I found this today (via my Google Reader, which I just got and now love madly). It's the farewell speech from James O'Shea, the editor of The Los Angeles Times, who is being fired by the publisher, David Hiller. It's a pretty powerful look at the battle -- or is it a war? -- between financial concerns and journalistic ideals at modern newspapers. Sadly, this is another one where journalism is probably the loser.
I understand the contempt and disappointment that many feel for "the press." Some of it is well-deserved. But I would like to point out that there are many laboring for media companies who passionately want to do better and don't get the chance because of stockholders and accountants and investors who put the screws to publishers and presidents and force them to value profit over journalism.
Here's an excerpt of O'Shea's speech, the text of which he e-mailed to The New York Times. You can read the whole text at here.
This company, indeed, this industry, must invest more in solid, relevant journalism. We must integrate the speed and agility of the Internet with the news judgment and editorial values of the newsroom, values that are more important than ever as the hunger for news continues to surge and gossip pollutes the information atmosphere. Even in hard times, wise investment — not retraction — is the long-term answer to the industry’s troubles. We must build on our core strength, which is good, accurate reporting, the backbone of solid journalism, the public service that helps people make the right decisions about their increasingly complex lives. We must tell people what they want to know and — even more important — what they might not want to know, about war, politics, economics, schools, corruption and the thoughts and deeds of those who lead us. We need to tell readers more about Barack Obama and less about Britney Spears. We must give a voice to those who can’t afford a megaphone. And we must become more than a marketing slogan.
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