By Barbara Hall, CNN
Sixty-four percent of mothers with children under the age of six work in the U.S. That makes for a lot of kids in daycare. The U.S. Department of Labor recommends parents spend no more than 10% of their annual income on child care. But experts say the cost of putting young children in a good program can cost $1,000 per month or more. Quality Care for Children is on par with tuition at some universities.
Patt Morrison blogged recently about watching a CNN anchor talk to one of their iReporters.
CNN’s website is recruiting accounts from iReporters the world over; so many people have video and photo capability in their pockets, thanks to cell phones, that no disaster of any magnitude seems to go unrecorded.
But actual reporting [is] another matter. You can’t blame a news operation for wanting the immediacy and the visuals of the moment. And free labor is nothing to turn up your nose at, especially when real-time accounts from around the world make today’s shoestring news operations seem mightier and more bulked-up than they really are.
As for the theory that anyone can be an ”iReporter,” as the San Diego crash account shows, there is more to reporting than pointing your cellphone camera in the right direction and telling the world that what you’re seeing is ”awful” or ”terrible” (words which can apply to just about any disaster, but which say virtually nothing about the disaster at hand).
I do understand that she wants us to remember the distinction between source/witness and actual reporter. But does she have to do it with such disdain? Even one of the comments noted her disdain for “citizen journalists.” But its really short-sighted to simply dismiss it that easily.
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I got an email earlier today from a former CCNMA, now NAHJ, acquaintance detailing a new type of position open at several CNN bureaus. Check this out:
The CNN All Platform Journalist initiative is a bold effort to double the footprint for CNN U.S. presence to 20 cities in 2009. The project goal is to position CNN in more places across the U.S. with the latest technologies, clearer direction and a renewed focus of editorial resources to reflect the demands of CNN’s rapidly growing platforms. With this initiative, CNN will deploy journalists fully devoted to multimedia storytelling. All Platform Journalists will create steadfast pathways across the country; developing content, writing pieces, visual storytelling and producing interactive elements with CNN’s digital components in mind.
Ideal candidates should be experienced in field and package producing, writing copy for television and internet new outlets, shooting with high-definition cameras, editing and transmission technologies and proven track records for flourishing in isolated, non-traditional newsroom environments.
The successful candidate will be an experienced journalist with a demonstrated ability to work in all environments-collaborative, fast paced, internet/web, and as an individual contributor. CNN is searching for self-starters, self-motivated and driven individuals. All Platform Journalists will be expected to research stories and gathers news event in designated regions, as well as generate ideas and content for all platforms of CNN. The APJ will reach out to community leaders, newsmakers, and city officials in the region to build contacts and sources in the region.
They’re looking to fill openings in Philadelphia, Raleigh, Seattle, Columbus, Houston, Las Vegas and Phoenix. If you’re looking to apply, you should send an email to CNN’s recruiter, brooke.camp@turner.com and also apply at turnerjobs.com.
Obviously, I think we all knew that jobs like this were going to become more common and more fashionable as newspapers and TV newscasts continue their death spiral and online becomes more important. But its still a trend I don’t like.