The big question: Are bloggers just journalists by another name? Does it really matter?

Are bloggers journalists? Until recently, it was a fairly pointless question debated by those trying to justify an aspiration or maintain their position as part of an elite.

But as the traditional media looks to UGC to maintain its own viability, the credentials of bloggers as citizen journalists has been brought sharply into focus. (more…)

How to take your first flight with Twitter. It’s nothing to get in a flap about

‘That’s how many press releases arrive at a daily newspaper on an average day …’ I used to announce as I tipped a small skipful of paper on the table.

People from community organisations who came on my media-made-simple courses were always amazed that a journalist could create prioritised order from such a mountain of chaos so quickly.

Now I know how they felt. I’ve got feeds, blogs, links, tags, plugins, widgets and bookmarks coming out of my ears. And that was before the Twittervasion.
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Local video: How our communites got caught in the crossfire between BBC and newspapers

It’s three months since the announcement that the BBC was to scrap its ambitious plans for local video, after something of a scuffle between the corporation and regional press.

You could hardly say the contest was decided by a knockout. By the time BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons effectively pulled the plug on the £68million proposals, saying the corporation would be focusing on “improving the quality of existing services”, newspaper heavyweights were already elsewhere battling to survive the biggest advertising downturn in a generation.

Spectators left at the ringside, those baffled, licence-paying punters (who hadn’t exactly taken to the streets to demand more local video news in the first place) were left scratching their heads, wondering why they’d been invited to the non-event of the year.

If you ignore the rhetoric, the decision not to go ahead was sound. But if the protagonists had stayed in the ring a little longer, they might just have salvaged something of benefit for local communities.

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How social media can help rescue journalism

I live in London, not Damascus. But, I have to tell you, the last few weeks have been a journey.

Over the past three years, I’ve been managing editor for a dozen fine newspapers and websites in London. And I’ve seen more change in the last few months than at any time during my 27 years as a journalist and media manager.

Newsrooms can be surprisingly risk-averse places. Nevertheless, my journalists went further, faster towards a multimedia future than many thought possible. I’m proud of them.

Many good journalists across our industry are afraid. Or they’ve lost their job already, due to the actions of people like me. But you can’t run forward while you’re looking backwards and, be under no illusion, we’re facing a watershed in journalism. I’m optimistic and I’m excited. Despite my own redundancy a month ago.

Actually, my optimism is sparked by the potential benefits for our communities and certainly not by a blinkered view of the very real crisis facing local media in and outside the UK. As I’ve said for many years: In my book, journalism is not just about the acquired skills of writing, design or photography. For the most part, that’s the easy bit. It’s not rocket science. I believe we earn the right to call ourselves journalists only when we can demonstrate the power to make a positive difference to the communities we serve. Full stop. (more…)