In a few weeks, editors and reporters from The Courier-Journal will meet with people in Southern Indiana to talk about coverage and how to get even more of their news and information to the newspaper.
It’s an opportunity for us to connect in a way that’s more personal — and personable — than bylines and phone calls.
“Connect” is more than the operative word of this gathering. It’s the objective and it’s important that we meet this way.
One of the most tired words in today’s tired age of multitasking and information overload is “disconnect” . . . as in, there’s a disconnect between the news media and news consumers.
Recent surveys indicate there is such a disconnect between newsies and their readers and viewers. Results from a 1998 questioning of 3,000 Americans showed, as reported in the American Society of Newspaper Editors’ Journalism Credibility Project:
* “78 percent believe journalists pay more attention to what their editors want than what their readers want.”
* “53 percent believe the press is out of touch with mainstream Americans.”
I would agree with the majority on the first bulleted item. Journalists know they answer to their editors. I’m not so sure they know they answer to their readers, too. (At the same time, I’m not sure the reader is always right. So sue me for equivocating.)
The second item is deceptive.
Reporters and editors are people like anyone else, so they are mainstream Americans. They live in towns, send their kids to school, go to church (believe it, they do), shop at the grocery store, order popcorn at the movies, fall in love, have their hearts broken and nod off on the couch.
But I do think that the press is out of touch with mainstream Americans in that too many barriers exist between the press and the people.
Some are our own doing. Some aren’t, just a fact of a too-busy life.
Let’s face it. Most of us are plate spinners.
You remember the plate spinners, don’t you? I used to see them on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” those frantic guys twirling sticks with dishes whirly-gigging atop them, their derring-do accompanied by some desperately fast music.
Transfer that image to a modern life in which we’re all multitaskers and sufferers of information overload, not to mention just plain overload. That includes you. And that includes journalists.
So, as journalists try to keep all those plates spinning per their editors’ demands, something’s got to give. Unfortunately, some of what can give is a real and true connection to the reader.
Here’s the deal: Media outlets are waking up to this sad fact and some are doing things to reconnect.
Earlier this year, The Courier-Journal added e-mail addresses to reporter bylines to enhance accessibility. And unless you tell me otherwise — and you haven’t — you appear to be taking advantage of that access.
On June 20, we’re coming to you.
This Community and Courier Connection for Southern Indiana readers will be at 8 a.m. Thursday, June 20, at Kye’s at Water Tower Square in Jeffersonville, Ind. Some light breakfast goodies will be served until 8:30 a.m., when the hour-long session begins.
Chief editors and reporters responsible for our Indiana coverage will attend to talk about their jobs and answer your questions. Other reps of the paper — including me — also will attend to brief you on how to write a press release and how best to connect with The Courier-Journal. And to listen to what you have to say.
Our Clarksville bureau in Southern Indiana includes:
Harold Adams, who covers police and courts.
Ben Z. Hershberg, who reports on Floyd County.
Meghan Hoyer, who covers Clark County.
Dick Kaukas, who writes about education and the local schools.
Dale Moss, who writes a three-times-a-week column.
Grace Schneider, who reports on Harrison County.
In addition to those reporters, Lesley Stedman works in The Courier-Journal’s Indianapolis bureau and writes about state government and other statewide issues.
Many of those reporters will be at the June 20 meeting, as will Jean Porter, the Courier-Journal’s Metro editor; and Mark Provano, the Indiana editor.
The public is invited to attend, of course. It’s absolutely free of charge. We’re just asking you to pre-register so we know how many pastries, bagels and handouts to prepare. Please call our public affairs office at (502) 582-4551 by June 18 to add yourself to our headcount.
We hope to take this idea of reconnection beyond Southern Indiana.
If you’re interested in setting up a similar “reconnect” meeting for your community and its corresponding reporters and editors, give me a call or drop me an e-mail. We’ll put down our plates and sticks long enough to meet and chat.
Pam Platt is public editor of The Courier-Journal. Phone her at (502) 582-4600; e-mail: pplatt@courier-journal.com.
