Session Reporter: Michele McLellan
Conversationalist 1: Kelly Bridge, Michele McLellan
Conversationalist 2: Michele McLellan/Kelly Bridge
MCLELLAN
1. What is the story of your work and how did it lead to saying “yes” to this gathering?
I am interesting in the transformation of media, in particular how the practice of journalism is being dispersed from larger, established news organizations to small start ups and individual efforts. I would like to see this new eco system succeed and I am thinking a lot about how someone in a given community might identify and collaborate with new sources of news and information.
2. We’re well beyond the debate that journalism is changing. Tell me about an experience you.ve had with these new realities — roles, tools, relationships, economics — in which the emerging news ecology actually made a difference in telling a story that mattered. What did that experience teach you about the gifts of both new ways of working and the traditional roots of journalism?
A specific example does not come to mind. But in general, I think the ability on the Web for people to truth squad published reports is a significant development because it allows the public to reframe stories where previously professional journalists got to make the call.
3.Without being humble, what do you value most about yourself?
What do you see yourself bringing to this meeting? I almost always see hte cup as half full. I like collaboration and I am generous with credit for the efforts of others.
4.What is it about journalism without which it would cease to be journalism; what is its essential core? What are you ready to let go of?
The essential core is public interest, transparency and verification. I can let go of the rest.
5.The year is 2014 and the new news ecology is a vibrant media landscape. What is journalism bringing to communities and democracy that matters most? What steps did we take back in 2009 to begin to bring this about?
The digital transformation of media and the decline of the established news industry (with its one-to-many model) offer an opportunity to foster citizen engagement that I hope we take advantage of as well as the opportunity for more transparency in government and other decision-making.
BRIDGE REACTION TO MCLELLAN COMMENTS: TK
BRIDGE
1. What is the story of your work and how did it lead to saying “yes” to this gathering?
I’ve been working as a general assignment reporter at the Press-Telegram in Long Beach for about two years now. I love the job, but am growing discouraged by how quickly things have changed for newspapers just in the last year. We’ve had mass layoffs, furloughs and the merging of a “universal copy desk” for all our papers in Los
Angeles Newspaper Group. And they say it’s far from over. I don’t believe that newspapers are dying, but I know they are changing form. I’m attending this conference to get ideas on what’s next and how I
can be a part of it.
2. We’re well beyond the debate that journalism is changing. Tell me about an experience you.ve had with these new realities — roles, tools, relationships, economics — in which the emerging news ecology actually made a difference in telling a story that mattered. What did that experience teach you about the gifts of both new ways of working and the traditional roots of journalism?
I obsessively read ALL reader comments on my online stories. Through readers’ feedback, debates and discussion, I often get news tips that lead to follow up stories. Sometimes, readers will even post a person’s police record before I have a chance to dig it up. I think it shows the new role and impact of citizen journalism. Through
reading people’s comments online, I know what kind of stories readers want, and which ones will trigger debate. I think that’s something our paper should focus on to generate more web traffic.
3.Without being humble, what do you value most about yourself? What do you see yourself bringing to this meeting?
I’m always open and eager to try new things. I’m optimistic about the future of journalism. As one of the few print reporters attending (and someone who is very new to the industry) I think I can bring a different perspective.
4.What is it about journalism without which it would cease to be journalism; what is its essential core? What are you ready to let go of?
The essential core of journalism is truth…getting the truth out there and getting the information to the public. Unfortunately, as more newspapers cut staff, stories are going untold and cities are going uncovered. It’s scary to think of the corruption going on with no media watchdogs to expose it. I’m willing to let go of the traditional idea of journalism simply being ink on paper. It’s emerging in new forms on Web sites, blogs and video. I think it’s
something the newspaper hounds need to accept.
5.The year is 2014 and the new news ecology is a vibrant media landscape. What is journalism bringing to communities and democracy that matters most? What steps did we take back in 2009 to begin to bring this about?
I’d like to see more Web sites such as The Huffington Post and Bloomberg, Fark and Drudge Report. I’d also like to see more local media watch dog Web sites like my friend Bill Pearl atwww.lbreport.com.
MCLELLAN REACTION TO BRIDGE COMMENTS:
I really like Kelly’s optimism and especially the answer to Question 2, the way Kelly engages with readers and gets contributions from them. That is a big part of the new face of journalism. Good for Kelly for jumping in with both feet. I’m eager to meet in person and learn more about Kelly’s work and ideas about the future of journalism.
