Almost everyone working within journalism today feels the economic uncertainty that is challenging the industry. Many of us are worried about our jobs, our incomes… and our ability to do accurate, influential work.
But let us back up for a moment, and think about an industry without such troubles. Let’s take concerns about “how to make money online” or how to avoid newsroom cutbacks off the table.
As the Internet has accelerated economic chaos within the journalism business, it has created new publishing opportunities for individual reporters. Now, you can go on your own, explore your passions, and have your work become the focus of a 24/7 community.
But would you want to? Assuming you could make as comfortable a living as a solo blogger as a newsroom reporter, which would you pick?
Please take a moment to share in the comments your vision for an ideal job in journalism.
About Robert Niles
Oddly enough, I’d still rather work in a newsroom.
In a newsroom you have access to certain resources and a level of credibility that has not yet found its way to blogs, in the eyes of the mainstream.
Once blogs reach that level, something they are coming closer to more and more every day (like many bloggers being granted press credentials now), then solo blogging will thrive even more.
I give it 3-5 years before we are coining the term “open-source/crowd-sourced journalism.”
Ideally, I’d like to do a little bit of both since we’re dreaming here.
-Karen
http://solshine7.blogspot.com
Okay, we dream in here. Admitted. But dreams are the stuff future is made of. On dreams you can, in fact, proven, build companys.
So don’t hesitate.
I would prefer to look past the blog trend and catch a little more opportunities. I.e. make your knowledge available in several forms – printreport, webreport, videoreport, podcast – and also make it available to several news companys. If it’s urgent enough they don’t seem to dislike a little overlap or two.
All You newsdesk people ought to make Yourself a promise: From this day I’ll make myself a new habit. That is, leave the newsdesk for at least one hour and get in touch with real people to get to know their ups and downs, opinions and views, sorrows and joys.