Newsroom Communication

This week's readings consisted of some key lessons. Chapter 17 highlighted an important element in this business. Tompkins says to be skeptical, not cynical and while I agree with this statement, I prefer to use the word "critical" over "skeptical." Journalism is about telling stories that affect and involve people. Reporters have to rely on a variety of people for facts, information and opinions but just as much as it is important to get story ideas and sound bites from the people that hold and encompass a story, it is also important to look at all information critically. That is especially important I think to do during this stage of our early journalistic careers while we are still in college. Just as Tompkins said, he didn't think anyone would manipulate him in such a way because he was just a "kid" not a hotshot reporter with years of experience and a huge fan base/following, but just the fact that he had a pen, pad, camera and microphone gave him all the power he needed to be a target to disseminate false information. Even as student reporters, we have great power and a greater responsibility because the work we produce does get shown to the greater public.

In chapter 18, Tompkins speaks to the importance of pitch meetings and communication in the newsroom. Pitch meetings are so crucial because that is were the seedlings for a for developed story are planted. Meetings are a place for various components of the newsroom to come together and work together to produce a great newscast. It is the combination of newsrooms sources/connections, ideas, skill sets that can really turn a decent story into a lead story. Matt Johnson might be tough, but one thing he is good at is pushing reporters to think outside the box and from different angles, asking questions and getting the answers to those questions, and being creative and factual while doing so. i think because Matt was so insistent before about presenting a certain quality of ideas, I have began connecting more dots and looking in deeper places for stories than I have in the past. I do like that our newsroom requires everyone to come in with ideas and Matt himself will some times even delay a story meeting until he has all his eggs lined up in a basket with a few story ideas or viewer tips to contribute. As the book also notes, it is important to highlight the small achievements that are made in the newsroom. We work in a high-pressure and meticulous business, so appreciate the little victories and try to attain more "wins" with each story.