Greg's Text:
(Don’t forget to take a peek at my SlideShare below.)
In order to move forward, sometimes you need to take a step back.
“How could he even think about leading with ‘take a step back?’ ”
A foolish way to start? Let me explain.
No one knows exactly what the future of journalism holds.
No one knows exactly what software you'll need to know, what hardware you’ll need to use or which online networks you'll need to join in the coming years.
If you step back, those things don’t represent the future – they are simply tools. The tools are important, but we often fixate on them.
What matters is understanding where we've been, where we are now and where we're going.
There is no specific list of skills. Yes, keep up. Stay ahead of the curve. But don’t lose focus.
With that in mind, I think the most important traits for someone who qualifies as the future of journalism are more general.
In no particular order, those traits include a desire and ability to:
-Tell a story
-Tell the truth
-Listen
-Summarize
-Prioritize
-Synthesize
-Ask questions
-Dig
-Be dogged and relentless
-Provide context
-Constantly pursue knowledge and understanding
-Be comprehensive
-Think critically
-Work ethically
-Cope with uncertainty
-Adapt
-Appreciate new ideas
-Innovate
-Teach
-Connect
-Interact with the audience
-Start and participate in conversations
-Be part of a community
-Be mobile
-Work with others
-Relate
-Know it’s not about you
I believe I embody all of these characteristics.
Collectively, this list represents a foundation on which I am always building. Tools help build on the foundation, and I am well versed with many tools, but it’s the result – the journalism – that matters more.
I am the future of journalism because I can take a step back, look forward and see what’s truly important. And – with perspective, mindset, skill set and all the traits listed above – I will lead the way.
www.greglinch.com