Media dies and America lies - Calling bullshit on popular opinion

Think I’m off base? Try this on for size: In May the average American spent 127 hours watching TV. That comes down to just over 4 hours a day. Add on the fact that Americans spent an added 24 hours on the net, and the daily consumption rises to nearly 5 hours. Don’t have time to read? Bullshit.

Last week the LA Times announced 250 layoffs. The reason? Declining revenues, steep costs, and the fact that readers said they “don’t have time to read the paper.” The publisher bit, and since it’s all about the bottom line succumbed to the pressure from stockholders.

We all know the story by now: newspapers are dieing, magazines are floundering, and the Internet is a wild west with copyright infringement flying just as fast as Billy the Kid’s gun. And yet is it less about time and more about being lazy that has pushed us into the ideology that we just can’t afford to read the news.

An interesting article the other day suggested that reporters and literary types are the only ones who really care about reading an actual story. The rest of the population merely wants facts. Think Twitter–micro blogging–consisting of a few sentences instead of long laborious paragraphs.

“Obama beats Hillary to claim Democratic nomination.”

“Obama and Hillary unite in Unity. Every under-thirty-year-old rolls their eyes and grimaces with embarrassment for the wag-the-dog stunt.”

“Newspapers are dieing, while publishers continue to try old media tactics.”

Sound ridiculous? Sure they are just headlines, but isn’t that a majority of the news these days?

So do I have an answer? No, not necessarily, but I do have some ideas.

- When Newpapers produce video, produce strong video. Something better than a high school punk with YouTube. Look at the NYT’s for examples, but even then their videos are mostly all the same. Break the mold, take risks, and understand that editing is just as much a craft as writing.

- Do not be afraid to try new things and fail. I know it costs money, but those who take risks online will ultimately succeed. For instance, social networking brought college kids together, while journalists, businessmen, and others were skeptical. By the time Facebook hit the “money making generation,” it was being run by young kids posting bong hits. Newspapers had a unique platform to reach hundreds of young readers on their turf, and yet nobody aggressively went after the market.

- Educate your staff. There has never been such a divide in newsrooms as there is today. Twentysomethings are ingrained in RSS feeds, social networks, YouTube, digital video cameras and editing. Sure the generation has a ton to learn, but the hesitancy to “figure everything out,” just isn’t there. Take senior editors and pair them with younger staffers. Create a two-way mentorship that elevates both parties skill sets. Sure some will have to swallow their pride, but a strong staff, a staff willing to weather such times, will do just this–put themselves out there and agree to learn.

Finally, stop running and embrace the fact that change is required. Then and only then will we see ‘real’ change on a mass market level. And don’t forget, America has time! At least 5 hours a day and it’s up for grabs.

Rush proves genius - LA Times bleeds

The Los Angeles Times must be pissed. On the same day they announce 250 layoffs—150 coming from the newsroom itself—Rush Limbaugh, the loudmouthed-pill-popping-sun-of-a-gun radio personality announced an extension of his already plush contract. The payoff? 400 million over eight years.

Adding insult to injury, the LA Times also announced they would be restructuring the paper cutting 15 percent of pages by the fall.

In today’s Associated Press story, editor Russ Stanton was quoted saying: “The number one reason that people cancel the L.A. Times is, they tell us, they don’t have enough time to read the paper that we give them every day. We’re going to be more picky about the stories we choose to write long and a lot more picky about the ones we write shorter.

Thank God Britney and Paris have been good girls lately. Five hundred words on Britney’s underwear would need to be cut, eliminating crucial details including color and style.

It is no secret that the LA Times is a fat newspaper. Some critics have pointed out that selected reporters on payroll have not written a story in years. The newsroom is full of glut and excess. But that aside, the staggering cuts come in a time when news is equivalent to money and not necessarily quality, which means only one thing: Less Iraq, more Hollywood.

One hell of a year… Backpacker and Bicycling Clips

One year ago today I became unemployed with the goal of becoming an adventure travel writer. Now, a year later, I’m unemployed again. The difference? Five thousand miles, twenty eight states, a Colorado ID, and nine months at Backpacker Magazine.

I suspect I will be writing about my internship a lot, but for now I just want to point to most of the deliverables and takeaways from my time at Backpacker and Bicycling.

GPS-supported Conent

• Appalachian Trail GPS-Supported Map Fact checked, coedited and coproduced GPS-supported trail maps for the AT. Includes: 1,200+ miles of trail, thousands of waypoints, hundreds of photos, and 120+ individual trips.
• Fruita Mountain Biking - In typical Backpacker style, the map team headed to Fruita for a weekend of mountain biking and team building. In the process we also GPSed the trip, shot video and photos, and came back to put it all together.

Backpacker Magazine Clips

• Quick Fix: Badlands National Park - June 08
  
• Quick Fix: Great Smoky Mountain National Park - May 08
  
• Trip Finder: Low Rain Hikes - April 08
• Hike of the Month: Mt Whorl - April 08
• National Parks Package: Yosemite National Park - July/August 08
  

Google Earth - When I arrived at Backpacker, the words “Google Earth” carried little weight. After scoping out GE and how it enabled Backpacker readers to plan, execute, and share potential trips, I went to map editor Kris Wagner and suggested Backpacker begin using the program. With little resistance, Backpacker editors jumped on board constantly being wowed with the program and using it in both print and online stories.

• Google Earth June 08 Cover - I worked directly with editor and chief Jon Dorn, and design director Matthew Bates, to conceptualize and execute June’s digital cover shot. I was also responsible for working directly with Google to approve the cover, and secure copyright permissions from the image providers.

• Google Earth Flyover Videos - For the July/August National Parks Package, I worked directly with web editor Anthony Cerretani, senior editor Tracy Ross, and map editor Kris Wagner, to conceptualize and coproduce seven national park flyovers. I was ultimately responsible for recording the Google Earth Flyovers.
• Smoky Mountains NP flyover
• Yosemite NP flyover
• Denali NP flyover
• Grand Canyon NP flyover
• Yellowstone NP flyover
• Olympic NP flyover
• Glacier NP flyove

• iHike Package June 08 - Worked directly with editors to include Google Earth tips and screenshots in the June iHike package. Also worked directly with Google to approve digital images.

Tour de France Video Project - Two months ago my editor decided to send assistant editor Mark Harrison to France. The goal was to preview five of the tour’s stages in ways previously not being done. After two weeks of storyboarding, video lessons, and mayhem, Mark flew abroad. The end result was four high-quality videos on Bicycling.com, incorporating GPS-supported content, Google Earth, flash graphics and Getty Images.

• Stage 4
• Stage 6
• Stage 16
• Stage 17

New Media Feature Package - During the month of April I worked on a new media feature package. The topic, hiking blind, was pulled apart into interactive GPS content, a podcast, two videos and a written component.

• Video 1 - Backpacking Blind
• Video 2 - Erik Weihenmayer discusses what it’s like to be blind
• Podcast - (will be added soon)
• GPS-supported hike

Bicycling Magazine Clips

• Perfect Day: Las Vegas (On newsstand August 1)
• GPS-supported rides at bicycling.com/lasvegas (August 1)

Backpacker.com Blog

• Google Upgrades Earth
• Google Adds Contour Lines
• I Present To You The Universe
  

Backpacker Magazine PR - Taking the experience from my previous PR job, I worked with senior editors and Backpacker’s PR team to write and promote the launching of Backpacker.com, and five tips on how to get outside more.

• Backpacker Launches New Website
• Backpacker Teams With Google Earth
• Five Ways To Enjoy Your Summer More

Of course there is also all the stuff from my “actual job,” which was managing California, Nevada, and Hawaii for backpacker.com/destinations.

The Tender Bar: Proof you can be a functioning alcoholic

A dear friend of mine recently passed along, J.R. Moehringer’s recent memoir The Tender Bar, and since all three of her children work in bars, and usually are pretty good at getting into trouble without going too far, reading it was a no-brainer.

Last weekend after a perfect bluebird day here in Colorado, six inches of snow kept me indoors and restless. Wrapped up, sitting on the floor, I opened The Tender Bar and started to read. Four hours later I set the book down, went out and bought a 12 pack of beer, then promptly preceded reading. Ten beers later, I was done.

The following are two passages that stuck out:

J.R. talking about his cousin’s baseball career

I understood that my cousin was a budding major leaguer. He was a dedicated craftsman, and the rewards he’d gained from hard work went far beyond mastering a slider and a change. He’d mastered himself. He knew that hard work was the right path for a man, the only path. He wasn’t paralyzed, as I was, by the fear of making a mistake. When he bounced a pitch in front of me, or threw it over the head, he didn’t care. He was experimenting, exploring, finding himself, and finding his way by trial and error to a kind of truth. No matter how foolish he looked on a pitch, no matter how badly he missed the target, with the next pitch he was focused, confident, relaxed. He never once that afternoon lost the look on his face that he’d worn when we were boys. He was working hard, but he’d never stopped playing.

J.R. remembering a conversation he had over scotch with a priest on his way home from Yale

“Can I tell you something?” the priest asked. “Do you know why God invented writers? Because He loves a good story. And He doesn’t give a damn about words. Words are the curtain we’ve hung between Him and our true selves. Try not to think about the words. Don’t strain for the perfect sentence. There’s no such thing. Writing is guesswork. Every sentence is an educated guess, the reader’s as much as yours. Think about that the next time you curl a piece of paper into your typewriter.”

Tiger Woods Goes to Heaven — The Media Goes to Hell

“Lynch him in a back alley,” Tilghman said, laughing.

The quote runs roughly halfway through ESPN’s latest headline story on Tiger Woods, and Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman’s recent slipup.

The story broke a few weeks back on a Sunday. Tilghman, while broadcasting on air for the Golf Channel, discussed how players might be able to beat Tiger Woods.

Nick Faldo, Tilghman’s partner, joked that the young players should all “Gang up (on Tiger) for a while.” Tilghman responded jokingly “Lynch him in a back alley.”

They both laughed and went on.

Enter Yahoo.com.

The story broke as it always does in full nappy-headed-hoes fashion. First a few prominent blogs spoke out. Soon Yahoo.com had a story posted.

“Anchor says racist comment,” one of the taglines read. “What did she say?” was the next line.

Of course I clicked.

Then I read the story and rolled my eyes. It didn’t go away however. First ESPN jumped all over it. Then Sportscenter replayed the audio. A few national papers picked up the story, and even though it didn’t reach Imus proportions the headlines were still there.

“This is Woods time to step up and prove himself a man,” one commentator wrote. “By laughing this off, Woods will damage the African American community.”

Then the call for Tilghman’s head started.

“She must be fired!” One angry commenter noted. Soon, 1,400 similar comments were linked to the Yahoo.com story.

Woods spokesman released a statement saying Woods and Tilghman had spoken and made amends. He admitted it was a poor use of judgment, but that was it. End of story.

The media however, refused to die. Tiger finally made a statement.

“It was unfortunate,” Woods said. “”Kelly and I did speak. There was no ill intent. She regrets saying it. In my eyes, it’s all said and done.”

Tiger goes on to say, “I’ve been in that situation before. We all say things we do regret, and that’s certainly a moment she does regret.”

Then he sums it up. “It was more media-driven than anything else.”

Exactly. Media-driven.

For a man who keeps his private life at bay. Cried in his father’s arms. Made it public that he would not play in the Open if his baby were to be born. And spends millions on helping children learn. The story gets old.

I am a part of the media myself, though; sometimes I wish I were anything but.

The Story

It starts with an idea. Maybe from one line in an article buried deep inside the New York Times. “So and so decided it was a good idea to tell kids yadi yadi yada.”The writer, then reading the story stuffed between two iPod listening zombies on the subway, quickly makes a mental note and continues reading.

The line festers over the next few days. Showers are consumed with thoughts and the dinner table has brief “what if,” conversations. The writer thinks there is a story there, but is just not sure where it is exactly.

A week later while sitting in the dentist’s office, the writer notices a magazine he had never heard of before. Quickly glancing through he discovers the magazine may be an outlet for the story, and in a moment of shamefulness, rips out the masthead and stuffs it in his pocket.

The masthead, a few months old, sits on his desk crumpled with sweat form the long hot day stuffed inside his jacket. Then in a moment of inspiration the writer jots down some thoughts, calls a few people and writes a pitch.

The editor’s comments are typical. “Who are you? Why do you think this is a good story? How does it fit in my magazine? I think there is potential but I don’t think it’s there.”

By this time the writer is committed. The time thinking alone has already breached every aspect of his life, and the small line buried deep inside the New York Times needs to be explored.

It takes three weeks, several more calls, hours of thinking and two more pitches to the editor. Finally the editor bites, and the writer has an assignment.

“Go ahead and give me a 1,000 words,” the editor quickly jotted down in an email. “I need it by next Tuesday. Is this possible?”

It is Friday, but anything is possible when given the chance.

The writer works tirelessly dialing numbers scribbled weeks ago on notepads littered on top of his desk. Answering machines mean voicemails and the fear of a deadline missed. Sunday rolls around and panic is starting to set in.

The story, just now shy of 600 words needs a solid source. Several people have agreed to speak, but none on the record. The writer, seasoned and familiar with the fear of missing a deadline quickly jots a note to the editor.

“I have a solid story,” he begins. “But I may need a few more days to find a source willing to go on record.”

“Tuesday,” is all that comes back.

The writer quickly works wonders pulling out all stops. His home life is a whirlwind of anxiety. The paycheck is dismal, just a $1.25 a word, but the story needs to be told, and if he doesn’t who will?

Finally, early Tuesday morning he finds a workaround to not having a source. Dashing off 1,000 words he gives it a quick once-over and hits send. For the first time in a few weeks his brain takes a moment and stops thinking about the story.

The next day the editor writes back. “Good, but not good enough. I like this, this and this, but can you strengthen it here and here? Also, I know what you’re trying to say, but I don’t think you quite nailed it. Please reread and fix.”

Quickly the writer goes over the changes. Hardly a sentence is intact. Feverishly he continues to call the people who were kind enough to chat. He pours over notes, googles for hours and bangs out drafts. After two days he is satisfied and hits send.

The cycle continues three more times. And then the editor replies with a simple, “Thank you, I think the story is good and I appreciate all the work.”

Three months later on a cold fall day, the writer is back on the subway and sees the magazine in a man’s hands. He quickly asks if he could borrow it for a second and scans the index for his name. There it is half way down, with a large page number pointing readers to enlightenment.

“Excuse me sir,” the writer asks, “But did you read this story by any chance?”

He points to his handiwork.

“Oh that one? Yea, skimmed it this morning on the pot. Cool idea, but the writer sucks.”

Toaster Status and the Wall Street Journal – Must Read

It was 1963, a golden age for newspapers. Budgets were high, TV a threat but not enough to take advertisers money. Photographers had stopped carrying around fake birds to frame shots and the Internet was only a word circulating through the deepest geek circles.

Then one morning, in the depths of San Francisco’s financial district, a young 23-year-old journalist was hired by the Wall Street Journal. Green, ambitious and full of energy, the young reporter worked his way to the top.

Now after 26 years, managing editor Paul E Steiger is packing his bags and moving on.

But unlike some exits, Paul took the time not to reflect just on his own career, but on the industry itself.

In just shy of 2,500 words, Paul laid out the history of the modern newspaper and the threat the Internet poses. It is a must read.

Best quote?

After a print journalist suggests the Journal give away its online content for free an online editor responded, “It relegated their site to “toaster status,” as in savings banks giving away cheap gifts for opening an account.”

And obviously the online guy won.

Esquire Napkin Project

Looking at recent multimedia happenings today and found Esquire’s Napkin Fiction Project.

It’s ingenious.

Here is their take.

It’s an old story, we figured. Someone, in a bar somewhere, scribbling on a napkin in the failing afternoon light; the kind of story or list or note that might be crammed in a pocket and pulled out years later to tell something deep and forgotten — perhaps life’s most intimate first chapter, nearly lost forever. So we gave this spontaneous medium a shot. We put 250 napkins in the mail to writers from all over the country — some with a half dozen books to their name, others just finishing their first. In return, we got nearly a hundred stories. We present most of them here — from lush to spare, hilarious to terrifying.

Anyhow, spend a few minutes and check it out. I lost almost an hour reading, laughing constantly of course. (This is Esquire you know)

New Social Capital blog — Worth checking out

A few months ago, I wrote a post about social capital and why college is a perfect place to build your network.

In the post I referenced a very smart blog I had been reading on the subject of social capital and interconnectedness.

Now that blog has spun off into another blog, and even though I truly hope it can survive, I’m still a bit skeptical about the business model of a blog and if it can make money to support its writers.

Penelope Trunk, the “it lady” of modern Gen-Y blogging, left a great comment on Ben Casnocha’s blog regarding book deals, questioning why more people don’t write blogs instead of pursuing a book.

I agree with Penelope, but only to a point. My blog helped me get my current job as an Intern at a national magazine, but editors still want hard clips that have been printed on someone else’s dime.

Not just digital content that lacks an editor and submission process.

So then why do I continue to write a blog you might ask?

For starters, it allows me to voice my opinion on a wide range of topics in an open forum which can accessed anywhere there is an Internet connection.

Secondly, a potential employer who spends more than five minutes on my blog will see I can discuss several high-level issues regarding journalism, technology, economics, photography and others.

Thirdly, it has allowed me to make connections and build relationships with professionals who were not accessible beforehand.

For The Little Red Suit, that is exactly what building social capital is all about.

So as Tiffany Monhollon breaks away and starts another blog, I can only hope her decision to go digital will pay off .

Which is exactly why I think you should take a second and check it out.

The Job I am Preparing For And Creating

The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions as my Internship goes from good, to great, to f-ing amazing. Today while digitally hiking a few miles on the Appalachian Trail, I had an epiphany.

I am preparing myself for, and positioning myself for a job which is yet to exist. In six months when my Internship is over and I’m sent packing back to California, I will make a case for my employment, and most likely that case will be something the editors won’t see coming.

I will write more about my future job soon, but until then it is fair to say my primary job will be to marry print content with digital multimedia content. I will be an ambassador who works with editors and web editors to enhance stories and strategize delivery.

In other words, it’s going to be based on vision and trial and error. I can’t wait.