Journalism’s future might be covered.
A panel of journalists and writers discussed the advancement of the media industry and how non-fiction books may replace and revive it at the Howard Thurman Center.
The morning portion of the all-day panel event, titled ‘The Non-Fiction Book as the Last Best Home for Journalism,’ examined the future of journalism from writers’ perspectives rather than that of their publishers, with opening remarks by COM Dean Tom Fiedler and professor Caryl Rivers.
The panel included moderator Fox Butterfield and panelists Steven Greenhouse, Dick Lehr, Linda Robinson, Charlie Savage and Ron Suskind. They discussed how journalists could have to adjust as newspaper articles slowly fade out and books replace them.
‘Those who are engaged in journalism and nonfiction writers are going to have to find a new home to become a part of the media industry,’ Newsweek contributing editor Linda Robinson said.
Long-form non-fiction will be ‘the last man standing’ in journalism as this industry dies, Pulitzer Prize winner Charlie Savage said.
Readers today crave serious books because they can devote the space to the details newspapers lack the space for, New York Times labor reporter Steven Greenhouse said.
The afternoon panel on publishers included moderator Wendy Strothman and panelists Helene Atwan, Martin Beiser, Peter Osnos and Mitch Zuckoff, with an introduction from journalism professor Elizabeth Mehren.
‘I’m not sure that [books] are the last refuge for journalism, but it is a refuge,’ Beacon Press Director Helene Atwan said.
Pulitzer Prize finalist Mitch Zuckoff, a former Boston Globe special projects reporter, said that although there is a new business model in journalism’s future, the industry is far from done.’
‘I’m not sure that journalism needs a last refuge,’ Zuckoff, a COM journalism professor, said. ‘I disagree strongly with the framing of the question that we are dying in some way.’
Martin Beiser, a former editor of GQ magazine, said that journalism is welcome in the world of books, though journalists may find difficulties converting from one writing style to the other. The biggest difference between a book and a magazine is that a book may take years to publish, but a magazine article only takes a few months at most.
‘The editing skills are comparable and overlap, but the process is different,’ he said.
PublicAffairs Books founder Peter Osnos compared a journalist trying to become an author to a trumpeter trying to become a violin player.
‘It is the publisher’s job to help through the process,’ he said.
Fiedler said that despite fears of old media dying, he thinks the discussion was a success.
‘We were afraid that we overreached with this,’ he said. ‘It exceeded what we thought it might be.’
Fiedler said the greatest message he wanted people to take away from the discussion is that quality journalism is going to find a way to reach an audience, even if newspapers appear to be failing.
‘Books are a huge part of that,’ he said.
Attendee Crista Hecht, a COM graduate student, said despite everything the panelists discussed, she does not think non-fiction books can replace newspapers entirely.
‘Before newspapers disappear entirely, they will fully go online,’ she said.
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Journalism, I agree, is dead. The 2008 presidential campaign killed it when members of the media refused to do their jobs in favor of letting their candidate slide by with barely a look under his bed. These self-identified “Journalists” abandoned the principles and ethics of journalism and became operatives of a candidate. They lost their objectivity for him; they covered for him, they even used the precious Freedom of Information Act – a tool they know so well – to protect him. (LA times) And like virginity, your reputation and your honor are things, once given away, are nearly impossible to regain.<br/>If they had any honor at all, they’d give the Pultizers back. One can only hope one of them will show some fortitude and instead of writing a book that he or she can profit from, will report the truth. Facts are stubborn things, and the truth will out, as they say.