Comments on: A Question of Emphasis

By: Washington Post: Print-Heads vs. Web-Heads | Reaction Radio

Washington Post: Print-Heads vs. Web-Heads | Reaction Radio — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:05:10 +0000

[...] crowd, and the fear expressed by some — including former WaPo online staffer Derek Willis and former online executive editor Jim Brady — is that the printies are gaining the upper [...]

By: Michelle Minkoff » Printies and webbies — we’re all journalists!

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:33:19 +0000

[...] it isnt’ presented properly. Stories of the lack of understanding between the two, such as this of former WaPo print-turned-online staffer (and my current Medill professor) Derek Willis are [...]

By: Derek

Derek — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:39:05 +0000

Brock,

I don’t think Gabe was saying anything about parity being achieved. He said “it was clear that they were looking to erase the distinction between the print and online shop.” That’s a process, and I’m sure you’ll hear all sorts of opinions on the state of things. The idea, imho, is that there is less of “print side” and “web side” and more of “us”. Sewell Chan – I’m sure I’m not the only one to consider him a top-level reporter – has radically altered his job to run CityRoom without giving up his desk. I don’t believe Gabe was describing utopia, or even trying to. What you read into it is your business, but I’d ask you not to twist his words. As you say, he would know best – or better than you, at least.

By: Brock

Brock — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:54:57 +0000

Gabriel… do you think parity has been achieved at the NYT? You’re inside, so you would know best, but from where I stand and from what I hear, the place isn’t close to parity. The “print guys” still believe they are a higher class of journalists and, well, they tolerate the web side because, as much as it pains them, the web site is handy for breaking news before the “real” story can come out in the next day’s paper.

Don’t think so? Name me one top level reporter on the NYT that would jump to the web side and give up their desk in the den of print reporters. The fact that there are still terms like “print side” and “web side” are all anyone needs to see that there’s still a big gap to be filled.

By: gabriel

gabriel — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:25:03 +0000

it’s interesting to hear these kinds of things, derek.

when i was looking at jobs in 2006, i was (and remain) good friends with Tom Kennedy, who was their director of multimedia at the time (i think that was his title). anyway, they were one of the preeminent online news sources, and i was very tempted.

the reason i ended up going with the times, and this is no secret, was their commitment to integration. when i interviewed with the times it was clear that they were looking to erase the distinction between the print and online shop. and these decisions were coming from the top, with jon landman among others leading the charge.

so while i can’t speak much to the washpost, i can say what made me look another direction. i feel i made the right decision. and i’m very sorry to see such talented people (including tom kennedy) no longer working to push the washpost to new levels.

By: End the culture wars in journalism (wishful thinking)

End the culture wars in journalism (wishful thinking) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:15:36 +0000

[...] database journalist and developer formerly at the Washington Post and now with the New York Times, adds details to the internal battle that broke out when he wanted to make the switch from the paper …. I met Derek in the spring of 2007 sometime as he was trying to make the transition. I wasn’t [...]

By: Journo-tech

Journo-tech — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:08:09 +0000

Printies and webbies — we’re all journalists!…

As a student, I thought if I could just get the digital skills down, my journo-tech obsession would have a place in this world. Turns out, it might be far from that simple.
……

By: This week in media musings: A full reboot for news, and a rude run-in over paywalls | Mark Coddington

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:36:44 +0000

[...] departments are merging, and it’s the Web folks that are getting the axe. Former employee Derek Willis and Mathew Ingram of The Globe and Mail in Toronto are worried about what this says about the [...]

By: Akkam’s Razor » Daily Links for November 20th through November 22nd

Akkam’s Razor » Daily Links for November 20th through November 22nd — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:01:12 +0000

[...] A Question of Emphasis :: The Scoop – My fear as a Washington Post subscriber and reader of washingtonpost.com is that, when the folks running the organization turn things around (and I believe that it is not an impossibility or even a long-shot), what emerges will be not only a news organization that is a shadow of its former self – most orgs will have to face that reality – but that it will have put so much emphasis on the paper that it cannot take advantage of the possibilities online. That the folks running things are literally rolling back the progress and smart work that has been done, and will not be able to get it back as fast as they might think. And the people who remain – those who will be charged with the task of rebuilding a news operation that embraces all of the ways that its readers and users can gain value – will have neither the support nor the depth to make it happen. [...]

By: Derek

Derek — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:45:36 +0000

I don’t think they should always be separate, particularly since there should be some editorial creation occurring that is not print-only. I think the conditions for merging the two together would be ideal when both sides are comfortable enough with the shared goals of delivering the kind of information that its readers want and need in any number of ways. And when both sides communicate with each other as if the quality of their work depended on it – which it does.