Lindsey Mastis

***UPDATE: Just noticed, this story was also picked up by Fark !***

I was getting ready for bed and decided to read some of the comments from a story I did Friday . The story was about signs the DC Police put up. They said “Warning. Prostitution Free Zone.” I even interviewed a woman who offers erotic services. (Massages with “happy endings” and she takes “donations.”)

I had 31 comments– which is pretty huge for WUSA9 . As I was reading through them, one person mentioned seeing the story on Drudge Report . He linked to my story! It’s still up as of now. (I already have more than 60,000 page views on that story. Incredible!)

I’m so glad we covered this story. I truly wonder what tourists will think when they see these signs. It seems to imply that prostitution is just fine any other time. Other people– jokingly– think it means prostitutes are free.

Check out the story if you have a minute, 20!

There’s a line in the movie Up Close and Personal that describes my first week perfectly. Warren Justice (played by Robert Redford ) is in Panama doing a story about the canal. He talks to his anochor wife, Tally Atwater (played by Michelle Pfeiffer ) over a satellite phone. He says, “I’m having fun.” Well… I’m having lots of fun.

Photography has always been my secret passion. My first job– at age 15– was at a black and white photography studio. I developed film and pictures, toned photos, and experimented with dark room chemicals to create the best process. When I wasn’t working, I was shooting photos and developing them in my high school’s dark room. In college, I learned how to shoot video and edit on tape-to-tape. While at WSIL , I grew even further and learned non-linear editing. Now, I’m taking my skills further. I’ve already learned a great deal from the photographers, editors, and other reporters. Everyone has a little trick to share, and it’s making the transition easier. I’ve still got a lot to learn, and I’m plenty busy. And I’m having fun.

My stories:

TUESDAY: Stay in the Lincoln Bedroom The Madison Loews Hotel on 15th St NW re-did one of its room to look like the Lincoln Bedroom . There’s even an exact replica of the bed and a replica of a rocking chair from the Ford’s theatre . It costs over $800 a night to stay there, and It’s already booked for the Inauguration.

WEDNESDAY: Local Lottery Winner Thinks of Economy Three people in Northern Virginia won $1 Million playing the Lottery . I expected them to be smiling, jumping up and down, and braggin. There was none of that. In fact, no one looked genuinely happy. Because of the horrible economy, the winners want to save the money and pay off debts. One winner is hoping to catch up on medical bills.

THURSDAY: Local Designer Creates Line of Obama Jewelry You’ve probably seen some of Ann Hand ‘s jewelry on First Ladies, Presidents, and even Miss America. She creates patriotic-themed jewelry that looks like no other. Some are made out of gold, with crystals and diamonds. Now, she’s got an entire Obama line that includes sunglasses, coffee mugs, and dog tags.

FRIDAY: From Virginia to DC: Inaguration Walk The Secret Service won’t let anyone drive from Virginia to DC for the Inauguration. But they are letting people walk over the Memorial Bridge. We thought it would be a great idea to try out the route beforehand, so people will know what to expect. A taxi dropped me off at the Rossyln Metro Station . (There are parking garages around that part of town, but I imagine they’ll fill up fast.) I did a live shot at the Iwo Jima Memorial at 5 p.m. Then I walked to 3rd St, which is right in front of the US Capitol. I called in and Twittered during my walk. The entire 4.7 mile trip took me an 1 hour 45 minutes. It may be easier to walk on Inauguration Day, since there won’t be any traffic. But with security, it could actually take longer. All I can say is “Good Luck” to those who decide to walk. (I feel your pain.) I just hope they put some benches and port-a-potties on the bridge. That would make the journey much easier.

Starting Monday, January 5, I’ll be reporting to WUSA-TV as a Multimedia Journalist . I will be reporting, shooting, editing, and uploading news on air and online. I’m very excited and want to thank everyone for their support and encouragement. I left WSIL-TV 3 in July/August to move to Washington, DC, with my boyfriend Patrick. Since then, I have been freelancing as a writer and filmmaker. I’m finally back to doing what I love: sharing stories with people. Here’s the letter from Lane Michaelsen , VP of the Information Center (AKA News Director):

“Lindsey Mastis will join WUSA on Monday January 5^th as our newest MMJ.  Lindsey has worked as a freelancer in DC and two television stations in Illinois .  She not only has strong reporting skills but also brings a deep understanding of social networking .  Lindsey may look familiar as she has done work for Metromix and Our Time .  Please welcome Lindsey and make her part of the 9 News Now Family. -Lane”

Are newspapers dying? All of them? Is it a slow death? Haven’t we heard this before?

When television gained popularity, people wondered whether it would kill newspapers. It didn’t. When the Internet gained popularity, people wondered the same. News is now available on cell phones, through RSS feeds , and people can watch their favorite television shows on Hulu , and other on demand sites– some commercial free. As technology grows faster, people turn to their computers, Blackberries , and iPhones for information.

But when there is major news like a terrorist attack, people turn to television. When there is an historic event like the election of Obama , people flock to news stands. Will people still turn to these outlets if and when their phones can support the same type of video and news reports? Had 9/11 happened at a time when people could get live footage on their phones, would they have turned on the television?

The concept of a newspaper is very old. It’s simply the act of recording historic events and distributing it so the public knows what happened. Oh yeah, it’s distributed on paper, and is folded in a certain way, etc. Look at the past. Even when technology wasn’t a threat to newspapers, many governments were. The United State’s first newspaper, “Publick Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestick ,” was forced to stop printing after the first issue because Britain didn’t like it. Yet, newspapers eventually prevailed.

People tend to have an obsession with newspapers. There’s an entire website put together by the Newseum that features newspaper front pages from around the world. Remember Aaron Brown’s NewsNight on CNN ? He featured a segment called “Morning Papers,” where viewers could get a sneak peak of the headlines. He did this last, so viewers would have to sit through the whole show to see what the news would be the next day. People love newspapers. Check out this video from Any Rooney of 60 Minutes on CBS :

Rooney has a point. Even if a story breaks on television, people will turn to newspapers for a more in-depth look. People can take newspaper clippings and read, re-read, analyze, and share the facts. They can’t do that with television. Or can they? Someone could TiVo a segment, upload it to their computer, post it on YouTube , and share it before YouTube finds out it’s copywrited material and yanks it off the site. You don’t have those problems with online news sites. Instead of having to find numerous newspapers, cut out clippings, and mail them off to your friends and family, you can simply hit a button, type in an e-mail address, and off the information goes. Not just text, but video, interactive sites, photos– everything. It’s all right there.

The end may actually be near this time for newspapers. There is finally a medium that can replace what newspapers provide. And when the technology becomes even more advanced, television may face the same problem.

But there’s a bright side. The internet takes the skills of newspaper and television staffs and gives an audience the chance to experience a story. Although the paper may die, its reporters, page editors, and graphic artists are still needed. Reporters can share extra information that wouldn’t fit in the 20-inch news hole. Page editors can design an interactive website to highlight each story’s features, and graphic artists can make their graphs and maps slick and detailed. There’s no worry about the loss of quality after being printed 500,000 times.

The same goes with television journalists. Reporters can share extra video and uncut interviews. Photographers can always edit an extended version of a story so their best shots get in, or share their raw tape. Producers will ensure that all the elements are included in a organized manner and can even coordinate with engineers and master control to provide live footage on the web.

So newspapers aren’t dying. Paper is dying. It just so happens that the economy is poor and is forcing the change to happen more rapidly. It’s still a serious situation for journalists. Those who haven’t been laid off from newspapers are under constant stress. And now there’s even more talk of television stations being affected. Typepad has even created a “Journalist Bailout Program ” to help newspaper reporters transition from work in the office to blogging at home. They are offering free blogs with advertising, so journalists can keep the profits.

Whether journalists plan to get involved with the web or not– it’s becoming a matter of survival. For the audience, it’s a matter of convenience and quality. Newspaper and television journalists need to work together to create an exceptional experience for the audience, chalked full of information, photos, video, documents, and a place for reaction and discussion. It’s a scary time for people in the business, but an exciting time for the future of journalism. We truly are experiencing a revolution in the news industry.