The times they are a changing!

I was reading today about Andrew Gowers. Who is he? Well, he's has been/was an eidtor with the Financial Times for the last 20 years. He has recently resigned that position. He sighted 'strategic differences'. He said specifically, “Working in print, pure and simple, is the 21st century equivalent of running a record company specializing in vinyl.” Ouch!

How is it that industries who've been around forever, can't see the writing on the wall? Emotion? Too close to the situation? Pride? Well, what ever reason, they really need to listen to Andrew. I am not saying he's a genius, he is, paying attention, though! Asked what he would be doing in the future? “Whatever I do next it will not involve ink printed on dead trees.” This is a man who has been able to see the future, and he thinks newspapers have undervalued the internet and continue to refuse to see the power therein.

Professional journalists will find the future exciting. Exciting, that is, if they are willing to step outside the box and learn to be original, innovative and creative. And, we my fellow bloggers, will become another part of that industry. We will become a source from which professional journalist may, or have already, found sources for new ideas and stories. I know a lot if us write about our passion, whether it be self inflicted or something we have no choice in dealing with, we will become the fodder for new ideas and growth in journalism.

What kinds of people? People in my sidebar for one example. Susan is a perfect example of one of those passions: The Indie music scene. I think she has the makings to be a great Annie Lebowitz.

Then there's Kim Carney. Kim is an illustrators illustrator. She honest, she's creative, and she has a passion for what she does. She has inspired me on several occasions.

And Lisa. What can one say about Lisa? Lisa has been given a challenge. Lisa has a son born with severe disablilities. She allows us into that world. A world most of us have never been. We see the heartache and triumph of a segment of our society that is often misunderstood. Excellent.

There's S'mee. S'mee gives us a view of the world quite unlike anyone else. She has passion about the very average world we live in. Except she takes what most of us find average or ordinary and give us a new way to look at it and see it for the first time. She's always amazing me with her ability to enjoy life.

And who can forget Tiny Pineapple? Grettir is a movie critic extraordinaire. His sense of humor is the best. He was actually one of the very first bookmarks I made in my neighborhood. He can make you swoon with his writing and also bring you to tears as he talks about the women in his life.

So what do these quasi journalists have in common? New eyes for each of us. They open the world and show us a better part. A better part of the world wherein we live. They allow us new vision. Clearer, and sharp, and poignant at times. Andrew Gowers saw it. And so do I.

Who gives you new vision?