For the last two weeks, I have been pitching important stories about protecting voting rights and turning around America's economy. To my dismay, I am finding that my calls to some long-time media contacts are not answered because they have been downsized or shut-down. News & Notes on NPR was one of the most intelligent pieces of coverage of the black community, in my opinion; unfortunately it has been discontinued. Neil at the Affinity Lab saved me a pitch call that wouldn't get answered when he told me AJC's opinion page editor Cynthia Tucker is moving to DC. What does this signal? Just now, an old contact at AP's email bounced back. Is he gone, too?
The ever-vigilant and always fabulous Will Robinson posted this on his Facebook 5/5: "An interesting Brit podcast on future of US newspapers. Next we need look at the low ratings for local TV news programs - especially the 10 and 11 PM local newscasts. With news staff cuts, ESPN, and the weather channel/weather.com are the local TV newscasts the next domino to fall after newspapers? What happens to local and state government when the press is now longer there to be a watchdog?" See Lacy MacAuyley's blog about the Rocky Mountain News. See Frank Rich on suicide watch for newspapers at the Times.
While Massey Media has, since the beginning of the century, advised our organizations and clients on Internet media, new media, web 2.0, 3.0 and running successful communications campaigns without a full reliance on the press, I fear the loss of traditional media also means a choking off of voices and outlets.
How will journalism survive? According to Rich, "... nobody really knows what form journalism will take in the evolving post-newspaper era." But, we all know that real investigative reporting takes money. Where will that come from? Some of my colleagues from the world of newspapers have gone to institutes and foundation-supported efforts. Yet, if reporters have foundation-credentials vs newsroom-credentials, are elected leaders going to feel it necessary to engage them or will they be able to close the door? Are reporters participating in truth-telling without the backing of a proven and wide audience?
In addition to the theoretical questions about how journalism will evolve, there is the question about what out-of-work reporters do for a paycheck. My uncle was a long-time newspaper editor who has gone on to do great work in public relations in support of public schools. Yes, there are great careers for reporters, even being a Whitehouse Press Secretary, and there will always be demand for great communicators.
Yet, journalists miss the the newsroom. (See the fun new thriller State of Play) The noise of the newsroom, the tension of meeting a daily deadline and following leads, create an energy that can't be replicated online.
We, at Massey Media, work in a open space, akin to a newsroom. The Affinity Lab is a cooperative workspace for DC entrepreneurs. Sometimes, the room can get exciting. When a group is trying to launch a new program, we all pitch in, like 1Well's fundraiser or Affinity Lab's recent public relations push. The energy heats up with dozens of people pitching in to create our shared success. We bring in different types of funding: clients, foundations, sales, membership fees, and our synergy is loose. It works.
I suggest that jobless journalists use an Affinity Lab-style cooperative to save reporting. Jobless journalists can be members and pay a fee or have sponsor pay. (Affinity Lab starts at $235/month. ) Jobless journalists can come together in a shared workspace would be the start to recreating a newsroom feeling. Out of newspaper employees would organize by skills and interests: Those with sales and financing experience get to work at finding investment dollars. Journalists go back to work, maybe reporting on the demise of the newspaper. The tech people build new media for delivering the stories, and so forth. The question that needs to be answered is who will pay for journalism in America? I suggest an incubator be built so we can preserve truth in our democracy.
- Sarah Massey