Thursday, October 10, 2024
UBER Journalism: And yes, this will be on the exam
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On page 75 of Journalism for The Public Good, The Michener Awards at 50, author Kim S. Kierans writes me — yes, me — into the men’s room of the governor general’s residence in Ottawa, in conversation with the famous Canadian journalist/author/ editor and one-time master of Massey College, John Fraser.
He and I were at Government House for the presentation of the Michener Awards; he as an important dignitary (or something) and me as a finalist. I was editor of the Manitoulin Expositor weekly newspaper and in the GG john, John F. asked if I had my acceptance speech ready. I was like “yah, right.”
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As if they were going to hand Canada’s most prestigious journalism award to a weekly newspaper nobody’d ever heard of, when the other finalists included the likes of the Globe and Mail and Edmonton Journal.
Turns out I should have had that speech ready. Cuz we won!
First time ever for a weekly paper! Was one of the best journalisticky things that ever happened to me. But why — aside from my tireless campaign to seek attention — am I telling you this now?
Because it’s National Newspaper Week and you must read Kierans’ new book.
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Kierans’ a lively writer — you don’t get to where she is without flair — and the book’ll stoke your love of journalism, and newspapers, and all the great work you do.
This reminded me of the time I read Cherie Dimaline's novel The Marrow Thieves. I picked up The Marrow Thieves because I knew and seriously like and admire Cherie, who I worked with at Chatelaine, even though (or maybe especially because) one afternoon our boss Rona Maynard compared my and Cherie's management style to that of the Keystone Kops. I took it as a compliment.
Anyway, I started The Marrow Thieves because Cherie was the author but finished it because the story was so gripping. (The Marrow Thieves then went on to become a best-selling award winner. Feels great when that happens.) I started Journalism for the Public Good because my name was in it then finished the book because it was so damn interesting and easy to read.
Anyway, I started The Marrow Thieves because Cherie was the author but finished it because the story was so gripping. (The Marrow Thieves then went on to become a best-selling award winner. Feels great when that happens.) I started Journalism for the Public Good because my name was in it then finished the book because it was so damn interesting and easy to read.
JFTPG was launched at a Massey College event Sept. 26, and the event was like an interactive Ted talk on the seminal role that a robust fourth estate plays in democracy.
You’re busy. I’m not going into details. Get the book and read it.
But not before you read this: At the launch, the panel and visitors loudly bemoaned the drying up of traditional revenues for newspapers and other media, but Kierans eclipsed the dour clichés with what some might consider surprising optimism.
Enterprising reporters and publishers and content producers, fired up with what the first master of Massey College Robertson Davies described as “altruistic nosiness,” are finding new financial models to finance their work. Co-operative news organizations, lean online operations like the Narwhal (which shared the 2023 Michener with the Toronto Star) and outfits Kierans described as “hyper-local initiatives,” are appearing with increasing frequency.
“These stories will continue to be told but the platforms will be different,” she said, adding, “It’s like nature. Journalists keep popping up.”
More evidence of the same? In the audience Thursday was a friend of Kierans and the founder and CEO of a citizen-journalism startup called CITIZN, Murray Simser. Simser, who speaks fluent Silicone Valley, describes CITIZN as “UBER for journalism.” After the book launch, I asked Simser what the heck he was on about.
Here’s him on CITIZN: “Look, the idea of UBER for journalism is as broad as the concept itself.
“The possible combinations are limitless, but it means that every journalist now has a global potential audience rather than a local audience in their field of expertise. Say you are an expert in Northern Ontario [nice, Murray, thanks]; loads of people around the world would want to call on you, likely daily.”
I’m liking the sound of this. Guaranteed you’ll be hearing more about CITIZN. This all sort of reminds me of when I was working at the Financial Post, when reporter John Greenwood tried to sell us a on story about something called “The Internet.”
I had no idea what he was talking about. Not sure I do, yet! But I am looking forward to the future of the news business. Never mind what the loudmouths are saying about the future of news. The smart mouths are bullish.
About the Author: Peter Carter
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Toronto writer/ editor/ one-time magazine owner and publisher---35 years experience in Canadian magazines; currently Analysis Editor at Law360 Canada; an online daily news source for Canadian lawyers; Winner of Best Business Blog at COPAs 2014 for Pete's Blog&Grille; National Magazine Awards finalist; accordion player and motorbike enthusiast.
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