MEAA failing its industry?
Thought it was worth pointing out a great piece in Crikey today by Dr John Cokley from The University of Queensland about the MEAA’s role in the Fairfax sackings.
I’ve been having similar thoughts - I’ve yet to see an MEAA event advertised that seems to have any grasp of the changes taking place in media - other than to point out that its happening. Dr Cokley writes:
The future of journalism rests with journalists, not with the owners and managers of the processes of capital designed to deliver journalism. This is the incredibly simple distinction which MEAA officials have failed to make explicit – perhaps even to realise – in the current stoush (and in all previous ones I’ve witnessed since I paid dues from 1981-1995).
You can read the full piece here.
Bron,
Cokley misses the point big time. Apart from anything he ignores the economic imperatives. As Nick Miller has pointed out in another thread on your blog many journalists just want to do journalism, they don’t want to be publishers. Unfortunately, the future of journalism is tied closely to publishing. Journalists - either individually or in collectives - will need to either become publishers as you have, or partner with a publisher if they want to make a living.
And then he compounds the mistake by trying to compare journalism to medicine or the law.
Cokley is just wrong on a whole lot of levels.
Words by Hugh on September 14, 2008 at 5:49 am | #
On reflection, I’ll withdraw that last comment - Cokley’s not directly comparing journalism to medicine or the law, but nevertheless it’s not a great analogy.
If the political economy of the media industry that has sustained Journalism until now is unavoidably changing then we need a replacement. At the moment no one is suggesting one. To look at journalism on its own is to only look at part of the picture, part of the problem. The critical piece in the future of media is to continue providing results for advertising clients.
Journalism has run headlong into a crisis in publishing. And that’s where the problem is. The industry needs new publishing models. Journalists can’t solve that problem on their own.
Words by Hugh on September 14, 2008 at 6:47 am | #
Hi Hugh,
Agree it’s not the best analogy but I think the overall point of the article is valid.
Words by Bronwen on September 16, 2008 at 11:54 am | #
Journalists have to be on call more than ever before. If a source rings you on the mobile after hours with information about a breaking story you should be prepared to file online.
Most industrial awards don’t provide that flexibility.
Journalists should only work a 38-hour week up to a certain level, but they should be flexible about when they work those hours.
Words by Michael on September 29, 2008 at 7:24 pm | #