Richard Burton: Web 2.0 Journalists

[Chris Goward]

“The media was a toy I could play with.” This was how Richard Burton, former Fleet Street journalist, described his first experiences of online journalism. When he joined the telegraph.co.uk he was able to experiment and play around because it was still relatively new territory.

It was interesting to learn about how different websites benefit from having different content and layout; News shopper, Northern Echo and Mining journal to name but a few. Mining Journal for example, doesn’t need to grab its readers and there is no need for pictures. Its readers are only interested in business news.
Burton rightly pointed out that blogs should project a view from behind the scenes if they are to be effective. Reading about how
rats invade a flat in New Delhi every time it rains, is a lot more interesting than reading about what someone has for breakfast everyday.

Burton highlighted the now well-known fact that online journalism is becoming increasingly popular and that it will continue to do so. Although many publishers still operate a two tier system, the fact of the matter is that newsrooms are converging. This means there will be a few people doing the job of many. This is not the kind of thing I want to be hearing as a trainee journalist.

If we are to succeed as ‘Web 2.0 journalists’ we need to be able to prove ourselves as multi-media experts. This will probably mean doing more work for less money with the constant fear in the back of our minds that we are going to lose our jobs.

Burton has had a very interesting and successful career having started out as a tea boy. I just hope that those entering this new world of media, will enjoy the same varied and exciting working life.