Keeping reports up to date - just like that!
Published 26 Jan 2012 10:00
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Thanks to all those who have been sending me some of the great comedy lines by the late Tommy Cooper years ago.
Here are just two:
"A mate of mine drinks brake fluid and I reckon he's addicted. But he says he can stop any time."
Or: "I saw an RAC van driver sobbing and looking very depressed. I think he's heading for a breakdown."
They don't make 'em like that any more; and that, I suppose, is the trouble for old duffers like me. Many of us tend to look back nostalgically and think things were great years ago. No doubt, for many Tommy Cooper and his like represented the golden age of comedy.
Were times past really better?
No apologies, but I've been looking back again this week because I always think it helps gain some perspective when you're looking forward.
This January, I have completed 25 years as editor of the Impartial Reporter. I know, I know, I really don't look that old. It can be a really difficult job and at other times a relatively easy one. But it is the best job for me.
I'd like to contrast two stories from my work at the Impartial, one from back in the 1970s when I was a reporter and one from last week.
In the 70s, early in the "Troubles", there was a serious incident along the Border near Rosslea. Only two reporters went out to the scene. One was from the Impartial, the other was dispatched from BBC National news in London (he was to become one of the Beeb's iconic figures).
Both reporters obviously gleaned information and both wanted to contact their office as quickly as possible.
The young Impartial whippersnapper had one distinct advantage! He knew exactly where the only red phone box was in the isolated area and got there first. He spent 20 minutes making the call, while yer man from London paced anxiously outside. And then, he and his camera crew had to make their way back to Belfast, process film and do their report, which didn't hit the screen until well into the evening.
Last Saturday, I was at the Ballinamallard watching their football team play Institute. Using an iPad I "tweeted" updates throughout the game. So when Stephen Sheridan equalised, I was able to inform anyone following the Impartial on Twitter within seconds. And shortly after the final whistle, I wrote my report and it was on our website with John McVitty's photograph very quickly.
Actually, on Sunday my colleagues at the Tyrone v Fermanagh game were very quick and John also tweeted a picture which people not at the game could see as the action was going on.
There have been many, many changes during my tenure as editor of the Impartial. The circumstances locally, of course, from troubled times to peace, and there have been massive social shifts within the community in my native Fermanagh. The 70s and 80s were difficult times and I often felt that the local papers performed an important role in letting people know what was happening, telling people's stories and giving people a voice.
The look and style of the paper have changed to reflect changed times, but we had good journalists before and are extremely fortunate to have some great journalist now.
The biggest single change, however, has been in the technology we use to deliver news and information to you.
Often, people of my generation look at communication technology suspiciously. And, of course, it is a two-edged sword depending on whether it is used for good or evil.
But as young people take to it as second nature, overwhelmingly technology has improved life for all, should that be advances in health or, even, journalism.
There are many problems within journalism, I agree.
How journalists are regulated has become a major issue and listening to some of the excesses of some of the tabloid brigade revealed in forums such as the Leveson inquiry make uncomfortable reading for the industry.
Crucially, people should remember that only a very small minority of journalists behaved like that.
A free press remains vital for democracy. How would we have known about the dreadful abuse of power by politicians with their expenses scandal. That's just one example.
Anyway, I digress. Back to the way technology has changed my job!
This week, the Channel Four news anchor, Jon Snow gave the Hugh Cudlipp lecture, and he recalled how in the 1970s he reported from Africa on many occasions. Because of the logistics, he had plenty of time to follow the story and put the emotion into it, knowing it could be three days before it hit the screens at home. Recently, Snow tweeted, blogged, reported and presented all in quick succession at the site of the story.
So, does he hanker after the good old days. Well, no. he believes were are poised for "journalism's golden age."
I'm with Snow on this one. I agree that technology isn't something to be feared or resisted, but that it can liberate the media. The more people use communication technology to talk to each other the better, the less danger of a secret society. Far more often now, the people set the agenda, we listen and follow, or sometimes make judgements that differ. That's all to the good isn't it?
I notice MLA Phil Flanagan this week has been pushing for greater connectivity for Fermanagh, in developments such as 4G. Well done with that; we should be included.
When I became editor in 1987, the Impartial Reporter was a black and white broadsheet paper with no news on the front page. That's right NO news, all adverts, and it was our only way of communicating with people in Fermanagh. There were no fashion shoots or interviews with P7children or other features which reflect our vibrant, forward-moving wonderful community of people.
In 2012, in addition to a bright and colourful modern newspaper, throughout the week we provide news, information and photos every day on our website and on Twitter and Facebook.
Each month, we have 16,541 "unique users" , or in layman's terms different people, logging on to our website. The experts estimate this equates to about 8,000 per week, allowing for the fact that many of the 15,000 in the month come back week after week.
Those figures show where this is all going.
Will local newspapers survive? Well, I think it's important that local journalism survives.
I often talk about how tough it is for our young people embarking on the world of work now, and say I wouldn't like to be starting again. Although, actually, the truth is I think it's an exciting time for journalism thanks to the fast-changing technological revolution.
Just one thing, though. As a Christian, I have to agree with the church sign in the United States which warns: "There are some questions that cannot be answered by Google."
This blog appeared in Impartial Reporter 26 Jan 12
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