Lyrics
I once was a reporter, I used a pad and pen
I only had to find out who, what, where and when
Now they want a podcast, take a photo with my phone,
Write a blog and post on Facebook; never felt so all alone
Oh Lord, what’s happened to the news?
Help me keep my head up;
Save me from the jour na lism blues!
I once was a gatekeeper. I always checked my facts and beat
Now nobody cares; they just wanna see me Tweet.
They all want a quick read, news from the Internet
I know times they are a changing, but they ain’t gonna see me sweat
Oh Lord, what’s happened to the news?
You know I’m lost about what’s happenin’
Save me from the jour na lism blues!
Got to keep a charger powered ‘cause I write from a laptop.
Work my beat by email; news room’s a Starbucks coffee shop
No one assigns investigation, no one lets me rake some muck
They’re putting ads on the front page. How much more can this suck?
Oh Lord, what’s happened to the news?
Help me keep my head up;
Save me from the jour na lism blues!
Got me some financing for a paper of my own
Sold everything and then some; my retirement fund is blown
Then along comes Patch; my advertisers jump with glee.
Some zit-faced kid from Dallas says he’ll give ‘em space for free.
Oh Lord, what’s happened to the news?
Help me keep my head up;
Save me from the jour na lism blues!
I’m in community journalism, they love my paper here,
The kind of place where all the local meetings start with prayer
But I tried to sell some classifieds, and my sales pitch they dismissed!
Anybody know a hit man who will find Craig and his list?!
Lord I need a vacation, need to get away from here,
But I’m my only employee, what a hell of a career
If it’s done I do it, do you think that sounds like fun
Cause I sweep and clean the toilets when my editor’s work is done
Oh Lord, what’s happened to the news?
Help me keep my head up;
Save me from the jour na lism blues!
Oh Lord, what’s happened to the news?
I’ll be in church next Sunday
Just save me from the jour na lism blues!
Share this
Credits
The Band The South Moudy Blues (@SouthMoudyBlues) – Bill Johnson, Steve Levering (@levering) and David Whillock
Lyrics Donna Darovich (@Flackgirl)
Producer Tommy Thomason (@thomason)
Audio/Video Andy Haskett
Photography Rebecca Philp
Editing Greg Mansur
Online presentation Andrew Chavez (@adchavez)
Sponsored by Texas Center for Community Journalism (@tccj)