Bunker mentality or alternative realities

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An eclectic collection of people attended the Future of Journalism session in Brisbane on Saturday, September 13. Speakers who work in, or manage msm outlets defended the future and function of their products, even if they can’t see the long-term destination.  And of those who’ve fled msm bunkers, or been pushed out, or were never in them, several said that the msm is ‘over’ and journalists had better get used to finding their own way.
Journalists should prepare themselves for a diverse career and portfolios of projects or jobs that may, or may not, include msm. Cameron O’Reilly of the podcasting network, talked about the changing economics of media. Curiously, he said on his post that his views were unpopular, and nobody listened. Fellow panelist Mark Bahnisch noted among much else of interest here that he didn’t get that sense from the audience. Nor me. Perhaps too much store was put by the twitters. Just because they’re short and quick err…doesn’t mean, they speak for all. (I fancy twitter but am wary of more time fritters in my life). And naturally people who run big online sections for msm outlets will disagree. Several people talked about the changing of business models and the economy and how these have impacted on media. But many believe that this has not diminished the appetite or need for journalism.

There’s an excellent set of posts about the day on Derek Barry’s blog.

I read an unattributed comment that the usual journo vs blogger argument ensued at FOJ Brisbane. But on the blogging panel I didn’t get that impression, nor did I pick it up strongly from the audience. In our panel, moderated by Cristen Tilley of the ABC, and others that I listened to my sense was that most people are someplace in the middle, like points on a scatter graph, and only wanting to know what directions they might move towards.

I missed Margaret Simon’s keynote discussion but heard her speak on this topic not so long ago, and I took part in an useful workshop she gave a few months back. She spoke of how many journalists are running themselves as businesses, and in a conversation at the casual lunch break we talked of the gigs we do for money, love, and those that oil the wheels for later.

It was interesting, and perhaps a little surprising to me, to hear that students are still very much focussed on working for msm outlets. Tell me if I’m wrong. It’s not a criticism, well not a harsh one. And don’t most journalists start out wanting that? At the best of times, near deadline when a major story breaks, there is little that comes near it for excitement, skill and comradeship, or have I left the rose coloured glasses on too long? And it’s not a student’s fault for wanting it. But it would be folly if they define their future according only to msm media affiliations.

Start early on to regard your name as a brand and figure out your business model/s. Besides isn’t it more fun, to know you can make some kind of living under your own steam without always being dependent on an employer? This comes in handy most at a time when msm outlets are shrinking their workforces, and in some cases not even training young people. By preparing yourself for a diverse career, that doesn’t mean the old fashioned skills of news gathering and writing a 400 word news story or a feature are redundant. They are marketable skills. Learn all you can, say I.
Not all needs are being met, not all potential markets are provided for. Phil McDonald, managing director of George Patterson Y & R Queensland said that increasingly his clients are seeking high quality news, and that there are real opportunities for journalists to provide content highly tuned to particular groups. My other fellow panellist Axel Bruns had interesting things to say about how journalists and bloggers can and should find out what people want and deliver it to them.

I worked for regional dailies in Australia, then the South China Morning Post when it was owned by Rupert Murdoch, before working for (inter)national broadsheets in the UK, and international niche publications on the side. Perhaps, if there had been the range of possibilities there are now in this digital age, I’d have not felt the need to go overseas, or stay away so long.

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