Many newspapers, small and large, have talented writers on their staffs who wound their way into journalism after starting their working lives as teachers, shop owners, farmers, or engineers, among other things.
In the not-too-distant past, in fact, college degrees were something of a rarity; most reporters proudly came from generations of blue-collar backgrounds.
In that context, it was interesting to read recently about a new effort by Thomson Newspapers to recruit people from other walks of life and teach them how to be reporters.
According to the Associated Press, the newspaper chain is seeking people -- no experience preferred -- who are willing to undertake a 12-week training program on how to be a reporter. If they pass, they'll be put to work at one of Thomson's 56 daily newspapers in 13 U.S. states. (The chain also owns papers in Canada and the United Kingdom.)
"We want people committed to community journalism and really writing about their communities," Thomson's Lou Ziegler told the AP.
"These people are going to be taught to do things differently," Jim Jennings, vice president and editorial director of Thomson, said to AP. "We are going to change the business."
Perhaps. Journalism certainly could be enriched by talented individuals from varied backgrounds, individuals who know their communities as residents first, reporters second.
But the program is drawing skepticism from some quarters. "If it means these are bright, creative and enterprising people willing to challenge authority on behalf of citizens, no harm done," says Jim Naughton, president of the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla. "If it means they are going to be compliant, easy to manage, unresistant, low paid, then that is a problem."
For additional coverage of the Thomson's training program, visit the Freedom Forum at http://www.freedomforum.org/professional...
An Associated Press account of the program is also available at http://www.freedomforum.org/professional...
I haven't found any articles about this program in the Columbia Journalism Review, the American Journalism Review or other major print or online journalism publications. If you know of any URLs that might be of interest, please let me know and I'll post them here.
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