US publisher Gannett seems to be one of the first that is truly going back to grassroots journalism…. but with the aid of new technology. Journalists are being equipped with laptop or PC tablet, mobile phone and digital camera to report on local news. Local papers are going back to being true local papers with national and foreign news coverage cut right back.

Chuck Myron, who reports for News Press (www.news-press.com) in southwest Florida, is one of these mobile journalists known as mojo’s. He couldn’t be more enthusiastic about this move back to grass roots journalism. Having worked in numerous positions in the newsroom, he says “this is by far my favourite job yet. I love being at the cutting edge in a role that’s likely to be the future of journalism”.

News Press, and in fact many other titles at Gannett, have moved to a web first, local first attitude so that changes will be coming from the bottom up and not the top down. Chuck posts his articles directly onto the web. The benefit of reporters such as these means that there is more of a focus on small community coverage, with the mojo reporting on an event, taking pictures and then uploading everything from their car within minutes. Chuck tells us that there are some cafes with wifi which is more preferable to the ergonomical challenges of a car but that his priority is finding the nearest comfortable place to post a story, as quickly as he possibly can.

The websites are up to date with news, and content can also be used for the paper. After just two weeks in the job, Chuck started sourcing most of his own stories and now just gets the odd suggestion from an editor. Most of Chuck’s stories make it into at least one if not more print titles. Only exclusives and big stories may be held back from web to help boost print circulations.

The reaction from the community has been positive. The hits to websites have gone up as much as 100% in some cases. Readers are encouraged to take part in stories and investigate elements themselves. There is an example of reader participation where readers helped to analyse reports and data in an investigative report that led to a local government investigation.

There are some financial benefits too. The cost of technology in the form of mobiles, laptops and digital camera’s is unlikely to outweigh the cost of keeping someone in expensive office space. Chuck goes into the office for a meeting once a week and on the odd occasion to download a high res photo that takes took long over a wifi connection.

There are of course some downsides to being a mojo. Working from a car “isn’t the most comfortable thing in the world” but this is likely to be overcome by the increasing number of cafes with wifi access (where the coffee is better too). Also, being away form the office Chuck says that he can “feel a little out the loop” but quickly goes on to say “we have email and phone of course, so I don’t ever get a sense of feeling left out”. Plus feedback from the office seems to be constant, he gets figures on web traffic monthly and is in contact with his editor at least daily.

Some criticisms have been aimed at the blurring lines of editorial and business. Gannett sees it as imperative that journalists are able to convey their new roles to the public and often have briefing sessions with the Marketing Director. Chuck hasn’t had this briefing but is so passionate about what he’s doing that his enthusiasm is likely to spread to anyone he meets.

Mojos could also be the newspapers answer to blogs, which we all know are seen as worrying competition. Newspapers are able to keep the trusted journalistic content that is important to readers as well incorporate user generated stories and comments. Chuck also makes a good point that, at 27, he relates well to the online demographic.

When we asked Chuck if he’d go back to the traditional newsroom the response was one of shock… “oh no, I love my job!”.

Could this be the future of journalism? Surely it’s a good thing that journalists can get back out into the field amongst the people who are creating the news that needs to be reported.


Source: Washington Post and Gannett
Interview with Chuck Myron at News Press

For examples of Chucks work click here