An online survey of journalists from around the world shows
a strong interest in website video production, but also a concern that people in
the profession maintain fundamental skills in writing and reporting.
“We need clear, concise, accurate content,”
one editor wrote when asked what skills are needed for content creators.
“I'm
getting new grads who think that because it goes online it doesn't have to
follow rules of grammar and punctuation. Lots of sloppy copy.”
The results are from an informal survey in July of our LinkedIn
group, Online Reporters and Editors, which has more than 34,000 members. The participants
responded to an email sent to all members. Of 510 who responded, 363 identified
themselves as working in news, and about half of the news personnel said they
were editors responsible for the work of others.
The responses came from more than three dozen U.S. states
and 40 countries.
Sixty percent of the news respondents said they worked
solely in online news operations. Seventeen percent said they worked in radio
or television, and 40 percent said they did at least some work for newspapers.
Virtually all of those in the survey, more than 90 percent,
said they were regularly posting text stories online.
Only about a third of the journalists said they regularly
post video content, and of those, people who said they worked at newspapers
were nearly as likely to post video as those who worked solely online – 32
percent and 35 percent respectively.
Asked to rank specific skills in order of value to their
newsrooms, the journalists placed writing first (92 percent called it a
“critical” skill), followed by “Running a desk, ability to direct the work of
others” (52 percent critical).
Fifty-nine percent called video production an important
skill, with 24 percent describing video skills as critical.
Just over half the editors said they are hiring content
creators in the next year. Seventy-eight percent said video is a part of their
news operations, and 39 percent called it a critical part.
Asked to describe the top skills needed for news content
producers, many editors listed accuracy, clear writing,
attention to detail and news judgment.
One said, “These are the skills I find are
most necessary for those who work in our digital newsroom: The ability to work
quickly and accurately. The ability to develop original ideas and see them
through to produce content -- stories and/or video. Source development, which is often sorely
lacking these days.”
Responding in the survey’s open comments
section, many of the editors said staffers should be comfortable working with
different forms of media.
“They need to have a solid knowledge of
HTML,” one wrote. “They need a solid knowledge of other technological tools
that are standard components of our daily work.”
“Reporters should be able to complete simple
(video) edits, have reasonable cameras and good audio,” another said. “They
should have the ability to report and tell a compelling story using different
media (text, photo, video, etc.) for various platforms (web, social, broadcast,
external partner website, etc.)”
More than one noted the changing economics of
news had created a sense of urgency.
“They need an eagerness to produce,” one
wrote.
“Budgets are slashed. Staffs are skeletal.
Vendors are taking our place with their advertorial that passes for ‘content.’
The barbarians are at the gates. If we don't produce, the mission fails.”
- John Strauss, johncstrauss@gmail.com
