Do you even KNOW what a reporter does?

Its so annoying when people try to sound smart and just end up being idiots. Especially when they do so in such a way that those who don't know any better just nod their heads.

I wholeheartedly have to disagree with this Yahoo article. Both in its conclusion (though not necessarily its initial assertions) about the number 2 dying career, and their alternative suggestion of Public Relations Specialist.

The article states that that the #2 Dying Career is Reporter. It says "They say a species must adapt or die, and with the trend of the Internet replacing print journalism (you are reading this on the computer, after all), media folks who don't adjust might not survive too much longer."

With this I agree. In part. The part where reporters have to play the web and social media cards. They need to adapt to this new format. Just like when they had to adjust to going from the old typesetting and inkwells and every manner of technical changes have come along over the ages. This idea is nothing new. Its just a new medium to get used to. Some make it, some don't. Just like in the days when they had to adjust from radio to television.

"In short, many reporters could be going the way of their typewriters soon." In short . . . this is a ridiculous assertion on the article writer's part. Some will, obviously, not be able to adapt. But reporters have made the jump from inkwell to typeset to print to radio, television and digital pretty well.

And for anyone that brings up "citizen reporters" into the mix saying that these people will replace the experienced writer because they are cheaper have not seen the comings and (mostly) goings of venues that use them exclusively. Companies such as the publishers of The Examiner that created online venues using these "citizen reporters" found that quality over quantity was of great importance, even in the plethora of junk that is often the makeup of the internet. No one would put stock in poor writing, poor reporting and obviously slanted journalism. The cream rises to the top, they found, and began to tinker with how they, pick, maintain and assist with quality the writers they have.

The second assumption in the article is that a good alternative for a reporter is the career choice of Public Relations Specialist.

Really? Reporter to public relations??? Have they really met any reporters?

The author (and oh boy do I use that term loosely here) states "In the new world of Facebook, Twitter, and all things Web, the public image of a company has never been more important." And I agree. Even to the point of saying that in this new age, a reporter is essentially their own company when it comes to social media. Sure, papers and news shows and online venues have their own ways of publicizing in these arenas. But it is also incumbent on the reporter to do so also. But that is an adaptation in effect, not the be all and end all of what reporters do.

Now if you ever actually met a reporter or even just know what it is that reporters do, can you really seeing Woodward or Bernstein "evaluate advertising programs, write press releases, and communicate with the media and public to promote a company's public image"?

I am sure I cannot. Making people look good is so not the job of a reporter. Reporting the news is the job of a reporter. Informing the public of things they need to know about their government, businesses, the economy, American and worldwide society and culture, thats the job of a journalist. But making someone or something look good - well, that is just not their job. And saying this is an alternative career for a reporter is just plain naive.

I would have told this to the writer (Terence Loose) of this little bit of fluff on Yahoo's Education channel. But there is no place for comment. Nor is there a way to send them a little missive. And this bit of oversight is just the thing that a reporter in today's media needs to do in order to adapt. The reader feedback is a valuable asset to today's reporter, just as much as "Facebook, Twitter and all things web", as Loose makes a point of highlighting. So I am guessing we may not be hearing much from this writer.

You can agree or disagree with me on this, because that is your right to do. But its okay. I don't mind. Because, as the title of this blog states, this is just me Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

Should I translate the Book?

Just a question for all of you out there who are reading this blog.

There is an increase in eBook sales around the world. Should I translate Thinking Out Loud - The Book into other languages? Is there an interest among you for that?

Let me know and I will look into it.

Anyway, I will post later in the day about what new insanity is going on.

Have a great morning.

Charles

Little Pet Peeves that really bother me (Politically)

The TEA party started out as a group of Americans really ticked off with the US government for its over-reaching, power grabbing, un-Constitutional behaviour. Taxed Enough Already. And it grew into a bunch of Americans voicing their displeasure with the bloated, spend like a drunken sailor, more interested in special interests than protecting the interests of the public entity.

But then along came the naysayers. (Generally, the ones in power, behind the power and gain the most from keeping those in power.) They called the group racists. Which is hard to fathom when every race, gender and creed have taken up the "fed up with the Feds up" in DC rallying cry. They say its a bunch of American hating nazi's. Which is so ludicrous that it doesn't garner much more of a response from me except to say there is nothing MORE American than voicing your opinions about how our country is run. They have called the group anti-Government . . . okay, I'll give that one to them, so long as what they mean the government which is overspending, stomping on rights, ignoring the Constitution, ignoring the will of the people and sleeping with the special interests and unions. Then YEP, guilty on that one. (If you may recall, I am not a part of any TEA party organization, haven't even gone to a meeting of same. I am just an American that believes all AMERICANS deserve a voice.)

THEN came the media, who, as usual, just doesn't get it. They started referring to the TEA party as the Tea Party. It is not a political party. It is Americans standing up and letting their voices be heard. That it is from those who mostly identify themselves as conservative is a story in and of itself, as most conservatives have not traditionally done the grass roots, rally, sign carrying routine. But the mainstream media did their usual thing and leaned waaaaaay left on this one and fell in line with the liberal, Democrat agenda.

But that is just one thing. Another is that you cannot disapprove of President Obama without being called a racist or Uncle Tom. I am so tired of that card being played by politician and pundit alike. Obermann with his little chills running up his leg can go stuff it in a Spam can. I do not disagree with Obama because he is not white, I disagree with Obama because he is wrong. There is a great difference. If a white man, oh I don't know, like Clinton or Carter were doing the things Obama has done . . . oh wait, yeah they did a lot of stuff like Obama (just not as fast or as radical) and I totally disagreed with what they did. In fact, I don't like the President's policies hardly at all, but I still think Jimmy carter was the worst President in modern history. And he was my boss for a brief period of time and I am allowed to say that.

Another little political pet peeve of mine is the ridiculous way that every pundit thinks in black and white and has no shades of grey or coloring in between. We can have social responsibility but still be fiscally conservative. We can take care of those most in need (as out founding fathers envisioned America) while still cutting those off who take advantage of our generosity for their own greed. We can be big business friendly and still protect the rights of the workers. Without business, there are no jobs. Without skilled and educated people, there are no good workers. If we keep jobs in America, for Americans, we can reward those who make that possible. The American Dream is still alive. The American Spirit will not be torn asunder. So long as we all realize that we all have to live in this house.

I will share more in Political Pet Peeves Two. But for now, my fingers are tired, my back and leg is hurting and I need a break.

As usual, agree or disagree, that really doesn't matter to me. So long as I get you to think for yourselves, I've done my job. Because, heck, this is just me . . . Thinking out Loud.

Have a great day!