In April last year at the International journalism festival in Perugia (Italy), I asked Paul Steiger, former editor The Wall Street Journal and CEO ProPublica [1] that is possible if the press syndicate like "ProPublike" in Russia, where regional press can not afford to buy stories instead of their own kopeck production where killed in the professional investigation journalists do not become famous, albeit posthumously, as Anna Politkovskaya. To which he replied simply: "I do not know." But after that I began to think about it. Long. Because occasionally there is a desire somehow integrate our disparate counterparts, diversifying sometimes boring and plain-all on edge of history staff sponsors qualitative metropolitan press. It would seem that this function is taken now as if to outsource many online publications, write to the authors of non-standard (for example, OpenSource . ru ). On the other hand, under a lot of doubt the business model of these structures. "Normal" American syndicates are now living through the support of bankers and donations private funds (see, for example). At the same time they produce quality content - talented stories talented as investigators - quite a well accepted (but sold it?), The leading U.S. publications and the world - so, for example, New York Times . Does all this the role that at the helm of the newborn press syndicate is a journalist and editor with solid experience and a bunch of useful contacts, long known in the media world? Of course, the figure founder, as is the case with Huffington Post , where everyone runs the Arianna Huffington, plays an important role. But imagine for one minute that "Kommersant" and "Vedomosti" suddenly began to buy materials have no one to press syndicate. In my opinion, it is not profitable. For good journalistic stories in the U.S. you pay a fee, which you can live the remaining months of searching for and developing new themes. One of the trainees in ProPublica pay for $ 700 a week - for the compilation of notes on the site. As for us freelance writers for one publication hardly wait for more than 10 000 rubles. (It is still quite good fee). And our publications so simple - to collect "friends» and pay them as you like, you buy something expensive at a press syndicate. Today, the composition freelance writers formed, mainly through friends, inviting his colleagues to cooperate. Maybe this is correct, as a natural principle of creating communities - including the professional. On the other hand, the press syndicate - is as a separate media. Just trust it is not the readers directly, and fellow journalists. It is clear that he was responsible for the information supplied. If it's quality - stuff to buy the publication. If there is a puncture, they immediately spread with ink stains on the reputation of the press syndicate.
It is worth noting that earlier press syndicates appeared to conserve resources today - is, on the contrary, rather, a luxury - afford to buy top stories are not all reputable publications. On the other hand, for me to So far it remains unclear how to solve the problem of uniqueness. Topics are announced in advance of the material and offered to interested publications? Or they published a total tape, but who wants to - to buy (but then any story could develop their own editorial staff and marry your own)? In "ProPublike" This problem is solved by license Creative Commons . But on the other hand, if for this project were not so prominent people and organizations, no one would not have thought to take these stories to the press and, thereby, to promote "the development of high-quality investigative journalism" (as stated mission project). I recall trying my classmate a few years ago, a press syndicate, which would be based on student work and supplied news from Moscow's regional editions. We went together to the festival in Dagomys thread and familiar with the idea of chief editors of regional publications. Recoil was virtually zero - even for a purely symbolic value of the materials from the capital region were not necessary - for them and 500 rubles. expensive, and news possible from the internet and other sources pick up and show off their metropolitan correspondents no reason.
Today news syndicates, as well as news agencies, needs more and then to produce a graphical information - for example, produce infographics. And this, incidentally, more profitably, rather than haggling texts. The largest U.S. media syndicate Universal Press Syndicate also produces comics and other non-text information.
As it turns out, if you type in the search for "press syndicate in Russia, there are none in principle (they may have, of course, exist - for example, the format of the syndicate could take the graphics service ITAR-TASS, making for other media infographics on a treaty signing [2] ), but cleverly concealed under another name. There are attempts in the field of advertising, but not journalism.
Recently I was faced with an interesting project, which also has relevance to the topic - Haro Help a Reporter [3] . In fact, this new form of social interaction in the journalistic community, a service that generates a content sharing in the form of comments for journalistic texts from different fields of knowledge. That here from a syndicate? Rather, the scheme of dissemination of information on potential experts, commentators, for whom any publication - it's free PR. In this connection, recalled the services aggregators comments, which appeared several years ago in Russia and were not popular. This happened, primarily due to the fact that a comment by its nature is unique, and not interesting to read (and even more so - to buy) some comments on that or other topics have already voiced by someone else (including, and other media).
If you think about who could have united the press syndicate? Is that massive newspaper with entertainment content mediocre, which, incidentally, and so they all have the same. Perhaps it would bring them at least some commercial benefit.
«Kommersant and Vedomosti? Perhaps, but the manner of presenting information in two different editions. Yes, and whether they are in an environment where other talented Russian journalists have simply nowhere to look for? And those that there are already occupied by some cushy job from him obviously will not give up in favor of some press syndicate at the free breads. And, frankly, it all smacks a little trade union movement, which in our country has, unfortunately, has long appeared disgusted. Therefore, I am afraid to change the situation can only be created on the basis of the traditional understanding of the syndicates of something radically new (including, and new media). Why do we create structures that supply the press some materials? This is similar to the violent resurrection has long been ready to die paper sheets with her, a newspaper business model. Let there be no longer news, but convergence - or new media - syndicate. Finally, another option - sponsoring such projects the rich and generous U.S. foundations. But somehow convinced that at this time to give into the hands of Americans saving investigative journalism nobody in Russia wants, like a couple of decades ago. So, the fate of the syndicated media education until hangs in the air over our country. In explanation Indian site, "I bribed and site whistleblowers Wikileaks there's some questionable resources like the" wrath of the people ", which also going remarks and materials, only this time it was ordinary people - citizen journalists. And in this regard can not be thinking - and not a Do in this case, a syndicate of global Internet where you can find anything you like and subscribe to it by RSS (open or closed - it does not matter)? In general, the fate of the press syndicate seems to me quite vague in light of the development of new technologies, not only in Russia but also in the world.
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