Conversationalist 1: Karen Duffy/Melissa Cornick
Conversationalist 2: Karen Duffy/Melissa Cornick
Melissa Cornick:
Brief Background:
I am a former network news investigative producer who is launching into hyper local news.
1. What is the story of your work and how did it lead to saying “yes” to this gathering?
As a gumshoe reporter of original investigations, I have always used unusual techniques to put the subject front and center and aware of what is happening through the news gathering process. This requires some high level ethical standards which I would like to ascertain for hyperlocal news. I have also focused on news
standards as an avocation for various organizations, including Poynter.
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?
As part of three fellowships I have participated in for a year and a half, I have focused on locative media, an investigation of the partnering of citizen and professional journalism and an adherence to cost effective journalism as a necessary part of the experiments. The techniques have dovetailed into the local mobisode I am working on as well as the hyperlocal website, which I call, “Baby Banyan”. Out of that came a best practices guide for working with citizen journalists, who with all of the good intentions, have different “masters” guiding them through their work, such as families and other types of jobs. Respect and acknowledgement is a best practice that carries on in different ways for partnering with citizen journalists.
3.Without being humble, what do you value most about yourself? What do you see yourself bringing to this meeting?
I am usually about 4-5 months ahead of the general media in stories and trends.
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?
I am ready to let go of traditional corporate based journalism which puts celebrity ahead of citizens.
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?
My focus is on being at the cutting edge of what people will need from journalists going forward and I have done this through my projects described above.
Karen Duffy
Brief Background: News Research Editor, Daytona Beach News-Journal, former middle school reading teacher
. What is the story of your work and how did it lead to saying “yes” to this gathering?
— I haven’t had the opportunity to attend any seminars for a couple of years now, due to financial cutbacks at work, so when I saw the posting on newslib (News Librarian listserv) that there was a stipend for two librarians available, I applied for it immediately. I’ve been feeling somewhat stagnant at work, knowing that the newsroom & journalism is changing, and not knowing where this would leave me – what my role might become, or should become. I thought the focus of this seminar was so timely – a stroke of serendipity.
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?
— Hmmm….that’s a difficult one to answer. I know that the emphasis has shifted to online news, whether it’s breaking news on our main site, or blogs on our alternative sites (entertainment web site). I did recently have an opportunity to work on a case involving a man who was in the witness protection program. He got himself in trouble with the law, and I worked with the reporter to figure out who he really was. We did that with old-fashioned legwork. However, we’d received tips as to his true identity from the back talk feature (reader comments) on our web site. So I’d imagine that is an example of how to blend new & old ways of journalism.
3.Without being humble, what do you value most about yourself? What do you see yourself bringing to this meeting?
— I value that I am conscientious, committed to doing thorough and accurate work. I am very aware that newspapers are fundamental to a democracy, and I’m also aware that an entire segment of our population (elderly, low-income, etc) is in danger of being bypassed if print newspapers cease to exist. We get many calls from older citizens who don’t have a computer, don’t want to deal with the internet at a library, etc. What about them? However, I am quite aware that times are changing, and I want to be able to bridge the gap and find a middle road that will address the needs of all citizens. I pride myself on being able to see all sides of the issue.
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, as I see it, is a fundamental dedication to getting the facts correct — and to cover issues of vital importance (and stay clear of tabloid-like topics). I also cringe when I see typos and poor grammar, two things I’m seeing a lot more of these days. I know it erodes confidence in the material we’re printing.
I’m not sure what I’m able to let go of yet.
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?
— What matters most is that the events of the day (whether from down the block or halfway across the world) are shared with the public in a carefully analyzed, synthesized and articulate manner – whether that be in print/online/television/radio — and that the public can have faith in the integrity of what they are being told. Due to the poor economic realities of 2009, smaller newspapers decided to scale back and focus on their sole mission (for example: provide local coverage) rather than try to be all things to all people. This enabled: 1) better coverage of local issues; and 2) provided the opportunity for other mediums to step in and fill the gap (blogs/internet for entertainment, etc.).
Reflections from Karen Duffy:
I was struck by how positive and proactive Melissa is being in the face of such change & upheaval in the news industry. She’s also very passionate about bringing the focus back to citizens. One of the comments she made to me during our phone conversation was about how corporate-run journalism is not in touch with the people – and how it has lost its way. While I, as a news librarian, am waiting for the ax to fall on my profession – it is so refreshing to talk with someone who is out there, paving new roads to quality journalism. I think we both agreed that too much emphasis is placed on “celebrity” as opposed to the real issues and concerns of everyday American citizens.
