Gannett plans on exploding the newsroom. In the wake and rubble will grow a new type of organization focused more on “information centers.” They will no longer organize their editors into groups like metro, state and sports but instead will use names like “data,” “digital” and “community conversations.” There focus will be more on local then national news and user-generated content will take an even larger role.
I would treat this as basic lip service if it weren’t for the changes I have already seen in our local Gannett publication, The Reno Gazette Journal. They now have a section that covers geographic areas by neighborhoods. Each neighborhood section features area content including: news, photo galleries, real estate commentary and events. This is definitely localized.
The Gazette Journal is now requiring reporters to run around with cameras and video cameras to create even more content. They have added a photo and video section to the site.
I’m excited by this because it puts content and distribution fore front. It removes artificial filters and lets readers filter content how they want. Do they want to view neighborhood news, local news, photos from yesterday’s events or video from reporter’s latest interview? Obviously, you can do this on various sites around the Internet but having your local publication bring this forward to the non-techies and have actual people on the street getting paid to gather this information is a huge advantage.
tags: Journalism, News, RGJ
