Her questionnaire arrives at a pivotal time for print journalists like me. Newspaper circulation is on the decline in many communities (thankfully, not in Rochester, where our circulation grew last year). The Internet is dramatically changing the way news is gathered and distributed. There are more and more non-journalists out there who provide information to the public through Web logs, Twitter "tweets" and text messages. 
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tcalexand
er
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/5/2009 at 8:31:40 AM
Greg,
I think your title may have been a bit misleading. The internet is a delivery model just as print is. It is simply becoming the delivery model of choice for most folks under 40. There is plenty of room in this model for real journalist such as yourself. The challenge is finding a means for internet journalists to get paid for their labors.
What you were really trying to comment on is the difference between bloggers and journalists. I would consider most of them to be editorialist who provide their opinions on topics rather then doing real reseach.
ElGuapo
GoingGalt, MN
Posted on 11/5/2009 at 6:15:55 PM
Q. IF Cheney is in the pocket of Halliburton, and George W. Bush is on the take with Big Oil; whats the best way for Keith Olbermann to expose the virtues of Universal, Comprehensive Cradle-to-Grave Free Health Care?
Signed, concerned modern journalism student.
thinkfirs
t
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/5/2009 at 6:46:06 PM
I agree with TCA on the delivery rather than the actualy journalism (of online blogers). The only and biggest problem I have with local journalists, is they somehow, for some reason, forgot how to ask the tough questions to top local officials. I don’t know if they are simply playing MN nice, have forgot how to hold those at the top accountable, or are just not following through with their responsibilities that go along with journalism in a democracy. Article after artticle in the post bulliten leaves many unanswered question: Why weren’t the two “thugs” prosecuted for murder and got off on a rosy plea bargain. Whe are there not follow-up questions to board school board members? The list goes on and on. I would like to see the old-fashion, “tough” journalism asking the hard questions and demanding answers.
Hugh_Bric
e
Rocehster, MN
Posted on 11/5/2009 at 7:51:35 PM
Journalists have given themselves a nasty black eye in the last few decades. Lack of objectivity, overt bias, and even poor grammar (myself included).
Mr. Selnow again leaves me wondering what he is going on about. “Basement?” Is that his best dismissal?
Just like journalists (Jayson Blair?), there are reputable bloggers and quite a few who aren’t. But let’s not forget, it was reputable bloggers who revealed Dan Rather and his magic typewriter was a hoax. It was the net, not “journalists” who convinced Mr. Obama that he should dump Van Jones.
Truth has a way of getting out. If the majority journalists of today compromise their ethics, new avenues (however imperfect) will emerge.
Atilla
Rochester, Mn
Posted on 11/5/2009 at 9:09:40 PM
2008 is known as the year Journalism officially died.
After a long and remarkable life, Docs say Journalism died of abuse.
Friends of Journalism say that it will be remembered for its dedication to providing answers to the questions of who, what, where, when, why and how.
That dedication led to Journalism’s ONCE highly-regarded reputation for fairness, accuracy and reliability.
Journalism was preceded in death by its wife, Integrity; a daughter, Objectivity; and a son, Responsibility.
Journalism is survived by four step siblings Advocacy Journalism, Gonzo Journalism, Gotcha Journalism and Celebrity Journalism.
Othelmo__
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/5/2009 at 9:55:55 PM
“It’s a great occupation for inquisitive people who crave variety and want to continue to learn. “
Or push a leftist agenda under the guise of journalism.
“Web logs written by folks in their basements in their spare time don’t cost much to produce.”
One of the most predictable, clicheique stereotypes and mischaracterizations of bloggers. As if having a desk in the middle of a newsroom automatically bestows credibility to anyone behind a keyboard who holds a journalism degree.
“The challenge is to persuade readers, especially those who’ve grown up in the digital age, that what we journalists do has value.”
Good luck with that.
“Time will tell [if journalism is changing for the better or worse]”
When Obama Propaganga Czar Anita Dunn openly state that the administration controls the media, I’d say that so-called journalism is changing for the worst.
“... people have craved, and even demanded, accurate information about what’s going on in the world around them.”
Which is most likely explains the reason why “mainstream” journalism is in the toilet and basement bloggers are on the rise. Bloggers are 21st century town criers.
“Journalists report on and serve as a watchdog over government.”
Wrong. Journalists enable government by reporting favorably on the “need” for more government and pushing proposals that depend on stiff tax increases to be enacted.
“They disseminate accurate information about everything from crime and health trends to how well or poorly schools are educating our children.”
What a crock. When was the last time you read a story critical of the quality of education our children are receiving? As for reporting accurately on crime, does that include sanitizing crime stories that may present minority perpetrators in a bad light?
“They uncover corruption “
Selectively at best.
“compelling, real world stories about love and loss and the human condition.”
There is plenty of fluff, feel good stuff there alright. One out of four ain’t bad. If your standards are not high enough, that is.
Blogging has dismistified journalism. One does not need a journalism degree to hold government accountable, disseminate information that “mainstream” journalists selectively conceal or criticize the quality of our children’s education.
Behind the self-serving rhetoric, what journalists like Mr. Sellnow are truly decrying is the fact that they have lost their precious monopoly on disseminating information.
Thankfully, the days of Walter Cronkite are over. There are now multiple, diverse news sources and points of views to choose from and balance. In order to know what socialists are thinking about an issue, I read the NY Times and P-B editorias as well as salon.com on a daily basis. Newsmax.com and Michele Malkin give me the conservative perspective. For a look at what the insane left is up to, I may read The Huffington Post and The Daily Kos.
Journalism as we knew it growing up is dying a slow, irrelevant death after which it will be buried in an unmarked grave and forgotten.
Othelmo__
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/6/2009 at 6:35:31 PM
Greg Sellnow needs no further demonstration of how morally bankrupt and irrelevant American journalism has become than the NYTimes News Wire Service story “Fort Hood suspect knew horror of war,’ which the P-B reprinted has reprinted. It is a shameful peace that seeks to rationalize and even “humanize” Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan’s murderous rampage at Ft. Hood, TX, yesterday. It is kind of agenda journalism that has people looking for information and perspective elsewhere.
Othelmo__
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/6/2009 at 6:59:58 PM
Greg Sellnow needs no further demonstration of how morally bankrupt and irrelevant American journalism has become than the NYTimes News Wire Service story “Fort Hood suspect knew horror of war,’ which the P-B has reprinted.
It is a shameful piece that seeks to rationalize and even “humanize” Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan’s murderous rampage at Ft. Hood, TX, yesterday. It is kind of agenda journalism that has people looking for information and perspective elsewhere.
cletus
Rochester, Mn
Posted on 11/6/2009 at 7:27:17 PM
Greg Sellnow is in outer space most of the time. If he thinks that the “internet” is not real journalism he has had his head in the sand way to long. Note he started during the Carter administration. This was just shortly before Al Gore invented the internet which is not really journalism.
I’m sorry Mr Sellout, your days are numbered. You are correct, it doesn’t take much money to create a basment publication.
What it does take is imagination, initiative and enterprise. Traits you would never understand.
Big newspapers probably wrote the same thing in revolutionary times about the founding fathers and their back room 2 page publications inciting revolution.
Stay in the mainstream food chain Gregg.
You could never make it in todays world. (good thing your nearing Social Security)
apollo13
rochester, mn
Posted on 11/6/2009 at 7:41:04 PM
I was unaware that the PB had news journalists.
dflash
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/6/2009 at 7:51:02 PM
As I read the PB editorials, I see few responses to in depth journalists such as Krugman and Will, who include statistics, quotes from the past, details of bills, etc.
What does get reader response are the “barbed” commentators who serve as lighning rods for public opinion.
As the country is/has changed from print to internet, the definition of journalism has changed too. It has moved to those who can incite, rather than those who are best informed.
There will always be journalists. I worry more about the readers.
apollo13
rochester, mn
Posted on 11/6/2009 at 7:57:40 PM
Bill Boyne’s columns always seem to get responses.
newameric
a
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/7/2009 at 5:33:14 AM
As if actual journalism exists in our print media. Far more truth is found on the vast resources of the internet then in our controlled and filtered print media.
One example, the rest of the world knows that Georgia attack Russia about a year ago. Most people here because of our print media still have it wrong. Journalism - Ha!
What do we have like 7 reporters in Iraq?
FrankWHaw
thorne
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/10/2009 at 8:50:49 AM
Don’t worry Greg.
Even assuming (by their RightWingOverse standards) that your head IS “in the sand,” that puts Their heads in a place where the sun don’t shine & where the rest of us Don’t want to go or know.
Sad they can’t smell it, but some of these rascals applied a hard delete key to Empathy, Self-awareness, and Objectivity on the day momma gave them the unlock password to the family laptop.
MommaBear
Byron, MN
Posted on 11/10/2009 at 9:03:49 AM
Oh get off it Frank, as if you are one to speak of virtues.
’Empathy, Self-awareness, and Objectivity’ I believe you need to look those up again in the dictionary and then take a good long hard look in the mirror.
jzee
rochester, MN
Posted on 11/10/2009 at 9:08:19 AM
“Internet won’t replace real journalists”
Sorry, it already has.
Read Christopher Bollyn.
Othelmo__
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/10/2009 at 2:42:02 PM
“puts Their heads in a place where the sun don’t shine & where the rest of us Don’t want to go or know.
Sad they can’t smell it,”
Does this conform with the P-B’s comment policy? It is obviously crass, uncivil and off-topic. Over the last day or so his posts have become increasingly unhinged.
The topic here is the relevance of traditional journalism in the face of an increasingly connected world where information is disseminated through multiple media which often bypasses traditional outlets in a more timely and effective manner. In other words, the P-B is the Model T and internet bloggers whom Mr. Sellnow so despises are F-22 fighter planes. There is no turning back. The P-B maybe holding on for now but it is a matter of time before it joins the dodo bird.
FrankWHaw
thorne
Rochester, MN
Posted on 11/10/2009 at 8:33:50 PM
Well; I may allow myself the luxury of getting mildly “unhinged” about some of you, from time to time; but at least I don’t imagine myself The New Drudge.
As to the real “topic” of the above: I thought it was just Greg & Hannah having an innocent Q-&-A; but all of a sudden we’ve got self-important cyber dudes riffin’ like it’s some kind of Brave New (Laptop Journalism) World.
All I know is that on the day that independently (including conservatively) owned Mainstream Media is forced to give way to the likes of these anti-intellectual, pc-tethered jokers, the terms “Truth” and “News” will become as meaningless as the Faux News “Fair & Balanced is today.
Some of these guys are about as “connected” to the real world as was Der Fuhrer during the last days of Der Bunker.
AverageJo
e
Anywhere, US
Posted on 11/10/2009 at 8:43:10 PM
I would love to comment on Sellnow’s column in today’s paper, but alas, it’s posting here is delayed to allow him a bit of sanctuary from the sound of reason.
As for this column: Enjoy your day off, Greg?
