A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

journalism

The shrinking world of newspapers

Despite the downfall of print journalism over the past several years, there’s still something romantic about newspapers.

I’m not sure what it is. I know the odds of me ever wanting to work in newspapers again are slim to none. The pay isn’t great, the benefits aren’t always that good, and the industry, as a whole, is going down. There aren’t just reporters writing anymore – now they usually need to write, take photos, do layout, do video, tweet, update Facebook and so much more.

All for little pay.

Back in my newspaper days, I did a lot of that stuff already – wrote, took calls, reported, photos, layout etc. I felt there were benefits in being multi-faceted.

Local newspapers have it a little harder, especially when owned by a newspaper corporation. It’s even worse when said corporation takes things away from you – such as paginating locally or staffing. These are the days of our lives, so they say.

Still, one has to adapt.

Reality is this – newspapers aren’t what they used to be. Many people get their news from the computer or their phones or tablets. They listen and watch more news and sports shows. When a newspaper is reporting national scores the next day – it’s already old news.

So how does a newspaper survive?

For local newspapers, it needs to be local coverage in all aspects – news and sports. Though I realize newspapers have a fundamental job to report the big news, there needs to be a massive focus on local copy.

What happens when that changes, though?

Over the past several years, I’ve watched the local newspaper gradually shrink and get tougher and tougher to read. The little errors – grammar, spelling, and even some facts – pile up over and over. Though you’ll see some of these in the corrections spot, they don’t catch everything. There have been these types of things in headlines, too, which is even worse. There are more than a handful of bylined stories where the “reporter” does nothing more than re-writes press releases. That’s not reporting – that’s copy editing. There’s errors that never should happen (one issue had a jump on local sports stories – but the jump was nowhere to be found. It was never corrected or fixed, that I saw, in any future editions. Probably online, but the website is dreadful to use).

The problem with smaller places is the feel is not the same. When I worked in newspapers, we had a dynamic group of sports people. We won awards and took a lot of pride in what we did. The copy desk was strong and helped shape writers young and old. The newsroom was a fun place to be and work (usually).

But it’s hard to keep up that momentum when there are staff cuts and circulation continues to decrease. From the time I started to now – so the early 2000s until recent, circulation has dropped more than 15,000. That’s a ton for a small newspaper. Coverage in outlying towns and counties has decreased to the point where some weekly papers are a better source of local news. The sports sections – formerly award winning – has dwindled. People have left and gone on to hopeful greener pastures, leaving it basically as a one-man show with some part-time “help.”

It shows, too.

When I worked in the industry, “local” was preached. We always were working on feature stories or something for a local flare. During the winter, you’d be lucky to find the NHL or NBA out on the front more than a handful of times. Now it’s a regular thing to see national stories like that dominating the whole section. But the odd part – during Super Bowl week, there was hardly anything about the big game.

Go figure.

And I’m not here to rip apart things. Finances and lack of support from corporate (in pretty much every newspaper) makes it hard. Still, when you lose your local connections and have people doing the job who are green and don’t know the landscape, it’s tough. You have to find a way to bring them up to speed (hire a consultant or somebody who has done the job to help guide them … it doesn’t have to be for long. Make the new people understand the area).

I still love newspapers. When I travel, I pick up local papers to see what it’s all about. I still read my local paper six days a week. I cringe often, unfortunately, but I still read it. I am through it by the time I finish a bowl of Cheerios, but I still ready it.

One day, I know I’ll be reading my news in the morning on a tablet. The smell and feel of a newspaper will eventually fade. But for now, the romance is still there. It’s just a shame the feel of a breakup is also with it.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Being able to take the punches in journalism

As many of you know, I always considered myself an old-school newspaperman. I started working in newspapers when I was in high school and my love affair with writing, journalism and the like continued well beyond there.

In fact, at an interview I had not too long ago, I was asked about why I earned a master’s degree in journalism as not many people would consider that degree. As I told them – it was something I believed in and wanted to get that degree.

Journalism as a whole will never truly change. The idea is to get a story, get it right, and be impartial in delivering the story. One always needs to make sure they have the sources and the facts right when delivering that story, be it hard breaking news, or a fun feature.

What does change is how the news is delivered. We live in a society that demands news 24/7 and things to be out there quick. Whether that is through blogs, Facebook, Twitter or some other online means, the basic idea is get the news out fast and furious.

By doing that, of course, some of your more traditional news sources – such as newspapers – are depleting.

Remember, I started with newspapers when I was in high school. I freelanced for major dailies and won awards over time. I loved what I did, despite crappy pay (which included mandatory furloughs over my last couple of years in the business), because I believed in the cause. In the end, I was a victim of downsizing (read about it here) and I faded from the world of newspapers (outside of a couple of freelance gigs).

Since then, I’ve landed well, work in the PR world, get paid a heap better – with better benefits – and, yet, I still miss the world of newspapers. I don’t miss the corporate politics, or the bad morale in newsrooms – but I miss the aspects of the newspaper industry that I believed in.

I’ve watched from afar as my former shop has had multiple rounds of layoffs since I was part of the first wave in 2011. I’ve seen friends move on and the whole paper change. Since the layoff I’ve been in there once – to meet up with a former colleague for dinner – and I was shocked at how it felt in that newsroom, which was once a place that was a joy to work in.

Time’s change, that’s for sure.

I bring all of this up, though, because recently, comedian John Oliver had a nearly 20-minute segment on journalism and its downfall on his HBO show. The piece was spot-on and did it, obviously, in a funny way. But if you read past the jokes and digs, what he says is true.

Without journalism, a lot of bad things can happen.

If you have 20 minutes, take a moment to watch this. It’s really worth it.

The funny part is after this aired, the president/CEO of the Newspaper Association of America took offense to this segment and called Oliver out in a piece on his organization’s website.

The reality is this – newspapers aren’t what they used to be. The digital world is making sure of that. It’s a shame, too, because newspapers are an important part of daily life and the local aspect does a lot more than people realize.

John Oliver was accurate in his segment. How he delivered it was funny, at times, yes. But at the same time, it also showed the reality that journalism – and the newspaper industry – face moving forward.

Take a moment to watch Oliver’s segment. It’s worth your while.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Really? Journalism edition

For those who don’t know, I spent a bulk of my professional career working for newspapers. It started when I was in high school, took me through the college years, and then after.

I used to love newspapers and working for them.

There was something noble, to a point, about working for a newspaper. The term “journalist” wasn’t thrown around so easily. We were newspaper people, or reporters, or something along those lines.

The word journalist has grown in recent years, and that’s probably with the increased growth in citizen journalism and such. I always get a kick how anybody who works for news organizations tend to use the word journalist. No longer are people necessarily sports writers, or news reporters or a photographer. It’s a sports journalist, or a photo journalist, or just a journalist.

Media credentials are handed out, it seems, a little more easily.

Such is the growth and death of an industry.

As social media, online portals and everything else grows, the local newspaper continues to struggle. At the one paper I was at for seven years, the circulation was at about 24,000 or so when I started in 2004. From what I was told from friends still there, it’s not even 11,000 anymore.

That’s a drop.

When I was there, we had mandatory furloughs and it was very hard to make ends meet. What made it decent was working with a decent group of people who believed in what we were doing.

In 2011, I was forced out of the industry. It took a while, but I landed on my feet in the PR field and have been extremely happy ever since. Though, to be fair, it’s not easy to get things in these newspapers, which is something for a different time.

But that’s not the full reason behind this post – rather this is an edition of Really? in a journalism package.

Look, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t keep a watch on things in the newspaper world. It was a massive part of my life and I loved it. I always got a rush of a byline and it helped shape me to who I am in today. But it also gives me a different set of glassed when reading now. I pick up errors. I wonder what people are doing. I realize newspapers are understaffed, but there are things (such as editing) people really need to worry about.

And then there’s still the beauty in journalism and knowing the word can be a way to show how silly some things are.

So, without further ado, allow me to share a few things I’ve found recently.

Seriously?

One thing about newsrooms is they can be a place for candid comments, off-color humor, sailor-type language and very sarcastic. It seems like it is part of being a newspaper person, whether right or wrong. I know when I was in the newsroom for several years, the amount of profanity that came out of people’s mouths made me cringe, and I’m not one to hide from a curse word or three.

So, it’s not shocking to see somebody maybe make a comment or something based on a quote … or to change around a quote – when talking to colleagues.

But to put them in print? Come on. A couple of people on the copy desk at a Kentucky newspaper apparently felt that was the way to go.

This is what appeared in the Elizabethtown News-Enterprise:

Hardin County Sheriff John Ward said those who go into the law enforcement profession typically do it because they have a desire to shoot minorities.

What the Sheriff really said was…

… because they have a desire to serve the community.

The Sheriff responded to this on the department’s Facebook, making sure he told what was really said. The paper, according to the Romenesko Report, retracted the statement. At first, the newspaper apparently called it a typographical error (that’s quite a typo!), but then called it a production error.

So what happened?

In an apology written by the newspaper’s editor, it was noted the reporter had nothing to do with this error. As for proofing, it’s hard to do so when the copy desk apparently adds the error. Two people were fired because of this.

It’s hard to fathom, in this day and age, being willing to be fired from a job for being so stupid. And the question is, how hard does this follow you through your chosen career? If I’m in a position of hiring and I get a resume from either of these two, I don’t even consider it. Newspapers are under enough fire as it is. To do something like this is a fully unforgivable action.

Cuss words are out!

While seeing this Kentucky paper thing, I noticed something else on the Romenesko Report, which made me laugh.

Apparently, there is to be no cursing in a Pennsylvania newsroom. While I would have welcomed this when I was working in the newspaper world, I am wondering how all of this is enforced. It is part of the business, it seems.

So the publisher of the York Daily Record sent a memo to her staff. Basically, she said she heard some conversations recently … and well, cursing isn’t appropriate. Not in the office and not anywhere else, when on company time.

She wrote:

I know that newspapers have had a salty history and culture. And I know that we all will slip from time to time. Still, I believe we can express ourselves adequately without the use of profanity.

I’m up for the cleaning of a workplace with profanity… but this seems like it would be counterproductive, at least in most newsrooms I was ever in.

Delauter

OK, now this is just too funny.

Turns out somebody in politics thought they could block a newspaper from using his name — just by saying that they needed permission to do so.

Really?

Look, if you are in the public eye and are an elected official, you are now open game when it comes to stories/editorials. If you are going to withhold comment, well then it will be noted. Man up and deal with it.

It seems Kirby Delauter took to social media and stated he’d sue the newspaper The Frederick News-Post if his name or any reference was used without his permission, according to the paper.

Yes, he went there.

Ignore the fact that he’s an elected councilman. This all apparently came from an article published in early January. So he took to social media and said in a post:

So let me be clear…………do not contact me and do not use my name or reference me in an unauthorized form in the future.

Reminds me of the one scene in the Sandlot – FOREVVVVER.

He continued, according to the paper.

Use my name again unauthorized and you’ll be paying for an Attorney. Your rights stop where mine start.

This is hilarious. You can’t make this stuff up.

But there’s something that makes it better – the newspaper’s response. They started by calling to gather comment for the story – and noted he didn’t respond to those calls.

The crazy part is one other elected official actually backed this guy… nuts!

I can’t do any justice to how the newspaper actually responded, so I am going to just link it here and say this – take a few minutes out of your day and go read this editorial. It’s honestly brilliant. And if you’ve ever worked in or know anybody who has ever worked in newspapers, you’ll laugh even harder. This is one of the best editorials I’ve ever read, and still hammers home an important point.

When done, make sure you look at the story and pay close attention to the beginning letter of each paragraph. Brilliance.

Brilliant editorial

In the end, the council member issued an apology to the paper. But one has to wonder … how much damage was done by this?

All of these items today just make me shake my head and wonder … really?

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!