Robert Niles: January 2009 archive
The ethical journalist's guide to selling ads on a website: Part one
January 30, 2009
The reaction to my piece two weeks ago illustrates that the idea of a reporter selling ads on his or her website remains a troubling one for many would-be online publishers. So I decided to present a step-by-step guide describing how a journalist can sell ads without compromising his or her ability to report accurately.Step 1) Commit to learning about ad sales with same dedication you brought to learning about reporting.
When you start your own website, you no longer are merely a reporter. You've become a publisher, with all the additional duties that this position requires. In the highly competitive marketplace of online publishing, you must succeed in each of those areas if you site is to be successful. (Relevant cliche: "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.") So you must commit to learning about your content management system, cultivating and inspiring your readership, recording and managing your expenses... and earning money from your site.
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Journalism ethics 2.0: As the Internet changes the market, some conventions must change as well
January 16, 2009
With the deadline for applying to our News Entrepreneur Boot Camp approaching, I'm thinking in even greater detail about the steps print journalists must take to make a successful move over to online publishing.One change folks with print experience must be willing to make is to rethink some of the assumptions they may have had about journalism ethics. I'm not suggesting that journalists should change their core beliefs about this field when they switch media. The central tenet of journalism ethics (in my opinion) remains: Do what's best to empower your readers with truthful information. Everything we do ought to flow from that goal.
The practice of journalism is an act of service. But if we are going to be able to continue to serve our audience, we will need to change some of the conventions and assumptions we've brought to our practice if they now stand in the way of our ability to serve. What good are conventions designed a generation ago to protected our public image if following them today leaves us with a shrinking audience and no advertisers to support us?
Here are three widely-quoted tenets of traditional journalism ethics that I believe journalists must change in order to remain relevant in a more competitive online information market. More...
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We're looking for a few good aspiring online publishers
January 13, 2009
OJR readers,I'm excited about a project that OJR is launching, along with our new hosts at the Knight Digital Media Center. In 2006 and 2007, OJR hosted one-day conferences at the USC campus for online news entrepreneurs, and I've been wanting to expand on those programs, to offer more in-depth training and development for online journalists who are building the news organizations of today and tomorrow.
Now, it's going to happen. After the jump are the details, from the KDMC. More...
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So why aren't you Twittering yet?
January 9, 2009
Today's entry is for all OJR readers who aren't on Twitter yet. Here's my advice: Start. Today.Twitter has become what many of had hoped RSS would be, as well as the most vital forum for sharing links with other writers. Throw in Twitter's value as the ideal medium for breaking news, and you're crippling your online publishing effort by not participating.
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