Today, I came across a New York Times article about entrepreneurial journalism. I’ve often thought that while this may not be the “best” time to be in journalism, it’s nonetheless an exciting time, a time for innovation. So many people speak of the demise of journalism, but this article points to the possibilities that young journalists have to enter the journalism industry and thrive. Now, we don’t just tell stories through writing and photography — we have so many more ways of telling stories, through video, audio slideshows, social networking, etc.
The author of the article, Saul Hansell, writes: “It seems to be a great time to be starting out in journalism. Just don’t ask advice from anyone who has been in the business for more than five years.” It is, indeed, an exciting time to be a journalist … but only if you choose to see it that way.
Speaking of telling stories, I noticed on Gmail chat tonight that there’s a “Share your Gmail story” link. Gmail is asking its users to upload videos explaining what they use Gmail for and why they like it. Some of the sample videos are funny, but they represent stories nonetheless, and a chance for people to be heard.
Word on the Street 