The Boss Wants Pulitzers

The Baron on a new direction for Reuters:

During a recent visit to European bureaux Ingrassia contrasted what he termed "adrenaline journalism" – the traditional wire service story flow – with "aspiration journalism" – the new investigative writing at length that is now being pushed for editorial operations.

Spot news is still wanted but the benchmark should be set higher, chief correspondents were told. It is up to bureau chiefs to decide where that level will be and what stories can be ignored.

Asked about the business case for such a radical switch in journalistic priorities, the editorial chiefs said the chairman and majority owner David Thomson wants Pulitzers, and this is the only way Thomson Reuters can get them. He is a very rich man – the world's 17th wealthiest billionaire according to the most recent Forbes magazine reckoning – and that is what he wants, chief correspondents were told.