It’s amazing how sometimes it’s the little things in life that can provide inspiration for a news story or even a blog post.
As most legally employed workers in the U.S. are receiving W-2 earning statements in the mail from current and past employers this month, most people probably take a quick glance at the document and then file it away until it’s time to prepare tax returns.
I’ll admit, that’s usually something I would do too, except the W-2 that arrived in today’s mail stood out to me.
The W-2 was issued by my former Baltimore employer but listed a Texas address.
Perhaps it’s my insatiable curiosity, or maybe just being snowed-in later this afternoon, but something inspired me to take 15 seconds to Google the unfamiliar address on the W-2.
What I found surprised me. The address came back as registered to JP Morgan Chase, not to Tribune, or the Baltimore Sun Media Group.
It’s no secret that JP Morgan Chase is a lender — they funded The Tribune company’s 2007 leveraged buyout, but still I was a little surprised to see it on an earnings statement. A bank and a newspaper — Strange Bedfellows, indeed. But I suppose maybe not in this economic climate.
Over the years as a journalist I’ve always tried my best to follow the golden rule — “just stick to the facts” and present both sides of the story evenly. But that’s the nice thing about a blog, for a moment I can also interject a bit of opinion.
The current financial state of newspapers and print media overall is disheartening to say the least.
Last year, when I interviewed Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger who represents Maryland’s 2nd District — he told me when he was Baltimore County Executive (back in the mid-late 1990’s) there were close to a dozen Baltimore Sun reporters covering him.
Today in 2012, there are maybe two Sun reporters that cover Baltimore County politics / government.
Whether in Wisconsin, New York, California or anywhere in between — newspapers are out gunned and out manned. The days of muckraking investigative reporting seem to be nearly as extinct as are the Woodwards and Bernsteins. Occasionally a newspaper will break an exposé — but it’s sure not like it used to be.
Just pick up a copy of any daily newspaper. If it still exists in your town — It’s likely inches shorter in length and width. The newspaper probably has less pages and/or sections too.
In Milwaukee, I remember when there were two daily papers — a morning Milwaukee Sentinel and an evening Milwaukee Journal. Remember the “Green Sheet?” Not to mention, there were even competing community newspapers from Wauwatosa to Whitefish Bay.
Just like in Baltimore from Catonsville to Owings Mills and Columbia to Towson — the community papers are now owned by the bigger daily papers in both Milwaukee and in Baltimore.
Another national trend — if you were to visit just about any major (print newspaper) newsroom — half of the desks are empty. Many newspapers offered buy-outs and laid off veteran talent who were replaced by fresh out of journalism school reporters who have less experience but the company can pay them less in both benefits and salary because of age/experience. The end result? Just pick up a copy of a local newspaper in any city, and you’ll see the difference. In all fairness, some fresh talent can bring new perspectives to a newsroom which is an added benefit especially to digital content and social media. But when a reporter needs to dissect a county budget or campaign finance data, it helps to have a newsroom filled with a healthy mix of experience.
But it really comes down to survival of the fittest. We all adapt. What choice do newspapers have but to move online, downsize print content and staff when readers are turning to the web for news. And why would readers pay for content they can get for free? It seems like paying for content on sites is becoming increasingly popular too. Will that trend continue?
I would think after reading news for free online for years now having to pay would leave behind a sour taste. I suppose some are willing. But, there is a greater issue. If less people would read the content if they have to pay — that means less traffic to sites — which means less value for ads. Seems like a catch 22 for newspapers. So, what’s the solution? Is there a better way to adapt?
I guess I am part of a dying breed. My passion has been to be a print journalist. Not to mention — nothing for me will ever compare to sitting in my favorite chair with a local newspaper in-hand and a hot beverage on a crisp winter morning. No Kindle or iPad will ever compare. But, we (writers) adapt too. As technology changes, my bylines are becoming more and more online. In the past couple of years things have really changed with production. When I started in 2002, we put together a newspaper literally with a glue stick and scissors. Only a few years later I began to use Photoshop, InDesign and Quark. In Baltimore, I had traditional print deadlines, then web story deadlines, then blog deadlines, and then social media expectations — i.e. 5-15 tweets per day, live tweeting from government meetings, etc. I loved all of it.
But on the back end — Now, instead of large, filled newsrooms, hyper-local media sites such as AOL’s Patch have popped up, attracting some top notch talent with the backing of large companies — AOL and now Huffington Post. Most of these reporters work from public spaces and from home, not a traditional newsroom.
But, is this the solution? I guess only time will tell.
In the meantime, blogs and coffee shop journalism have come under fire. In fact, a recent Wall Street Journal editorial said “To improve local coverage, hire more trained journalists. Don’t send reporters to coffee shops for gossip.”
What do you think?
This blog has been updated.
