Meeting: March 27, 2010
Nearly 60 people were on hand on March 27 to hear four Van Dusen siblings discuss their journeys as second generation journalists, offer advice, and share their thoughts on journalism today.
Since the Media Mentoring Seminar was held in conjunction with Algonquin Collegeís journalism and e-publishing courses, participants were primarily from those classes. They listened intently as presenters related the differences between journalism today and when they first started out as journalists.
Referring to twitter and social media in general, Julie noted that if thereís anything wrong, itís the speed with which news travels and the fact that it is almost impossible to correct an error. “But” she said, “politicians do pay attention to social media.” Other comments regarding social media related to concerns about unedited postings. Pnelists agreed that journalists should use it as just one more source, not “the” source because, after all, it is not journalism. Utube is valuable because the photos can be used in mainstream media.
Peter Van Dusen said that the television station where he works, CPAC, does not twitter or blog. His brother, Tom, a freelance writer, said he doesnít have time for social media.
As someone noted, in spite of the popularity of social media only two per cent of the coverage of the American presidential campaign was generated by blogs.
Algonquin professor Joe Banks pointed out that the old rules of journalism are still being taught today – the importance of accuracy and having someone else check your copy. “Please preserve those things that work,: he pleaded. “Mainstream media is still asking for them.”
Other topics the panelists covered included “lessons learned”, and “piercing officialdom”..
Tips from their many years as journalists were well worth hearing even for those who had heard them before:
No question is a stupid question; never assume people donít want to talk to you; if you donít ask you wonít get; always ask open ended questions; go where the story takes you; donít show what you know – show what you can find out; prepare well for your interviews, donít take things for granted – always ask “is there anything else I should have asked you?”; always have your antennae up for new story ideas.
Between them, Julie, Peter, Tom and Mark have over 100 years of media experience. Their father, Tom, ia former reporter, worked as a political aide for 40 years on Parliament Hill. Their mother, Shirley, a new member of the Media Club, is an accomplished artist.
Julie Van Dusen has worked for CBC in Ottawa on Parliament Hill for nearly 20 years; Mark Van Dusen is Outreach Coordinator for the Canadian Human Rights Commission; Peter Van Dusen is Executive Producer/Anchor, Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC), and Tom Van Dusen is a freelance writer.
The panelists were introduced by June Coxon and thanked by Henry Heald.