So, who's excited for next Tuesday? I am, but I'm also a little scared. The newsroom is going to be ridiculous, and I've never been around during breaking news, really.
Public life is hitting the ground running. We will be sending print reporters everywhere, along with as many convergence students as we can find. That's not really the part I'm worried about, though. I'm worried about what happens when they all get back. I'm excited to see how we synthesize the information, and make sure that all those reporters aren't overlapping each other. How often are we going to update the website (with copy or with just statistics)? Are there enough editors to go around? Probably for print, although it will be busy. I can tell you right now that there won't be enough computers or editors for all of that video. We will probably have to send at least half of them across the street to Gannett to work there. I hope the server doesn't crash!
Despite the crazieness, it's going to be a really fun day. We will all sleep well that night, haha (or maybe that depends on the election results...)
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
News flash: Katie is easily distracted
Cluttered newspaper websites drive me crazy. Take this morning: I wanted to read about the Democratic debates because I didn’t get a chance to watch last night. I wanted to know what they discussed, whether they were more cordial this time around, what it was like without Edwards. I went to CNN because I hadn’t checked out their election coverage since the ’06 midterms. But before I could get there I was distracted by a story on the front page about the importance of the youth vote. While somewhat related, it was about Obama’s appeal to youth. I really enjoyed the article but the point is that I never got to reading about the debate. I wanted to get to the issues.
The article accomplished its goal, but the website did not. Layout of websites need to be conducive to readers like me – ones who are easily distracted and have a hard time passing up an in depth article when it randomly jumps into view.
Just for clarity, this happens to me all the time. I get onto a news website wanting to read one thing, actually reading something completely unrelated and forgetting to read what I wanted to read in the first place. I think if the youth voting article was on the same page as the debate coverage, I would have read both. This is where I think the web shells concept can really come in handy because it puts them together and reminds me what I wanted to read in the first place. There are certain news stories and topics I have continued interest in and if I found reliable, well organized web shells on these topics, it just might convert me to internet news fan. Might.
Progress: My first article of the semester was published today as the Second Front centerpiece. I think the writing and reporting was solid. Next on my plate is a story about a rouge water company that’s being sued by the Public Service Commission on behalf of Blue Acres trailor park residents.
The article accomplished its goal, but the website did not. Layout of websites need to be conducive to readers like me – ones who are easily distracted and have a hard time passing up an in depth article when it randomly jumps into view.
Just for clarity, this happens to me all the time. I get onto a news website wanting to read one thing, actually reading something completely unrelated and forgetting to read what I wanted to read in the first place. I think if the youth voting article was on the same page as the debate coverage, I would have read both. This is where I think the web shells concept can really come in handy because it puts them together and reminds me what I wanted to read in the first place. There are certain news stories and topics I have continued interest in and if I found reliable, well organized web shells on these topics, it just might convert me to internet news fan. Might.
Progress: My first article of the semester was published today as the Second Front centerpiece. I think the writing and reporting was solid. Next on my plate is a story about a rouge water company that’s being sued by the Public Service Commission on behalf of Blue Acres trailor park residents.
2/1
Our various brainstorming sessions about shells has raised an interesting question to me about my consumption of the news. I, like just about everyone else in my generation, consume most of my news via the net, and while I still look at the Digmo page, and usually the Post-Dispatch page, I find my use of "traditional" media web sites to be declining.
One of the major reasons is that I don't see improvement in a lot of the web sites I used to follow almost religiously like ESPN or CNN. Unless I want to check a certain score or updated election data, I rarely, if ever visit these websites, instead choosing sites with more entertainment value or commentary.
Another reason is probably the election season, and the coverage of it. On CNN, you'll find two election stories on the front page: "Coulter wants Clinton over McCain" and "Clinton, Obama change tones at debate". While the news value of the first story is debatable, neither story provides much of anything in the way of new coverage. As candidates rehash their arguments in the latest of a long line of relatively meaningless debates, it seems the manufactured tension between Obama and Clinton is the only story that holds us over until we get actual numbers in next Tuesday. Far more entertaining and important political coverage exists on more non-traditional media sites.
Here are some cool links if you have a couple minutes to kill
LA Times Editor farewell remarks-- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/business/media/22papertext.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&sq=LA%20Times%20editor&st=nyt&scp=1&oref=slogin
Great Seattle Times coverage of the 2000 Washington Huskies team that will utterly depress you about college sports--
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/victoryandruins/
Progress Report- Changed my beat from health care to crime/immigration because my editor Phill said it would be the most important topic of session. Finished a story on cyber harrassment on Wednesday.
One of the major reasons is that I don't see improvement in a lot of the web sites I used to follow almost religiously like ESPN or CNN. Unless I want to check a certain score or updated election data, I rarely, if ever visit these websites, instead choosing sites with more entertainment value or commentary.
Another reason is probably the election season, and the coverage of it. On CNN, you'll find two election stories on the front page: "Coulter wants Clinton over McCain" and "Clinton, Obama change tones at debate". While the news value of the first story is debatable, neither story provides much of anything in the way of new coverage. As candidates rehash their arguments in the latest of a long line of relatively meaningless debates, it seems the manufactured tension between Obama and Clinton is the only story that holds us over until we get actual numbers in next Tuesday. Far more entertaining and important political coverage exists on more non-traditional media sites.
Here are some cool links if you have a couple minutes to kill
LA Times Editor farewell remarks-- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/business/media/22papertext.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&sq=LA%20Times%20editor&st=nyt&scp=1&oref=slogin
Great Seattle Times coverage of the 2000 Washington Huskies team that will utterly depress you about college sports--
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/victoryandruins/
Progress Report- Changed my beat from health care to crime/immigration because my editor Phill said it would be the most important topic of session. Finished a story on cyber harrassment on Wednesday.
Lampe's Week Two Post
This was a productive week, yet ironically it feels like no much happened. I had two interviews for two stories that are being printed next week and finished another story yesterday that is being printed next week.
It feels like not much happened, but this is simply a by product of my scheduling throughout the week. I am very happy that the article about Chantix, a perscription drug that helps people quit someking will be published in VOX next week. I’m also happy that I got the two interviews done this week. My guess is that the two articles will be published early to mid week next week.
One of the articles is on the Avenue of the Columns renovations set to take place over the next year. I am estimating the article to be between 600 and 700 words. I am really excited about this article though, because the city manager will be sending me a copy of the newest updates to the architectural design at the beginning of next week, so the Missourian will be graphically showing this to the public before the city council or any other media outlet.
I guess this week has been beneficial also, because I have had the opportunity to manage three stories, but don’t feel overwhelmed. I must say though as the primary is coming up I am and I am wrapping up these three stories, I am really excited for a few day turn stories next week. The adrenaline rush is an addcition.
It feels like not much happened, but this is simply a by product of my scheduling throughout the week. I am very happy that the article about Chantix, a perscription drug that helps people quit someking will be published in VOX next week. I’m also happy that I got the two interviews done this week. My guess is that the two articles will be published early to mid week next week.
One of the articles is on the Avenue of the Columns renovations set to take place over the next year. I am estimating the article to be between 600 and 700 words. I am really excited about this article though, because the city manager will be sending me a copy of the newest updates to the architectural design at the beginning of next week, so the Missourian will be graphically showing this to the public before the city council or any other media outlet.
I guess this week has been beneficial also, because I have had the opportunity to manage three stories, but don’t feel overwhelmed. I must say though as the primary is coming up I am and I am wrapping up these three stories, I am really excited for a few day turn stories next week. The adrenaline rush is an addcition.
Online future
It seems to me the discussion our class is addressing is what the future of newspaper journalism is, not as much newspapers. I am for one relieved, because too often I feel like we are talking about income is shrinking for newspapers and people freaking out about where the business it going. I feel like I am a writer, let me write. It's not that I don't care about where the business is going, there seems too often to be a non-productive freak-out rather than a discussion about ways to improve.
I think shells are a niche market, which is where online sites are going. There is a continual fracturing of the market share in all forms of media, as more websites, blogs, and TV. This is something that is unavoidable, and thats why I think we need to have as many different features on our website as possible. I think having a City Council shell, for example, is something that many citizens would bookmark. We could have stories about the council, our video of recent debates and meetings, links to the council sites, and discussion forums for citizens to react. I am very excited about this project, and I think it will force some of us (like me) to finally learn some of the online technology and convergence tools.
I think shells are a niche market, which is where online sites are going. There is a continual fracturing of the market share in all forms of media, as more websites, blogs, and TV. This is something that is unavoidable, and thats why I think we need to have as many different features on our website as possible. I think having a City Council shell, for example, is something that many citizens would bookmark. We could have stories about the council, our video of recent debates and meetings, links to the council sites, and discussion forums for citizens to react. I am very excited about this project, and I think it will force some of us (like me) to finally learn some of the online technology and convergence tools.
Crochety
As a class project, I'm really excited about the concept of shells. How cool — we approach an issue from different angles, different media and end up with a well-organized launching pad for readers to get as much information they want in the way they want.
As a reader, I'm less than thrilled. I realized when looking for good examples of shells online, that I never get drawn in by shells. I like to find what I want from the person closest to the action. No news source can do that for even a single issue. Maybe it's just me. But, as a reader, I see shells as a new answer to an old newspaper question: "How do we make ourselves the source of news for our readers?"
I think the question is flawed. With the internet, no news source can ever hope for that. If someone is online, reading our website, it costs them absolutely nothing to go to a different website — which means they will the moment they want better information. As a reader, I was frustrated by some parts of the God, Sex and Family example. About.com was used as a source, and my immediate reaction was, "why am I here and bothering with this giant hand? I could have found a better answer much more quickly using Google."
At the same time, I loved "Now Leaving Colorado City," because it was great presentation of a perspective I couldn't have gotten anywhere else.
Shells are a great way to organize information. But they take time. And we really have to think about time. How many minutes should we spend making a flash graphic to dress up information our readers could find in seconds?
Progress Report:
No articles from me this week. Instead, I've been learning all I can about Missouri school finance and how it is driving what we're experiencing with the deficit. There's a lot to this issue and it's also numerically intimidating. I've been taking a few of the other K-12 reporters to interviews this week and I think we'll be soon be able to write about this with some authority.
The blog is also getting more posts (and more hits!), next week we'll each have an assigned day to post something.
As a reader, I'm less than thrilled. I realized when looking for good examples of shells online, that I never get drawn in by shells. I like to find what I want from the person closest to the action. No news source can do that for even a single issue. Maybe it's just me. But, as a reader, I see shells as a new answer to an old newspaper question: "How do we make ourselves the source of news for our readers?"
I think the question is flawed. With the internet, no news source can ever hope for that. If someone is online, reading our website, it costs them absolutely nothing to go to a different website — which means they will the moment they want better information. As a reader, I was frustrated by some parts of the God, Sex and Family example. About.com was used as a source, and my immediate reaction was, "why am I here and bothering with this giant hand? I could have found a better answer much more quickly using Google."
At the same time, I loved "Now Leaving Colorado City," because it was great presentation of a perspective I couldn't have gotten anywhere else.
Shells are a great way to organize information. But they take time. And we really have to think about time. How many minutes should we spend making a flash graphic to dress up information our readers could find in seconds?
Progress Report:
No articles from me this week. Instead, I've been learning all I can about Missouri school finance and how it is driving what we're experiencing with the deficit. There's a lot to this issue and it's also numerically intimidating. I've been taking a few of the other K-12 reporters to interviews this week and I think we'll be soon be able to write about this with some authority.
The blog is also getting more posts (and more hits!), next week we'll each have an assigned day to post something.
Sam Miles 2/1
After being run over by the train that is strep throat last week, I actually made it to my first lecture this week. Unfortunately, it was pretty obvious that I was behind with regard to the discussions on shells that were had, and it has taken a little bit of catching up to get on the same page with everyone. As far as I can tell…and this is pretty early on in the game…but it does seem to be a worthwhile endeavor, and one that might serve our readers better. That said, I really wish I had been able to make it to class the first week, because I would have loved to hear everyone’s opinions on the matter.
As far as my progress, I’m still waiting until baseball/softball season before I’ll be up to too much at the newspaper. I’ve been backloaded with work lately, but hopefully I can make it in most nights this next week and pick up something to do, just to keep me sharp. In that same vein, I’ve been brushing up on my AP and Missourian style books to get back in the habit (I’ve kept writing, but not in the same format).
As far as my progress, I’m still waiting until baseball/softball season before I’ll be up to too much at the newspaper. I’ve been backloaded with work lately, but hopefully I can make it in most nights this next week and pick up something to do, just to keep me sharp. In that same vein, I’ve been brushing up on my AP and Missourian style books to get back in the habit (I’ve kept writing, but not in the same format).
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