Where Journalism and Technology Collide.

From Amy G. at E-Media Tidbits comes a link to this interesting site. I am glad to see this. What I’ve encountered when working with journalists who become teachers (the ones that are “digital immigrants” at least) is the attitude that adding tech to teaching is impossible because it would replace important content that already exists.

Not so. How you do your work when you rely on electronic communication software and hardware is directly related to the work itself. Learning how to work in a digital environment doesn’t mean adding a bunch of new skills to an ever expanding “list” of topics or skills. It means becoming more productive at reporting and writing BECAUSE you are using new tools that make work easier. Whether it is a blog-style of personal database, twitter newsfeeds, social networking with sources, or just being able to write and publish quickly– new tools re-make the work and work place, but they don’t replace the value or meaning of the work.

Like the “great” lecture that many teachers still persist in giving, despite the fact that young audiences like to do, instead of listening, does work matter, if no one pays attention to it? One of my profs said the cardinal rule of teaching is “First get their attention.” Seems that would be true for journalists and other communicators, too.