Work Boxers

Its Not Simply About Content

by mark on December 10th, 2007

I’m going to take this lesson and learn it to the best of my ability. I’d hope you would also…

In an obviously emotional piece, David Carr writes today about some pathetic cost cutting measures in the newspaper world which have cost some very experienced and compassionate folks their jobs.

Speaking specifically of John Conroy, a veteran reporter for the Chicago Reader, David mentions;

“Mr. Conroy was busy dealing with a flurry of e-mail messages that day because on Thursday, he had been laid off. The Chicago Reader, which had published his work for over 20 years, decided it could no longer afford to support his reporting. Citing declining revenue and a need to trim costs, Alison True, the editor of the paper, laid off four of its most experienced reporters, including Mr. Conroy. The Washington City Paper, another newsweekly owned by the same company, announced five newsroom layoffs as well.”

What was so special about John Conroy? David tells us in the words of one Ann Patterson;

“My son, Aaron Patterson, tortured by the Chicago Police Department, would not be alive today, I believe, without your articles about police torture in the City of Chicago. You documented and wrote the realization of police torture, of which we will never forget. You help save my son’s life for which I thank you.”

John Conroy did the investigative journalism that was partially responsible for breaking news that saved the lives of four wrongly convicted black men.

At the end of the 1990’s David had been the editor of The Washington City Paper. He tells us;

“In the time I worked for them, I was impressed by their constancy and their willingness to support good work in the belief that if you produced quality journalism, the business would look after itself.”

And…

“The owners in Chicago sold out last summer to an unfortunately named outfit, Creative Loafing from Atlanta, which has mandated cuts across the organization.”

Creative Loafing initiated the cost cutting which laid off John Conroy and other experienced journalists.

I find this statement by the chief executive of Creative Loafing typical bovine excrement regarding the motivation for these job losses;

‘Ben Eason said, “We are not trying to make any other statement here other than it is a competitive world out there and we are doing what we can to make sure we are putting out an excellent paper in the communities we serve.”’

Right… the business world has turned topsy turvy and what good business does today is lose its best people so they can put out their best product? Horsefeathers Eason!

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Toward the end of the first page David offers something which I intend to aspire to;

“Investigative reporting can expose corruption, create accountability and occasionally save lives, but it will never be a business unto itself. Reporters frequently spend months on various lines of inquiry, some of which do not pan out, and even when one does, it is not the kind of coverage that draws advertisers.

The smartest Web robot in the world is going to come back dumb if there is nothing out there to crawl across. Thousands of bloggers could type for a millennium and not come up with the kind of deeply reported story that freed innocent men — an effort that takes years of inquiry, deep sources and a touch for making unholy secrets knowable.”

In my blogging past I’ve had some that have called me on my “investigative mentality.” Currently I feel like I’ve gotten away from it. My aspiration is to move back towards it positively because it earns my self-respect. Not necessarily yours, but my self-respect.

Please read David’s entire article. Its about what one does to create and publish true, valued, respectful, honest content for your consumption as opposed to simple sensationalism.

Tags:accountability corporate lies investigative journalism quality journalism sound business practices

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