Crime correspondent Laurie Lane, the central character in Duncan Campbell's amusing If It Bleeds (2009), is the first fictional journalist I have come across to face career oblivion for not adapting to the demands of the online world. I suspect we will see many, many more in the next few years.
If It Bleeds is destined to feature strongly in Scoop!, not least because Guardian reporter Campbell knows what he is talking about and writes with an entertaining and perceptive cynicism.
News editor Stark, "all white shirt ...and spray-on" smile is discussing the future with Lane, a veteran of 22 years on the crime beat.
"It's just, as you know, with all the challenges we now face in -"
"An integrated, multimedia, internet world.."
"That sort of thing..."
Laurie has a good idea where this chat is going.
"We do really need people who are happy to make full use of all the new tools at our disposal. You know, producing podcasting and blogging, taking the old camera out on a job. Look, to cut to the chase: we just feel that maybe now there's a window of opportunity both for you and for someone more digitally, you know, savvy.."
"Sounds more like a defenestration than a window of opportunity," said Laurie. "Are you sacking me?"
Not quite. Stark wants him to become the motoring correspondent...
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