Chronicle digital manager speaks about the future
Photo by Andre Williams/Eyeurbantv.Com/Nnpa
Wali D. Pitt, digital manager for The Chronicle of Winston-Salem, speaks at the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2016 mid-winter conference
Chronicle Staff Report
The Chronicle’s digital manager, Wali D. Pitt, participated in a panel discussion, “Future of Black Owned Newspapers and Media Organizations: Perspectives from the Next Generation,” at the 2016 mid-winter conference of the National Newspapers Publishers Association in Miami, Florda.
The panel discussion centered on the next generation of publishers, editors and other black-owned media corporate leaders and how they will incorporate new technology and innovation in their vision for the future.
Along with Pitt, other panelists included James C. Belt, Dallas Examiner; Chris Bennett, Jr., Seattle Medium; and Sam Collins, Washington Informer “Bridge.”
Pitt remarked, “It was a great and humbling experience to share a panel with these accomplished journalists. I enjoyed being around others who grew up in the newspaper business, like myself.”
Referring to the topic discussion by the panel, Pitt said, “We spoke about emerging technology, the fight between generations over that technology, and ways to incorporate new technology while staying true to the roots of community journalism.”
Pitt also mentioned the input of Sam Collins who publishes the “WI Bridge,” a monthly millennial publication within the Washington Informer that deals with millennial issues in the D.C. community.
“I feel like this was a great compromise between the generations, and more traditional newspapers could look into similar solutions to ‘bridge’ the gap between millennials and their elders.”
Pitt learned the business from his parents, Ernie and Elaine Pitt, Publisher Emeritus and Business Manager, respectively, of The Chronicle. Wali attended North Carolina Central University, where he studied Mass Communications. After an internship at the Tallahassee Capitol Outlook, he changed course and transferred to Cape Fear Community College to study Film/Video Production. Shortly after receiving a degree, Wali joined Legion Productions as an editor and camera assistant. He has worked on numerous films and TV shows such as “One Tree Hill” (CW Network), “Top Sniper” (Discovery Channel), and “Arthur Newman Golf Pro,” a film starring Colin Firth.
Pitt’s goal is to take the digital knowledge he has learned in the film industry and bring The Chronicle to the forefront of the digital news marketplace. Utilizing his skills, he intends to use a community-oriented approach to create a state-of-the-art digital footprint for his family’s newspaper.
