The Nieman Lab's 2012 Spring Report just came out, and should be mandatory reading in newsrooms. Among many interesting things, a mini-investigation among the former directors of some American newspapers, who were asked the question: "What would you change if you were in charge again?”
It was a good occasion to reflect on the mistakes made, but also to give valid indications on what to do to overcome these difficult times. From the various responses, they emerged some common assessments: don't confuse respect for the past with fear of facing the future, devote himself more to investigative journalism, wondering if the paper edition on Monday is still needed, reporting without just repeating the news, take note that a newspaper cannot contain everything and must instead better understand the needs of the community to which it is addressed.
Timothy Franklin, former editor of the "Baltimore Sun", if he could go back to his office he would tell the editors that the newspaper operates in a digital environment with a paper component and no longer in a paper environment with a digital component, in order to inspire a new work organization more focused on online.
Ronnie Agnew, former director of the "Clarion Ledger", would instead bet everything on the good old investigative journalism of the past, the one who asked embarrassing questions to power, exposed corruption and spoke on behalf of the common people. "Any newspaper without a strong component of investigative journalism - he said - will eventually become irrelevant."
James O'Shea, former editor of the "Los Angeles Times", he made perhaps the most important point: if he went back, he said, he would do anything to convince its reporters that they need to stop waiting for someone else to solve their problems. “When I was in office – he said – and there was talk of the need to change the business model, I was often told that this was a problem that the publisher and administrative staff had to answer. But the publishers' response has been to cut budgets and compromise the quality of journalism. Future newsroom leaders will have to convince themselves, their readers and their editors of one thing that has always been true: only good journalism and good business too."
