In taking on the Greensboro News-Record over its coverage of local blogs, Roch Smith Jr. of Greensboro101.com continues the tradition of a local blogger holding the local media’s feet to the fire for some of its coverage.
But the interesting part of the article is the questions that it raises about how a newspaper responds to those who care enough to criticize. After detailing his attempts to get his questions answered, Smith writes:
What is gained by having reporters and editors hide behind an unapproachable entity? The “newspaper” is not some unassailable fortress, as Nagy would have it. It is people with whom we share a community. When a reporter calls people to ask questions, answers are respectfully given. A conversation occurs. That was my experience at least, when I spoke twice to Ms. Hummel for her article. Why should that be a one-way street?
Having been on the other side of the telephone — dealing with critics of coverage — I have some sympathy for reporters and editors called on by readers to justify their coverage and the choices they make in writing a story. For one thing, it’s time consuming. For another, having “professional” ability questioned by an “amateur” reader almost guarantees that a back or two will go up.
But Smith is right on at least a couple of points. Reporters and editors should extend to readers (their customers, and the customer is always right) the same courtesy they expect of their sources. And, secondly, reporters are members of the community and as such should be interested in presenting not their story but the story, as completely and accurately as possible. Listening to and responding to “critics” is part of that process.
None of that is new, but it seems to me that in an internet age when readers can easily talk back, it’s even more important for a mainstream media that hopes to remain connected to community.
SOURCE: ED CONE | TAGS: NEWSPAPERS, JOURNALISM, COMMUNITY
Sorry I missed this when it was new. Thanks for the opinion.
Roch Smith
Hi Mark,
You touch upon one of the dark secrets of journalits — we don’t trust other journalists (either professional or amateur.)
Maybe this is a function of our worst traits. We’ve been reporters. We know how easy it is to screw a source in print. So we hesitate to give anyone the chance to do the same to us.
Or perhaps it’s simple cowardice.
Or simple arrogance.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this issue of late. I’m working on a new product that requires that I talk to media professionals about blogs. In particular, I’m trying to arrange interviews wiht the people who work on magazine-run blogs.
So far I’ve asked 10 journalists in writing for interviews. None have even responded.
Contrast that with the responses from publishers and CEOs — 100% of them have returned my emails and every one has agreed to be interviewed.