All about story-telling

MSNBC foreign correspondent Martin Fletcher remembers the good days, the carefree times and the big budgets. It’s all change now isn’t it Martin…

We traveled to the airport in black limousines chauffeured by stiff-backed men in black suits and caps. We flew first class and became connoisseurs of fine wines. And then the shoe dropped: budgets were slashed. Today, it’s back to the beginning. Now, one-man-bands are called SoJos, solo journalists: digital journalists who travel with a small camera and a computer. The difference is that in the old days you had to be as strong as a mule to carry the gear. Now, it all fits in a small backpack. link

But, he does cheer up a wee bit towards the end,

Some things will never change. The foundation, the heart and soul, of story-telling: being there and getting the story right. And that’s something we simply can’t depend on, outside established media organizations, new or old. Here, experience counts, and journalists rule. The web is great for individual stories: a soldier’s diary in Iraq will always be more authentic than a reporter’s brief summary. But the bigger picture, the analysis, will always come from a trained eye at some distance from the event. And best of all is a combination: a trusted correspondent with experience, reporting from the field. I hope I don’t sound too smug. link