In the first chapter of his book Online Journalism, author James C. Foust writes the following sentence on page 10:
Although the Internet is sometimes criticized as providing too much information in a disorganized form, search engines and skillful linking by journalists and others can make searching for specific information less overwhelming.
This is an intriguing and important point, especially the parts of the sentence that relate to actual human beings.
A new role is emerging in this medium for journalists — and “others.” Skillful linking as Foust writes — and I would add context setting and explanatory but clear synopsis writing — are key skill sets that are often overlooked when thinking about the tools modern journalists need in their toolboxes.
People that can make sense of the chaos and filter out the semantic noise to make the lives of we readers easier and less overwhelming are incredible — and credible — resources. Those who can do that routinely are the people I would choose for my “newsroom” if I were building one.
