Eric Gibson, editor, Wall Street Journal “Leisure & Arts” page, one of tonight’s panelists
Christie’s this evening will host its second panel discussion on The Future of Arts Journalism. Who can ever forget the first, two years ago, where Sam Sifton, then the NY Times‘ cultural news editor, said this about his newspaper’s arts reporters and critics, occasioning inward gasps from the audience, an astonished comment from the moderator, and probably resentment from certain reporters and critics:
It’s comfortable to think of them as sort of workhorses and show ponies.
You can put the reporters in the saddle and get them to do everything.
With a critic, you offer a sugar cube and some ribbons….They know it’s true.
Coincidentally or not, Sifton was named five months later to take over the restaurant critic’s beat. There’s no one from the Times on this evening’s three-person panel:
—Eric Gibson, editor of the “Leisure & Arts” page (for which I write), Wall Street Journal
—Lindsay Pollock, editor-in-chief, Art in America
—Dennis Scholl, vice president, arts, Knight Foundation
The evening’s moderator, once again, is Professor Sree Sreenivasan, dean of student affairs, Columbia University School of Journalism, whose talk at a long-ago alumni weekend, for better or (probably) for worse, tempted me to start blogging almost five years ago.
Here’s the panel’s description:
As traditional outlets grapple with the fast-changing media landscape, what does the future hold for arts journalism? If online media is the way of the future, what are the proven business models [not CultureGrrl‘s, obviously] and which are to be avoided? What career path should an aspiring journalist or seasoned arts writer take in this new climate?
This sounds like news I can use.
It all takes place tonight, 6-8 p.m., at Christie’s World Room, 20 Rockefeller Plaza (49th St.). But if you can’t be there in person (as I hope to be), don’t fret. You can watch it live online (and even send questions for the panel), by clicking the link at the top of this post.
Speaking of the future of arts journalism and (failed) business models: I’ve been asked to participate on a panel, “Investigating the Arts,” at the June conference in Orlando of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), a professional organization for investigative reporters in all fields. My only hesitation is that travel and hotel expenses are out-of-pocket.
If you’d like to help me decide, you know where my yellow “Donate” button is. (Hint: my middle column.) Don’t worry, I won’t stray to Disney World, which I’ve visited far too many times for one lifetime (unless I have grandchildren, in which case I may eventually reconsider).
Speaking of which, I haven’t yet told you of a very joyful CultureFamily development: A week and a half ago, CultureDaughter became a fiancée. You’ve already met the lucky, terrific guy!
Speaking of panels, I promise that you WILL have my report tomorrow on the revelations that emerged from the panel discussion, Hide/Seek: Museums, Ethics and the Press, in which I participated with Martin Sullivan, director of the National Portrait Gallery, and Daniel Okrent, author, journalist and the NY Times‘ first Public Editor.