I’ve been working in TV news in DC for more years than I care to recall, and I’ve never found TV reporters lacking in the self-promotion department. But for some interesting thoughts on a shift in promotional responsiblity to journalists themselves, Beet TV’s Andy Plesser goes to the washingtonpost.com well once again, with the site’s Executive Editor, Jim Brady. In the interview, Brady speaks on the importance of embracing the changes facing journalists.
On embracing and learning new multi media skills:
“one It’s hard and two they have to figure out how to do it”
On promoting their own stories:
“getting on and talking about what you’re doing is more important now than it’s ever been”
Here’s where I think Brady stops shy of articulating the more important notion of conversation and dialogue. Sure it’s important to get on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, and MSNBC.COM. But I think it’s also vitally important to go out and engage the relevant online communities and bloggers, by actively participating in THEIR conversations, by way of comments and posts. That is both drop-dead simple and immensely valuable. Time consuming? Sure.
I recently had a conversation with MSNBC.COM’s East Coast Deputy Editor, Randy Stearns about the importance of these channels for connecting with viewers/readers. Stearns and MSNBC.COM’s Director of Video, Stokes Young were in DC talking content not long ago to the troops at NBC’s DC bureau. Their powerpoint featured my very low-brow video on the day in the life of the White House Press Corps, from this video grunt’s viewpoint.
To me what’s more valuable than the content itself is this:
To generate some conversation about this video, I posted a link in the Yahoo video bloggers mailing list and Twittered about it. I did all of this as sort of a proof of concept in self-publising and shameless self-promotion. But what was really fun and cool for me was actually talking with the people who took the time to stop by and comment. I either emailed or commented back on the site.
Much of what journalists (i’m including EVERYONE in the process here) are now tasked with has been thrust upon them because of economics and technology. Many are wary of their new roles and attendant new duties. Some of them, I sadly believe, are less than willing to engage the unwashed masses. Hubris is partly to blame for MSM’s decline. Humility and humanity may help revive it.
