(Vivian Vahlberg)

A common refrain of speakers at a recent World Association of Newspapers' Digital Publishing conference in London was the need for people with new and different skills at today's news organizations.

Among them was Zach Leonard, digital media publisher for Times Newspapers Ltd. in London, who said while journalists have to be focused on what they do best, news organizations now need additional people with different sets of skills needed for multi-media work, from production, graphics and packaging skills to skills creating and working with metadata and video.

And on the sales side, new skills in selling video and broadband are critical. "If we're trying to sell alternative reach, we need that kind of skill, which is different than selling off the page," he said.

What do you think? Please share your thoughts, experiences and reactions by clicking on the comment button below or by e-mailing me at v-vahlberg@northwestern.edu.