Disqus - Latest Comments for dickkraus

Re: A Reporter's Life: Morale/Are You Happy Now? - The Digital Journalist

dickkraus — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:26:34 -0000

I am from the New York area; Long Island, to be exact. I would venture to say that geographically, we are polar opposites

People still working at my old newspaper, Newsday, describe the atmosphere as toxic because of the uncertainty regarding employment. Just as you said. Newspapers are no longer being run by individuals with the proverbial “printers’ ink in their blood” but by bean counters and corporations whose interests involve the bottom line rather than the integrity of the product.

Re: dk_0910.htm

dickkraus — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:56:01 -0000

Thanks, Randy. Thank you for your kind thoughts.
Dick

Re: A Reporter's Life: Morale/Are You Happy Now? - The Digital Journalist

dickkraus — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:16:21 -0000

You painted a very accurate picture of what the world of journalism has become, Eileen. I am delighted to have retired just in time and can enjoy the happy memories of time spent at a job that I truly loved. I often hear from associates of mine who are still employed and they describe the morale in the newsroom in one word. “Toxic.”

Re: dk_0910.htm

dickkraus — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:16:55 -0000

I am really touched by all of the wonderful comments that have been posted here and by all of the wonderful e-mails that I have received. You all make me feel like I have done something more with my rambling prose than to have just stroked my own ego. Thank you.
Dick Kraus

Re: dk_0910.htm

dickkraus — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:16:14 -0000

Re: dk_0909.htm

dickkraus — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:23:44 -0000

To all of you who responded;

I tried to use the philosophy from my 4 X 5 film days when we switched to 35mm film. I tried to make sure that I had the best angle, cleanest background, nicest lighting and a good expression (if the subject was a person) and then I would trip the shutter. I can’t say that I only made one or two exposures each time, but I didn’t burn film as readily as many. Even unto the digital age, I tried to keep the same discipline but it was harder. Yes, film had its advantages, but, I would never go back.

Thanks for your views, Mike, Richard and Lee.

Re: How to Start to Save Photojournalism - The Digital Journalist

dickkraus — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:56:51 -0000

With all of this talk of "Citizen Journalists" putting professional photojournalists’ jobs in jeopardy, I'm thinking that it's time to take the point and shoots away from the amateurs. Let's leave journalism to the professionals by licensing cameras like guns. Only professionals will be able to own one.

Of course I am jesting.

I have no answers. Much of what has been posted on this subject has merit. However, I don’t think that anything will change for us until citizens get tired of reading their news from backlit screens and come to realize that blurry, grainy, murky images don’t satisfy their quest for information and unsubstantiated personal blogs can’t be trusted for accuracy.

Re: Editorial: It's Time to Build the Bloody Wall - The Digital Journalist

dickkraus — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:12:16 -0000

I have read this editorial with interest, and the ensuing discussion with even more interest. I have been in journalism for 42 years, before my retirement seven years ago, and have been involved in a tremendous metamorphosis that has swept over the industry in that time. This is a fluid industry and you either keep up with the technology or get swept away by it.

As a staff photographer for all of those years, I wasn't involved in the decisions to change directions as a new technology or an improvement in the old technology came to light. I also wasn't privy to the paper's policy decisions and there were times when my beliefs differed from those of my employer. I knew that it was her money that paid my salary so I did my job as best that I could. Fortunately, I never experienced any real deep schism in our differences that would cause me to lose any sleep. I always felt that everyone was entitled to their opinion. And, I always tried to make sure that my photos showed no bias.

In the course of my career, I came to understand certain truisms. People will believe what they want to believe, no matter what the source. It appalls me to see people moving away from print journalism and accepting as gospel what they read in blogs. I recall attending the daily news meeting at my paper when I had to fill in as Photo Editor and seeing the Editor insisting that the source of a quote in a story be checked and verification made by at least two other witnesses or sources. I don't think you get that kind of effort on someone's personal blog. The writer of a blog can and will write whatever suits his or her agenda with no attempt at verification.

Of course papers have agendas, as well. Some papers endorse Democrats. Some favor Republicans. Some are left of center and some lean to the right. But, most, I feel, express their sentiments on the editorial pages and keep it out of their news stories. For the most part. But, bloggers are under no compunction to follow those guidelines.

I recall one of my first photo assignments as a new hire with my paper. I was sent to cover a meeting of the local Daughters of the American Revolution. I arrived on the scene with my camera in hand.

"What paper are you from?" I was asked by someone at the door.

"I'm from Newsday," I responded.

"Oh, that Commie rag," she replied and turned and walked away. I proceeded to look for someone in charge to see what I could do to get a picture. I found the Chair Lady of the event and introduced myself. She asked were I was from.

"Newsday."

"That rightwing paper," she said.

I found my own photo to make, that night and left thinking that we must be doing something right to elicit those reactions.

Let's pray that the industry can get back on track before go so far off course that we never find our way home.

Re: We're Just Sayin' - The Digital Journalist

dickkraus — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:40:29 -0000

Alas, I feel your pain, and every other newspuke who wonders where their his/her life is heading.

Dick Kraus