SPJ and bloggers

Will the Society of Professional Journalists embrace bloggers among its nearly 10,000 members nationally? That’s the question of the day. As a member of that fine organization, I would venture to say that it already does, albeit perhaps unknowingly. Jon Friedman writes of his fear (sort of) of bloggers, but believes there are some bright spots.

Once, the notion of a convention of bloggers carried all the weight of a gathering of Trekkies. Now, it wouldn't surprise me to see bloggers uniting within an association like the Society of Professional Journalists, complete with smooth spokespeople and student internships - plus the addition of rumors of ties to pollsters on both sides of the political aisle.

Such a group could help bloggers gain mass appeal and credibility with skeptical old-line journalists.

It seems, according to Friedman and a piece in Slate, that Bill Keller, executive editor of the NYTimes is meeting with Jeff Jarvis and other bloggers “to discuss the paper’s failings and explore how the Times and bloggers who could ‘help each other find stories and find the truth.’”

Should be interesting to watch what, if anything, happens there.

Work-life balance missing in newsrooms
Surprise, surprise. This survey from Poynter has revealed that work-life balance issues are a big problem in newsrooms. Though disheartening, it’s not surprising.

Those most at risk of leaving are young journalists, women, and minorities. But others are not far behind them in that consideration.

The risk of losing journalists due to work-life balance issues is especially troubling because they also report a high level of satisfaction with the work of journalism. It is the working conditions that are at issue.

When once I mused about missing the excitement of a newsroom, a daily reporter instantly retorted back, “What? You mean you miss working obscenely long hours for little pay and little appreciation?”

Well, when you put it like that, I guess not.