FT reporters to take on more duties

Ben Dowell of The Guardian in London writes that reporters at the Financial Times will now become responsible for such tasks as inserting links into their stories and writing draft headlines.

Dowell reports, “In a briefing note, reporters were told that they must ‘take responsibility’ for adding hyperlinks to their stories, run their own spell and style checks and write draft headlines. When stories are to appear in the newspaper, they must check for length.

“After reporters file their stories, desks check their links and metadata, refine headlines and add pictures, graphics and video.

“Another desk then subs and revises content for print and online before the story is proofread and published.

“In his address, Barber said: ‘Newsroom 2009 does not alter our proven approach to news-gathering or news priorities: our philosophy remains to deliver a snapshot of relevant business and financial news, analysis and commentary to a global audience around the clock.”

Read more here.