Like the technologies that support it, the craft of online journalism is evolving quickly. This timely book helps students develop standards of excellence, through interviews with more than 30 writers, editors and producers, and dozens of examples of strong work. The author provides a framework of concepts to show how the field is evolving and challenged by competition, staffing limitations, and other pressures. Discussion is organized around four key elements: speed and accuracy with depth in breaking news; comprehensiveness in multimedia content; open-endedness in story development, including public contributions; and conversation with users. Chapter-length treatments of these topics bring home the realities of online work to students, who also come to appreciate how excellence and ethics online go hand in hand.
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Excellence Online: A Work in Progress
Excellence in Old and New Media
Excellence Online: Four Developing Standards
2. An Ethical Lens for Looking at Excellence
A Practice: The Social Context
Telos: The Big-Picture Goal
Internal Goods: Distinctive Achievements of the Practice
Standards of Excellence: Setting the Bar for the Field
Virtues: The Qualities of Good Character
External Goods and Institutions: Danger Lurking
3. Speed and Accuracy With Depth in Breaking News
The Battle to Be Fast and Right: An Old Challenge With New Pressures
Insights from Online Journalists: Giving Voice to a Standard
Breaking News Through an Ethical Lens
Online Excellence in Development: The Hudson River Jet Landing
Challenges to Maintaining and Enhancing Excellence
Overcoming the Challenges: Virtues in Action
On-the-Job Profile: Mark Stevenson Facing the Daily Challenges
4. Comprehensiveness in Content
Insights From Online Journalists: What Comprehensiveness Means
Challenges to Comprehensiveness
Overcoming the Challenges: Virtues in Action
On-the-Job Profile: Jenni Pinkley Facing the Daily Challenges
5. Open-endedness in Story Development
Excellence in Story Development Online
The Dynamic of Excellence
Challenges to Excellence in Story Development: External Goods Lurking
Attitude Check: Virtues for 21st-Century Journalists
On-the-Job Profile: Robert Quigley Facing the Daily Challenges
6. The Centrality of Conversation
A Longtime Value Takes Center Stage
Standards of Excellence in Online Conversation
The Dynamic of Excellence in Conversation
Now for the Challenges: Stumbling Blocks in the "Conversational Commons"
Virtue and Conversation
On-the-Job Profile: Eric Zorn Facing the Daily Challenges
7. Beyond the Big Guys: Independent and Community Journalism Online
Perspectives from Three Smaller Organizations
Citizen Journalism, Social Media, and Journalism as a Practice
8. The Future of Excellence in Online Journalism: Living in the World of Both-And
The World of Both-And
What It Takes to Work in the World of Both-And
Index
About the Author
