tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post2706528263314735275..comments2024-02-13T10:20:04.888+00:00Comments on David Hepworth's blog: Can editors change their spots?David Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05973053694541321308noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-5056050014857321692009-06-03T12:41:45.316+01:002009-06-03T12:41:45.316+01:00In my experience the mind set of Management and Pu...In my experience the mind set of Management and Publishers, not journalists are the main obstacle of progress. Budget cutting, low staff numbers and the the big fear of missing the target audience/advertisers overwhelms editorial direction.<br /><br />This is what needs to change before magazines properly evolve again.<br />When a magazine has budget, staff and a trusted editor things start to happen.rad4evernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-2607377895796143762009-05-29T15:30:36.021+01:002009-05-29T15:30:36.021+01:00The problem with a comment like Paul K's (sorry to...The problem with a comment like Paul K's (sorry to single you out!) is that it ignores that the revolution *has* happened. Newspapers are dying on their feet, magazine sales are (relatively speaking) down and are prematurely getting screwed through lack of ads...<br />There are many, *many* online news and comment sources that are ostensibly free, and operate within the three criteria you've mentioned. And, unlike print journalism, they can also be updated and changed to delete innacuracies, which to an extent, in more amateur-led blogs, mitigates point no.1.<br /><br />Picard is absolutely right, in as much as it is the journalist who holds the key to their own 'brand' at this point. Anyone sticking their heads in the sand and hoping that they'll still be making a living in the standard print way, relying on their newspaper/magazine to get the stuff online for them is going to have a tough time in the longer term.<br /><br />If the 'future' hasn't quite worked out how it's going to work yet, nevertheless sitting back and waiting is not an option.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-61758675285527784772009-05-28T16:44:49.009+01:002009-05-28T16:44:49.009+01:00That's why editors hate research - it reduces cont...That's why editors hate research - it reduces content to the lowest common denominator of the largest possible audience.Paul Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-3159315037839391412009-05-28T15:53:29.113+01:002009-05-28T15:53:29.113+01:00“I think the reason the English magazines die off ...“I think the reason the English magazines die off like flies is that the editors are wondering timidly all the time what their readers are going to like, and won’t take a chance on anything that isn’t on exactly the same lines as everything else thay have ever published. Lorimer (editor of the Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post) has always had an unswerving faith in his own judgement. His attitude is ’I like this story, and to hell with what anyone else thinks’. That’s how he has made the Post such a success.”<br /><br />P.G. Wodehouse in 1936 (from Performing Flea, his wonderful “self-portrait in letters”)<br /><br />Mind you I once worked for an editor with a lethal combination: unswerving faith in her own judgement and lousy judgement. Just as well it was a contract magazine not a newstand one.<br /><br />(How apt: a post about PG Wodehouse at ten to three and the Word Verification is “scone”. Yes please, with jam, cream and a pot of darjeeling.Richard Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04237260684135790673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-46491298078859190632009-05-26T09:30:37.909+01:002009-05-26T09:30:37.909+01:00Three key journalistic skills were missing from Pi...Three key journalistic skills were missing from Picard's analysis. He referred to "gathering, processing, and distributing information". However, perhaps even more important in this age are: <br /><br />1) Confirming; good journalists are responsible for verifying the accuracy of what they gather and then disseminate<br /><br />2) Interpreting; it is often the analysis and contextualising of news which is more valuable than the news itself<br /><br />3) Entertaining; let us not underestimate the value of good writing to enthrall an audience.<br /><br />All of these three elements are painfully lacking in most online writing - and perhaps these are the elements which will retain the economic value of good journalism.Paul Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-9271985872171181722009-05-23T13:30:52.426+01:002009-05-23T13:30:52.426+01:00I really enjoyed reading your post - and the Rober...I really enjoyed reading your post - and the Robert G. Picard piece - but as a journalist, it just all seems so vast to comprehend. You mention that change may come from journalists themselves, but in my experience, approaching editors with change in mind is a one-way ticket to a vox pop. Keeps hacks in their place, you know.<br />Perhaps as my experience grows I will get more satisfaction...Kirstie McCrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03243850361602523010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-52242852959493125652009-05-23T12:08:27.877+01:002009-05-23T12:08:27.877+01:00Is this not the same process that hit the music in...Is this not the same process that hit the music industry - if the customer can pick the hit single and one other good track why buy the packaged album ? if the customer can read the individual who he thinks is always funny/informative why buy the magazine and be stuck with all those other nitwits who bang on about tosh ?elhombremalohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04848207967272901033noreply@blogger.com