What the Hell's Happening at the Rapid City Journal, Part II
As is usually the case, there’s always another part of the story.I received a rather lengthy email from a Rapid City Journal insider that was off the record that described in some detail both the good and the bad about recent changes at the Rapid City Journal.
My source gave me that information only for background but they will allow me to note the following: “… (my source) at the Journal has reservations about some of the changes and will miss some of those who have left, but overall believes in what the new editor is trying to do and is hopeful for the Journal’s future.”
I also spoke with my original source last night. They discussed additional staff who are looking to flee the RCJ as quickly as possible.
Having endured several new regimes in my broadcasting days, I understand how these things work. Some people like the changes and buy in; others dislike them and think they will screw up the place; others just keep their heads down and keep hoping to collect a paycheck.
I think newspapers are having a difficult time in general dealing with the New Media. As a 48 year old, my generation is the last raised on reading a daily newspaper. Younger people get their information more visually. That’s why I think TV stations aren’t struggling as much with how news consumers want to be informed. It’s easier to sit in front of a computer or TV and watch something than it is to deal with the hassle of a dead tree newspaper.
While delivery systems may change somewhat easily, it is news institutions that don’t. It is a tremendous investment in people to staff a good newspaper newsroom. But without those people, many of whom have (or should have) expertise in what they cover, there’s no content, regardless of the medium. How to make that work with migrating readers, advertisers, and competition from other media is the trick—and there are no easy answers.
As I think Dr. William O. Farber told me once, everyone says they like change in theory but when it actually happens to them they don’t. We’re watching the transition from one thing to another.
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Todd Epp
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~Aleister Crowley
(pretty much the only decent quotation from an otherwise really weird guy, but i personally believe he's spot on.)
The premise is wrong. The conclusion may be correct anyway. Most people who don't read a newspaper don't read anything. They watch Entertainment Tonight, "reality" shows, and other dribble.
Our schools are failing to impress on students the differences that exist in all kinds of media and the attempt by almost all of them to cause them to make decisions that are not in the student's actual interest.
They also fail to indicated the difference between easily reversible decisions and those that aren't so easily reversed. Pregnant highschool and middle school girls and drug addiction are part of the consequences.
I have heard enough of the stories from the employees to have a pretty good picture of a mandate maker who gives orders; doesn't abide questions; makes his subordinates do the heavy lifting and the dirty work; keeps banker hours;
Have you heard anyone say they enjoy working for him? probably not, huh?
If the paper itself is better for readers, that is a good thing. If the RCJournal newsroom is filled with miserable sops simply trying to make it through the workday how does that square with having a good newspaper?
Mikel, is that you?