The beat as a social network
Maybe a beat reporter could do a way better job if there was a "live" social network connected to the beat, made up of people who know the territory the beat covers, and want the reporting on that beat to be better.
That's Jay Rosen's brilliantly simple idea.
It feels like the future to me.
I wanted us to give it a shot. I'm frustrated and disappointed that we're not on the bus with the 13 participants. We tried. Not surprisingly, Jay was receptive and helpful to us. We just couldn't find the right combination of reporter and beat. We looked at health and medicine, at High Point and at Raleigh, but for various reasons, couldn't make it work by Jay's deadline.
A major issue for us is that we are playing a bit of musical chairs as reporters leave and others move from beat to beat. But that will settle out soon enough.
I'm hopeful that we try this on our own, watching Beatblogging.org from afar and learning as we go. I'm convinced that it would give us an edge in our reporting, improve the reporter and make us a better newspaper. I have in mind a couple other possibilities once the right people get into place. Jay said it's possible that we could join his initiative mid-stream.
So that's two innovation initiatives before us. It should be a busy next several months.
Comments (2)
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You say you're frustrated and disappointed? You say you've missed the bus (again)? You say that reporters are leaving left and right (as well as many others in every department at the N&R)?
I say that you need to stop being "hopeful" and relying on "a couple other possibilities once the right people get into place." Shoulda-Coulda-Woulda! What a Pollyanna view for such a seasoned editor. Do something! Develop your people. Listen to your YOUTH. It's the young ones that are leaving you high and dry. Before long, the N&R building will be up for sale and you'll be frustrated, disappointed and out of a job.
Wake up and smell the reality stinking all around you J.R.
Posted on November 14, 2007 10:11 AM
I'm one of the young reporters on the staff who likes this idea. JR doesn't have a problem listening to us. But you can't force something like this, particularly when you're reacting to staff shifts and losses. It would have been irresponsible to force it.
Posted on November 14, 2007 7:53 PM