Are Newsrooms Dead?

My answer to this question for the most part is...yes. For a number of reasons - right now the main one is the COVID pandemic crisis. 

Yes, journalism changed drastically when online journalism/news outlets became popular. There is still money to be made for news journalism going digital - subscriptions and ads are still paid for. Sure, you could look at a newspaper website without subscribing...but you wouldn't see much.

As for television journalism, in my opinion there seems to be less one-on-one interviewing and more digital -- such as interviews using Zoom or other digital ways. It's understandable, given what is going on with COVID in the world. 

The question is: Once COVID is under control/over, will journalism stay that way?  

Thoughts?

Journalistic Obligations

I came across this online about news journalism and thought it was well said:

• Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth
• Its first loyalty is to citizens
• Its essence is a discipline of verification
• Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover
• It must serve as an independent monitor of power
• It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise
• It must strive to keep the significant interesting and relevant
• It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional
• Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience
• Citizens, too, have rights and responsibilities when it comes to the news

Will we ever be satisfied with government?

 I'm just curious. Obviously the majority of Americans wanted Donald Trump out of office. They got their wish. Now the sledge hammer of criticism is being heaped on our new president, Joe Biden. And Congress.

Any thoughts on this? Feel free to post them or email them. And don't forget to tell us your opinion of the news media - both local and national.

Just Curious...

 What would you like to see in this blog? Granted, I write about the news media, but I am open to other topics. Feel free to let me know!

Should print newspapers still be around?

 Short answer: yes

Why, you say? Well, folks like my father and others in his age group still read them. Heck, folks like me and those in my age group still read them. 

Yeah, I know I'm biased - I wrote for print papers. But they are necessary for things like print advertisements. I seem to react better to print ads because I don't have to click on them to read them -- and then the advertiser knows who I am.

Okay, time to quit this subject. There are a zillion other media topics I can discuss.

And, I will...I promise.

Talk to you soon!

It's Been An Interesting Year So Far...

 ...not only for the United States, but for me personally.  I am semi-retired. Done with "professional" jobs, other than occasional freelance writing and editing, and on to my retirement job -- retail greeting. No, I don't sell stuff. I greet you at the door. Wrote about it previously when the pandemic required masks for all customers.

They don't have to now, but many people still wear them -- including me. I ain't taking any chances. I pray this pandemic is over in the coming months. Do what you can to make that happen.

I still think Americans don't get it...

 

The pandemic continues - particularly in Michigan, where I live. Not wanting to wear masks (though requirements have eased since the vaccination); not getting vaccinated; businesses, particularly restaurants, not doing well as customers can't /don't come in; yadda, yadda, yadda.

I just don't get it - this is life we are talking about! It could go away prematurely unless precautions, etc. are respected and taken.

Please people...save yourself...and others, including the ones you love. You won't regret it, and this disaster could perhaps come to a close.

Here we go again....

 Masks

Yes, I'm obsessed - EVERYONE SHOULD STILL BE WEARING THEM!!! 

This isn't going to go away, folks, unless you keep wearing them. I'm all for the government requiring them again. This ain't gonna go away otherwise.

Okay - I'm done. WEAR YOUR MASK!!!!!!!

Really? You Won't Wear A Mask?

I really don't know what people are thinking. This is a pandemic. People are dying. I lost an old friend to this !@#$% disease - wasn't his fault he got it.

But hey - wear a mask? Forget it! This is what I hear when I work as a greeter in a department store!

"I have a medical condition." Yeah, right. It's not as bad as what you will have when you get covid. Or when your family members contract covid from you. 

I see senior citizens barely able to breathe wearing masks with no problem. Other folks as well. Then there are the ones who just blast by me. And my employer doesn't allow us to kick them out.

Oh gee, the state of Michigan, and in particular, Jackson County where I live, is seeing a huge uptick in covid cases. 

Another reason to say, "You can't fix stupid." Unfortunately stupid is helping pass this disease on to others.

Okee Dokee - I'm back!

Yeah, it took a little time to figure out what was up with my blog site....ah, the joys of getting older! But I have renewed my web address and am on the blogging trail once again.

Thank you everyone, for your patience! Keep reading - I'll be here! Anything in particular you'd like to hear about? Send me a message!

Thanks, my friends!

I AM HOPING THIS PUBLISHED

 Hey blog - are you here?

Washington Smells Better!

Certainly the White House will, as well as Congress. From election day on, life in our country has been unbelievable, due to the soon-to-be former resident of the White House and others. Will the next four years be perfect? No. But I think they will be better. Time will tell.