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Journalists Don't Need to Know Computer Programming

DigiDave asks, “Where’s the Money to Teach Journalists How to Code?

Why? Makes more sense to me that journalists should work with programmers.

8 Comments on “Journalists Don't Need to Know Computer Programming”

  1. #1 Digidave
    on Jun 6th, 2007 at 10:28 pm

    Dan
    True — in the end, it’s probably better to have people specialize in specific areas (editorial and development).

    But I want to know the in’s and out’s of what development does. What is and isn’t possible — Right now I find in many situations editorial and development speak two languages. I often act as an interpreter — but I want to improve my language skills — maybe even speak a little myself (if I’m going to extend the metaphor).

    But one person can only do so much: in the end it’s probably better to have a programmer and a journalist work hand in hand.

  2. #2 Dan Gillmor
    on Jun 7th, 2007 at 5:51 am

    Fair enough. I learned some programming in high school and then took it up again much later, but never became remotely good enough to create a journalism product. I did learn enough to communicate with programmers, which I guess is what you’re pushing for — and it’s a good idea.

  3. #3 Journalists need|don’t need to learn programming | mattwaite.com
    on Jun 7th, 2007 at 6:32 am

    […] a minor meme going around right now that goes like this: Let’s teach programmers journalism. But I’m a journalist and want to learn, where’s my scholarship? Journalists don’t […]

  4. #4 John Bachir
    on Jun 8th, 2007 at 8:27 pm

    I find that there are increasing correlations between programmers, people who are highly media literate, people who are passionate about many-to-many media, and journalists, and I think that is no coincidence.

    The ability to create content, use tools, and create tools, all go hand in hand. As programming languages become more abstract (in other words: easier), I think this phenomenon will increase, until the very lines between these spaces begin to blur.

  5. #5 BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » Programmer/journalists
    on Jun 9th, 2007 at 1:08 pm

    […] followed. Here’s William Hartnett arguing that journalists do need to know how to program. Here’s Matt Waite agreeing. Here’s Dan Gillmor saying that […]

  6. #6 mind new media » Blog Archive » Why (some) journalists should learn (some) code
    on Jun 11th, 2007 at 1:18 am

    […] a minor meme going around right now that goes like this: Let’s teach programmers journalism. But I’m a journalist and want to learn, where’s my scholarship? Journalists don’t need to […]

  7. #7 (J)journalist/(P)programmer | SOJo: Student of Online Journalism
    on Jun 19th, 2007 at 1:05 am

    […] Dan Gilmor: Journalists don’t need to learn to program, they need to learn how to work with programmers. […]

  8. #8 Where’s the Grant to Teach Journalists how to Code: Take II « DigiDave - Journalism is a Process, Not a Product
    on Apr 1st, 2009 at 1:39 am

    […] Thanks to all — some good advice in the comments and other […]