Who is this book intended for?

There are still more than 50,000 reporters, editors and photographers working at newspapers today, despite all the cuts in recent years. That’s a lot of folks who don’t know an RSS feed from chicken feed.

If you have worked at a newspaper or TV news station, you know the number of web-savvy staffers is far outnumbered by those not “in the know.” And if the Fourth Estate is to survive the digital revolution, everyone is going to have the pick up a weapon and join the fight.

That’s why this book is so important. We have to give power to the people - all the people - in the best position to use it. If we succeed, anyone at a newspaper, magazine, TV station or radio station with a copy of the book or the URL to the web site will be able to launch a blog the same day he or she gets the notion. (With proper editor approval, of course.)

It has to be that fast - there is no time to waste.

Drawing on my own experience in the newsroom at The News Tribune in Tacoma where I work, the time is ripe. There is a noticeable shift in the mindset of “traditional” journalists – those who haven’t gone digital yet. They’re yearning for learning about this new medium and are anxious to apply it to their work.
Plus, technology is changing so fast that by the time we collect the best information on the best ways to learn this stuff, there will be something better. So let’s work fast and get this out there for others to begin their transformation.

If you have a link to a great online resource that has proved helpful for you, post it to the comments section of this blog. And if you have a digital copy of a handout that you’ve used to teach someone else one of the many digital concepts and are willing to share, {encode="mark.briggs@thenewstribune.com" title="send it to me in email"}. Your generosity is appreciated.

Posted by MarkBriggs on Wednesday, October 04, 2006
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