Comments on: John W. Allman: we need young, fearless voices now more than ever

By: TD

TD — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 23:37:14 +0000

How is it that Allman’s cast of villains hails exclusively from the political right? I’ll tell you how: Allman is of a type that is painfully familiar to anyone who has spent time in a newsroom — the liberal partisan blowhard who has become so besotted with self-regard that he can no longer be bothered with even the pretense of objectivity. Ironically enough, the industry’s diminished standing owes in large measure to the output of just such people, though obviously Allman is too obtuse — or deluded — to have noticed. No, the absolute last thing the industry needs is more liberal ideologues convinced of their own superior virtue, and by extension the inherent immorality of those with whom they disagree politically.

By: Suzie

Suzie — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:46:52 +0000

John, please be careful about equating youth with bravery, diligence and other superior qualities. I wish you’d give more credit to veteran reporters, such as Lindsay Peterson, who worked with you on the transportation story.
This thread indicates the biases against older reporters, who are characterized as “has-beens or never-will-bes.” Many editors would love to get rid of people with higher salaries and replace them with younger people at lower salaries. Too often, however, all the bosses do is cut. There is no money to hire fearless young people.
In the past, journalists at the Tampa Tribune have circulated petitions, documented inequities and submitted plans for change. Are you fearless enough to stand up for changes in the newsroom?

By: Pollyanna

Pollyanna — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:56:14 +0000

I’ve refused offers to trade sex for newspaper jobs with many an editor-in-chief, in a voice both fearless and true. Yet they did not hire me. Was it because we have entered a timid, colorless era of the news business, when young upstarts don’t realize they are being taught a tough but valuable lesson on how the real world works? Or is just that we spoiled little Ivy brats think the going rate for sexual blackmail should be more than 30k?

By: Cynical Reporter

Cynical Reporter — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 07:43:31 +0000

“Most veteran reporters canâ€™t even begin to comprehend the changes in the market that are driving people away from newspapers. Yet the younger reporters who are being forced away from journalism understand those challenges inherently. Who do you think is a better investment?”

“You wouldnâ€™t be so desperate for â€œyoung bloodâ€ if clueless hiring execs hadnâ€™t dropped the ball for years on hiring good people. Now the industry is a pretty solid mix of has-beens and never-will-bes.”

Wow. These two remarks are astoundingly accurate. The last remark by Wenalway sounds exactly like Gannett’s Indianapolis Star and its Ryerson-led disaster team, which is driving away reporters in the middle by huge numbers. So what you have, like many papers, is old vets and young reporters purchased on the cheap — who will quit in a few after a few years of 50+ hour weeks.

Bravo!

By: Cynical Reporter

Cynical Reporter — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 07:39:33 +0000

“He was speaking to college students at his alma mater. His comments were aimed at his audience. Who are mostly young. Donâ€™t take everything so personal.”

OK. So he should have been truthful with them — for example: “We need young, fearless reporters — at $10 per hour with minimal benefits.”

“And don’t bother applying at the Tampa Tribune, the St. Pete Times, a major Gannett paper or the Chicago Tribune until you are at least 35, with 12 years of experience under your belt. And it would help if you were not a white male, Donna Shalala of the Gannett board frowns on y’all. MMM-kay?”