record audio, communicate information instantly via Twitter and Facebook, interact with their readers on the same social media platforms, appear on television, create podcasts, and work with developers to maximise the interactive possibilities of their stories.
How do editors find these super men and women?
“You’re looking for highly original people who are excited by new ideas both in the kinds of things they want to write about and cover and also their orientation towards the practice of journalism itself,” James Bennet, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic Magazine told the Poynter Institute, a non-profit US school dedicated to teaching and inspiring journal- ists and media leaders.
“They’re thinking about new ways to do journalism all the time and they’re excited about engaging with every new tool that comes along,” continued Bennet. “Whether it’s a new piece of technology, a new form of sharing, a new form of social engagement, a new way of thinking about storytelling in the digital environment.”
A NOSE FOR NEWS — Nothing new here, but we don’t want to lose the good old-fash- ioned news instinct amidst all the gadgetry. Ms Russell can easily sniff out what’s going that matters to her audience.
A DISTINCTIVE ‘VOICE’ — Dave Winer’s term “unedited voice of the person” is today’s compelling aspect of content creation, whether it’s writing, blogging, tweeting or podcasting. If you can’t write with appropriate flair, try a new career.
Additionally, Ms Russell speaks multiple languages, aware that her readers are world citizens.
A TOUCH OF FLAIR — Today’s journalist is part writer, part showman. She can’t be afraid to be ‘out there’ in her community either virtually in online chats or actually at events represent- ing her magazine with attitude (and knowledge).