Reader/Journalist relationship

Loyal readers of a particular print publication tend to view their favorite journalists, whether they write columns or editorials or report on the music scene, as close friends. These imagined friendships between readers and writers are fostered by the prominence in such publications of narrative journalism, which is characterized by a candid, conversational style. The voice of a particular writer becomes familiar, and his weekly pieces become a sort of letter addressed to the individual reader. However, it is seldom the case that such a "friendship" is two-sided. Even in a community as small as Providence, not every reader is aquainted with each contributer to the paper. In The Audible Past, a history of modern sound technologies, author Jonathan Sterne presents Anthony Giddens' idea of presence availability. He states that "social availability is structured into front and back spaces, where the front space is the locus of social information that is available to others and back space is the locus of social information that is hidden." (151) In writing a piece for the Phoenix, the journalist has absolute control over what he reveals about himself and his own beliefs through his writing. All forms of mass media, from radio to television to newsprint, promote mass communication which entails "very small front spaces (relatively little available information) in relation to relatively large back spaces (lots of unknown factors)." (151) The reader of the Phoenix is provided only with as many clues to the journalist's true self as the journalist is willing to reveal. In this sense, the journalist holds the upper hand.

Example: I personally was shocked to learn, on visiting the Providence Phoenix offices, that the names Phillipe and Jorge are not the actual names of the two weekly columnists, but rather aliases. Chip Young (aka Phillipe) and Rudy Cheeks (aka Jorge) are contributing journalists at the Phoenix, and do not even have offices at the Providence headquarters. Phillipe and Jorge, friends to the community, individuals who speak candidly and intimately to their readers, do not actually exist.

However, when it comes to feedback, the reader excercises some degree of power over the journalist. Because the journalist cannot see his or her audience, he or she cannot rely on the constructive nature of instantaneous feedback. The journalist also cannot rely on any degree of attentiveness from his or her readers. Many factors play into the reader's attention span, including mood, environment, and the amount of time the reader can commit to reading the publication. Feedback, if provided at all, is far from instantaneous. It is often presented in the form of letters to the editor, and cannot be counted on as an accurate summary of the community's opinion. An accurate summary would require feedback from a wide range of community members, representing multiple age groups, both genders, and varying economic statises.

Although the relationship between reader and journalist does not have to be a relationship between equals, homophyly makes for a more meaningful experience on both sides. Homophyly is defined as the common experience shared by a journalist and his or her audience-- the source and the receiver. A nod to a commonly shared experience enhances the receiver's reading, because he or she is flattered by his or her deep connection to the community. For example, in the 30th anniversary issue of the Phoenix, editors presented a survey to various community members, asking them questions about the Providence community. Among the questions were nods to Providence culture, such as the question "coffee milk or dels?" To an outside reader, this question would make no sense. However, the inside reader can smile knowingly and give himself a pat on the shoulder, because he knows that coffee milk origionated in Rhode Island, and that Dels is a delicious blend of lemonade and crushed ice. The reader has a close connection to Providence just as the writer does, and over this fact they can bond.

Changes due to the Internet Age

My father, who is a journalist, recently admitted to me that he has downloaded an alert on his laptop that notifies him via e-mail every time his name appears in print on the internet. He insists that he is not an extreme narcissist, and that rather his reason for setting up the alert is to keep himself informed of any feedback being published in response to his stories. While, in print, feedback is delayed and minimal, high-speed internet allows readers of the Phoenix or any publication to publish their personal opinions with ease. Whether through a blog, a personal e-mail, or a wiki such as this, any individual has the ability to present his opinions to the journalist. The journalist is no longer alone in his ability to speak to the community at large. Because the internet allows for high-speed publication and instantaneous feedback on both sides, privacy is diminished and the entire network of people and things within which the Phoenix exists becomes tight-knit. For example, as author of this wiki, I must keep in mind that any reference made to an employee of the Phoenix is available for everyone---the employee included--to see.

Note: The experience of developing this wiki has given me a glimpse into the world of the journalist. Because my website is published on the internet and available to anyone who wishes to view it, I have been personally subject to feedback from an audience. Inaccuracies in my claims were recently called to my attention via e-mail by a member of the Phoenix staff. Not only was this feedback constructive, but it served as further proof that the Internet Age allows for the journalist to act as reader and vice-versa, and for the two parties to provide instantaneous feedback to each other.

Poynter Online, which exists in association with the Poynter Institute and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, is a website that is constantly updated with news and gossip about newspapers and magazines across the country. By browsing the site, http://www.poynter.org/, casual audiences can keep tabs on different publications. The site publishes many blogs, among them Jim Romenesko's "Romenesko: Your daily fix of media industry news, commentary, and memos." Search for "Providence Phoenix" in Romenesko's archives, and ten results pop up. A particular blog entry from 10/24/2003 details journalist Brian C. Jones' reasons for leaving his high-paying job at the Providence Journal for a low-paying contributing position at the Phoenix. In the age of print journalism this journalist's comments on his career change may not have been deemed print-worthy. However the Internet Age condones--even encourages--the publication of all thoughts. The relationship between journalist and reader is no longer necessarily mediated by publishers and editors who have the power to decide what gets published in print.

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