9.13.2012
Caption in need of help?
AP photographer Carolyn Kaster shot a campaign photo of Vice President Joe Biden Sept. 9, apparently showing him getting very friendly with a female biker at a diner in Seaman, Ohio.
But was he? Here’s an account of the encounter from a Washington Post blogger.
Should the AP caption have said more about what preceded this photo — and where the woman was actually sitting?
Please link to your blog resume pages here
Class, today I'll be doing a final look/edit at your published resumes on your Wordpress sites, which are due at the start of class. (See syllabus for details.)
Please write your name, in the comments area below this post, and link it to your Wordpress resume page, so I can easily find it.
Thanks much!
9.11.2012
Online media gives athletes a chance to shrug off "dumb jock" image
Professional athletes, due to the nature of their business, are generally known for their bodies and not necessarily their minds.
Over the years, the media and popular culture have developed the stereotype of the "dumb jock." Granted, many athletes really are dumb and even some of those who aren't feed into this stereotype by giving monotone responses and one-word answers during interviews.
However, there are some athletes who aren't dumb, in fact some are actually pretty darn smart. And luckily for us (the fans) and them (the jocks), we live in an era where online media can give these athletes an outlet to disprove the stereotype.
In a recent example (with a local Maryland connection!) of an athlete using internet communication and journalism outlets to his advantage, Chris Kluwe, a punter for the Minnesota, took to the web in defense of gay marriage.
The story begins with Raven's linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who has publicly spoken out in support of Maryland's upcoming ballot initiative to legalize gay marriage. Ayanbadejo's comments raised the ire of Maryland state delegate Emmett Burns, Jr. Burns wrote Raven's owner Steve Bisciotti a letter asking him to put a muzzle on his player and keep him from commenting on the divisive issue.
Kluwe took umbrage with Burns' attempts to restrict Ayanbadejo's constitutional right to free speech (as well as Burns' conservative political ideology) and penned a response to Burns' letter.
Kluwe published the response on Deadspin.com, a sports news/gossip site which Kluwe has written pieces for in the past. The web post went viral and has garnered close to 2 million page views in less than a week.
Over the years, the media and popular culture have developed the stereotype of the "dumb jock." Granted, many athletes really are dumb and even some of those who aren't feed into this stereotype by giving monotone responses and one-word answers during interviews.
However, there are some athletes who aren't dumb, in fact some are actually pretty darn smart. And luckily for us (the fans) and them (the jocks), we live in an era where online media can give these athletes an outlet to disprove the stereotype.
In a recent example (with a local Maryland connection!) of an athlete using internet communication and journalism outlets to his advantage, Chris Kluwe, a punter for the Minnesota, took to the web in defense of gay marriage.
The story begins with Raven's linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who has publicly spoken out in support of Maryland's upcoming ballot initiative to legalize gay marriage. Ayanbadejo's comments raised the ire of Maryland state delegate Emmett Burns, Jr. Burns wrote Raven's owner Steve Bisciotti a letter asking him to put a muzzle on his player and keep him from commenting on the divisive issue.
Kluwe took umbrage with Burns' attempts to restrict Ayanbadejo's constitutional right to free speech (as well as Burns' conservative political ideology) and penned a response to Burns' letter.
Kluwe published the response on Deadspin.com, a sports news/gossip site which Kluwe has written pieces for in the past. The web post went viral and has garnered close to 2 million page views in less than a week.
9.10.2012
Where everybody knows your username
Last week's piece from GigaOm discusses how Reddit captures a community in ways that most traditional newspaper websites have so far failed to do, despite attempts.
The article's author, Matthew Ingram argues that in order to grow and maintain an audience, digital first media outlets must establish a community similar to that of Reddit. Ingram says,"As they try to move online, or become reader-supported the way the New York Times is, more newspapers and other media outlets are going to have to get serious about building community — and that means more than just trying to get a bunch of Twitter followers who will retweet a headline. Reddit is a great example of a real community, and Advance has clearly seen the power of what that kind of community can do given the right circumstances. But can it take those lessons and apply them elsewhere? It and other newspapers are going to have to figure out how if they want to survive online."
It's likely that he's right. Community fosters loyalty, and with an increase in competition in the age of online journalism, loyalty may be the only way to survive long-term.
The article's author, Matthew Ingram argues that in order to grow and maintain an audience, digital first media outlets must establish a community similar to that of Reddit. Ingram says,"As they try to move online, or become reader-supported the way the New York Times is, more newspapers and other media outlets are going to have to get serious about building community — and that means more than just trying to get a bunch of Twitter followers who will retweet a headline. Reddit is a great example of a real community, and Advance has clearly seen the power of what that kind of community can do given the right circumstances. But can it take those lessons and apply them elsewhere? It and other newspapers are going to have to figure out how if they want to survive online."
It's likely that he's right. Community fosters loyalty, and with an increase in competition in the age of online journalism, loyalty may be the only way to survive long-term.
9.06.2012
All eyes, (and tweets) on Michelle Obama
I'll admit that I was one of the millions who flocked to twitter during Michelle Obama's speech on Tuesday night at the Democratic National Convention. I may have tweeted one thing the entire time but constantly updated my feed every 10 seconds and looked through the #DNC2012, #michelleobama and #firstlady.
The fact that the number of tweets during Michelle Obama's speech peaked at 28,003 tweets per minute meant that a lot of people were watching the speech on TV and on a second screen, (smart phone, tablet, laptop) like I was.
It's an understatement to say that Michelle Obama inspired people to get involved in these months leading up to the election in November, and twitter provided the forum for people connected to the web or using the app on their phones to express their excitement and praise for the first lady that night.
The FLOTUS's speech about her husband and her family was extremely effective in attracting tech-savvy users and journalists to twitter to share thoughts and post key quotes. Although Ann Romney spoke last week during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, her speech peaked at only about 6,000 tweets per minute.
Clearly the speeches targeted different groups, with one reporter on CNN stating it well when he said Ann Romney's speech was directed towards older mothers while Michelle Obama's speech was more in tune with the daughters of those mothers. Those daughters (and sons) were the ones who bombarded twitter Tuesday night, as well as last night during Bill Clinton's nomination speech.
Here is a Huffington Post article with photos and examples of tweets from Michelle Obama's "grand slam" of a speech (to borrow a phrase from Wolf Blitzer...)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/04/michelle-obama-dnc-speech-reactions-2012-twitter-women_n_1856298.html
The tweets on this article are definitely worth reading.
The fact that the number of tweets during Michelle Obama's speech peaked at 28,003 tweets per minute meant that a lot of people were watching the speech on TV and on a second screen, (smart phone, tablet, laptop) like I was.
It's an understatement to say that Michelle Obama inspired people to get involved in these months leading up to the election in November, and twitter provided the forum for people connected to the web or using the app on their phones to express their excitement and praise for the first lady that night.
The FLOTUS's speech about her husband and her family was extremely effective in attracting tech-savvy users and journalists to twitter to share thoughts and post key quotes. Although Ann Romney spoke last week during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, her speech peaked at only about 6,000 tweets per minute.
Clearly the speeches targeted different groups, with one reporter on CNN stating it well when he said Ann Romney's speech was directed towards older mothers while Michelle Obama's speech was more in tune with the daughters of those mothers. Those daughters (and sons) were the ones who bombarded twitter Tuesday night, as well as last night during Bill Clinton's nomination speech.
Here is a Huffington Post article with photos and examples of tweets from Michelle Obama's "grand slam" of a speech (to borrow a phrase from Wolf Blitzer...)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/04/michelle-obama-dnc-speech-reactions-2012-twitter-women_n_1856298.html
The tweets on this article are definitely worth reading.
9.03.2012
Welcome fall class!
Welcome to our class blog, which we'll use to share ideas about topics related to publishing in a digital environment. Hopefully our classroom discussions will spawn virtual ones.
This blog is separate and distinct from the ones you'll each be creating for your personal portfolios and resumes on WordPress--and where you'll analyze just one news site throughout the semester.
On this blog, I'll expect each of you to start at least two discussion threads on new-media topics -- and to comment freely on your colleagues' posts.
Feel free to link to other sites, to help buttress your ideas, and to illustrate your posts with screen grabs of news sites you're discussing.
Don't, however, embed copyrighted photos on this site.
This blog is separate and distinct from the ones you'll each be creating for your personal portfolios and resumes on WordPress--and where you'll analyze just one news site throughout the semester.
On this blog, I'll expect each of you to start at least two discussion threads on new-media topics -- and to comment freely on your colleagues' posts.
Feel free to link to other sites, to help buttress your ideas, and to illustrate your posts with screen grabs of news sites you're discussing.
Don't, however, embed copyrighted photos on this site.
1.02.2012
Bloomberg Analytics
Excellent analysis from Varun on the readership stats for Bloomberg.com. Varun checked out information collected on quantcast.com and alexa.com.
12.21.2011
Will SOPA hurt the Internet?
As of today, the United States legislature is currently working on putting together the Stop Online Privacy Act, a new bill intended to prevent companies from losing business by pirating downloads and software.
The bipartisan bill will make unauthorized streaming of content a felony, will bar ISP's from giving access to the sites, and bar search engines from linking to the sites. It is up to the Department of Justice, in addition to copyright holders, to deem sites blockable.
Supporters for the bill argue that the laws are a natural extension of copyright laws into the 21st century, and that the bill is necessary to prevent companies from losing too much intellectual property.
The bill's opponents say that the government will have too much say as to whether a site can remain operable, and that the security changes will undermine the basic structure of the internet.
Where do you stand on SOPA?
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/sopa-hearings-cast-debate-as-old-media-vs-new-media/2011/12/16/gIQAmCD3yO_story.html
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/109533-how-sopa-could-actually-break-the-internet
http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2011/12/21/sopa-haters-are-already-finding-easy-ways-to-circumvent-its-censorship/
The bipartisan bill will make unauthorized streaming of content a felony, will bar ISP's from giving access to the sites, and bar search engines from linking to the sites. It is up to the Department of Justice, in addition to copyright holders, to deem sites blockable.
Supporters for the bill argue that the laws are a natural extension of copyright laws into the 21st century, and that the bill is necessary to prevent companies from losing too much intellectual property.
The bill's opponents say that the government will have too much say as to whether a site can remain operable, and that the security changes will undermine the basic structure of the internet.
Where do you stand on SOPA?
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/sopa-hearings-cast-debate-as-old-media-vs-new-media/2011/12/16/gIQAmCD3yO_story.html
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/109533-how-sopa-could-actually-break-the-internet
http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2011/12/21/sopa-haters-are-already-finding-easy-ways-to-circumvent-its-censorship/
12.20.2011
Frictionless Sharing
During a recent conversation I had with Time Inc.'s social media editor, Allie Townsend, she mentioned a lot of online publications are turning their attention to frictionless sharing.
If any of you use Spotify (If you don't, I highly recommend it.), you've already experienced it firsthand. In a nutshell, whenever you listen to music using Spotify it shares the information with your Facebook profile. By encouraging users to log into their Facebook profiles while using the music streaming app, Spotify found a great way to market itself on peoples' news feeds.
More recently, many of you have probably noticed the Washington Post Social Reader cropping up on your Facebook news feeds. This too uses frictionless sharing, as everything you read will show up on your profile.
No longer do you have to actively share information because more and more applications are doing it for you. Unfortunately, you also can't control who you share with at this stage in the game.
My question to everyone is how do you think this will change the news industry, if at all?
At the very least, I feel news organizations have found a brand new way market themselves. But this could also prove a great way to disseminate news content without having to manually upload a story link to Facebook every time. The possibilities seem endless.
Also, here's a link that explains frictionless sharing and its pros and cons better than I ever could:
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/top_trends_of_2011_frictionless_sharing.php
If any of you use Spotify (If you don't, I highly recommend it.), you've already experienced it firsthand. In a nutshell, whenever you listen to music using Spotify it shares the information with your Facebook profile. By encouraging users to log into their Facebook profiles while using the music streaming app, Spotify found a great way to market itself on peoples' news feeds.
More recently, many of you have probably noticed the Washington Post Social Reader cropping up on your Facebook news feeds. This too uses frictionless sharing, as everything you read will show up on your profile.
No longer do you have to actively share information because more and more applications are doing it for you. Unfortunately, you also can't control who you share with at this stage in the game.
My question to everyone is how do you think this will change the news industry, if at all?
At the very least, I feel news organizations have found a brand new way market themselves. But this could also prove a great way to disseminate news content without having to manually upload a story link to Facebook every time. The possibilities seem endless.
Also, here's a link that explains frictionless sharing and its pros and cons better than I ever could:
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/top_trends_of_2011_frictionless_sharing.php
12.15.2011
2011's Top Searches for Google and Yahoo
Now that 2011 nears an end, websites are steadily posting those top stories of the year. Here's what ABCNews.com says were Google's and Yahoo's "fastest rising searches" for 2011.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/google-top-searches-2011-rebecca-black-herman-cain/story?id=15156587
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/google-top-searches-2011-rebecca-black-herman-cain/story?id=15156587
12.14.2011
Journalists on Twitter
Many editors and professors encourage (strongly) for their journalists to be active on Twitter. However, at the same time, criticize the under-reported and inaccurate information that is often posted on the social media site, not necessarily by journalists. My question is this, in order to further define the distinction between active citizenship and journalism, would journalists be better served just staying off of Twitter?
12.12.2011
So it's not really out with the old, then
This post on Chris Daly's blog reminded me of the brewing feud between the FONers and the FOMers that we discussed today in class. Daly is a journalism professor at Boston University.
12.11.2011
Twitter's New Design
Speaking of twitter, the New York Times recently released this article about some design changes the social network is making to attract more users and advertisers.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/twitter-tries-to-simplify-its-service/?scp=1&sq=twitter%20tries%20to%20simplify&st=cse
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/twitter-tries-to-simplify-its-service/?scp=1&sq=twitter%20tries%20to%20simplify&st=cse
12.09.2011
ESPN Twitter policy
Back in September the Houston Texans starting running back, Arian Foster, tweeted a photo of his injured hamstring. This was not a violaiton of the NFL's twitter policy and therefore no League action was taken. However, the ability of athletes to break their own news poses serious conseuences for the future of journalism. Some fear that one day players, leagues, teams, or colleges will no longer need a middleman to cover them. Will athletes' ability to release their own information seriously cripple journalists' ability to make a living? Does Foster's twitpic of his hamstring portend a bleak future for journalism?
12.08.2011
An example of breaking news on an online-only news magazine
News is breaking today about a gunman who killed two people at Virginia Tech's campus.
As an example of how a modern news website combines breaking news, here's Huffington Post's page of coverage on the event.
It has a text story that's been edited throughout the day, links to multiple videos, a live blog, a link to another news source's live news feed, and a Twitter feed.
In such a short time, all this has been added to the story in a practice which is now considered to be standard. Journalism has never been so multimedia-focused.
As an example of how a modern news website combines breaking news, here's Huffington Post's page of coverage on the event.
It has a text story that's been edited throughout the day, links to multiple videos, a live blog, a link to another news source's live news feed, and a Twitter feed.
In such a short time, all this has been added to the story in a practice which is now considered to be standard. Journalism has never been so multimedia-focused.
This afternoon, Dec. 8
This just landed in my inbox:
I wanted to let you know that this afternoon, December 8, the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings will be webcasting a forum exploring how mobile technology can ease the everyday lives of Americans. I will moderate a discussion with Chris Dede of Harvard University and my Brookings colleague Allan Friedman. Peggy Johnson, executive vice president and president of Global Market Development at Qualcomm, will provide opening remarks.
You can view the webcast LIVE at:
http://www.brookings.edu/events/2011/1208_mobile_technology.aspx
The webcast will run from 2:00 - 3:30pm EST today.
You can follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #CTIMobile.
I also have published a new paper, "Ten Facts about Mobile Broadband," showing how the mobile economy, which generates $1.3 trillion in annual revenues, is reshaping the global landscape. There are major opportunities to create jobs, and create social and economic connections in both developed and emerging markets.
Thanks again for your support and I hope you enjoy the webcast. The archived video and related material will be available at this link in the days and weeks ahead.
Darrell West
Vice President and Director, Governance Studies
I wanted to let you know that this afternoon, December 8, the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings will be webcasting a forum exploring how mobile technology can ease the everyday lives of Americans. I will moderate a discussion with Chris Dede of Harvard University and my Brookings colleague Allan Friedman. Peggy Johnson, executive vice president and president of Global Market Development at Qualcomm, will provide opening remarks.
You can view the webcast LIVE at:
http://www.brookings.edu/
The webcast will run from 2:00 - 3:30pm EST today.
You can follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #CTIMobile.
I also have published a new paper, "Ten Facts about Mobile Broadband," showing how the mobile economy, which generates $1.3 trillion in annual revenues, is reshaping the global landscape. There are major opportunities to create jobs, and create social and economic connections in both developed and emerging markets.
Thanks again for your support and I hope you enjoy the webcast. The archived video and related material will be available at this link in the days and weeks ahead.
Darrell West
Vice President and Director, Governance Studies
Most Kids Want an IPAD for Christmas
I saw this story on WUSA-TV this morning and thought about you, Chris! According to Nielson.com, the iPad tops Santa's wish list, followed by the iPod Touch.
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/consumer/us-kids-looking-forward-to-iholiday-2011/
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/consumer/us-kids-looking-forward-to-iholiday-2011/
12.07.2011
What the Frack Is Going On?
How would you explain a complicated environmental issue like fracking?
Check out how students at NYU did it, with this video, selected by Time Magazine as one of the most creative of the year.
Check out how students at NYU did it, with this video, selected by Time Magazine as one of the most creative of the year.
12.06.2011
Maybe USA Today isn't the Evil Empire!
OK, I admit it. I had a bias going in on this trip. Having done work in the 90's for Channel 9, also owned by Gannett, I had heard lots of bad stuff about the newspaper side of the company. How it sucked up money from everything else. When I saw the new building I could believe it. But I came away from this visit really impressed.
It seems to me that USA Today in terms of the digital space is doing a ton of things right. Frankly, they are doing stuff I wish we at NPR were doing. The fact they now have the print and digital folks together is not unique. Everyone is trying the same thing, but it appears they have done a better job of making it work. I also like the fact they appear to have a true employee mentoring and development program. Believe me not everyone does these days!
So, anyway..I liked what I saw. I also like that upper level folks are giving journalists and others the chance to play with the new technology. Here are a few shots from our trip, since you probably noticed I was taking lots of iPhone pictures.
12.04.2011
Google Maps
I ran across this interesting article about new innovations in Google Maps. Basically, Google is making this new feature just for Android phones right now, but people will be able to use Google Maps to get directions for inside locations like shopping malls and airports. They just introduced this news this week, so it could be adapted for the future.
I think this is interesting in that it just shows how vital features like using Google Maps to get directions are in this day and age. By making it only available on Android, it also promotes how important smart phones are as tools for things not just for entertainment and communication.
You don't usually think to get directions to inside locations, but a map of a place like a airport could be really useful if you're in an unfamiliar city.
I think this is interesting in that it just shows how vital features like using Google Maps to get directions are in this day and age. By making it only available on Android, it also promotes how important smart phones are as tools for things not just for entertainment and communication.
You don't usually think to get directions to inside locations, but a map of a place like a airport could be really useful if you're in an unfamiliar city.
12.03.2011
Cool Graphic Online
Check out this cool graphic on The Economist magazine website.
It compares American states to other countries with similar populations and similarly sized economies (measured by GDP).
Vermont has the nation's smallest economy. It is the size of Yemen.
California's is the size of Italy. If it were a country it would be one the world's ten largest economies!
Everyone knows that the United States has a large economy (by far the word's largest), but it's weird to think of the fact that it is larger than the aggregate economy of 50 different countries.
Besides helping the reader conceptualize economy and populations sizes in new ways, the graph is very interactive.
You can click on the individual states for more details.
There is also a similar graph for Chinese, Indian and Brazilian states or provinces. I like the layout of the international graphics better because the graphs are on the side of, rather than below, the map.
Enjoy!
11.30.2011
USA Today Trip on Monday
Class, a reminder: We'll be meeting with editors at USA Today at 10:55 a.m. next Monday, in lieu of class. We'll likely stay till 12:30, for a tour and chat with social media editors and others. You'll need to car pool. I can comfortably fit three additional bodies into my car, and will be coming and going from campus. (Four would be a squish, but I'll do it if necessary.) Since I need to beat the rest of you there, I'll likely leave the building no later than 9:30 a.m. Let me know if you'd like to ride with me. For the rest of you, I'll start a thread on our blog so you can arrange carpools. Normally, it takes about an hour and 15 minutes in rush hour to get there, and about 45 minutes in non-rush hour to return. The address is:
7950 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, Va. 22108
The main switchboard is phone: 703-854-3400.
I put driving directions, from google, on our Blackboard site.
Note: Just before you get to the building, you'll see a guard's shack on your right. You need to pull up to it, and tell the guard (or the intercom button) your name. I'm emailing over all your names today. Tell them you're with the group from UMD, and you're meeting with staffers Desair Brown Shaw and Mary Hartney. You'll be directed to a parking lot and/or garage adjacent to the building. We'll meet in the lobby no later than 10:55 a.m. I will give you a sheet of questions to answer afterward, as a class assignment. Please take a deep look at the site before Monday, so you can ask good questions.
If you need to carpool, please put a note into comments below to make arrangements with classmates.
7950 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, Va. 22108
The main switchboard is phone: 703-854-3400.
I put driving directions, from google, on our Blackboard site.
Note: Just before you get to the building, you'll see a guard's shack on your right. You need to pull up to it, and tell the guard (or the intercom button) your name. I'm emailing over all your names today. Tell them you're with the group from UMD, and you're meeting with staffers Desair Brown Shaw and Mary Hartney. You'll be directed to a parking lot and/or garage adjacent to the building. We'll meet in the lobby no later than 10:55 a.m. I will give you a sheet of questions to answer afterward, as a class assignment. Please take a deep look at the site before Monday, so you can ask good questions.
If you need to carpool, please put a note into comments below to make arrangements with classmates.
11.27.2011
Commission in EU Turns Spotlight on Facebook over Privacy Concerns
A battle is brewing in the European Union over privacy concerns with Facebook.
The Telegraph reports on the European Commission's concerns over the social media giant's use of users' personal info by advertisers.
Have you personally found the targeted ads on Facebook off-putting?
The Telegraph reports on the European Commission's concerns over the social media giant's use of users' personal info by advertisers.
Have you personally found the targeted ads on Facebook off-putting?
11.21.2011
Headlines
Both of these headlines are from the Washington Post
Good Headline: ‘Al-Qaida sympathizer’ accused of NYC bomb plots; defense says he’s no conspirator
Very descriptive headline that gets straight to the point. I almost feel like I don't need to read the rest of the article with headlines like these.
Bad Headline: Peyton Manning to start at QB for Redskins in 2012
Note: This article has been altered since I found it a few days ago.
Blatant example of a misleading headline. The opinion article headline was followed by the phrase: "How's that for a headline? Got your attention, didn't it?" and explained that this was only a hypothetical situation and there are about eight different factors that need to fall in place in order for this to happen.
Good Headline: ‘Al-Qaida sympathizer’ accused of NYC bomb plots; defense says he’s no conspirator
Very descriptive headline that gets straight to the point. I almost feel like I don't need to read the rest of the article with headlines like these.
Bad Headline: Peyton Manning to start at QB for Redskins in 2012
Note: This article has been altered since I found it a few days ago.
Blatant example of a misleading headline. The opinion article headline was followed by the phrase: "How's that for a headline? Got your attention, didn't it?" and explained that this was only a hypothetical situation and there are about eight different factors that need to fall in place in order for this to happen.
Drew Grossman: Headlines
Time.com
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2099675,00.html
This is a cute headline but it doesn't really tell the reader what the story is about. If you have been keeping up with the story then you will get it, but this will go over the head of the average reader.
Winners and Losers of the Deficit Supercommittee Deadlock
http://swampland.time.com/2011/11/21/with-the-supercommittee-poised-for-failure-winners-and-losers-in-washington/
This is a good headline because it tells the readers exactly what the story will be about. The headline is clear and easy to understand.
11.20.2011
CNN Layoffs
CNN recently announced it would lay off about 50 workers, stating an "evolution allows more people in more places to edit and publish than ever before."
Just goes to show, how important it is to keep those multi-media skills up to date. Read more on Mediaite.com:
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/report-cnn-lays-off-at-least-50-editors-photographers-and-other-staffers/
Just goes to show, how important it is to keep those multi-media skills up to date. Read more on Mediaite.com:
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/report-cnn-lays-off-at-least-50-editors-photographers-and-other-staffers/
11.19.2011
The Evolution of the News Cycle
What does the breaking news cycle look like today on the multiple platforms where it's published? And how might it look in the future--if we move onto an all-digital platform?
A smart analysis from Lauren Rabaino of the confusing, and often dead-end, threads that now greet readers trying to follow a story as it develops: http://www.mediabistro.com/10000words/the-new-convoluted-life-cycle-of-a-newspaper-story_b8552.
How could the publishing platform(s) be improved?
A smart analysis from Lauren Rabaino of the confusing, and often dead-end, threads that now greet readers trying to follow a story as it develops: http://www.mediabistro.com/10000words/the-new-convoluted-life-cycle-of-a-newspaper-story_b8552.
How could the publishing platform(s) be improved?
11.18.2011
Strong and Not-so-Strong Headlines
Class, a reminder to please post a comment to this thread before the next class on good and bad headlines. Here are the instructions from your class schedule:
Please find a good and not-so-adept headline on one or more news Web sites, and explain why you think so. Please be sure to give the full URL and headline for each. Include a sentence or two of constructive comments. Please be sure your criticism is tactful: Our class blog is online for the world to see (although only the class can comment to it.) Please don't write anything you'd be embarrassed by if strangers see.
To refresh your memory on what makes a good and bad headline, please read the headline area of this Web writing handout: http://www.newsline.umd.edu/italy/writing.htm
And please review the headline sections of this handout: http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/tutorials/seo-search-engine-optimization-basics/seo-newsroom/
Please find a good and not-so-adept headline on one or more news Web sites, and explain why you think so. Please be sure to give the full URL and headline for each. Include a sentence or two of constructive comments. Please be sure your criticism is tactful: Our class blog is online for the world to see (although only the class can comment to it.) Please don't write anything you'd be embarrassed by if strangers see.
To refresh your memory on what makes a good and bad headline, please read the headline area of this Web writing handout: http://www.newsline.umd.edu/italy/writing.htm
And please review the headline sections of this handout: http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/tutorials/seo-search-engine-optimization-basics/seo-newsroom/
11.13.2011
A Must-Read on Aggregation
Jack Shafer writes a thoughtful piece about best practices for aggregation, while offering a defense for Jim Romenesko, who stepped down after a dozen years from his post at Poynter.
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