Comments on: Skills of Online Journalists Skew Traditional http://www.ryanthornburg.org/blog/2008/07/08/skills-of-online-journalists-skew-traditional/ Journalism innovation, leadership, research and editorial product development Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:01:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: john grey http://www.ryanthornburg.org/blog/2008/07/08/skills-of-online-journalists-skew-traditional/#comment-95 john grey Mon, 11 Aug 2008 07:53:44 +0000 http://www.ryanthornburg.org/blog/?p=41#comment-95 Hmmm .If the responses about grammar and style are honest, I wish we had that sort of level of basic skill in our newsroom. Easier to teach multimedia skills than to make a silken writer out of a sow's ear. Hmmm .If the responses about grammar and style are honest, I wish we had that sort of level of basic skill in our newsroom. Easier to teach multimedia skills than to make a silken writer out of a sow’s ear.

]]> By: Ryan Thornburg http://www.ryanthornburg.org/blog/2008/07/08/skills-of-online-journalists-skew-traditional/#comment-39 Ryan Thornburg Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:27:24 +0000 http://www.ryanthornburg.org/blog/?p=41#comment-39 No, you're right. And you make an important point. These questions can't tell us what we *should* be doing. They can only tell us what we are today doing. They may help students better understand the skills they need in the very near term -- or at least will help them guide their expectations about working online. They also may help us better explain "what does an online journalist do?" (Or what DID she or he do in early 2008 anyway.) And they might help hiring managers better advertise their openings. For example, if I need a blurb writer who knows HTML, should I advertise for a "news producer," an "online editor" or a "content manager"? How about if I need a PHP developer or someone to write a blog? But your comment is an important one, and hopefully a prompt: What SHOULD an online newsroom look like? Is there an ideal? What are the skills and duties most likely found at some of the ONA award winning sites, for example? No, you’re right. And you make an important point. These questions can’t tell us what we *should* be doing. They can only tell us what we are today doing. They may help students better understand the skills they need in the very near term — or at least will help them guide their expectations about working online.

They also may help us better explain “what does an online journalist do?” (Or what DID she or he do in early 2008 anyway.)

And they might help hiring managers better advertise their openings. For example, if I need a blurb writer who knows HTML, should I advertise for a “news producer,” an “online editor” or a “content manager”? How about if I need a PHP developer or someone to write a blog?

But your comment is an important one, and hopefully a prompt: What SHOULD an online newsroom look like? Is there an ideal? What are the skills and duties most likely found at some of the ONA award winning sites, for example?

]]> By: Mindy McAdams http://www.ryanthornburg.org/blog/2008/07/08/skills-of-online-journalists-skew-traditional/#comment-38 Mindy McAdams Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:49:31 +0000 http://www.ryanthornburg.org/blog/?p=41#comment-38 Hi, Ryan. Allow me to play devil's advocate -- are these the right questions? By asking present-day online journalists at newspapers about their present-day proficiency in these skills, you will gain an understanding of what they are good at, or not, right now. But many of these folks may have moved straight over from the print side. They may lack training, etc., that would enable them to do their jobs better. More important -- these answers tell us nothing about what is needed, either today or in the future. Or am I wrong? Hi, Ryan. Allow me to play devil’s advocate — are these the right questions?

By asking present-day online journalists at newspapers about their present-day proficiency in these skills, you will gain an understanding of what they are good at, or not, right now.

But many of these folks may have moved straight over from the print side. They may lack training, etc., that would enable them to do their jobs better.

More important — these answers tell us nothing about what is needed, either today or in the future. Or am I wrong?

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