PJNet: Journalism Wants Pitcher to Be the Catcher Too

Leonard Witt has started a great conversation over at PJNet’s blog about what is required of reporter writers:

Think of any position on the field; who would want the pitcher to be the catcher too? But that’s what we want from our best reporter writers. We want them not only to play any position but also to play the equivalent of two or three sports — and video,  audio and writing for the page are indeed different sports.  

My advice to the journalism student who wants to be a great writer above all else is to then concentrate your energies in that area. Get some exposure to the other mediums media, but don’t let them turn you into another cog in the machine. Seek your passion. Do all that is necessary to become a great literary journalist, our democracy for sure, and maybe our trade, needs you as much and probably more than we do need all the jacks of all trades.

However, if great nonfiction literary writing, with all the reporting, research and observation skills it entails, is not your first passion, then follow the advice of Curley, Owen, Conley and Murley, learn all the web skills you can because that is where most reporting jobs will be.

The distinction Witt makes between “reporter” and “literary nonfiction writer” earlier in his post is key.  As media tightens its belt, though, “literary nonfiction writers” are going to be the people able to get and secure jobs.  These are the writers who not only can write what sells but gets into the areas of a story that is usually missed by reporters, the cracks filled lately by bloggers.  It’s a matter of adapting to the times, and the times ask for these things.

Reporters are going to be asked more and more to pitch and catch in order to keep up with the times and the market.  As traditional media starts seeking more ways to hold onto an ever shrinking number of readers, engagement will be key, and the “literary nonfiction writer” might be the one that fits.