March 03, 2008
Effective Communication in the Interactive World
Larry Dailey from the University of Nevada-Reno discusses how to be effective journalists in an interactive world.
What is the job of a journalist? Is it to inform? To educate? Well, yes and no. Larry Dailey said many newspapers focus too much on the informing part of the equation, and not enough on the back and forth between user and provider. In this back and forth, education and practice, journalism can become an interactive playground, not just a talking head.
“Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions,” said Mark Twain. According to Dailey, the world of journalism needs to focus more on the play aspect of the writing and informing process, but in a controlled and productive manner. How can we keep the pages and online content from spinning out of control into an unfocused, anarchistic mess? Well, by creating an interactive website that is responsive and has a scientifically-based process that shows and tells you how your content is being received.
Journalists are supposed to be serious. Or so we’re told. Seriousness = credibility. But when does a serious journalist become a close-minded content provider? Well, I think this happens when they stop trying to reach young and new readers, and instead write the demographic off as “lazy” and “tuned-out.” Youth are not allergic to news and information, but they don’t digest it the same way you do. They need it in many different forms, instantaneously and in a format they can respond to. That is not being tuned-out. Actually, it is being tuned-IN.
By Susan Grant, 03/03/08 at 1:45 pm
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