Comments on: A model for changing how newsrooms work http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/a-model-for-changing-how-newsrooms-work/ Notes from the classroom and observations about today's practice of journalism online Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:28:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Teaching Online Journalism » Let’s delete the word ‘repurposing’ from our vocabulary http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/a-model-for-changing-how-newsrooms-work/#comment-9250 Teaching Online Journalism » Let’s delete the word ‘repurposing’ from our vocabulary Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:56:42 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/a-model-for-changing-how-newsrooms-work/#comment-9250 [...] some newsrooms (e.g., The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) have done is turn the workflow around — in a way that makes sense when the number of [...] [...] some newsrooms (e.g., The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) have done is turn the workflow around — in a way that makes sense when the number of [...]

]]> By: Mindy http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/a-model-for-changing-how-newsrooms-work/#comment-8393 Mindy Sat, 23 Feb 2008 14:00:38 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/a-model-for-changing-how-newsrooms-work/#comment-8393 @Shawn: Thanks so much for taking the time to contribute a comment! You make a very good point about how efficient it is to allow some people to specialize while others carry the ball on the daily print graphics. In the first stage in your new newsroom organization, this makes sense. I hope you can groom and nurture your Flash people to the level where they can also train others to do the basic steps. @Shawn: Thanks so much for taking the time to contribute a comment! You make a very good point about how efficient it is to allow some people to specialize while others carry the ball on the daily print graphics. In the first stage in your new newsroom organization, this makes sense. I hope you can groom and nurture your Flash people to the level where they can also train others to do the basic steps.

]]> By: Shawn McIntosh http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/a-model-for-changing-how-newsrooms-work/#comment-8387 Shawn McIntosh Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:45:26 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/a-model-for-changing-how-newsrooms-work/#comment-8387 Mindy, thanks for your interest in Atlanta and the AJC. The transition is going well here and we are pleased, so far, with our results. You correctly identified one of the biggest challenges, news graphics. In our first pass, we had to do something really difficult -- separate the news graphics department into the two presentation departments, Print and Digital. One group specializes in graphics for the print newspaper and the other is becoming more expert in flash and multimedia. It was a tough decision because it meant breaking up a team that had been together for a while and worked well together. The folks who went to print worry about being "left behind" and the folks who went to digital worry about not having the full benefit of being surrounded by their print counterparts for creativity and collaboration. Of course, they still work together regularly, but I completely understand both concerns. It is my hope that we can eventually work out some job trades and cross-training. But for now, it was important to have them both specialize in the very different reader experiences of digital and print. Mastering flash and multimedia is a long and time-consuming process and it made sense to have some folks dedicated to it full-time, rather than switching off between compiling print graphics and learning programming. As I said in the article, I'm sure there will be changes in the structure ahead -- in fact, we've already made some. We're certainly committed to news graphics in both print and digital and may see more changes and emphasis in those areas in the coming year. As we redesign the newspaper to keep loyal readers engaged, we know visual journalism will play a key role. And of course, it plays a huge role at ajc.com. Cheers, Shawn Mindy, thanks for your interest in Atlanta and the AJC. The transition is going well here and we are pleased, so far, with our results.

You correctly identified one of the biggest challenges, news graphics. In our first pass, we had to do something really difficult — separate the news graphics department into the two presentation departments, Print and Digital. One group specializes in graphics for the print newspaper and the other is becoming more expert in flash and multimedia. It was a tough decision because it meant breaking up a team that had been together for a while and worked well together. The folks who went to print worry about being “left behind” and the folks who went to digital worry about not having the full benefit of being surrounded by their print counterparts for creativity and collaboration. Of course, they still work together regularly, but I completely understand both concerns.

It is my hope that we can eventually work out some job trades and cross-training. But for now, it was important to have them both specialize in the very different reader experiences of digital and print. Mastering flash and multimedia is a long and time-consuming process and it made sense to have some folks dedicated to it full-time, rather than switching off between compiling print graphics and learning programming.

As I said in the article, I’m sure there will be changes in the structure ahead — in fact, we’ve already made some. We’re certainly committed to news graphics in both print and digital and may see more changes and emphasis in those areas in the coming year. As we redesign the newspaper to keep loyal readers engaged, we know visual journalism will play a key role. And of course, it plays a huge role at ajc.com.

Cheers,
Shawn

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