Fairfax data journalism – paid for by Google
Dr Mumbo was intrigued to see that Fairfax Media is hiring what looks to him like the mainstream media’s first sponsored journalist.
Google is funding an “embedded role within the Sydney Morning Herald newsroom, working on data journalism and coding projects that will help the newsroom experiment and innovate with the latest storytelling technologies and techniques”, reveals the paper’s IT Pro section today.
Google is funding Fairfax’s new push into data journalism
Given the outstanding work that Fairfax journo Michael West has been doing in telling readers about large multinational corporations artificially sending their tax liabilities offshore, it seems like this could be a great topic for a data visualisation. Dr Mumbo wonders how tax shifter Google would feel about that.
Still, as Fairfax Media is already renting out office space no longer needed after downsizing its workforce to Google, this seems like perhaps the next logical step.
The “news-savvy data geek” Google News Lab Fellow role is for eight weeks, with a view to it becoming permanent.
But is the role that of a journalist?
The print edition of the article doesn’t spell it out. The digital edition of the story has a different headline describing a “hunt for a coder who cares about the future of news”. And it quotes Fairfax’s editor of photography and presentation as saying: “This is not a journalism role – it is a developer who cares about the future of news”.
But you might get a different idea from the ad. The candidate will “have technology skills that they’d like to apply to create innovative new forms of journalism”.
And: “You will have a demonstrated commitment to journalism – especially in the fields of data driven journalism or freedom of expression online.”
Plus: “The Fellow will be expected to make a substantive contribution to the journalism we present to the public.”
And according to the ad, the expertise needed includes “editorial”.
Which also sounds like a data journalist to Dr Mumbo.
But obviously it’s not a journalist role. Because Fairfax – “Independent. Always” – wouldn’t want a sponsored journalist, would it?
Well spotted Mumbo! Media Watch similarly took issue with another Fairfax initiative last night, Body Pass and it’s near limitless editorial support. Both make you question the independence it holds up as important
User ID not verified.
“Mainstream media’s first sponsored journalist” – I guess you’ve never read a travel supplement then.
The job description – a coder or tech person proficient in journalism and writing – sounds like the kind of thing which could create a point of difference in a digital news space that Mumbrella loves to trumpet as dying. But of course, feel free to have your cake and eat it too Dr Mumbo.
User ID not verified.
Maybe they can get the sponsored journalist to sub the copy – no one else seems to be.
User ID not verified.
when the data journalist (ie typesetter) appears, can the robot be far behind?
User ID not verified.
This sort of stuff exposes the otherwise evident absence of leadership on the journalism. Just last week the Maserti man was going on – again – about how the excellent journalism was what made possible the wonderous strides Fairfax is making. In fact the journalism is going nowhere but out the door.
It seems fair to say Hywood knows what price journalism, but not its worth.
User ID not verified.
Fairfax has no independence when it comes to ‘reporting’ on real estate, just endless branded content spruiking this developer or that property.
And as media watch showed, any Fairfax product gets a massive run.
Must be getting harder to call yourself a Fairfax journalist while keeping a straight face.
User ID not verified.
If this was a serious project the role would be in the news or feature departments, not production. And it would comprise a team with a task.
A single person arriving from nowhere for eight weeks is just a photo opp.
This is just Google trying to follow through on initiatives from head office.
User ID not verified.