As newspapers struggle for viability, and media managers attempt to shift presence to the web, a need has arisen for talent with the technical skills of a programmer and the creative skills of a journalist. Over at TechCrunch, we are fortunate to have talented developers who have poured their blood, sweat and tears into making the site what it is today.
Northwestern University’s journalism school is offering free scholarships to software developers so they can further hone their journalism skills and possibly integrate the two for a media company down the line (disclosure: I attended this journalism school). The idea of creating programmers who understand journalism is compelling and brings attention to an important trend taking place in the industry.
Hyperlocal news site Everyblock and the St. Petersburg Times’ truth finding political database Politifact were both built by developers with journalism backgrounds. Their model falls on the heels of Politifact, started by coder-turned-journalist Matt Waite, which won a Pulitzer Prize this year for national reporting.
Some question whether a journalism degree is critical to success as a reporter. A talented programmer certainly doesn’t need a journalism background to create successful digital platforms. And journalism school may be irrelevant for programmers who are more interested in coding than writing.
Both sides of the journalism school debate can agree on the definite need for programmers in the news space. As more news publications shift their focus from print to the web, management increasingly feels pressure to to invest in talented coders, sometimes even more so than talented journalists. Northwestern would argue that investing in one group does not need to come at the expense of the other. Perhaps the future of print is in the hands of hackers.
Did they teach you how to float/align images and use basic HTML too? http://i43.tiny...com/2e3s7xe.png
+1
please remove this techcrunch article, it hurts my brain.
The real wonder here is why they aren’t teaching their journalists a bit of coding.
They lack in SEO badly, in their fight against bloggers. Headline tweak is a must here.
And comments – they dont know people come to drop a comment. A disclaimer would be enough for unwanted comments.
Classified:
THE MISSING LINK HAS BEEN LOCATED
Please index the video 6:05
http://www.ted....lks/view/id/484
EducationLocator.com – think deep
Ok, I give up, you are a freaking douchbag.
lol. yeah. new media is shaking in its boots. I think FrontPage could have done that for you in 1995.
I believe Jeff Kramer has brought to light a fundimental flaw of electronic journalism. Maybe the real people who need to become coders are editors and layout artists.
Let the journalists do what they do best and leave the layout to the experts. Isn’t that what they do in print now?
You guys are awful. One mistake, one stupid line of code.
Can you please take your negativity elsewhere? And Anon, if you don’t like this content, no one asked you to read it so please just get out of here.
Make sure the door doesn’t hit you on the way out.
this reply is a Piñata but I will resist taking the bait. I am laughing, though, as I type this.
“no one asked you to read it”
ah….have you seen the ads over on the right?
I hate to give your ridiculous post any meaning by replying to it.
But at least I display my real name and don’t cowardly hide behind some fake pseudonym.
Mike should really just require everyone that wants to post a comment to login using Facebook or Disquis. That way, we get rid of the spammers and haters like you.
Dude, this isn’t the Declaration of Independence. It’s a post on tech crunch.
Having said that, I would ask you to engage the Aristotlean construct that ideas have relevance apart from the authority of the person asserting them. Whether I’m Steve Jobs or the Ice Cream man, you should address the idea, not the person sharing it.
I second that. Besides, you could also have a fake facebook name. Like I do.
Nope, I want the News Industry to die.
We have a group of Journalist / Coders organizing at http://codingjo...alists.ning.com …
Mistakes happen.
I can’t believe we have such half wits that think its funny to document this sort of thing. Don’t waste your time.
It’s been almost 20 minutes and it’s still not fixed.
That does not justify anything.
A quick note to suggest it’s not formatted properly will suffice, then move on. Makes everyone’s life easier.
This article was probably auto published. So no one to clean it up. Yet.
it’s not only funny (in fact it’s hilarious) – it’s poignant. same old dinosaur media. trotting out earnest but poorly skilled interns to do the important stuff while assuming the power they’ve had due to monopoly is because they’re superior. not. it’s the new world. maybe we’ll extend internships to the soon to be unemployed dinosaurs?
“hey, former journalist, go run over to Staples and get me some more DVDs. Thanks.”
True, but the irony of a coding error in an article about improving the coding skills of writers is great..
nm, it’s about improving the Journalism of coders. Still a bit funny, maybe Leena is hinting at Techcrunch to send her to programming school
Unless they’re calling via the Way Back Machine, it’s far too late now. Dinosaur Media has relegated whatever feeble attempts they’ve made into New Media to unpaid interns or IT geeks just waiting around for a better next gig at a real IT shop.
Too bad Dinosaurs, those unpaid interns you once neglected and abused are now “the Media”. If you’re nice, maybe they’ll give a job. Last one out, please turn off the lights.
lol
Coders are largely responsible for putting “The News Industry” out of business.
So this is like the horse and buggy industry trying to entice auto manufacturers to save it.
Is this a new editor? Mr. Arrington, I can do a better job than *cough* her.
Only Joking Leena. Stop screwing M.G and fix the post :O
For once, I have no idea what I’m reading on Techcrunch.
And the tags all around the image disturbs me.
i think they have a new policy: let’s get stoned and write meaningless articles that infuriate our regular readers, so that we get lots of comments. it works.
Sad.
If they can’t make it on paper media, they won’t do any better online.
The counter-revolution is here: http://gopguerrillas.ning.com where conservative coders are building netroots tools for 2010
ah, dude, nice try but ning is the story there. anyone of any movement – or no movement at all for that matter – can create a social network on ning.
I admire you trying to take the credit for ning’s awesomeness, though.
lol.
fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://abjectu.weblog.ro/
It’s an interesting idea; but another would be to have a community where news gatherers and reporters convene with programmers so that we can alld iscuss what’s worth doing. This way we get synergy without one of us skipping a few years of revenues to get domain expertise.
Side note: the image tags are also messing up the Microsoft ads right underneath the teaser on the fornt page.
programmers don’t need to skip revenues. their skills still have market value. this is the arrogance of dinosaur media. even as their last vestiges of monopoly are being dismantled, they still assume they are in a position of power. they’re not. the geeks have jobs and don’t need them.
Clay Shirky nails it. It’s the 1500’s and the Dinosaur’s have failed to adapt:
http://tinyurl.com/bpxulr
this is interesting.
And take down ric’s “(un)fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Russian porn link while you’re at it.
Romanian actualy
At NewsPlink, we’re trying our best to match journo passion with tech skills, and sometimes it’s like matter and anti-matter.
Agreed — let’s get together already.
This is the most awesome thing I’ve seen on TechCrunch in quite some time.
Great idea but I don’t think they need a journalism degree to know how to write or run a business. They’d be better off taking a writing course and getting their MBA.
I like reading my news from blogs/digg, reddit/news sites. That paper shit is getting old.
The question is, would you be willing to read your newspaper/ebooks/documents in a reader like the Kindle without printing or needing to feel real paper?
we already do.
see:
http://en.wikip...org/wiki/Laptop
http://en.wikip...org/wiki/Iphone
http://en.wikip...wiki/BlackBerry
I don’t know whether to laugh or feel sorry for you Dinosaurs if you really think the Kindle is going to save your dying industry.
It won’t.
a regarding twitter question. What’s the function of # sign? in search etc
It’s used for tagging a tweet. Basically, using search you can follow a conversation about a certain topic.
hashtags
still dont understand why a journalist would need coding skills. being tech aware and savvy so that you can use the latest tools – yes, but why coding???
and whats this so called technology that TC is supposed to pour blood, and tears into??? its a blog for gods sake. use a standard WP, some standard plugins, some custom dev and you are done.
someone please guide me if i am missing something
Yeah, it’s easier to turn a programmer into a writer than vice versa.
You do need some basic html, php, and css knowledge to run WP in cases where you need to fix errors or change some design aspects. That is, unless you just want to hire someone to do it for you which is an easier solution but it does require a bit of change sometimes.
We are used to looking at developers and journalists as completely different animals (some literally). But why? New jobs are emerging as technology transforms society. In the 1980s, there were no social media consultants. In the 1970s, no web designers.
Good luck to these guys!
Some new software is not going to solve the current issues with journalism or “old” media. This sounds to me like a distraction.
What you think are those “current issues”?
Why isn’t anyone giving away free CS educations? Oh wait, those are actually valuable.
ding. ding. ding. ding. ding.
we have a winner.
Many of you are lumping too much into one basket and stirring it into a mush.
There are two issues:
+ The business of print media surviving.
+ The quality of reporting and writing surviving.
Those who are calling everyone in print dinosaurs are perhaps unable to know the difference between quality reporting and analysis, and most of the junk that appears sprawled across the Internet.
If one does look at the quality online media sites covering the news, nearly everyone at the helm is a dinosaur from the old media, because experience and reporting depth do not come from hot-shot coders building a website.
The thing that’s most annoying about Dinosaur Media is the undeserved arrogance, but perhaps I’m unable to know the difference between quality reporting and analysis being a hot-shot coder.
Amen!
The only thing Newspapers are good for is starting my fire in my Fire Place during the winter, during the summer there garbage. Let make clear those are the only two things there good for, reading one would be like turning CNN, MSNBC or the the three main networks. As for the Journalism students there like Attorneys “We don’t need anymore”
Kindle II will save the newspapers. NOT.
“into making the site what it is today.”
A customized Wordpress theme?
Ohh god, this is like when KRON 4 Tried to make their reporters into camera operators too.. the end result was and still is a complete joke of a news broadcast with crappy audio, reporting and camera work.
My name is Paul Baron and I am the President & CEO of Hometowntimes.com. Allow me to introduce myself, our credentials, our vision, our franchise business model, and ask for your serious consideration of a new, community-based, franchise business model to support the growth of journalism and small business, as well as neighborhood communications and the town, city, and county levels.
Hometowntimes.com is the market segment leader in the localized online newspaper industry. We are the only community-based franchised business model for this space, with more than 525 online sites across the US today, positioned to bringing local news, advertising, information, and events to towns, counties and neighborhoods. The Atlanta Business Chronicle has ranked Hometowntimes.com #10 in 2009, of all Atlanta franchise systems. Our franchisees and advertisers leverage our presence and social networking technologies, along with our professional training and support, and automated content management publishing software to interact and engage our readers, attract local businesses, and drive measureable traffic for our national brand advertisers and other franchisors seeking to position themselves in local markets.
Our proven technology and unique community platform have been online and serving select counties in Georgia since 2003. Hometowntimes.com franchising nationwide began in March and we are now marketing our opportunity to students, graduating journalists, entrepreneurs, and advertisers nationwide. A sample typical franchise (we already have 3 today) is http://www.cumminghome.com. National presence with local branding and neighborhood reporting is our differentiation.
Our corporate site, with more information, recent press, industry news, and more about the advantages a hometowntimes.com site delivers to its community, local and national advertisers, and franchisees, is http://www.hometowntimes.com.
A Hometowntimes.com opportunity with its $4,995 initial franchise fee, is being offered to independent industry professionals, entrepreneurs, retirees, print-only newspapers and local magazines, schools, and graduating journalism students seeking to hone their business and editorial skills at home.
With tens of thousands of displaced journalists and others unemployed from failing print publications, and the greater number of qualified people seeking an affordable home/internet-based business ownership opportunity, we are seeking students and universities to look at our model.
I would appreciate the opportunity to talk with you about HometownTimes.com and possibly do a presentation for you and any journalism university programs. You can get more information at http://www.home...act/index.shtml
just buy an ad from techcrunch. more people are likely to read it.
Matt Waite is a journalist-turned-coder, not a coder-turned-journalist.
I’m a journalism student and recently out-of-work reporter for a local newspaper outside of New York, NY.
I’ve been to sites like NowPublic and Associated Content – but they lack the personal touch and feel that, I think, a journalist is looking for. They seem campy and out of touch with reality, not really focusing on news or anything worth reading.
I did sign up at a site called You Scoop It and it’s got some potential I think. The site looks nice and I think they’re still in their Alpha, but hopefully they’ll emerge a strong competitor in this online-journalism market.
SQQQUUEEEEL
The Time is nearly up for the nerds that think they can run the Newspaper and Media Industry aswell as have a backroom job aswell,
It takes a certain set of skills to source newsworthy content not to mention actually moving 2 feet away from the desk, IT and journalism are two different subjects only because technology has pissed all over the media industry the last 10 years does not give it the right to make it an obosolete proffesion,
Bring back the days where only a select few where allowed a look in at Newspaper level and media business’s could actually hire journalists for a journalists job.
Google etc.. Have to much of a say especially at regional level, who will source the News when all Newspapers have but are coders as most News and Photograhs are ripped from these sources, it will take the media down to a very base level.
They are backroom employees not the front line of a media establishment.
http://www.yout...h?v=iKa68kWkP48
I’ve hardly met anyone who was both talented in programming (logical thinking) and in a words-related job like journalism (critical thinking and linguistic skills). Having said that though, I’m not saying it’s impossible to have someone like that – just more difficult. And if it’s really urgent for the news companies to hire good programmers, they’d probably do better looking for someone who’s a master at it rather than a jack of both trades. Cost may seem higher having to hire specific people for the job instead of an all-in-one, but perhaps it’s worth the investment?
news companies are the Titanic. the boat is sinking and they just now thought it might be a good idea to look out for icebergs. too little, too late.
cue Celine Dion
http://www.yout...h?v=PtS45bh_INY
No they have notjust noticed the iceberg was upon the Newspapers,
It goes to show how little people know how the internet and digital cameras have effected the media / newsaper industry over the last 10 years with the main first effect coming from the digital camera just after the millenium where it opened up the proffesion of news photographer to people that where able to move pictures quickly without processing which was a skill in itself when competeing against other photographers and working against a deadline etc..
This then opened the door to speculators to come in and compete, and led to the paperazi agencies etc…, that gave News photographers a bad name the industry as a photo is a photohraph.
With the net now taking hold of editorial and good sources of regional, national and global news from good reporters and photographers Google is hardly good for the News Industry.
Their is only so much you can run with a algorythm unless the future is to turn into a robotic senseless society where everyday perspective is reflected through box ticking and worthless media as of now, because really everybody needs everyday SENSE to have a relate to, Google can only get away with so much.
Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
When a developer fabricates a story, he’ll be sure not to make the same mistake as Dan Rather.
Oh man, it’s a good thing I decided to specialize in computer science with my journalism major.
Also, it was rather entertaining reading through most of these comments. In reference to the recent comments about newspapers only just now acting in an attempt to dodge the “iceberg” that is the Internet, I feel you are missing a few points.
For instance, the introduction of a new medium for dispensing the news is not a new experience for print journalism. It’s survived through radio, magazines, and television, evolving and changing to adapt. Each time, there was a big hullabaloo about how it would be the end of print journalism, and each time the beast persisted to live. With online journalism, there is more of an infrastructure change, but fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your viewpoint) news corporations long ago merged into larger entities to better maintain even the weakest parts. Most of the larger print publications have long ago extended their domain to the online medium, so while print subscriptions might decrease, the company as a whole is very much intact and financially sound.
I don’t think print journalism will die because of the Internet. Rather, it will change into something similar but altogether different. Chances are it will become more localized and specialized, much like magazines did when it was no longer profitable to produce general interest/news mags.
Getting back to the original topic of this article… It would make more sense for editors (rather than reporters) to become adept at coding, as they are the ones who handle the layout and design rather than the actual content, though it does not hurt for a reporter to fully understand the range of media available to him or her through the Internet. Also, I thought it was funny that the author decided to use “hacker” as a synonym for “coder”.
“It’s survived through radio, magazines, and television…”
The problem with your analysis is that you fail to put the change introduced by the interwebs into a proper historical perspective. None of these examples are adequate.
Read Clay Shirky. I can’t put it any better than him:
http://tinyurl.com/bpxulr
The first time I heard someone mention sending a journalist and programmer on news assignments I thought wow new thinking and I don’t feel crazy anymore.
Now comes a lot of other thinkers who realize just being storytelling wordsmith is the basis but presentation requires a different skill set.
Those that make good journalists and coders will be rare for some time to come.
Numerous errors in this post. Matt Waite is a journalist who acquired developer/programming skills. Adrian Holovaty, the brains behind Everyblock, is a journalist who was familiar with programming to begin with.
Both graduated from journalism schools.
I realize your point is that it would be interesting to see more programmers turned journalists. But your examples of these in practice show the opposite…..