Be a mad media scientist

Perhaps the best advice someone from old media can give to children of new media is simply to dive in and try out new ideas. In this post from his media blog, Clay Shirky endorses the impulse to experiment. No one knows where journalism is going, but we do know it's not going away. Its reinvention is likely to be wholly unforeseen and, for a while at least, unforeseeable. That creates enormous opportunities for those willing to risk their time and talent in applying the tested and proven modes of the written word with emerging technologies.

Why bother?

A question I have sometimes asked myself is, Why teach journalism if newspapers are dying? Hey, wait--someone else has asked this question too? (see link below) In fact, nearly everyone who teaches journalism has formed some version of this question. And the answer? Oh, there are many. Mine: Because I'm paid to do it (cynical response) and because the world needs and wants journalism--it just doesn't fully appreciate that fact just yet (optimistic response). Also, newspapers are only a small part of the equation, and an increasingly small one at that. The many responses to this short article are worth wading through.

Writing online

How you write for online sources is different than print. Here's a good guide. We all need to think carefully about who it is we're writing for, and what the reader needs and/or wants.

Debate over print vs. electronic journalism

This bulletin board discussion does more to describe and explain the future of journalism and the print vs. electronic debate than anything I've seen. Lots of knowledgeable, opinionated people make for a fun read.

It's not the technology, stupid

It's the mindset and culture of social networking that attracts people, and keeps them engaged, not the technology per se. This article explores the rapidly accelerating trend of adults toward social networking.

How the news media can engage the young

The Obama election has proven that young people can be engaged in politics in a way never thought possible. Will the same be said in the future about the news media? Read one perspective here.

The freelance life

Ah, it's great to see CNN validate the freelance writing life. In an economic slowdown, in particular, this is a fine career option. Click here for the story.