Why?
Generally, the profession of newspaper journalism has a proud heritage of in-depth, interesting and fair coverage of news and events. This quality journalism has generally been supported by large circulation newspapers with large classified advertising revenues. These classified advertising revenues were referred to as the “rivers of gold”.
With the growth of the internet, classified advertising continues to move on-line and newspaper reader numbers continue to fall. To address this, publishers are taking their brands on-line and reducing costs as they develop new business models.
You will need to form your own view on “whether the quality of news reporting has declined due to cost cutting and concentration of media ownership in Australia”. Google Scholar returned about 22,500 results for the above words. Away you go!
We all need access to objective, in-depth and balanced news to form real world views and to make the decisions that impact our families, environment and communities. I believe that commercial media is not providing this service.
Is it time for a new, critical, credible and objective source of news?
You might point out that the internet is already brimming with blogs, social media and some credible news sites; for example Wikinews.org. However, none of these serve the need of local communities for critical, objective and fair on-line local news coverage. This is an attempt for the community to own their news while trying to replicate the high ethical and quality standards of traditional journalism.
Will you help us “journal” Geelong and District’s future? Apply to be a volunteer contributor to The Pivotonian here.
What?
- The Pivotonian’ is not a blog.
- The Pivotonian’ is critical, in-depth, objective and strives to be fair and balanced.
- The Pivotonian’ does not serve any Publisher’s business and political agendas.
- The Pivotonian’ has to neither please advertisers, nor appeal to the lowest common denominator.
- The Pivotonian’ does not try to do everything that newspapers now do. There’s a whole internet out there for TV, recipes, opinion, weather, horoscopes, AFL, classifieds, cartoons, puzzles and so on.
- Last and not least; The Pivotonian is not dull.
How?
- Focusing on Geelong and District means all reports can, and will, be critically scrutinised by local editor(s) and readers.
- Correspondents are volunteer members of the community who posses high level skills in clear written communication, critical thinking and researching. Correspondents must also comply with a Code of Conduct.
- Readers are encouraged to comment on reports. All comments will be moderated.