Frequenting sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Skype could be seen as procrastination at its finest, but it could also be viewed as a ticket into the current job market for the news media, according to Keith Whamond '04, Executive Producer for the Connecticut Media Group at Hearst Digital
Whamond told how the rulebook of online media in today's world is ever-changing, but a knowledge of user-generated content sites will help put you ahead in the industry. The former Stag met with students of Dr. Simon's News Writing class last Monday to discuss this vital tool, which can be further developed in the University setting.
The Fairfield alum made it clear that the user-generated content many students already engage with at their leisure is a major part of online media's future. It can help rejuvenate a once-failing enterprise like Seattle Post-Intelligencer, which Whamond notes as being “the shot across the bow” in terms of utilizing this relatively new means of interacting with the news over standard print journalism.
Mastery of sites centered around this content such as YouTube and Skype, an online teleconferencing and videoconferencing service, is key; “it just takes a little bit of enthusiasm,” Whamond said. Surprisingly, this is a prerequisite that many resumes currently lack.“Once you get the potential of the medium, you level the playing field,” he stated.
Whamond detailed how user-generated input from a journalist's personal blog can help continue the news conversation between the media and the audience. Thanks to websites that make use of this feature, stories that may have gone unpublished now have can potentially have an audience, and potentially, an impact.
Whamond '04 earned his BA in English during his four years at Fairfield. He said he enjoyed the working environment that The Mirror provides and by his senior year he was named Managing Editor.
His online media career began as an editorial page assistant for The Connecticut Post and later as an online reporter for the Post's website. Soon after, Whamond took a position as an online editor for NewsTimes.com. He has been the Executive Producer for the Connecticut Media Group at Hearst Digital for the past 6 months.
Apart from being well-versed in user-generated content sites and the core values of journalism, Whamond stressed the upside of being fresh out of college and new to the industry. “Being young and not knowing the rules gives you a huge advantage,” he said. “Passion is the best thing you can bring to the table.”
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