NewsLab

NewsLab is a non-profit journalism resource center. It was founded in 1998 by Deborah Potter, a journalism trainer, reporter and writer. Deborah conducts workshops for journalists, educators and students across the country and around the world. The site is a resource for journalists, and it feeds them well.

The site features a section for issues plaguing journalists. There is a section of journalist’s resources, strategies for journalist’s to follow and various tips and tools to make journalism a little bit easier. Each article has space for any journalist to provide input. Comment sections make the site a well-rounded forum.

The site is organized like a news website, which appeals to the journalist’s eye. Each topic is written like an online news story and the latest posts are on top. At the top corner, you can see that NewsLab is active in most social networking sites. They are on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and more. This makes it easy for journalists to stay in contact with NewsLab and get constant updates and tips.

The posts are relevant and interesting. This week, Deborah posted strategies for effective storytelling. She identifies seven habits and then explains how they will help in media. And most of her tips are new to me. For example, she talks about the value of silence on television. While most newscasts talk our faces off, she says don’t be afraid of silence. “If you have unusual video effects, compelling images, or complex graphics on the screen- be quiet.”

She also posted What not to say on air. This article adds some humor to the site. Even though I have no desire to be on air, stories such as these are interesting to anyone who sees the television news blunders on their silver screen every day.

The site is up-to-date with the changing industry and features many articles about journalism innovation. For example, Deborah examines the State of Local TV News. This and other articles such as the Tips for Multimedia Journalists and Innovative Interactivity examine the current changes and uncertainties and makes sense of them. She addresses new methods of journalism. She gives advice on how to make the most of the market. She includes information that you cannot find everywhere, such as the exact economic numbers. While most people would recommend online avenues, this site actually shows you the exact difference between platforms by showing that online revenue was up 26% last year, to $1.3 billion, while television suffered a 22% drop last year.

And if all these resources were not enough, the site even features a job bank in the lower corner with recent job postings and a place for employers to post jobs. Any journalist could use this site whether they want to get their foot in the door or are a veteran media manager. There is a lot to learn from Deborah. And because journalism is a common interest of ours, her articles are interesting and amusing to read. If all media practitioners visited this site, it could genuinely improve our day-to-day product.

Now for my rating. Let me preface by saying that I am very picky, especially when it comes to online reading. I am a very busy woman and there are millions of sites on the web. Most only deserve about 30 seconds of my time.

With that said- I give this site a 5 out of 5. Each article I read was extremely helpful and interesting. Deborah Potter provides new information, and insightful advice. This site will not only enlighten me, but help me become a great journalist. I have already added it to my bookmarks.