Jim Hummel Video Profile Piece From Rhode Island

Posted by Sheila Conlin in Jim Hummel, monetization, online Journalism

I traveled to Rhode Island on a mission. I lived in the state for 2 and a half years - many years ago. My return was prompted because of my master's program and something one of my former colleagues was doing. I had heard Jim Hummel had left the TV station where we both worked to launch an online news site.

In this graduate program, we have done a lot of focus on how the Internet is changing the way journalism is happening. People have been let go (read "fired") from newspapers, radio networks and television newsrooms by the thousands in the past few years. Many of the managers say they aren't making enough money on the advertising. So they can't keep as many journalist on the payroll.

The Internet has changed the way all of us do a lot of things.

When I was a rookie reporter, I hauled much heavier gear - occasionally - as a one man band. The lighter gear does make that part of the backpack journalist's job easier. But it's still a lot of work. I shot for the better part of 2 days and got back on a plane to return to Washington.

I'd forgotten how much more work goes into longer pieces. This one runs more then 10 minutes and my normal package length is 1:30. (That's a minute thirty for non-TV news people reading this entry.)

But it's a story that explores a growing side of journalism - the independent reporter trying to make a living doing news online.

Please let me know what you think of it.

Thank you -

Sheila