The new world of hiring journalists
Time was, newspapers in markets our size would lose reporters to larger newspapers looking for tenacious reporters and/or wonderfully talented writers. Now, there's been a shift in the marketplace. It's not seismic yet, but it soon will be.
Oh, the big news orgs still look for talented reporters and writers, and while those folks aren't a dime a dozen, there are a lot of them around. But that's no longer enough. Reporters with digital skills have the edge. My evidence:
Amy Dominello, our multi-media reporter since April, moves to a higher paying, bigger market in D.C. to be a multi-media reporter.
Katie Reetz, a features writer and multi-media star, goes to develop multi-media connections with students at Elon. OK, not a larger news org, but still.
Michelle Jarboe, a business writer, moves to the Plain Dealer to write business there. I don't know for a fact that her digital skills were a factor, but if they weren't -- she developed and contributed to two blogs here -- they should have been. (And clearly the PD could use some help.)
When we began emphasizing digital training here, we anticipated just such a talent drain. While I regret losing these folks, I'm proud that we've been able to prepare them for the future. Because the future is here. Anyone still out there -- and the group must be dwindling by now -- who doesn't see the value of learning to post, to link, to record audio and video and to join in the greater conversation is a stegosaurus in trouble.
Comments (3)
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I'm not surprised to see your talent drain. I think any reporter would have to be nuts not to try to find another job in light of how shabbily the N&R (a profitable enterprise) treated the skilled people you cut loose earlier this year. In addition, I'm sure those reporters also grew tired of all the additional work they were forced to take on after the editorial staff was gutted.
Posted on November 16, 2007 4:47 PM
Having hired Amy, I'm bummed she's leaving us, but heartened that she's found a posting that hits to the cycle from a personal and professional standpoint.
Amy is the last of my "kids" first brought to us via our High Point newsroom. Amy shined bright in High Point and continued to shine bright in Greensboro.
I was proud of Amy at so many points along the way, but none prouder than when she took on the responsibility and challenge of going digital and setting a multi-media leadership example in our Greensboro newsroom.
Amy shows us what's possible when journalists hit for the cycle through multi-media. Journalists today can tell stories so much more effectively through multiple channels and venues.
Here's hoping others follow in her pioneering footsteps.
Posted on November 17, 2007 12:28 AM
Yeah, It's a real shame the High Point bureau closed.
Posted on November 17, 2007 9:36 PM