5 ms·

A thread on coders in newsrooms

16 points by seapunk 8y ago

LyndsySimon 8y ago
This isn’t just a “newsroom” problem - there are lots of areas where “the IT guy” is seen as just that and nothing more. We get typecast in many companies. In my experience, knowledge of the field you’re working in is a huge deal. I worked for an LTL trucking company for seven years. Anyone can write SQL, but it takes specialized and specific knowledge to build appropriate metrics and to know what data exist to support them. I’m in healthcare now, and have worked for companies serving medical research, patient care, and prescription drug pricing/insurance. The knowledge I bring to the table allows me to see things my peers who don’t share my specific history simply don’t - and, importantly, their knowledge and unique histories allow them to do the same. We’re stronger because of our diverse professional backgrounds. In short, I think it’s important to cultivate cross-role knowledge sharing and responsibilities. It’s good for the company now, and it’s good for the employees’ careers in the long term.
tvanantwerp 8y ago
A higher-up recently said that he thought of me as the "tech savior" of the organization. And while I'm sure he meant it as a compliment, it also conveyed another message: "I don't actually know what you do and I'm not interested as long as you fix my PC when it's broken." I don't work in a newsroom, but it's a similar setup: lots of people doing research and writing, and I get brought in if any IT/web stuff is needed. While I think I get along with everyone, there is a separation. More often than not, if someone pulls me into a project, it's because they've decided what they want to do already and just need my skills for execution. I've literally stalked the halls trying to overhear whispers of coming projects where I could contribute, because I know the odds of being approached early when I can make more creative contributions are pretty low.
lordnacho 8y ago
This was a problem in finance until a few years ago. When I started on the trading floor one of the traders went up to the desk where the devs were sitting. He asked for help getting his pound coin back from the vending machine. He thought that was really funny. These days you can go on efinancialcareers and see that dev jobs can pay £150K, probably more than most financial professionals. Maybe not as much upside potential as trading, depends on what you're coding.
jstewartmobile 8y ago
This is one of those "monkey hindbrain" behaviors that can present with any cross-pollination of professionals. For a closer-to-home example, look at how many dev shops treat their QA people. The out-groups rarely get the love they deserve. Generally speaking, the odds are better when working with your own kind. If you're a software golden child amongst all the other schmoes without a golden ticket, there's going to be more resentment than anything else.

16 points by seapunk 8y ago

This isn’t just a “newsroom” problem - there are lots of areas where “the IT guy” is seen as just that and nothing more. We get typecast in many companies. In my experience, knowledge of the field you’re working in is a huge deal. I worked for an LTL trucking company for seven years. Anyone can write SQL, but it takes specialized and specific knowledge to build appropriate metrics and to know what data exist to support them. I’m in healthcare now, and have worked for companies serving medical research, patient care, and prescription drug pricing/insurance. The knowledge I bring to the table allows me to see things my peers who don’t share my specific history simply don’t - and, importantly, their knowledge and unique histories allow them to do the same. We’re stronger because of our diverse professional backgrounds. In short, I think it’s important to cultivate cross-role knowledge sharing and responsibilities. It’s good for the company now, and it’s good for the employees’ careers in the long term.

tvanantwerp 8y ago

A higher-up recently said that he thought of me as the "tech savior" of the organization. And while I'm sure he meant it as a compliment, it also conveyed another message: "I don't actually know what you do and I'm not interested as long as you fix my PC when it's broken." I don't work in a newsroom, but it's a similar setup: lots of people doing research and writing, and I get brought in if any IT/web stuff is needed. While I think I get along with everyone, there is a separation. More often than not, if someone pulls me into a project, it's because they've decided what they want to do already and just need my skills for execution. I've literally stalked the halls trying to overhear whispers of coming projects where I could contribute, because I know the odds of being approached early when I can make more creative contributions are pretty low.

lordnacho 8y ago

This was a problem in finance until a few years ago. When I started on the trading floor one of the traders went up to the desk where the devs were sitting. He asked for help getting his pound coin back from the vending machine. He thought that was really funny. These days you can go on efinancialcareers and see that dev jobs can pay £150K, probably more than most financial professionals. Maybe not as much upside potential as trading, depends on what you're coding.

jstewartmobile 8y ago

This is one of those "monkey hindbrain" behaviors that can present with any cross-pollination of professionals. For a closer-to-home example, look at how many dev shops treat their QA people. The out-groups rarely get the love they deserve. Generally speaking, the odds are better when working with your own kind. If you're a software golden child amongst all the other schmoes without a golden ticket, there's going to be more resentment than anything else.