Journalists of Tomorrow? Where? | Nov25 |
So, Tomorrow’s News, Tomorrow’s Journalists is closing down, apparently. The ring, part of the excellent journalism.co.uk site, was intended to be a place where future journalists could share ideas and discuss the future of journalism with one another: a vibrant community where those most affected by the rapid changes in journalism could have their say.
If you visit it today, that’s not what you’ll see.
The site’s barren, and the lack of interest in supporting it has left journalism.co.uk editor Laura Oliver with no option but to shut it down. I used to be a contributor, and popped along recently to catch up on the debates and maybe start writing a little again. After all, it’s driven more traffic to this blog than any other activity of mine. But what’s there is little changed since I left. Worse, a lack of maintenance appears to have left the site with a bunch of broken links.
But the most disheartening thing is that Laura, who took on the job when previous editors went and got hired by major news organisations, did her part getting the word out there and recruiting interested parties, and they just didn’t care enough when it became clear it would actually involve sitting down and writing. She claims that she had more than enough sign-ups, and that people just didn’t deliver.
@davemolloy Hi Dave - Oct debate q was posted but had no responses despite 100s of sign ups - unfortunately am going to have to kill it
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@davemolloy it’s a real shame, but it may be a time thing - lots of interest, then people went back to uni/training
Now, I’ll accept that I haven’t contributed a post in a long time. But this really, really annoys me. I should have been pushed out due to inactivity by brighter, better, younger stars. On one of the most prominent UK industry sites, they can’t attract people willing to contribute a few hundred words once a month? And this business is supposedly over-saturated with talented people who just can’t get a break?
Bullshit.
I’m seeing this elsewhere, too. At Una Mullally’s excellent Dancing About Architecture (a music journalism lecture series) over the past four weeks, I’ve seen the apathy so-called hopeful journalists have in abundance. The venue was packed to the rafters on week one with an extensive waiting list, yet by the end, the wind and rain of a cold November meant that many didn’t bother to turn up. I was sick myself one week, but it was clear that many people who had reserved a place simply didn’t bother. And they missed some excellent stuff, with week three being positively inspirational.
I’m working a day job 9-5 to pay the bills and not spending nearly as much time as I would like, and really, as I need to, on my fledgling journalism career. I’m not working hard enough, and that’s my own fault. But when I see this kind of lark, I stop worrying and kicking myself, because I’m probably still doing more than most of these people. It’s easy to say you’re going to work in the industry, but clearly, many just aren’t that interested.
Jokers.
If you’re looking for an excellent young journalist’s discussion/blog/source of info, I highly recommend http://wannabehacks.wordpress.com/, five lads trying to break into journalism by different methods.
Posted by in •JournalismComments:
I think what this post fails to mention is the fantastic response to September’s TNTJ; there were dozens of original posts attempting to answer the question: “what skills do new journalists need?”. The question was relevant, topical and lended itself to debate. I personally got involved as did many young journalists I know and admire.
October’s question: “if you were editor what would you do?” just seemed a little too vague; like something you’d be asked at a job interview but there was no particular publication to write about. To attempt an answer you’d need to pull together a vast selection of info and would probably be better explained by a presentation rather than a blog post which wouldn’t lend itself to reams of diagrams and text.
Coupled with the difficult question, there seemed to be fewer invitations to join than in the previous month. There was no cross-linking to other interesting and relevant blog posts and the moderators themselves didn’t even get involved.
And then it gets pulled after one bad month?
I think it should have been given more of a chance. I’d be keen to participate again if the discussion topic was right and I’m sure others would too.
Or perhaps we’ll just set up on our own like Wannabe Hacks…
Watch this space.
on 03 Dec 10
Hi Lara,
Valid points all around. I’m not arguing there are dedicated and interested people out there, but I still think that somewhere like journalism.co.uk should be saturated with young talent. To not have a singe post in a month is definitely grounds for pulling a segment of a high-profile site.
But, as I’m sure you’ve heard, the responsibility has been taken up by a sub-ed at journalism.co.uk, Joel Gunter. (http://www.journalism.co.uk/young-journalists/any-other-business/tomorrows-news-tomorrows-journalists-back-in-the-new-year/)
See you there in January, I hope.
on 10 Dec 10
Hi Dave,
Yes, I’ll be very much involved in January. Well as much as the new job allows!
Lara
on 17 Dec 10