Comments on: Journalism, coding, confusion http://mvarmazis.com/journalism-coding-confusion/ Maria Varmazis' blog Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:57:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Digidave http://mvarmazis.com/journalism-coding-confusion/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Digidave Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:16:16 +0000 http://mvarmazis.com/journalism-coding-confusion/#comment-23 I'm going to second Matt's comments. In the end -- it's about telling a good story. Some stories are better told through programming: http://www.obleek.com/iraq/ If you watch that video -- turn the U.S. ticker on and off -- there's your story. No text neccesary. Other stories require the written word -- nothing will replace a good narrative. But the first example shows: Some stories can be told through programming -- and journalists are in the business of information exchange -- so having those programming tools are helpful. I'm jealous -- you are already ahead of the game. I’m going to second Matt’s comments. In the end — it’s about telling a good story. Some stories are better told through programming: http://www.obleek.com/iraq/

If you watch that video — turn the U.S. ticker on and off — there’s your story. No text neccesary.

Other stories require the written word — nothing will replace a good narrative.

But the first example shows: Some stories can be told through programming — and journalists are in the business of information exchange — so having those programming tools are helpful. I’m jealous — you are already ahead of the game.

]]> By: Maria Varmazis http://mvarmazis.com/journalism-coding-confusion/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Maria Varmazis Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:30:57 +0000 http://mvarmazis.com/journalism-coding-confusion/#comment-15 Thanks Matt -- I appreciate the feedback. Thanks Matt — I appreciate the feedback.

]]> By: Matt Waite http://mvarmazis.com/journalism-coding-confusion/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Matt Waite Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:25:19 +0000 http://mvarmazis.com/journalism-coding-confusion/#comment-14 I personally ascribe to the notion that the idea is the only thing you need to worry about. If you have a good idea -- for a data-driven web application for news, for a good story, etc. -- then that's the most important part. The rest of it is just implementation. If you have good ideas that require you to use some of your coding skills, then by all means use them. If you're writing kick ass stories and loving that, great, keep doing it. Journalism always needs good stories. The only thing young -- and old -- journos need to be doing right now is thinking about how to do journalism better online. There is no conflict there. The rest of it, as I said, is just implementation. Compared to coming up with good, useful, marketable ideas that readers will use/read/pay for, implementation is easy. I personally ascribe to the notion that the idea is the only thing you need to worry about. If you have a good idea — for a data-driven web application for news, for a good story, etc. — then that’s the most important part. The rest of it is just implementation. If you have good ideas that require you to use some of your coding skills, then by all means use them. If you’re writing kick ass stories and loving that, great, keep doing it. Journalism always needs good stories. The only thing young — and old — journos need to be doing right now is thinking about how to do journalism better online. There is no conflict there. The rest of it, as I said, is just implementation. Compared to coming up with good, useful, marketable ideas that readers will use/read/pay for, implementation is easy.

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