hyperlocal information on the Web? I like the fact that I've been on the ground floor of the movement.
Local information is what people crave most, and it's what will help journalism in the future. Newspapers should focus on Web-only content that focuses on hyperlocal content and tools if they want to save themselves.
Help Jay Rosen Explain Twitter to Eggheads
And Rosen is getting a lot of responses, including my own.
I went hardcore into Twitter when I was out of work to connect to other journalists, and found a fantastic community of other media people.
Now I'm a mobile journalist who works out of her apartment and assorted public spaces. I visit our New York office only once a week. I miss the comradery of the newsroom.
Twitter doesn't quite replace it, but it is a place where I can find discussions about the industry and talk to other media people. I've made some Twitter friends over the last few months. It helps ease the lonely existence of being a mobile journalist.
Citizen Media: Not There Yet
Harvard has produced an in-depth study of citizen media today. Sadly, I haven't had a chance to dive into the report yet, but the summary is essentially that citizen media hasn't met its potential yet.
There is a lot of work ahead, though, is people want citizen media to work. People don't just create journalism. While they may feel called to action when there's a major news event -- like a flood or bombing or earthquake -- they need a little push to do more.
The whole "if you build it, they will come" philosophy that some had towards citizen media and user-generate content has proven to not work. Citizen journalists need a push, they need training and they need people who understand they work on their own schedule. They might not always be reliable. They're working for free. Sphere: Related Content
10 Journalists You Should Follow on Twitter
The always fabulous 10,000 Words updated the list of journalists on Twitter that people should follow. There were some changes to the top 10, but Mark Luckie also added some additional people to follow at the bottom.
Of course I'm tooting my own horn here since I appear on the "additional journalists" list, but this is an excellent list of media people to follow. I was already following most of the people on the list before he revised it.
Typepad for Journalists
We can argue all day and all night about what is the best blogging service, but Typepad does provide an excellent service. Small problem is that the service isn't free, and many people don't want to shell out the cash.
But if you're a journalist, Typepad wants to help you out in furthering your career. They have a program was initially intended to help laid-off journalists, but it's a good service for all journalists looking to promote their work and ideas.
Ten Basic New Media Skills Journalists Need to Know
The items on the list aren't complicated, like learning to shoot and resize a photo for the Web. But it's an excellent list of skills journalists should obtain in our changing media climate.
Why Pro Sports Need Newspapers
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban explains quite well why the local media is who covers a sports team best. I agree, and as a hockey blogger on a fan site, I wouldn't be able to do my job without the beat writers. I'm not doing the original reporting. They are. How can I comment on the team without their work? We need them.
But I don't know if I agree with Cuban's approach. In some ways it could cause problems of an appeared conflict of interest. His plan, though, is worth analyzing.
Born to Run -- Jersey's 'Star Ledger' Rocks On
I've written extensively why New Jersey needs the Star Ledger, and Editor & Publisher takes an in-depth look at the newspaper and its recent troubles.
And while the Star Ledger was saved, there is still some hurt. The buyouts meant a large amount of institutional knowledge walked out the door in the last two months. That institutional knowledge is part of what makes the Star Ledger's reporting good.
The Rise of Hyperlocal Information
Is it really shocking there are more and more tools for hyperlocal information on the Web? I like the fact that I've been on the ground floor of the movement.
Local information is what people crave most, and it's what will help journalism in the future. Newspapers should focus on Web-only content that focuses on hyperlocal content and tools if they want to save themselves.
Help Jay Rosen Explain Twitter to Eggheads
And Rosen is getting a lot of responses, including my own.
I went hardcore into Twitter when I was out of work to connect to other journalists, and found a fantastic community of other media people.
Now I'm a mobile journalist who works out of her apartment and assorted public spaces. I visit our New York office only once a week. I miss the comradery of the newsroom.
Twitter doesn't quite replace it, but it is a place where I can find discussions about the industry and talk to other media people. I've made some Twitter friends over the last few months. It helps ease the lonely existence of being a mobile journalist.
Citizen Media: Not There Yet
Harvard has produced an in-depth study of citizen media today. Sadly, I haven't had a chance to dive into the report yet, but the summary is essentially that citizen media hasn't met its potential yet.
There is a lot of work ahead, though, is people want citizen media to work. People don't just create journalism. While they may feel called to action when there's a major news event -- like a flood or bombing or earthquake -- they need a little push to do more.
The whole "if you build it, they will come" philosophy that some had towards citizen media and user-generate content has proven to not work. Citizen journalists need a push, they need training and they need people who understand they work on their own schedule. They might not always be reliable. They're working for free. Sphere: Related Content
New year, new goals
In case you missed the bulletin, it's 2009. That means people are making resolutions of how they want to make their lives better, and people are posting them around the Internet.
But I'm more of a goal person. Resolutions fade so quickly. I'd rather set goals and try to attain them rather than saying "I resolve to eat more healthy."
So here are my goals for 2009.
Blog More
One of my biggest faults is how little I blog when I am busy and/or stressed.
When I wasn't working for two months, I blogged quite a bit. Now I have a job at a start-up company with a Web site scheduled to launch quite soon. Plus I am starting to teach at Seton Hall on Jan. 15.
The result has been a lack of time and energy for me to spend blogging here about things important to me. It's a way for me to stay connected to the industry and colleagues. I need to integrate blogging -- even if it is a short piece -- into my every day life.
Manage Stress Better
I like to be busy, and am I busy these days. But the problem with my business is that my stress level has shot through the roof. My stress is at new heights in recent weeks, and I need to manage it better.
I've been able to manage stress through things I enjoy or just by working out or taking a walk. I have gotten away from those habits. I need to workout more. I need to walk more. I need to devote more time to my camera. I need to spend more time in the woods connecting to nature. I need to find a writers group. I need to travel more.
That brings me to the next two goals.
Find a Northern New Jersey Writers Group
One thing my life has lacked since moving to New Jersey is a writers group.
I was part of an incredible group in Connecticut. Even if I wasn't writing, I'd still go to group meetings to give my fellow writers support. I'd always walk away feeling empowered and inspired.
I need that writer community in my life here in New Jersey, and I haven't found it yet.
Perhaps you're someone who knows of a great group of a non-fiction writer who dabbles in fiction in North Jersey. If you are, please shoot me an e-mail.
Travel More
Part of my life before moving here was also traveling. I would travel probably once every three months, even if it was for a weekend. It was the usual suspects most of the time including Washington, D.C. (my home away from home) and Boston. Then there were my frequent trips to the San Francisco area.
Most of that travel disappeared once I moved. Most of my travel is between my New Jersey apartment and my parents' house in Connecticut. I have squeezed in two trips to Washington, D.C., but both trips were for business.
I'm a road warrior, and I need to get back on the road. I've vowed to get to San Francisco in August, and I'm hoping for a baseball trip to Washington in June.
I've written one before about my dreams to travel and write about it. Hard to dream about it when I'm not traveling.
Attend a Conference
Whether it's the Online News Association, the Society for Professional Journalists or the Nieman Conference on Narrative Journalism, I need some professional development and networking this year. One of those conferences would do me a world of good.
The problem, though, is those conferences costs so much. People who really need to attend have difficulty affording them.
Get Back Into Extra Writing
Most of my writing now revolves around work and, to a lesser extent, for this blog. I haven't written anything for fun in a very long time.
I have lots of ideas, but none of them ever get onto paper. Sphere: Related Content
But I'm more of a goal person. Resolutions fade so quickly. I'd rather set goals and try to attain them rather than saying "I resolve to eat more healthy."
So here are my goals for 2009.
Blog More
One of my biggest faults is how little I blog when I am busy and/or stressed.
When I wasn't working for two months, I blogged quite a bit. Now I have a job at a start-up company with a Web site scheduled to launch quite soon. Plus I am starting to teach at Seton Hall on Jan. 15.
The result has been a lack of time and energy for me to spend blogging here about things important to me. It's a way for me to stay connected to the industry and colleagues. I need to integrate blogging -- even if it is a short piece -- into my every day life.
Manage Stress Better
I like to be busy, and am I busy these days. But the problem with my business is that my stress level has shot through the roof. My stress is at new heights in recent weeks, and I need to manage it better.
I've been able to manage stress through things I enjoy or just by working out or taking a walk. I have gotten away from those habits. I need to workout more. I need to walk more. I need to devote more time to my camera. I need to spend more time in the woods connecting to nature. I need to find a writers group. I need to travel more.
That brings me to the next two goals.
Find a Northern New Jersey Writers Group
One thing my life has lacked since moving to New Jersey is a writers group.
I was part of an incredible group in Connecticut. Even if I wasn't writing, I'd still go to group meetings to give my fellow writers support. I'd always walk away feeling empowered and inspired.
I need that writer community in my life here in New Jersey, and I haven't found it yet.
Perhaps you're someone who knows of a great group of a non-fiction writer who dabbles in fiction in North Jersey. If you are, please shoot me an e-mail.
Travel More
Part of my life before moving here was also traveling. I would travel probably once every three months, even if it was for a weekend. It was the usual suspects most of the time including Washington, D.C. (my home away from home) and Boston. Then there were my frequent trips to the San Francisco area.
Most of that travel disappeared once I moved. Most of my travel is between my New Jersey apartment and my parents' house in Connecticut. I have squeezed in two trips to Washington, D.C., but both trips were for business.
I'm a road warrior, and I need to get back on the road. I've vowed to get to San Francisco in August, and I'm hoping for a baseball trip to Washington in June.
I've written one before about my dreams to travel and write about it. Hard to dream about it when I'm not traveling.
Attend a Conference
Whether it's the Online News Association, the Society for Professional Journalists or the Nieman Conference on Narrative Journalism, I need some professional development and networking this year. One of those conferences would do me a world of good.
The problem, though, is those conferences costs so much. People who really need to attend have difficulty affording them.
Get Back Into Extra Writing
Most of my writing now revolves around work and, to a lesser extent, for this blog. I haven't written anything for fun in a very long time.
I have lots of ideas, but none of them ever get onto paper. Sphere: Related Content
December 23, 2008
A blow to the Washington Post
News spread quickly on Monday that Jim Brady, executive editor for Washingtonpost.com, will be leaving his position after the inauguration.
You can read the memo sent to the staff here.
Brady's departure comes at a time when the Web and print operations will be merged. The two operations had been kept separate for more than a decade. The Web operations aren't located under the same roof as the newspaper operations with offices in Arlington. That doesn't mean members of the Web staff don't spend time in the downtown office, which they do quite a bit.
Does the merge play into Brady's departure? It's not quite clear, although he says he knows his job would change, according to the Post story:
What is clear is that losing someone of Brady's caliber with his leadership skills and vision hurts the merge. Merging a print and Web operation -- a type of integration I went through during my time at North Jersey Media Group -- can be difficult for everyone involved.
We know Brady's decision to depart was his own, according to the Washington City Paper, and that he needs some time off.
Everyone has a time period where they get burnt out with a job or a beat. I tend to think the tipping point is five years.
I'll be interested to see where Brady goes next and what he does for that organization after some time off. Best of luck to him, a fellow American University alum. Sphere: Related Content
You can read the memo sent to the staff here.
Brady's departure comes at a time when the Web and print operations will be merged. The two operations had been kept separate for more than a decade. The Web operations aren't located under the same roof as the newspaper operations with offices in Arlington. That doesn't mean members of the Web staff don't spend time in the downtown office, which they do quite a bit.
Does the merge play into Brady's departure? It's not quite clear, although he says he knows his job would change, according to the Post story:
In an interview yesterday, Brady said he agreed with the new strategy but that separate newsrooms had made sense. "There was a nice checks-and-balances where we could push the paper into things they wouldn't have done on their own," he said.
"As we look at bringing the newsrooms together, I think everybody's role is going to change, including mine," he added. "Some of the independence I've had before is going to go away in an integrated newsroom."
What is clear is that losing someone of Brady's caliber with his leadership skills and vision hurts the merge. Merging a print and Web operation -- a type of integration I went through during my time at North Jersey Media Group -- can be difficult for everyone involved.
We know Brady's decision to depart was his own, according to the Washington City Paper, and that he needs some time off.
The dot-com chief also says he’s needs a serious rebooting. “I have a track record,” he says, of staying about four or five years at a job and then burning out. “I’m beat up, tired, burned out.”
Everyone has a time period where they get burnt out with a job or a beat. I tend to think the tipping point is five years.
I'll be interested to see where Brady goes next and what he does for that organization after some time off. Best of luck to him, a fellow American University alum. Sphere: Related Content
December 10, 2008
Daily Show takes on newspaper collapse
December 8, 2008
You know it's bad for newspapers when
Today was a tough day for newspapers.
First, we learned the New York Times would borrow $225 million against its new building. The move is to ease an oncoming credit crunch for The Times, but times have been tough for the newspaper.
But the Times isn't in the type of trouble as Tribune Company, which filed for bankruptcy today.
Today's news comes on the heels of news that the Miami Herald and Rocky Mountain News are both up for sale. Both could shut if a new owner isn't found. And this is months after The Star-Ledger in Newark faced possibly closure if certain economic milestones weren't met. The Ledger met the goals, but it also meant over 100 newsroom employees took buyouts.
The landscape of newspapers is changing quickly. It means newspapers and the news industry needs to reinvent itself. It means turning to the Web to try to, finally, figure out how to create a revenue stream.
Hopefully, it doesn't mean more people jump on the Pasadena Now model, which is still getting media attention.
Having worked in the small, hyperlocal market more than once, I sympathize with the financial struggles. But I still disagree with turning to outsourcing hyperlocal news overseas. How can you properly cover a community that way?
According to the Los Angeles Times story, you can't.
I still believe hyperlocal news on the Web is the way to go because people are looking for some sort of connection to home, their community in their crazy worlds. It's why libraries have become increasingly popular. People want to find a sense of belonging, whether it's in a physical place or somewhere on the Web.
It's just a matter of finding the right formula. Sphere: Related Content
First, we learned the New York Times would borrow $225 million against its new building. The move is to ease an oncoming credit crunch for The Times, but times have been tough for the newspaper.
Standard & Poor’s recently lowered its credit rating on the Times Company below investment grade, and Moody’s Investors Service has said it was considering a similar move. Times Company stock, which has lost more than half its value this year, closed on Friday at $7.64, down 30 cents.
But the Times isn't in the type of trouble as Tribune Company, which filed for bankruptcy today.
Today's news comes on the heels of news that the Miami Herald and Rocky Mountain News are both up for sale. Both could shut if a new owner isn't found. And this is months after The Star-Ledger in Newark faced possibly closure if certain economic milestones weren't met. The Ledger met the goals, but it also meant over 100 newsroom employees took buyouts.
The landscape of newspapers is changing quickly. It means newspapers and the news industry needs to reinvent itself. It means turning to the Web to try to, finally, figure out how to create a revenue stream.
Hopefully, it doesn't mean more people jump on the Pasadena Now model, which is still getting media attention.
Having worked in the small, hyperlocal market more than once, I sympathize with the financial struggles. But I still disagree with turning to outsourcing hyperlocal news overseas. How can you properly cover a community that way?
According to the Los Angeles Times story, you can't.
They might peek at Macpherson's Pasadena Now on occasion. Staffers for the city and school district say they like the way the website faithfully publishes their press releases. "But when it takes the time and resources and energy to do something much more in-depth, they don't have the capacity to do as much of that," said Binti Harvey, spokeswoman for Pasadena Unified School District.
I still believe hyperlocal news on the Web is the way to go because people are looking for some sort of connection to home, their community in their crazy worlds. It's why libraries have become increasingly popular. People want to find a sense of belonging, whether it's in a physical place or somewhere on the Web.
It's just a matter of finding the right formula. Sphere: Related Content
American student gives glimpse into riots in Greece
Among the many hats I wear, there's one for heading up a youth group in Connecticut. I started working with the group of kids four years ago, then a small group. Over the years, I've grown a network of current and former youth group members on Facebook.
One of those kids, who was the oldest of the original crew, is studying abroad in Athens. I logged on Monday morning to see his status message listed as "Robert has been teargassed...unis are in control of the anarchists...the city is on fire!"
Rob had become a citizen journalist and didn't even know it.
In addition to constant updates on Facebook (this evening he wrote how Molotov cocktails were blowing up outside and how he saw a Starbucks go up in flames), he sent photos to CNN. CNN featured his photos in an iReport segment about the rioting in Greece.
See all of Rob's photos
At the root, I'm hoping Rob stays safe and gets home safe. But I'm also proud to see one of my former youth group members participating in citizen journalism. Sphere: Related Content
One of those kids, who was the oldest of the original crew, is studying abroad in Athens. I logged on Monday morning to see his status message listed as "Robert has been teargassed...unis are in control of the anarchists...the city is on fire!"
Rob had become a citizen journalist and didn't even know it.
In addition to constant updates on Facebook (this evening he wrote how Molotov cocktails were blowing up outside and how he saw a Starbucks go up in flames), he sent photos to CNN. CNN featured his photos in an iReport segment about the rioting in Greece.
See all of Rob's photos
At the root, I'm hoping Rob stays safe and gets home safe. But I'm also proud to see one of my former youth group members participating in citizen journalism. Sphere: Related Content
December 4, 2008
New York Times jumps on aggregation bandwagon
In case you didn't notice when you visited the New York Times Web site today, they're not aggregating links from other news sources on stories they're covering.
Don't worry if you didn't notice. I didn't notice either at first.
It was only when I saw people posting about it on Twitter that I noticed something changed. And even then, I didn't know how to find the change on the Times Web site. You have to click the "extra" button at the top of the page to find the new fangled aggregation.
It's good to see the Times start linking to other news sources. Linking to other news sources is something I wrote about earlier this week and why it's important for news organizations to do.
What makes me laugh is how the New York Times can act like they invented a new trend or no one has seen such a thing before while making it difficult for readers to access it. There's a certain arrogance to it.
I attended the Niemen Conference on Narrative Journalism three years ago, and there was a session about using narrative style in breaking news events. The panel featured a Sarah Lyall, a New York Times reporter.
What I remember most about the session was Tom French, who was then still writing for the St. Petersburg Times, complaining how he never read the front page of the New York Times because he already knew everything that was there.
Lyall defended her writing out of London in that she was required to write for the newspaper like no one knew anything about the story.
It screamed an arrogance to me by the New York Times.
And the new aggregation system they're using on their Web site, while a huge step forward, screams of that same sort of arrogance.
But I also want to point to something wonderful I found on the New York Times Web site today.
Christoph Niemenn has an opinion blog that uses illustrations to describe life in New York, and this week he explored his love for coffee.
And he did it with illustrations on napkins.
It's a piece that only works on the Web in telling a story through illustrations. It's not something that would fit into the newspaper. And it's a terrific series. Sphere: Related Content
Don't worry if you didn't notice. I didn't notice either at first.
It was only when I saw people posting about it on Twitter that I noticed something changed. And even then, I didn't know how to find the change on the Times Web site. You have to click the "extra" button at the top of the page to find the new fangled aggregation.
It's good to see the Times start linking to other news sources. Linking to other news sources is something I wrote about earlier this week and why it's important for news organizations to do.
What makes me laugh is how the New York Times can act like they invented a new trend or no one has seen such a thing before while making it difficult for readers to access it. There's a certain arrogance to it.
I attended the Niemen Conference on Narrative Journalism three years ago, and there was a session about using narrative style in breaking news events. The panel featured a Sarah Lyall, a New York Times reporter.
What I remember most about the session was Tom French, who was then still writing for the St. Petersburg Times, complaining how he never read the front page of the New York Times because he already knew everything that was there.
Lyall defended her writing out of London in that she was required to write for the newspaper like no one knew anything about the story.
It screamed an arrogance to me by the New York Times.
And the new aggregation system they're using on their Web site, while a huge step forward, screams of that same sort of arrogance.
But I also want to point to something wonderful I found on the New York Times Web site today.
Christoph Niemenn has an opinion blog that uses illustrations to describe life in New York, and this week he explored his love for coffee.
And he did it with illustrations on napkins.
It's a piece that only works on the Web in telling a story through illustrations. It's not something that would fit into the newspaper. And it's a terrific series. Sphere: Related Content
December 3, 2008
Citizen journalism in New Jersey
While the world is focused on how citizen journalism has covered the terrorist attacks in India, there's a piece of compelling citizen journalism from my backyard here in New Jersey.
The Jersey Journal is covering a car crash that led to charges against a Hoboken bar owner for killing his best friend in the accident.
But the video -- shot by a witness on the street -- is much more compelling than the article itself. Be aware that the video contains graphic content.
After every major news event, I read articles saying how citizen journalism came of age or the movement redeemed itself.
The fact of the matter is that citizen journalism doesn't disappear between major news events. People are doing things every day, and many times it's something compelling, like this video.
Update: There's a discussion on nj.com about whether this video should have even been posted.
The problem is that tragedy is indeed news. The video adds to the story something that couldn't be described in words, the grief and tragedy of the circumstances.
But I understand how people don't want to see into something very tragic. Especially something so graphic. But nj.com (and myself here) put up warnings that the video is graphic. People have the choice to not watch it. Sphere: Related Content
The Jersey Journal is covering a car crash that led to charges against a Hoboken bar owner for killing his best friend in the accident.
But the video -- shot by a witness on the street -- is much more compelling than the article itself. Be aware that the video contains graphic content.
| Eyewitness video of crash aftermath |
After every major news event, I read articles saying how citizen journalism came of age or the movement redeemed itself.
The fact of the matter is that citizen journalism doesn't disappear between major news events. People are doing things every day, and many times it's something compelling, like this video.
Update: There's a discussion on nj.com about whether this video should have even been posted.
The problem is that tragedy is indeed news. The video adds to the story something that couldn't be described in words, the grief and tragedy of the circumstances.
But I understand how people don't want to see into something very tragic. Especially something so graphic. But nj.com (and myself here) put up warnings that the video is graphic. People have the choice to not watch it. Sphere: Related Content
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