For example, last week, when a shooting occurred on Pontchartrain Expressway, a few sentences were published on the web, in order for the Times Picayune to claim first coverage of the story. Later, as more information and research was uncovered, the more complete story was written for the paper and later uploaded online. To view one of the multiple stories about the shooting, click here: http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2011/01/pontchartrain_expressway_shoot.html. I actually was at the Picayune when the shooting occurred. We were in very close proximity to the crime scene, and it was very interesting to watch the reporters gather information and pictures for the story.
Through viewing stories from 2007 published online, I was able to compare the different techniques and strategies that have evolved for web publication. The online media is constantly changing, and Mr. Montervede explained that many newspapers charge readers to view information online. The Times Picayune has not yet considered instituting subscriptions for the web. I have not yet spoken to anyone concerned that the newspaper is a “lost art,” but many reporters admit that as the industry changes, it is a possibility that media will translate entirely to online coverage.
The Times Picayune is a culturally significant and historic paper for the city of New Orleans, so as of now, the hard copy of the newspaper remains popular amongst readers. TV competition has not yet presented itself to be an issue for readers. Although TV is entertaining for viewers, its stories do not begin to compare with those of the newspaper. Mr. Montervede and I also discussed how the Times Picayune is nationally-recognized for its lengthy, “meaty” articles. The paper is packed with informative stories and pages with significant text, unlike papers in cities like Dallas or San Francisco. These newspapers are both impressive and effective means of media coverage, but they contain more graphics and advertisements. Sections like “Food and Wine,” although fascinating to a certain selection of viewers, are not as valuable as crucial news sections.
The Times Picayune publishes sections specific to communities once or twice a week. For example, on Thursdays and Sundays, neighborhoods like Metairie, Covington, Uptown, and the North Shore receive their own section of the paper with stories from their neighborhoods. The New Orleans area is divided into many parishes that require their own news coverage, and the Times Picayune is an umbrella for these communities. For example, my aunt lives in Kenner, a suburb of the city, and receives a copy of the paper produced from the East Jefferson Bureau.
Mr. Montervede expressed the difficulty of working in the ever-changing profession of journalism, but he lauded the unpredictability and excitement of his job. He encouraged the pursuing internships when available.
I also attended a Budget meeting with the overseeing editors. They usually meet both in the morning and the late afternoon to review the plan for the paper the following day. Today in the meeting, article research was discussed such as Sean Payton’s last press conference after the Saints’ devastating loss to the Seahawks, the upcoming BCS title game between Oregon and Auburn, future renovation to the Superdome, Obama’s oil spill commission release, and neighborhood and community meetings discussing levee construction, amongst other topics of consideration.
After lunch, I shadowed editor Terri Troncale and her staff of editorial writers, including columnist Jarvis DeBerry. Ms. Troncale explained the process of reviewing the many "Letters to the Editor." Readers of the newspaper can submit letters through email, fax, or mail. I opened and read about 10 letters, varying in topics such as the following: an inmate from Angola's believed that he was "wrongly convicted," a political fanatic claimed the administration was corrupted by "Socialism," an animal rights' activist expressed concern over the animal shelters in the city, an atheist who wrote in support of evolution, etc. Although many of the letters were amusing, some were veritable and considered to be potentially used in the paper. Learning about the columnists and how they received inspiration for their views was also interesting. Many of the columnists advised me to major in something other than journalism, as it would allow more flexibility for career paths. Majoring in something like history or english still allows one to pursue journalism. After all, they said, it is considered more valuable to be a good writer than to just be a journalism major.
Then, I met with Danny Gamble, who provided a tour of the Library at the newspaper. Mr. Gamble explained the filing system, and I was fascinated by the newspaper's precision and accuracy with keeping records. Today, the paper uses an online database library of articles and graphics for accessible and easy reference. Mr. Gamble explained that writers can submit "Photo Requests" through the database for photographers to take pictures for their articles. Learning about the library system was very interesting, as the newspaper has transitioned with technology from an intricate system of filing cabinets to a complicated online library.
Lastly, I conversed with Steve Kelley, Times Picayune political cartoonist and writer for the comic strip, "Dustin." Mr. Kelley already has 260 clients for his strip, created in January 2010. He is thrilled to have so many followers already and looks forward to expanding even further. I enjoyed learning about PhotoShop and how cartoon art has changed over the years. To view some of Mr. Kelley's work, click here: http://www.nola.com/news/kelley/Below is one of Mr. Kelley's comic strips.
This particular cartoon was created by Mr. Kelley, and I watched him edit it today.
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