Thank you, WSJ
I have always been interested in media in the news. I was that kid who would turn on the Today Show over cartoons before school every morning.
As part of our class, we had the amazing opportunity to take a class field trip to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Stoked? Absolutely.
(Thanks to Asha and myself, we were so eager that we almost hopped on a train three weeks before we had to visit.)
Once we stepped into their office it was definitely what you see in the movies. Cubicles, huge televisions, long tables for conference rooms, and seeing coffee stations every ten yards or so, I learned a few things along the way.
We were able to sit in at a meeting about the newspaper that would be released the following day. Now, content is prohibited so whatever happened in that conference room stays in that conference room.
But, I will tell you about what I observed from sitting on the outside looking in. Of the mediator, reporters, writers, editors, and graphic people, the majority of the people that sat around the table were men from ages of 40 to 55.
I learned they did not stick to a script as they knew it would not make them stand out from the rest of the candidates. They added their own personal flair and opinion to make the newspaper that much more interesting to their viewers. They also bounced ideas to get feedback from each other. Feedback is so important to know what you are doing wrong so you can improve.
Like any other place, it is important to make connections with your readers and co-workers. With WSJ being the first newspaper company to launch on Snapchat Discover last January shows how they are advancing their network within the media. It makes the journalists jobs more enjoyable and “hip”. I got that vibe from Erin who was so passionate about her job to teach and reach out to people our age.
Lucinda Southern wrote an article on “What the Wall Street Journal has learned from Snapchat Discover”. She states, “For some, the paper’s markets focus didn’t seem like a natural fit with the ephemeral millennial platform. But two months in, Sarah Marshall, a social media editor at the Journal, said the Journal loves Discover.”
They have advanced to draw new audiences in new platforms. Of course there is room for improvement so it would be nice to have younger journalists working at the WSJ. Until then, we will have to wait and see.