Poynter. » Chats

What makes a good online portfolio?

Joe Grimm — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:30:31 +0000

In this week’s career chat, Marc Samson talked about Pressfolios, a new Web application that helps journalists build and manage an online portfolio of their news stories.

Samson, who is Pressfolio’s co-founder, talked about how journalists can benefit… Read more

How reporters can mine political ad spending records

Mallary Jean Tenore — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:30:19 +0000

The Federal Communications Commission stirred debate last week when it voted to require some broadcast television stations to post their political ad spending records online. The four largest broadcasters in the top 50 markets soon will be required to… Read more

How startup sites can take advantage of emerging revenue streams

Jeremy Caplan — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:30:13 +0000

As journalism entities move beyond ads in pursuit of new revenue streams, events have proven a popular target. People who won’t pay $15 for a digital subscription, the theory goes, may pay $20 instead for wine, cheese and a panel… Read more

What journalists, prose writers can learn from poetry

Roy Peter Clark — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:30:16 +0000

I have been reading more poetry lately, and not just because April was National Poetry Month. For reasons I can’t explain, I have not found poetry; rather it has re-discovered me. Perhaps the re-connection was a natural result of my… Read more

Dylan Byers, Jack Shafer explain reporting behind new Watergate claims

Mallary Jean Tenore — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:58:38 +0000

An excerpt from Jeff Himmelman’s forthcoming biography of former Washington Post Editor Ben Bradlee stirred controversy earlier this week, prompting new questions about the Post’s Watergate coverage.

The biography reveals that Bradlee feared Bob Woodward had embellished certain details… Read more

What skills do journalists need to work for niche sites?

Joe Grimm — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:30:31 +0000

In this week’s career chat, we talked with Everett J. Mitchell II, managing editor of The Medicare NewsGroup. The site features original and curated content that’s aimed at journalists covering Medicare.

What can writers do to build the public’s trust in the media?

Roy Peter Clark — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:30:36 +0000

My friend Jay Rosen has posted another useful essay on his blog Pressthink and asks provocative questions with important implications for every writer.

Rosen begins with a graphic that shows the steady decline in news media credibility… Read more

Tips for journalists preparing to launch a startup site

Jeremy Caplan — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:30:55 +0000

When you’re getting a journalism startup off the ground, you face a number of decision points. Who do you partner with? How do you bring in revenue? How do you get the word out about your project? We’ll discuss

How to effectively recruit, hire for diversity in newsrooms

Joe Grimm — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:30:13 +0000

Recently, Beijing-based journalist Debra Bruno wrote a column describing how the search for diverse job candidates turned her into “a Facebook stalker” when she worked at Roll Call. When she ran the site’s internship program, she was told… Read more

What makes a story have staying power?

Roy Peter Clark — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:30:40 +0000

I assume that the Sept. 11 attacks will have an effect on people for decades to come. I often associate this effect with the assassination of JFK, another story that keeps evolving.

And now, once again, on the 100th anniversary… Read more