Studying the intersection of journalism, interactive communications and public discourse
“Journalism should not be defined by its process. Journalism ought to be defined by its end result: fresh, accurate information that helps its readers see a truth that they did not before.” — Robert Niles, 08-17-07, Online Journalism Review.
“Suppose, sir, that you wish to become a journalist? Well, and why not? Is it a small thing to desire the power of influencing day by day to better citizenship an unguessed number of men, using the best thought and applying it in the best language at your command? “And, next, if you truly despise …
Diversion: escape from routine or problems; emotional release Personal relationships: companionship; social utility Personal identity: self-reference; reality exploration; value reinforcement Surveillance (forms of information seeking) – from “McQuail’s Mass Communication Theory: 5th edition,” 2005
Online users, especially young people, don’t want to pay for information. They are used to getting it for free. But if that’s the case, how will the professionals who gather and produce this information be able to sustain themselves without a source of income? Journalists have to be willing to work faster & smarter since …
Shorter is better. Why? Because people don’t read online. They scan. You have about 5 seconds to get the user’s attention. So write in simple, direct language that communicates thoughts efficiently. Use an active, conversational voice with strong verbs. Don’t be passive. The best verbs demonstrate action, movement, things happening. Sources: Attribution = credibility. Let …
During a meeting at my workplace this week, a group of copy editors asked the managing editor whether the same standards of accuracy that apply to print product also apply to the online product. In a nutshell, the managing editor’s answer was this: When it comes to content created by the newspaper, yes. When it …
New development in the world of online journalism: Like other newspaper companies, Gannett is losing readers and advertising revenue as folks turn to the Internet and other mediums to get their information. So in response, Gannett says it is making a strategic shift from newspapers to “Information Centers.” These centers will focus on seven objectives …
The evolution of digital technology is giving consumers more control over media content, according to Princeton University Professor Edward W. Felten. Whether it is digital music, movies, television shows or news, consumers nowadays can choose what, when and how to watch/listen/read digital content. Before, if you wanted to watch a particular TV show, the network …
From a Hartford Courant story today: “[Newspaper] Editors still block sexually explicit and violent content, deciding how much detail readers and viewers need. But the Internet has blown the gates open, and editors, with their increasingly impotent red pencils, have seen readers rush past them into the wide open Web to find out for themselves …
Every Thursday, I spend the majority of my day putting together a Connecticut entertainment email for nearly 12,000 subscribers. The email is in HTML and the reason it takes so long is because I have to painstakingly hand-code almost 60 urls. This is after I make editorial decisions on which 60 items to promote. Here’s …