Archive for September, 2007
It’s not just a journalism problem, part 1
The problems with adapting to a changing market place is not just a journalism problem. Clear parallels can be drawn between the problems that the journalism industry is facing and the problems that other big media industries are facing as well. One only has to look at television industry, and how big networks are still [...]
Not everyone deserves a blog
In the rush to seem with it or hip, journalism companies have been adding blogs by the bucket full. Often editors go around asking who wants a blog, and will accept just about any idea for a blog from a staff member. Maybe they’ll even allow them to have a blog with no real theme or [...]
Join me in making cool Web stuff
The Stars and Stripes has a few openings on our Web staff for Web Content Editors. Do you want to become an online journalist or are you an online journalist looking for a challenge? Join me on the Web team. Here is the official opening at journalism jobs. You’ll be a journalist or understand journalism [...]
Using the Web to tell more in-depth stories
If you haven’t checked out The New York Times’ “Assessing the ‘Surge: A Survey of Baghdad Neighborhoods,’” you should do so right away. It is a prime example of how some stories are just better told online than in print — much better. Assessing the “Surge” is a difficult task, and this feature helps people [...]
NY Times makes a very smart Web decision
The New York Times has decided to do away with its subscription Times Select feature, freeing its popular columnists and editorials upon the world. It’s a win-win. The Times will reach a new and expanded audience, which will generate a lot of ad revenue. Millions of people will now be able to read their award [...]
WordPress and learning new media
Getting a WordPress blog is a great way to add new media skills and to experiment with Web development. I suggested yesterday that j-school students and journalists who want to learn how to use a content management system sign up for a free blog at WordPress.com, but there is a better solution for people who [...]
Journalism skills in 2007
It’s clear that in this day and age journalism students and journalists need to know more than just words. But what exactly do they need to know? Mindy McAdams has an excellent blog post about the skills that journalism students should have. As much as I harp on the need to have a varied skill [...]
Is AP content still relevant on Web sites?
Many of us have been arguing for years that adding additional Associated Press content to a newspaper will only hasten its decline. The reasoning is that AP content is typically added to save money, but it’s commoditized content. People can find the same content in another publication. So, why would they read yours to get it? Most [...]
Video isn’t for every story and it won’t save your paper
Despite the push from many journalism companies into video, it’s not a format for all stories. And those who think video will be the savior of journalism are dead wrong. Video has its place for sure, but don’t put too much stock into any one technology. That’s the ultimate lesson of the Web — to [...]
How to and how not to collaborate on a Web project
We just launched our latest little mini special feature on the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, and it has some important lessons in how to and how not to collaborate with print and Web editors on a project. The idea for the project came from writer Steve Mraz and photographer Ben Bloker out of our bureau [...]