Journalists

I remember when it seemed really cool, exotic even, to think that there's actually a job in which someone is a reporter. Now, I've always been a film buff and growing up there were so many classic films and stories revolving around reporters that didn't glamorize the job so much as make it seem important.

That hasn't changed.

It doesn't matter if you're covering the town council or school board, local fund drives, political campaigns or a war. There are readers on all levels and knowing a reader has invested his or her time in the story, well that makes it important.

I'm thinking about this because in the past couple of days I've had conversations with grizzled editors, mid-level reporters, cubs and recent college graduates who want to be reporters. At least a couple of times a year I meet a kid, someone in elementary or middle school who says he or she wants to be a reporter. They think it's cool. They love to write. They're nosey about things they've heard about, but don't understand.

Knowing that there are always going to be stories that need to be told, stories people want to know about, shenanigans by public officials, lies to debunk and a democracy that hinges on the public's right to know, I just know that there will always be a home for journalists, excuse me, reporters, in the country.

Not a big enough home, mind you, and media consolidation has caused a Draconian downsizing (man, I would love to see private investors start up news companies, print and online so there are as many independent outlets as there are corporate owned; funny thing - newspaper owners used to be happy to break even, let alone make some money. Now, any profit doesn't seem to be enough when you have shareholders and a board of directors to please). Hopefully, though, the really talented ones and the hungry ones who may not be as talented, but still "get it" will have the chance to make a living doing this good, essential work.

Finding the right balance

I can't believe it's going on seven years since I came to the Fort Mill Times. Among the many changes since then (personnel, building modifications, musical desks, bee swarms, just to mention a few) the biggest is probably our website. Not just the redesign going on two years now (it's ready for some tweaking and upgrades already!) but my direct role.

I went from being a sort of data entry drone to the person who oversees the site. I even learned how to do a little trouble shooting. But the main task is keeping the site fed with fresh content - and not just stories but photos and video as well. what can be tricky is the balancing act of feeding the web and making sure there's plenty of fresh content for the print edition too.

Part of the problem is I'm not completely sure what readers want from both anymore. Before we redesigned the print product about five or six years ago, we held extensive focus group to gather data that was instrumental in the final project. I think we need another focus group

I think it would be a lot easier to deliver what readers want via the web if we asked them.