Saturday, July 28, 2007

As the struggle between online and print journalism continues

The struggle between online and print journalism continues. I don't really know whether we have a similar memo issued among the papers in the Philippines, but the US-based The Washington Post issued a memo to its staff to avoid misunderstandings between the two departments. Got the info here.

"The Washington Post and its dot-com operation have always had a tricky relationship. Newsroom staffers always complain that their stuff doesn’t get good enough play on the site," writes Erik Wemple here. "Dot-commers reply that the newsies don’t really get the Web. The bitching—er, dialogue—volleys back and forth between Post HQ at 15th and L and the post.com HQ in Arlington." He also posted the full memo in his piece.

Ten Principles for Washington Post Journalism on the Web
  1. The Washington Post is an online source of local, national and international news and information. We serve local, national and international audiences on the Web.
  2. We will be prepared to publish Washington Post journalism online 24/7. Web users expect to see news as it happens. If they do not find it on our site they will go elsewhere.
  3. We will publish most scoops and other exclusives when they are ready, which often will be online.
  4. The originality and added value of Post journalism distinguishes us on the Web. We will emphasize enterprise, analysis, criticism and investigations in our online journalism.
  5. Post journalism published online has the same value as journalism published in the newspaper. We embrace chats, blogs and multimedia presentations as contributions to our journalism.
  6. Accuracy, fairness and transparency are as important online as on the printed page. Post journalism in either medium should meet those standards.
  7. We recognize and support the central role of opinion, personality and reader-generated content on the Web. But reporters and editors should not express personal opinions unless they would be allowed in the newspaper, such as in criticism or columns.
  8. The newsroom will respond to the rhythms of the Web as ably and responsibly as we do to the rhythms of the printed newspaper. Our deadline schedules, newsroom structures and forms of journalism will evolve to meet the possibilities of the Web.
  9. Newsroom employees will receive training appropriate to their roles in producing online journalism.
  10. Publishing our journalism on the Web should make us more open to change what we publish in the printed newspaper. There is no meaningful division at The Post between “old media” and “new media.”

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