VITAMEDIAS
Editors Say 9-11 Changed Journalism: Sept. 11 and its aftermath have forever changed journalism, the managing editor of The New York Times told editors gathered Wednesday for an annual four-day conference.
Gerald Boyd said the war on terrorism means journalists have to become experts in such topics as bioterrorism, and should ask questions about the countries aligning with the United States in its fight against al-Qaida, and about the need to battle Iraq.
"Everything about our daily role has changed," Boyd said as the Associated Press Managing Editors annual meeting began. "We have to understand and explain and put it in context. It means a high responsibility. There's no doubt it's harder to get information. The difference for us is some people are not exorcised over this. They feel it's unpatriotic to raise those issues."
Even on a local level, it is becoming harder to obtain information, said Melanie Sill, executive editor of The News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C.