A former alt-weekly columnist and current Northeastern University professor, Dan Kennedy has long been thinking and writing about journalism via Media Nation.
In this new interview, he observes that, while these are perilous times for journalism writ large, things are relatively good in the New England area he tracks most closely, including not only the Boston Globe but also MassLive — which recently announced a new education news pilot project in Worcester County — along with promising nontraditional outlets and approaches like the Bay State Banner and the New Haven Independent.
As is true in other parts of the country, however, the grassroots coverage in New England is both spotty in terms of its coverage areas and the quality is hit or miss. Meanwhile, the everyday coverage from the Globe and other mainstream outlets can be superficial.
When the big outlets “really dig down and do some serious enterprise reporting, they do a great job,” says Kennedy. It’s “the day-to-day coverage where I think some of the softness tends to come in.”
Despite journalism’s many challenges, a wholesale reinvention would be unnecessarily disruptive.
“I don't think that's a good idea,” says Kennedy. “There’s still a lot of older people who are relatively satisfied with the news product as it is. And why would you drive them away?”
Instead, he proposes adding ancillary new products designed to appeal to different audiences — video-based presentation, etc. — that can be bring accurate information in a more appealing form and approach.
Watch above or on YouTube. Listen at Spotify or Apple. Transcript.
Previously from The Grade
‘We are the media now,’ says school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis
A frustrated podcaster turns up the heat
A veteran reporter steps in where traditional news falls short
Literacy, blue-state politics, & media reluctance
Eviction, housing affordability, & rethinking education news
