Comments on: Knowledge of computer-assisted reporting preferred http://www.wmhartnett.com/2007/10/29/knowledge-of-computer-assisted-reporting-preferred/ Journalism, the future of newspapers, and cat pictures. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:04:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Pat Thornton http://www.wmhartnett.com/2007/10/29/knowledge-of-computer-assisted-reporting-preferred/#comment-1048 Pat Thornton Fri, 02 Nov 2007 04:01:22 +0000 http://www.wmhartnett.com/2007/10/29/knowledge-of-computer-assisted-reporting-preferred/#comment-1048 William, I think you'll find a lot of journalists lacking in skills they don't consider "journalism." These non-journalism skills include basic math or the ability to properly employ stats. This is why it's not so surprising that I find so few journalists with decent Web skills. I'm not talking anything exciting of that you would need a degree for. Many journalists consider the ability to write all they need. They forget that there is a lot more to reporting than writing. I agree with Ryan that if I am training someone to capture audio or video for a story, they already know how to be a reporter. What I am here to do is to teach you a new way to report. But I do wish journalists would broaden their definitions of journalism. William, I think you’ll find a lot of journalists lacking in skills they don’t consider “journalism.” These non-journalism skills include basic math or the ability to properly employ stats.

This is why it’s not so surprising that I find so few journalists with decent Web skills. I’m not talking anything exciting of that you would need a degree for. Many journalists consider the ability to write all they need. They forget that there is a lot more to reporting than writing.

I agree with Ryan that if I am training someone to capture audio or video for a story, they already know how to be a reporter. What I am here to do is to teach you a new way to report.

But I do wish journalists would broaden their definitions of journalism.

]]> By: William M. Hartnett http://www.wmhartnett.com/2007/10/29/knowledge-of-computer-assisted-reporting-preferred/#comment-1016 William M. Hartnett Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:25:59 +0000 http://www.wmhartnett.com/2007/10/29/knowledge-of-computer-assisted-reporting-preferred/#comment-1016 True, but there still are plenty of newsrooms in which CAR and the related skills, particularly math and stats, are not considered essential to being a great reporter. Most local news beat reporting job listings don't mention it at all. That's not because it goes without saying, believe me. I still hear and see people young and old called great reporters even though they don't understand the basic math or don't know how to find the numbers essential to their otherwise "well-reported" story. I call that journalistic malpractice, akin to not knowing how to operate your telephone. True, but there still are plenty of newsrooms in which CAR and the related skills, particularly math and stats, are not considered essential to being a great reporter. Most local news beat reporting job listings don’t mention it at all. That’s not because it goes without saying, believe me.

I still hear and see people young and old called great reporters even though they don’t understand the basic math or don’t know how to find the numbers essential to their otherwise “well-reported” story. I call that journalistic malpractice, akin to not knowing how to operate your telephone.

]]> By: Ryan Sholin http://www.wmhartnett.com/2007/10/29/knowledge-of-computer-assisted-reporting-preferred/#comment-1014 Ryan Sholin Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:03:02 +0000 http://www.wmhartnett.com/2007/10/29/knowledge-of-computer-assisted-reporting-preferred/#comment-1014 As someone who regularly recruits reporters to join the A/V club, I'll just say that if I'm talking to you, I'm assuming you're already a great reporter, and those skills translate directly to audio and video. Training reporters how to press the 'record' button and hold the camera still is the easy part; training them to think about what makes compelling video journalism is the part that takes more effort. As someone who regularly recruits reporters to join the A/V club, I’ll just say that if I’m talking to you, I’m assuming you’re already a great reporter, and those skills translate directly to audio and video.

Training reporters how to press the ‘record’ button and hold the camera still is the easy part; training them to think about what makes compelling video journalism is the part that takes more effort.

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