Comments on: Ducks go quack, quack, cows go moo

By: Greg Linch

Greg Linch — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:31:15 +0000

I was craving a much-needed iced green tea from the convenience store downstairs.

By: Megan Taylor

Megan Taylor — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:26:39 +0000

Thanks Greg. And I am a firm believer that late nights are only an excuse if accompanied by a caffeine shortage.

By: Greg Linch

Greg Linch — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:06:12 +0000

…moved it TO my blog.

Sorry, it’s late and I’m still in the office after deadline and all the copy editors left. I blame the sports editor, who’s also still here.

No excuse though.

By: Greg Linch

Greg Linch — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:04:13 +0000

I started to comment, but it turned into a near-endless rant, so I moved it my blog: http://www.greglinch.com/2008/01/journalists-arent-just-reporters.html

In short, I agree with Megan, Pat and Chris.

By: Chris Amico

Chris Amico — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:51:51 +0000

The attitude that people who get the web are somehow less qualified or not true journalists seems an extension of the “journalists don’t do math” kind of thinking.

How did it get to be a badge of honor to be bad at something? How does anybody get credit for such an arrogant refusal to learn anything new?

By: Megan Taylor

Megan Taylor — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:29:33 +0000

Pat – agreed. I was told in a job interview that I did not have enough “news experience” – whatever that means, because my clips include more multimedia than text.

By: Pat Thornton

Pat Thornton — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:21:36 +0000

I have to resist the temptation by others to pigeon hole me as just a technical person. I have a journalism degree, and have been published in many newspapers.

Just because I can write CSS, record and edit audio, build a slideshow, etc, doesn’t mean I can’t do traditional journalism. In fact, if I couldn’t do traditional journalism well, I probably wouldn’t be able to do multimedia journalism well.

I think it’s a natural reaction for people with less skills to try to brand Web folks as “just techies,” who aren’t “real journalists.” It happens all the time at my job. It’s sad really.

The modern journalist should have multiple skill sets.

By: Megan Taylor

Megan Taylor — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:29:12 +0000

I’ve seen you post a lot on journalism blogs, and you seem very anti-design and negative. Do you think you can make your point in a less abrasive manner? I think this is an issue that has nothing to do with design, and more to do with the inherent culture of a newsroom. Also, I am a Web designer, so that doesn’t really correlate.

By: Wenalway

Wenalway — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:18:29 +0000

It’s just an extension of the design crowd referring to others as “word people.” The designers are sensitive because they’re not really journalists, and their efforts have been a colossal failure across the board in terms of circulation and credibility decline, so they have to find ways to feel relevant.