#28 - Tom Jackman, The Washington Post

 

Tom Jackman, the founder and driving force behind The Washington Post blog The State of NoVa, admits that community journalism is not rocket science.

“It is simply going out with a pen and paper and asking people what's happening? Why? How? Who? What? Where?,†he said. “It's really easy and it does involve, you know, getting out from behind your desk and going out and seeing people and finding out information.â€

But, he will also admit that just because being a community journalist is not complicated doesn’t mean that it’s not a rewarding or important job.

Jackman spoke to It's All Journalism producer Michael O'Connell and Online News Association Digital Manager Jeanne Brooks about the challenges facing local news in the current online environment.