Renee Barnes Interview
Renee Barnes is a Journalism Lecturer at RMIT University, this interview was conducted via email.
Can you speak a bit about your background in journalism?
I worked as a journalist for more than 10 years before starting teaching. I did my cadetship at a newspaper, then worked in broadcast by finally ending up on the online desk at The Age.
How do you describe open journalism (including things such as citizenjournalism, blogging, twitter, Facebook, etc.) ?
One way to think about open journalism is that we just have a larger media ecosystem now. Where once journalists were the gate keepers of information. They found it, analysed it and distributed it. Now there are many options for the public to find information including social media. There is also now the ability for citizens to find primary source materials and analyse this material. They can have their voices heard without undergoing the selection process of letters to the editor etc.
How are models of open journalism changing the relationship betweenjournalist and audience?
I think most journalists would argue that they have always had a keen understanding of their audience. Journalists are often asked by their editors/ producers - where is the reader in the story? What does this mean for our audience etc. These are central values used for the selection and presentation of stories. What is different is the speed at which the audience can communicate with the journalist and other audience members. The audience reaction to a story can now be instant and the online space enables individual audience members to be able to easily find other individual audience members to converse with or debate. This adds a far richer layer to the democratic function of journalism and is often heralded as one way that civic engagement of citizens can be increased.
Can you give me some ideas of why there is a lack of trust between audienceand journalism?
I don't think it is a given that there is a lack of trust between audience and all journalists. In a world where anyone can publish anything, one of the main strengths of journalists is that they can publish under a recognised brand. They can use their training to be objective and balanced to provide valuable information to the audience.
How is open journalism, such as blogging, citizen journalism, social mediaetc., changing the role of the journalist?
The journalist is being forced to take their audience along for the ride. They can no longer collect the information for their story, piece it all together, publish and then walk away from it. There is an expectation now that the audience will be part of the reporting process. They will be asked to contribute in some way. I story now is never finished. As the audience interacts with the content, comments on it and perhaps adds further information, the story continues to grow.
How is the changing role affecting how journalist students are educated?
The fundamental skills of journalism are still taught to journalism students and they are still incredibly important. The ability to research stories, be objective and balanced and write/report in a clear and easily understandable manor will always be important skills. Along with those skills, journalism students are also taught the value of social media, citizen journalism etc. in engaging the audience and building greater civic engagement.
Can you speak a bit about your background in journalism?
I worked as a journalist for more than 10 years before starting teaching. I did my cadetship at a newspaper, then worked in broadcast by finally ending up on the online desk at The Age.
How do you describe open journalism (including things such as citizenjournalism, blogging, twitter, Facebook, etc.) ?
One way to think about open journalism is that we just have a larger media ecosystem now. Where once journalists were the gate keepers of information. They found it, analysed it and distributed it. Now there are many options for the public to find information including social media. There is also now the ability for citizens to find primary source materials and analyse this material. They can have their voices heard without undergoing the selection process of letters to the editor etc.
How are models of open journalism changing the relationship betweenjournalist and audience?
I think most journalists would argue that they have always had a keen understanding of their audience. Journalists are often asked by their editors/ producers - where is the reader in the story? What does this mean for our audience etc. These are central values used for the selection and presentation of stories. What is different is the speed at which the audience can communicate with the journalist and other audience members. The audience reaction to a story can now be instant and the online space enables individual audience members to be able to easily find other individual audience members to converse with or debate. This adds a far richer layer to the democratic function of journalism and is often heralded as one way that civic engagement of citizens can be increased.
Can you give me some ideas of why there is a lack of trust between audienceand journalism?
I don't think it is a given that there is a lack of trust between audience and all journalists. In a world where anyone can publish anything, one of the main strengths of journalists is that they can publish under a recognised brand. They can use their training to be objective and balanced to provide valuable information to the audience.
How is open journalism, such as blogging, citizen journalism, social mediaetc., changing the role of the journalist?
The journalist is being forced to take their audience along for the ride. They can no longer collect the information for their story, piece it all together, publish and then walk away from it. There is an expectation now that the audience will be part of the reporting process. They will be asked to contribute in some way. I story now is never finished. As the audience interacts with the content, comments on it and perhaps adds further information, the story continues to grow.
How is the changing role affecting how journalist students are educated?
The fundamental skills of journalism are still taught to journalism students and they are still incredibly important. The ability to research stories, be objective and balanced and write/report in a clear and easily understandable manor will always be important skills. Along with those skills, journalism students are also taught the value of social media, citizen journalism etc. in engaging the audience and building greater civic engagement.