The Newsroom in the Digital Age

It is no surprise that the future of news is in the balance. We are in the digital age, whether you like it or not. This is cause for change in many news rooms; it's time for a "facelift."

Several newsrooms across the nation are getting revamped in order to accommodate this new age in media. One that really embraced this and made significant changes was The Seattle Times.

The Times developed a strategy centered around three foundation groups: creativity, curation, and community.

The creative team encompassed anyone who reports, whatever their medium. Photographers, reporters, and editors all work in one key area.

The group centered around curation primarily focussed on integrating technology into the Times. The curation team "gathered" the news, and then distributed it to as many platforms digitally as seen fit.

Finally you have the group of community. Their primary focus was to figure out how to effectively inform people living in the Seattle area.

These groups mix together to produce a new type of newsroom. One that is dynamic, and digitally centered. Rather than reporting to a print editor, as in years past, everyone goes to a top digital editor.

"There is new energy and focus around our enterprise reporting efforts. We are revitalizing watchdog reporting, long a strength of this newspaper. We are revising work flows, breaking away from the print-focused assembly line of the past and [moving] to a more dynamic and flexible system," says Executive Editor, David Boardman."We are doing much more knowledge-sharing among people with various perspectives and experiences, both within our newsroom a

nd from the outside."

I think a redevelopment of todays newsroom is a smart move. A bit of ingenty is needed, but can create a great result. This is exactly what the Seattle Times is experiencing, although still in the early stages.

As I said earlier, we are in a digital age. Those who are not stepping in to it are a step behind.

Photo Courtesy of Photo Bucket.