Right prioritizing of skills for online reporting

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Posted by Jane Abao 11/2/2006 11:47:21 PM

I should say that the prioritizing of skills or qualities is right and just – that the most important are not related to technology or... I should say that the prioritizing of skills or qualities is right and just – that the most important are not related to technology or the Web. I would shudder to learn that people expert in Photoshop but weak in communication skills, grammar and style, and news judgment dog the days of reporting online. In fact, we should let writing be the business of writers and artwork be the business of artists.

Reporting original stories should also be encouraged. This is very important. In some writers’ sites, about 77% of members are only linkers (posting stories already published by other writers) and don’t even have an inkling of what makes for a good title. In the summary portion of the story where they are required to post, they merely mimic the first paragraph of the published story. There is then no brainwork involved, and yet they believe they are reporters already.

Traditional Skills Most Important in Online Newsrooms
Rich Gordon
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