Comments on: Evolution of print to online journalism ‘held back by lack of training’

By: Katrina Fox

Katrina Fox — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:01:39 +0000

As a print journalist since 1997, I didn’t keep up with online trends and when offered free training on a CMS system at a publishing house a couple of years ago where I was editor of a monthly and reporter/features writer on a weekly, I turned it down as I was ‘too busy’. Definitely regret that now! However, I have since embraced online and new media and if I’m ever on staff again and offered training I’ll jump at the chance. I’ve sine done a course in that same CMS system as well as writing for the web and embracing Twitter etc.

Being a freelancer has its difficulties as was discussed at the Sydney Freelance Journalists Group meeting a few months ago. Some of the older freelance print journos felt they hadn’t had the training opps offered to staffers. The MEAA said it was planning to offer online and new media training to members. Hopefully this will be at an affordable cost. If so, I’ll be the first to sign up! I’d like to learn more about video and audio for the web including podcasts. As has been said above: Give me the tools, show me how to do it and I will!

By: Richard Pester

Richard Pester — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:36:43 +0000

Hi – not a journalist myself, but a trainer – or rather in charge of the ADMA education & training division, and I’m thinking there must be an opportunity for us to train anyone who wants to know more about the digital world. Our courses tend to be delivered from a marketing perspective, but we run in-house courses on pretty much everything digital for people/groups who just want to get up to speed – and of course it can be tailored to the audience. Can anyone tell me who I should talk to in this journalism forum to explore the possibilities?

By: mumbrella

mumbrella — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:34:21 +0000

That’s an entirely fair comment from James – I’d characterise the tone of the whole debate as “Give us the tools, show us how to do it, and we’ll do the job.”

Cheers,

Tim – Mumbrella

By: james D

james D — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:04:58 +0000

What has been missed is that the participants (I was one) in the discussion about ‘The Changing Newsroom’ at this forum all spoke of their colleagues willingness to embrace the changes that are happening.

Although Clive Hyde commented that, in his time, the video cameras ‘stayed in the drawer’, they are out now and video can be seen periodically on ntnews.com.au

Comments here about the panel ‘whingeing’ are not quite right… although there possibly was some from certain members of the audience, who saw the ‘New Media’ (Twitter, blogs, etc) as the fourth horseman in the apocalypse of ‘quality’ journalism. I made the remark that music rebounded after punk came along, with a new energy and DIY ethic… but was told this was a bad analogy; that ‘new media’ (and Rupert in particular) was killing/had killed ‘quality journalism’. Really? There is more good stuff to read, and easier to find, than ever before.

Journos, mostly, are keen to get on with the job. Give us proper gear and training and you’ll see what we can do.

By: Kellie

Kellie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:12:52 +0000

Why would it be acceptable for a “punter” to file footage for news sites, but not for a print journalist to do the same thing?

Danielle Parry’s comments are stuck in the dark ages, I’d rather see an online piece from a print journo than a punter. And seriously, how can she tackle the future of journalism if the age of multi-skilling managed to pass her by?

By: Gordon Whitehead

Gordon Whitehead — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:06:26 +0000

Journos’ just get over it. You’re just late to the party!

By: Smithee

Smithee — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:42:35 +0000

What a sop. Not that you can expect much from the ridiculous Media union. This is a complete non-story, just a bit of froth served up from their bleedin’ obvious gabfest.

The union is always 20 paces behind the action, and always just bleats on about the same rubbish (to absolutely no effect) no matter what’s going on.

I think we could truncate this story to just four words: “Newsroom resources are tight.”

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:20:17 +0000

Sounds like a whinge-fest by the unready and incapable. There are print journalists who have seamlessly made the evolution to online using their skills, talent and enthusiasm.

Are they working harder? Maybe. But some print journalists work harder and smarter than other print journalists anyway – they tend to be the ones who get ahead, whether print or online.