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March 2, 2005
-40- is just the beginning...
I notice that Tim Schmoyer at Sisyphean Musings has been ending some of his entries with -40- and linking back to me.
In the old days when journalists actually typed on paper, it was common practice to type -30- at the end of an article to indicate to the typesetter that, yes indeed, the end had been reached. This practice has fallen away for the most part because we no longer submit articles on paper.
Here's what I wrote in the entry linked above:
Let me suggest that we revive the practice and use -40- instead. That way it will remind journalists that this figure ought to rise if they care to stop the public's crisis of confidence in journalism.
The figure is roughly the number of ombudsmen employed by American newspapers.
I think this is a disturbingly low figure considering two things: 1) that an independent reader's representative at the very least demonstrates a measure of respect for readers, and 2) that advancing, interactive technologies allow the ombudsman to help newspapers ease into the new media paradigm (which is part of the changing noetic field).
Here's what it might look like (link added to original quote):
Mr. Okrent, why not take this a step further? Why not create a feature that enables NYT readers to click on a link somewhere on your site and easily set up their own blog? Set up the system so that every time somebody links to the NYT article that they're criticizing (or praising), that article gets a trackback ping. Then when we read a NYT article on the web, we can click on a link somewhere at the bottom of the page and read all the reader reaction to that piece. This automates the process and makes it unnecessary to pay a staffer to sift through and post reader feedback (you could filter for obscenities and such). Individual reporters would also have their own blogs in which they respond to these criticisms and questions. These responses would link automatically to the relevant article through trackbacks. Of course reporters won't have time to respond to everything, but what blogger responds to all the trackbacks, comments and e-mails they get? You do what you can, and respond to groups of criticisms that fall under similar themes. People will appreciate it and gain a better understanding of why you wrote what you did. You can also deal with corrections in this way... and I bet a lot of story ideas and leads would emerge in the process.Wouldn't that be cool?
Yes, Ms. MacKinnon, that would be seriously cool.
Okay, silly suggestion for the week: If you believe as I do that American journalism could use more ombudsmen, how about putting -40- to use? You don't have to link back to me. The gesture is small but not empty. What Okrent and MacKinnon envision could come to pass, and ombudsmen are exactly the people to help make it happen.
-40-
Posted by acline at March 2, 2005 2:05 PM | | Spotlight