1What is online journalism? - Ayo Menulis FISIP UAJY

96 Journalism Online
unforgivable, to judge from the dire warnings on some mailing
lists’ subscriber information. Don’t be put off by the tone of
these warnings. Once inside, the natives of mailing lists are
often friendly.
Of course, there are ways to make the natives restless. Mailing
lists are not effective quick-fix solutions for journalists. For
example, a reporter who crashed into a Grateful Dead mailing list
seeking reaction from fans shortly after Jerry Garcia’s death was
apparently given very short shrift.
Yet as a tool for monitoring informed and current discussion in
specific areas and also tracing contacts, they can be useful and you
will not find only dry academics and ivory tower experts. Mailing
lists dealing with community issues such as health and education
may also have contributions from the grass roots – the real people,
such as sufferers of certain illnesses or the parents of children
with particular learning difficulties. These people can be invaluable
contacts and sources.
Once again, Nora Paul 8 has good advice on the ‘netiquette’ of
using mailing lists, but here are some quick and simple do’s and
don’ts:
always identify yourself as a journalist;
do not quote any mailing list contributions without
permission;
mailing lists are a publishing form, so watch out for the danger
of libel; and
do not allow your questions to give away any scoops you may
have.
The most commonly used index of mailing lists is the web site called
www.liszt.com. Here you will find mailing lists grouped under
headings, like a subject directory. You can browse or search. Once
again, the more precise the search request, the better the returns. If
you spot a mailing list that interests you, you can subscribe direct
from www.liszt.com or e-mail the mailing list itself.
8 www.poynter.org/car/cg_carlists.htm