Christian Weatherman Fired After Opposing Strip Club Story
By Katherine T. Phan|Christian Post Reporter
A Christian weatherman in Bakersfield, Calif., says he was recently fired from his job days after he objected to an ABC-affiliate airing a story on successful local strip clubs.
KERO-TV's chief meteorologist, Jack Church, who delivers the weeknight weather forecast at 5, 6, and 11 p.m. for the station, told The Christian Post he was standing up for his Christian values when he asked executives at the station not to air a story about strip clubs doing well amid an economic recession.
"I said, 'I am a Christian,' and told them I just led a class at my church on faith sharing. I said this is totally inappropriate material for the 5 o'clock newscast and I asked them not to air the story," said Church.
When he learned that the story was going to be broadcast at the start of sweeps, Church asked for the day off. But when his request for leave was denied, the veteran meteorologist said he would not show up for work the day the story was set to air because he felt his presence was an implied endorsement of the racy material.
"I said I don't want to be on that newscast. I don't want to be associated to that material. They said, if you do indeed take off on Thursday, you may not come back on Friday," recalled Church.
Church then got a call from Steven McEvoy, vice president and general manager of KERO-ABC23, who told him he would no longer be employed by the station because he violated his contract.
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McEvoy denied that Church's position on the story or his faith played any role in the TV station's decision to end his job.
"Meteorologist Jack Church was not terminated by KERO-TV because he objected to a story the station was running or because of his religious beliefs. Mr. Church was terminated because he breached his contract," McEvoy told The Christian Post in a written statement.
"Beyond this, the station is not at liberty to discuss Mr. Church’s termination," he added.
Church said that McEvoy's statement is technically true because the contract prohibits him from skipping a day of work during any of the four sweeps period throughout the year, February, May, July, and November. During sweeps, the station publishes special reports in an attempt to attract more viewers, according to Church.
For the current sweeps, KERO-TV aired a TV news segment entitled, "Dancing Around the Economy,", which included interviews with a strip club manager who comments on how well business has been and a strip club dancer who confirms to the reporter that "sex sells."
“At the end of the day, and everybody knows this, sex sells. The whole fantasy, you know, just coming in here and being whoever you want to be," exotic dancer Bailey Michaels said in the segment.
The clip, filed by ABC23 South County reporter Cris Ornelas, also shows a full-body shot of a scantily-clad stripper walking up to a pole on a stage, several shots of her spinning around the pole, and multiple shots of strip club signs.
Church said he felt the piece was almost like a promotion for strip clubs.
"I didn't want a teenage girl seeing this newscast and thinking that's a good job," he said.
Church joined KERO-TV in January 2010 to replace a retiring meteorologist at the station. KERO-TV broadcasts under ABC Channel 23 in the Bakersfield, Calif., area. The station is owned by McGraw-Hill Broadcasting Company.
With 30 years of experience in the television business, Church said he finally reached the "tipping point" of the content he would withstand. He hopes his story will prompt people to think twice about what is put on television.
"Some Christians might think, 'I'm not sure it's that bad.' That's the problem in society, we continue to push the envelope."
Despite being fired, Church said he has no regrets and does not harbor any anger toward KERO-TV or McEvoy, whom he said remains a friend.
"The station did what it needed to do. I did what I needed to do. And I feel good about it," Church remarked. "I think we're (Christians) directed by God to follow God first. At this time, I think it's time to put God first."
News of Church's firing was first reported by TV Spy after the meteorologist posted a Facebook message, which read: "Lost my job w/KERO-TV. We were set to air story @ start of sweeps in 5pm news featuring strip clubs & how they’re doing well in down economy. I protested saying it was inappropriate material for local newscast. Based on my Chrisitan (sic) values I could not be to part of this newscast. I asked to have day off when it would air. They denied request, I did’nt (sic) appear they fired me 5 days later for breach of contract."
Although he suspects his career as a meteorologist is over now following the news of his firing, Church said he would not seek a lawsuit over the issue but instead keep standing up for his faith and move on with his life.
"Well, l just depend on God and I'll do something else with my life," he said.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
TIME Selling Off 18 Smaller Magazines
From Dan Poynter's newsletter:
TIME INC. IS SELLING 18 OF ITS SMALLER MAGAZINES
They include Popular Science, Field & Stream
and Parenting, to Swedish publisher Bonnier
Magazine Group. The sale marks the latest
effort by the magazine company to
restructure its business and adapt as readers
and advertisers increasingly look to the
Internet for news, entertainment and
information.
TIME INC. IS SELLING 18 OF ITS SMALLER MAGAZINES
They include Popular Science, Field & Stream
and Parenting, to Swedish publisher Bonnier
Magazine Group. The sale marks the latest
effort by the magazine company to
restructure its business and adapt as readers
and advertisers increasingly look to the
Internet for news, entertainment and
information.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Publisher Introduces New 'Eco-Font' to Use Less Ink
Intriguing new idea from the UK:
New ‘eco-font’ developed by publisher
by Helen Lambourne
A regional publisher has developed a new ‘eco-font’ which will be introduced at all titles published at its print centre and is thought to be the first of its kind in the country.
A specialist team at Archant has created the new type of font,which reduces the amount of ink used by 10pc but which the company says does not affect the quality of printing.
The initial idea for it was suggested by Paul Wheeler, a business analyst who works for the Archant Life section, and has now been developed by a team at its Thorpe Print Centre, near Norwich, using technology supplied by Kodak.
Archant now plans to introduce the new font at the print centre, which publishes titles including the Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News.
Clive Want, senior production manager, said: “We have always printed black solid text using 100pc black ink but we have developed Paul’s idea and we intend to reduce all text to a 90pc screen. This does not affect quality in any way but it does save on ink.
“Archant is the only newspaper company in this country capable of undertaking this because of its FM screen technology. Traditional newspaper AM screen technology would have resulted in fine text becoming grainy.
“We plan to introduce this process across all our publications printed at Thorpe. Photographs will be unaffected and it will also have the added benefit of less black ink rub off.”
The process involves punching tiny holes, which are invisible without a magnifying glass, into the font and has gone thought test stages using different variations of screen – with 90pc chosen as the most suitable option.
Paul said: “I’m delighted that the eco-font idea has been taken forward. When I first read about them I thought it sounded like a great idea for saving ink and I am pleased Archant has taken the idea forward and been able to use it across the titles printed at Thorpe.”
New ‘eco-font’ developed by publisher
by Helen Lambourne
A regional publisher has developed a new ‘eco-font’ which will be introduced at all titles published at its print centre and is thought to be the first of its kind in the country.
A specialist team at Archant has created the new type of font,which reduces the amount of ink used by 10pc but which the company says does not affect the quality of printing.
The initial idea for it was suggested by Paul Wheeler, a business analyst who works for the Archant Life section, and has now been developed by a team at its Thorpe Print Centre, near Norwich, using technology supplied by Kodak.
Archant now plans to introduce the new font at the print centre, which publishes titles including the Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News.
Clive Want, senior production manager, said: “We have always printed black solid text using 100pc black ink but we have developed Paul’s idea and we intend to reduce all text to a 90pc screen. This does not affect quality in any way but it does save on ink.
“Archant is the only newspaper company in this country capable of undertaking this because of its FM screen technology. Traditional newspaper AM screen technology would have resulted in fine text becoming grainy.
“We plan to introduce this process across all our publications printed at Thorpe. Photographs will be unaffected and it will also have the added benefit of less black ink rub off.”
The process involves punching tiny holes, which are invisible without a magnifying glass, into the font and has gone thought test stages using different variations of screen – with 90pc chosen as the most suitable option.
Paul said: “I’m delighted that the eco-font idea has been taken forward. When I first read about them I thought it sounded like a great idea for saving ink and I am pleased Archant has taken the idea forward and been able to use it across the titles printed at Thorpe.”
Facebook Sending Readers to Big News Sites
Facebook sharing sending readers to big news sites
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Facebook is playing a role in what news gets read online as people use the Internet's most popular hangout to share and recommend content.
That's according to a study released Monday by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism.
Facebook funneled an average of 3 percent of traffic to 21 major news sites that allowed the data to be tracked. The report is based on an analysis of Internet traffic data compiled by the research firm Nielsen Co. during the first nine months of last year.
That's still small compared with Google Inc.'s media clout. Pew says Google's dominant search engine supplies about 30 percent of traffic to the top news site.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Facebook is playing a role in what news gets read online as people use the Internet's most popular hangout to share and recommend content.
That's according to a study released Monday by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism.
Facebook funneled an average of 3 percent of traffic to 21 major news sites that allowed the data to be tracked. The report is based on an analysis of Internet traffic data compiled by the research firm Nielsen Co. during the first nine months of last year.
That's still small compared with Google Inc.'s media clout. Pew says Google's dominant search engine supplies about 30 percent of traffic to the top news site.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Copeland Wins EPA Award
In the HIgher Goals contest at the Evangelical Press Association this week in Chicago Steve Copeland won a fourth-place award for his work in Sports Spectrum. Congratulations, Steve!
Student Writer of the Year
First Place: Sojourners, “Destroying West Virginia, One Mountain at a Time” by ONLEILOVE ALSTON, Author; JIM RICE, Editor.
Second Place: Priscilla Papers, “Will Boys Be Boys and Girls Be Girls?” by DAVID M. CSINOS, Author; WILLIAM DAVID SPENCER, Editor.
Third Place: Mutuality, “From Hatchet-Man to Women’s Advocate” by NICHOLAS COLBY WATSON WOLFE, Author; MEGAN GREULICH, Editor.
Fourth Place: Sports Spectrum, “A Fighting Chance” by STEPHEN COPELAND, Author; BRETT HONEYCUTT, Editor.
Student Writer of the Year
First Place: Sojourners, “Destroying West Virginia, One Mountain at a Time” by ONLEILOVE ALSTON, Author; JIM RICE, Editor.
Second Place: Priscilla Papers, “Will Boys Be Boys and Girls Be Girls?” by DAVID M. CSINOS, Author; WILLIAM DAVID SPENCER, Editor.
Third Place: Mutuality, “From Hatchet-Man to Women’s Advocate” by NICHOLAS COLBY WATSON WOLFE, Author; MEGAN GREULICH, Editor.
Fourth Place: Sports Spectrum, “A Fighting Chance” by STEPHEN COPELAND, Author; BRETT HONEYCUTT, Editor.
Nellie Bly's Birthday Today
It’s the birthday of journalist Nellie Bly, born Elizabeth Jane Cochran in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, in 1864.
When she was 16, her family moved to Pittsburgh, where she read an editorial in The Pittsburgh Dispatch titled “What Girls are Good For.” (The answer was “not much,” at least, not outside the home.) She wrote a furious reply and signed it “Little Orphan Girl.” The editor was so impressed that he invited her in an offered her a job. She took it, and borrowed the name “Nellie Bly” from a Stephen Foster song to use as her pen name.
Unlike most female journalists of the time, she didn’t write about fashion or gardening, though. She wrote about the poor, and the way women were exploited in factories, sometimes posing as a sweatshop worker to report from the inside, which made companies nervous. They threatened to pull their advertising, and she was busted down to a more lady-like beat. She turned in her letter of resignation along with her story.
She went to New York in 1887, and after several months with no job prospects, she talked her way into an opportunity with Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World. Her assignment was to cover the notorious Blackwell’s Island Women’s Lunatic Asylum, and she went undercover, convincing doctors and judges that she was mentally ill. She was committed to the asylum and lived there in appalling conditions for 10 days. She wrote: “I have watched patients stand and gaze longingly toward the city they in all likelihood will never enter again. It means liberty and life; it seems so near, and yet heaven is not further from hell.”
In 1889, she proposed a new story: She would beat the fictional Phileas Fogg’s record for a trip around the globe, from Jules Verne’s novel Around the World in Eighty Days. Traveling east, she made the journey in 72 days, six hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds. She was, by now, an international sensation, but The World refused to pay her any kind of bonus in gratitude for their increased circulation, and she resigned.
In 1895, she left her career to marry 70-year-old industrialist Robert Seaman. When her husband died in 1904, she took over the business, the Iron Clad Manufacturing Company, and became one of the leading female industrialists in the country. Employee fraud, her lack of experience, and a series of legal troubles forced the company into bankruptcy and Nellie Bly went back to journalism.
In 1914, she went to work for the New York Evening Journal as America’s first female war correspondent. She wrote from the front lines of World War I for almost five years. She returned Stateside in 1919 and died of pneumonia in 1922.
When she was 16, her family moved to Pittsburgh, where she read an editorial in The Pittsburgh Dispatch titled “What Girls are Good For.” (The answer was “not much,” at least, not outside the home.) She wrote a furious reply and signed it “Little Orphan Girl.” The editor was so impressed that he invited her in an offered her a job. She took it, and borrowed the name “Nellie Bly” from a Stephen Foster song to use as her pen name.
Unlike most female journalists of the time, she didn’t write about fashion or gardening, though. She wrote about the poor, and the way women were exploited in factories, sometimes posing as a sweatshop worker to report from the inside, which made companies nervous. They threatened to pull their advertising, and she was busted down to a more lady-like beat. She turned in her letter of resignation along with her story.
She went to New York in 1887, and after several months with no job prospects, she talked her way into an opportunity with Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World. Her assignment was to cover the notorious Blackwell’s Island Women’s Lunatic Asylum, and she went undercover, convincing doctors and judges that she was mentally ill. She was committed to the asylum and lived there in appalling conditions for 10 days. She wrote: “I have watched patients stand and gaze longingly toward the city they in all likelihood will never enter again. It means liberty and life; it seems so near, and yet heaven is not further from hell.”
In 1889, she proposed a new story: She would beat the fictional Phileas Fogg’s record for a trip around the globe, from Jules Verne’s novel Around the World in Eighty Days. Traveling east, she made the journey in 72 days, six hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds. She was, by now, an international sensation, but The World refused to pay her any kind of bonus in gratitude for their increased circulation, and she resigned.
In 1895, she left her career to marry 70-year-old industrialist Robert Seaman. When her husband died in 1904, she took over the business, the Iron Clad Manufacturing Company, and became one of the leading female industrialists in the country. Employee fraud, her lack of experience, and a series of legal troubles forced the company into bankruptcy and Nellie Bly went back to journalism.
In 1914, she went to work for the New York Evening Journal as America’s first female war correspondent. She wrote from the front lines of World War I for almost five years. She returned Stateside in 1919 and died of pneumonia in 1922.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Look What This Journalism Major Did!
The Man Who Got bin Laden: The Most Deadly Would-be Journalist in the World
Posted by Mark Thompson Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 3:09 pm
The man who commanded the SEAL team that hunted down and killed Osama bin Laden studied to be a reporter. If the Pulitzer Prize board establishes a new category -- for killing the world's most wanted terrorist -- it's a safe bet Bill McRaven will win it next spring.
Vice Adm. William McRaven, himself a SEAL, was on the ground in Afghanistan as bin Laden met his end, linked electronically to CIA chief Leon Panetta at agency headquarters in Langley, Va. "I have to tell you that the real commander was Admiral McRaven," Panetta told PBS Tuesday night. "He was on site, and he was actually in charge of the military operation that went in and got bin Laden."
So just who is this reporter-turned-frogman-turned-giant-killer? He currently heads the military's 4,000-strong and secretive Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. Assuming Senate confirmation, he'll soon pick up his fourth star as head head to Florida to run U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. That will make him the Pentagon's top commando among the 57,000 people working for SOCOM. He's married, with several kids.
McRaven hedged his bets while studying journalism at the University of Texas in Austin before graduating in 1977: he also was a member of the Navy ROTC program. "You wouldn't expect a journalism major," former deputy CIA chief and ex-Navy admiral Bobby Inman told the San Antonio Express-News, "to end up running special forces."
But it looks like McRaven picked the right career path: in his 35-year career, McRaven went from being a SEAL platoon commander, to heading a SEAL team, to running U.S. special operations in Europe. But he didn't give up everything he learned in journalism school: in 1996 he published Spec Ops, a book on the art of special operations based on eight case studies. He concluded the keys to successful missions are Simplicity, Security, Repetition, Surprise, Speed and Purpose.
McRaven is highly-regarded in the dark world of special operations for improving the JSOC targeting center created by Stanley McChrystal, the Army general who retired last year after Rolling Stone quoted his staff making disparaging comments about top members of the Obama Administration. The unit has gotten high marks for compressing the nation's flow of military and civilian intelligence into targets, times and places for action. In other words, he has spent years "shortening the kill chain," linking curiosity, detection, tracking and destruction.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in announcing McRaven's promotion in March, said McRaven "has led a JSOC team that has been ruthlessly and effectively taking the fight to America's most dangerous and vicious enemies." As JSOC chief, he commands what the public knows as SEAL Team 6 -- the toughest, most skilled SEALs -- but officially known as the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, or simply DevGru.
McRaven deployed SEAL Team 6 to great effect early Monday in Pakistan. Back at CIA headquarters, Panetta and his team monitored McRaven's men from a windowless seventh-floor conference room. As he and his team waited for McRaven to report on whether bin Laden was indeed at the compound, Panetta says the room was tense. “I kept asking Bill McRaven, ‘O.K., what the hell's this mean?,' ” Panetta told Time's Massimo Calabresi. When McRaven finally said they had gotten “Geronimo,” their code name for bin Laden, “all the air we were holding came out,” Panetta says. Not a bad day's work for a would-be journalist. Sure as heck beats writing about it.
Read more: http://battleland.blogs.time.com/2011/05/04/the-man-who-got-bin-laden-the-most-deadly-journalist-in-the-world/#ixzz1LQDOLkVk
Interesting Position Available
Position Available
Web-Editor
WORLD on Campus
WORLD Magazine, the largest Christian news magazine in the country, is looking for an experienced journalism professional to edit a new web-site currently under development. The new site, tentatively called WORLD on Campus, will provide original Christian worldview journalism to college-aged men and women (ages 18-25). The ideal candidate will have 3 to 5 years of journalism experience (reporting, writing, and editing experience required) and a mature Christian worldview. The editor must also have a deep familiarity with this age group. Experience writing for this age group is a plus. The site will specialize in "convergence journalism" -- the integration of words, graphics and photography, audio, and video. Therefore, experience with all of these media will also be an advantage.
This is a full-time position. Salary will be based on experience. WORLD Magazine is based in Asheville, N.C., but relocation is not required, though a professional home-office work environment is.
To be considered for this position, please email the following to wsmith@worldmag.com :
• Resume
• At least 3 writing samples (links to on-line articles preferred)
• A brief letter/email (no more than 350 words) that highlights how your qualifications match the description above
Web-Editor
WORLD on Campus
WORLD Magazine, the largest Christian news magazine in the country, is looking for an experienced journalism professional to edit a new web-site currently under development. The new site, tentatively called WORLD on Campus, will provide original Christian worldview journalism to college-aged men and women (ages 18-25). The ideal candidate will have 3 to 5 years of journalism experience (reporting, writing, and editing experience required) and a mature Christian worldview. The editor must also have a deep familiarity with this age group. Experience writing for this age group is a plus. The site will specialize in "convergence journalism" -- the integration of words, graphics and photography, audio, and video. Therefore, experience with all of these media will also be an advantage.
This is a full-time position. Salary will be based on experience. WORLD Magazine is based in Asheville, N.C., but relocation is not required, though a professional home-office work environment is.
To be considered for this position, please email the following to wsmith@worldmag.com :
• Resume
• At least 3 writing samples (links to on-line articles preferred)
• A brief letter/email (no more than 350 words) that highlights how your qualifications match the description above
Investigative Reporting Sampler
Here is a great compendium of some of the best recent investigative reporting from the StarTribune in the Twin Cities:
http://www.startribune.com/investigators/
http://www.startribune.com/investigators/
Monday, May 2, 2011
Forum shines light on candidates and their positions
By: Sarah Kraus
WINONA LAKE, Ind.--Monday night, a candidates forum was held for those running in the May 3 election for city office. Over 67 people, in addition to the candidates, were in attendance. The candidates were given a chance to speak about why he or she would be best for the position. While the candidates agreed on many topics, there were several differences on how they would be viewed or how the issues would be dealt with.
The candidates views and positions on Winona Lake receiving a three-way liquor license, Winona Lake Town Council's role in attracting businesses, and the role of not-for-profit organizations in the community were discussed, among other issues.
Retha Hicks, Winona Lake's current clerk-treasurer, is returning to run for office again. She said that her greatest strength is the level of commitment she puts into her job. When she gets involved, she doesn't give up and completes the job in a timely manner.
Her opponent, Kent Adams, believes that he has a lot of experience that will help him succeed. He has been a member of the Indiana General Assembly, has been the Kosciusko County treasurer for four years, and served as a member of the Warsaw Community School Board of Trustees. He has also had experience in handling large budgets and enjoys listening to the concerns of all involved parties.
Dan Daggett and Philip Hood, both running for ward 1, have different ideas of why each of them would be good for the job. Daggett, who has never run for a political office in the past, hopes to bring “new insight, different ideas, and a different point of view” to the position. He also believes his life experience—handling cash flow, a multimillion budget, and being a team leader—will help greatly.
Hood believes that he has the ability to adapt easily and be a team player. He is passionate about making Winona Lake a good, safe place for his four children and others to grow up in.
Terry Howie and John Boal are the opposing candidates for ward 2. Howie, the incumbent for ward 2, would like to get to know the community well, as its representative, and isn't afraid to “get down and dirty” whenever needed. Boal stressed the importance of envisioning the future and working to make that vision become a reality by making decisions in a timely manner.
The opposing candidates for ward 3, Bruce Shaffner and Jerry Nelson, differ in their ideals as well. Shaffner has had previous work experience in business, as the president of the Ramada Wagon Wheel Theater. He would like to nurture relationships with the people and businesses in the community. He believes firmly that “spending cannot exceed income.”
Nelson has been involved with the Town Council for many years, although only as a spectator. He has been to more than six years of meetings as an interested citizen. Consequently, he believes that although partnering with organizations such as Grace Village and Grace College is important, listening to the taxpayers—the citizens themselves—is what is most important.
Sue Gooding, the current council president, and Greg Winn, opposing candidates for ward 4, discussed their positions while joking about the differences in their ages and experience. Gooding has 28 years in business experience, which exceeds Winn's by decades. Nevertheless, Winn is passionate about improvement, time management, fixing problems, and enabling others.
Randy Swanson is running for ward 5 unopposed. He has served previously on the Town Council, and has seen the monthly costs of waste water treatment lowered by 20 percent. He believes in low tax rates.
When asked about their positions on a impending, possible three-way liquor license for the restaurants in Winona Lake—an issue that has brought much controversy—Nelson, Shaffner, Winn, Gooding, and Howie agreed that they would want the community's input.
Nelson suggested public meetings should be held about the subject. Shaffner mentioned the difference between liquor in restaurants and in bars—he leaned toward allowing the license, but still wanted community involvement in the decision. Winn talked about how Winona Lake already has a two-way liquor license, so it wouldn't be much different to have a three-way license. He said he would most likely vote yes, but would still want input from the community. Gooding and Howie both agreed that they would vote whichever way the community wished, and Howie suggested taking a poll of the citizens on the issue.
Swanson, Hood, and Daggett agreed that because of the good standing of the restaurants in question, and because of the extra business it could bring, they would vote yes for the license.
Boal said that he would need to “take things in balance” and think through everything before making a decision.
Boal said that he would need to “take things in balance” and think through everything before making a decision.
When discussing the Town Council's role in attracting other businesses, Winn, Daggett, Hood, Howie, Boal, Shaffner, and Nelson all agreed that it would be more important to foster and work with existing businesses before trying to attract new ones.
Gooding mentioned that Winona Lake would need a place to put new businesses. Swanson said that Winona Lake should be “business friendly, but not to the point [of having] a carry out or bar” in town.
All of the candidates believe that the not-for-profit businesses in Winona Lake should not be required to contribute financially to the community, because they have already helped the community in many ways by enhancing the culture of the area and bringing many visitors to town who spend money elsewhere. Even so, Winn commented that it would be helpful for the not-for-profit businesses to educate the public about what benefits they are bringing to the town, in order to avoid confusion.
During the closing remarks, many of the candidates stressed that the community is responsible for electing its officials—and it is its job to go vote on May 3.
Role of the Editor is Changing
Here is a very stimulating and thoughtful piece from an accomplished blogger. Access her work at http://emediavitals.com/content/4-business-trends-shaping-role-editor
The role of the editor has become as diverse as the revenue streams in the industry in which we work. Today journalists are marketing gurus, audience development specialists and innovators. Smart editors are adapting by learning new skills and taking initiative — and smart publishers are encouraging them to do so.
In my brief career thus far, I've taken on many roles I didn't learn in journalism school (when Facebook was still only a portal for party photos), which is both challenging and exciting. I recently had a Skype chat with a journalism class at my alma mater, Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, during which we discussed innovative online revenue models and what they mean for editors. That's the first sign about how journalism is changing: In a magazine production class, future magazine editors and creative directors are also learning about business models.
Here are four ways new digital revenue models are changing the role of the editor.
The importance of content marketing
Editors and reporters are far beyond just content artists. We also have to understand how to market our content and brand beyond a newsstand, to an audience observable on a granular level. At the most basic level this means having Web analytics, SEO and social media skills. It also means having an eye to package content most appropriate for the medium and the metrics we want to achieve. (For instance, as I write this post, I'm not aiming just for pageviews — but I hope I can engage you with all of these informative links and maybe even get you to subscribe to our newsletter.)
Some journalists will also need to understand how to market products and services, beyond a newsletter or event. It's becoming particularly important at enthusiast publications where commerce is a big part of their business (like F+W Publications and Interweave). Though the blurring line of content and commerce is uncomfortable for traditional journalists, some editors will need to understand how to bridge this divide.
New jobs in brand journalism
It probably comes as no surprise that many of the friends I met in journalism school are not working as editors or writers at media organizations (though many of them are). There are still “traditional,” editorial-focused jobs at news wires and newspapers — though journalists need new skills in those positions, too. There are also non-traditional editorial jobs quickly becoming traditional (such as my position here at a digital-only publication).
But there's also more and more marketing jobs requiring editorial skills. It's nothing new that many journalists will move into PR or marketing — but now journalists have an even wider range of choices between news stories and press releases. As brands create more content operations, they need people trained in creating good content. Furthermore, as publishers beef up custom publishing operations, they need content producers with an understanding of marketing.
This isn't a sign of the detriment of journalism as a public service; it's a sign of new opportunities for content. It would only be scary for the public good if the police were funding police reporting. A magazine with fashion tips sponsored by a designer isn't scary for the public good. It just is what it is — which is more jobs for content people.
Diverse business models
In the old days the revenue model could operate outside of the newsroom, but as revenue models get more diverse, it's not as easy to say “advertising is over there and editorial is over here.” The barrier between church and state is still relevant and taken seriously, but church doesn't need to live in a bubble.
That bubble has popped for some, thanks to digital innovations and revenue challenges to the media industry in the last few years. Amid the recession, every area of a media organization — including editorial — has been thrust into figuring out how to plug leaks in the media business model. It's kind of like how we didn't want the mortgage crisis to happen, but on the upside, we understand the housing market a lot better now.
Jim Brady, who has worked at both traditional news organizations (most recently at the Journal Register Company) and the start-up TBD, told an Online News Association audience that this new understanding of the business model is a good thing for journalists. “Nobody is suggesting that journalists should go write a story and then sell an ad, but I think they should understand — like every other employee in every other company in the world — how the company they works for makes money,” he said. “I think good journalism and good business can easily coexist.”
Here at the small headquarters of eMedia Vitals, our cubicles are clearly marked as church and state. While the divide is clear, I strive to understand how the business works on the other side of my cubicle wall and the role I play in keeping the wheels running.
A focus on entrepreneurship
The really good news about all of the above trends is that editors can be purveyors of new ideas and produce better content than ever before. Instead of just naively proposing an expensive project and getting turned down, editors have the knowledge and tools to launch a feature that fits their audience and the business objectives of their companies.
I remember only a few years ago sitting in budget meetings for the student newspaper, arguing about what should go on the front page. We were operating in a vacuum, only able to use our conflicting judgment about what was important to our audience.
Now journalists have so much more than gray space to work with, including an ever-expanding number of tools and platforms to inform and produce journalism. We can suggest new media and methods to produce content (multimedia, curation), we can interact with our readers on Twitter, and we can even suggest new content products like gamification, personalization and geolocation.
Yes, it's easy to feel wary about how complicated this makes life as a journalist. But I would argue there's never been a better time for creative minds in this field.
The role of the editor has become as diverse as the revenue streams in the industry in which we work. Today journalists are marketing gurus, audience development specialists and innovators. Smart editors are adapting by learning new skills and taking initiative — and smart publishers are encouraging them to do so.
In my brief career thus far, I've taken on many roles I didn't learn in journalism school (when Facebook was still only a portal for party photos), which is both challenging and exciting. I recently had a Skype chat with a journalism class at my alma mater, Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, during which we discussed innovative online revenue models and what they mean for editors. That's the first sign about how journalism is changing: In a magazine production class, future magazine editors and creative directors are also learning about business models.
Here are four ways new digital revenue models are changing the role of the editor.
The importance of content marketing
Editors and reporters are far beyond just content artists. We also have to understand how to market our content and brand beyond a newsstand, to an audience observable on a granular level. At the most basic level this means having Web analytics, SEO and social media skills. It also means having an eye to package content most appropriate for the medium and the metrics we want to achieve. (For instance, as I write this post, I'm not aiming just for pageviews — but I hope I can engage you with all of these informative links and maybe even get you to subscribe to our newsletter.)
Some journalists will also need to understand how to market products and services, beyond a newsletter or event. It's becoming particularly important at enthusiast publications where commerce is a big part of their business (like F+W Publications and Interweave). Though the blurring line of content and commerce is uncomfortable for traditional journalists, some editors will need to understand how to bridge this divide.
New jobs in brand journalism
It probably comes as no surprise that many of the friends I met in journalism school are not working as editors or writers at media organizations (though many of them are). There are still “traditional,” editorial-focused jobs at news wires and newspapers — though journalists need new skills in those positions, too. There are also non-traditional editorial jobs quickly becoming traditional (such as my position here at a digital-only publication).
But there's also more and more marketing jobs requiring editorial skills. It's nothing new that many journalists will move into PR or marketing — but now journalists have an even wider range of choices between news stories and press releases. As brands create more content operations, they need people trained in creating good content. Furthermore, as publishers beef up custom publishing operations, they need content producers with an understanding of marketing.
This isn't a sign of the detriment of journalism as a public service; it's a sign of new opportunities for content. It would only be scary for the public good if the police were funding police reporting. A magazine with fashion tips sponsored by a designer isn't scary for the public good. It just is what it is — which is more jobs for content people.
Diverse business models
In the old days the revenue model could operate outside of the newsroom, but as revenue models get more diverse, it's not as easy to say “advertising is over there and editorial is over here.” The barrier between church and state is still relevant and taken seriously, but church doesn't need to live in a bubble.
That bubble has popped for some, thanks to digital innovations and revenue challenges to the media industry in the last few years. Amid the recession, every area of a media organization — including editorial — has been thrust into figuring out how to plug leaks in the media business model. It's kind of like how we didn't want the mortgage crisis to happen, but on the upside, we understand the housing market a lot better now.
Jim Brady, who has worked at both traditional news organizations (most recently at the Journal Register Company) and the start-up TBD, told an Online News Association audience that this new understanding of the business model is a good thing for journalists. “Nobody is suggesting that journalists should go write a story and then sell an ad, but I think they should understand — like every other employee in every other company in the world — how the company they works for makes money,” he said. “I think good journalism and good business can easily coexist.”
Here at the small headquarters of eMedia Vitals, our cubicles are clearly marked as church and state. While the divide is clear, I strive to understand how the business works on the other side of my cubicle wall and the role I play in keeping the wheels running.
A focus on entrepreneurship
The really good news about all of the above trends is that editors can be purveyors of new ideas and produce better content than ever before. Instead of just naively proposing an expensive project and getting turned down, editors have the knowledge and tools to launch a feature that fits their audience and the business objectives of their companies.
I remember only a few years ago sitting in budget meetings for the student newspaper, arguing about what should go on the front page. We were operating in a vacuum, only able to use our conflicting judgment about what was important to our audience.
Now journalists have so much more than gray space to work with, including an ever-expanding number of tools and platforms to inform and produce journalism. We can suggest new media and methods to produce content (multimedia, curation), we can interact with our readers on Twitter, and we can even suggest new content products like gamification, personalization and geolocation.
Yes, it's easy to feel wary about how complicated this makes life as a journalist. But I would argue there's never been a better time for creative minds in this field.
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