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Social Networking and the News - News Business http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/ News and trends about Internet marketing for news and tourism professionals. en Serendipity 1.3.1 - http://www.s9y.org/ Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:52:12 GMT http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/templates/default/img/s9y_banner_small.png RSS: Social Networking and the News - News Business - News and trends about Internet marketing for news and tourism professionals. http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/ 100 21 You too can be published -- but can we believe you? http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/index.php?/archives/13-You-too-can-be-published-but-can-we-believe-you.html News Business http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/index.php?/archives/13-You-too-can-be-published-but-can-we-believe-you.html#comments http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/wfwcomment.php?cid=13 0 http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/rss.php?version=2.0&type=comments&cid=13 nospam@example.com (Jim Skillington) <br /> Yet another hotbed of citizen &quot;journalism&quot; is being tested, this time in Austin, TX. The new Austin Post <a href="http://www.austinpost.org" target="_blank">www.austinpost.org</a> is online in an &quot;alpha&quot; version. <br /><br />An invitation to potential writers notes nearly anything reasonably believable will be published. Actually, that's not what the site says -- it is my interpretation. What it really says is that submissions pass through &quot;a light editorial vetting process.&quot; The pay? Zip, zero, nothing but there may be &quot;high rewards&quot; along the way.<br /><br />Writing that they believe in the &quot;critical role&quot; newspapers play in a democratic society -- guiding discussions and encouraging &quot;informed debate and decision-making,&quot; the Post producers add they believe an Internet site can provide the same role &quot;perhaps even more effectively.&quot;<br /><br />Instead of relying on a paid staff, the Trilogy Employee Foundation, which has provided seed money and guidance for this new venture, notes most of its writers have a passion &quot;borne of personal involvement&quot; and &quot;are engaged in the action.&quot;<br /><br />But how does one get from &quot;passion&quot; and engagement both of which implicitly suggest pre-formed opinions to &quot;informed debate?&quot; What happened to the need to present a balanced view? Is objectivity too old-fashioned a concept for the likes of a site like this?<br /><br />Unfortunately, I'm afraid the Austin Post is just the latest in a string of online news sites that have gotten the popularity of reality television confused with informed debate and the role of newspapers and magazines to help guide those conversations. <br /><p>There's no question that the news business must morph from traditional print practices which sees the Internet as a threat to embracing the Internet as a complimentary media outlet, but dismissing professionally-trained writers and the objectivity they bring as irrelevant, is throwing the baby out with the bath water. It is the &quot;business model&quot; that must change, not how and why the content is developed. </p><p></p><p></p><br /><div style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; display: none; opacity: 0.9; position: absolute; width: auto; z-index: 99999;" id="seolinx-tooltip"><table style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; border-collapse: separate; width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 1px; padding: 0pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold;" id="seolinx-table"><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; overflow: auto; width: auto;"><table style="border: 1px solid gray; margin: 0pt; border-collapse: separate;" id="seolinx-paramtable"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://toolbarqueries.google.com/favicon.ico" /> PR: <a href="javascript:{}" title="Google pagerank" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="0" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.google.com/favicon.ico" /> I: <a href="javascript:{}" title="Google index" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="1" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.google.com/favicon.ico" /> L: <a href="javascript:{}" title="Google links" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="2" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/favicon.ico" /> LD: <a href="javascript:{}" title="Yahoo linkdomain" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="12" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.bing.com/favicon.ico" /> I: <a href="javascript:{}" title="Bing index" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="20" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="javascript:{}" title="Sitemap.xml" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="40" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.semrush.com/favicon.ico" /> Rank: <a href="javascript:{}" title="SEMRush Rank" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="41" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.semrush.com/favicon.ico" /> Traffic: <a href="javascript:{}" title="SEMRush SE Traffic" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="42" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.semrush.com/favicon.ico" /> Price: <a href="javascript:{}" title="SEMRush SE Traffic price" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="43" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://siteanalytics.compete.com/favicon.ico" /> C: <a href="javascript:{}" title="Compete Rank" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="108" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; overflow: auto; width: auto;"><table id="seolinx-paramtable" style="border: 1px solid gray; margin: 0pt; border-collapse: separate;"></table></div><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; overflow: auto; width: auto;"><table style="border: 1px solid gray; margin: 0pt; border-collapse: separate;" id="seolinx-paramtable"></table></div></td><td title="close" id="seolinx-tooltip-close" style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px; cursor: pointer; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;"><img src="chrome://seoquake/content/skin/close.gif" /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div id="seolinx-tooltip" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; display: none; opacity: 0.9; position: absolute; width: auto; z-index: 99999;"><table style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; border-collapse: separate; width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td id="seolinx-table" style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 1px; padding: 0pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold;"></td><td style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px; cursor: pointer; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" id="seolinx-tooltip-close" title="close"><img src="chrome://seoquake/content/skin/close.gif" /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; display: none; opacity: 0.9; position: absolute; width: auto; z-index: 99999;" id="seolinx-tooltip"><table style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; border-collapse: separate; width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 1px; padding: 0pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold;" id="seolinx-table"></td><td title="close" id="seolinx-tooltip-close" style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px; cursor: pointer; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;"><img src="chrome://seoquake/content/skin/close.gif" /></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <br /><a href="http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/index.php?/archives/13-You-too-can-be-published-but-can-we-believe-you.html#extended">Continue reading "You too can be published -- but can we believe you?"</a> Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:25:10 -0400 http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/index.php?/archives/13-guid.html The last dance of the dinosaurs? http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/index.php?/archives/9-The-last-dance-of-the-dinosaurs.html News Business http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/index.php?/archives/9-The-last-dance-of-the-dinosaurs.html#comments http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/wfwcomment.php?cid=9 0 http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/rss.php?version=2.0&type=comments&cid=9 nospam@example.com (Jim Skillington) <br /> Grasping at ways to replace lost print advertising revenues, an increasing number of newspapers and magazines have announced plans to charge for original content that up to now has been available free on the Web. But is it like locking the barn doors after the cows have escaped? How would one put the genie back into the bottle?<br /><br />The Valley Morning Star in Harlingen, Texas, has announced non-subscribers to its paid newspaper will have to pay nearly $4 per month for access to local news on its Website. Part of the Freedom Communications chain, the Star's publisher Tyler Patton says he expects other Freedom papers to follow suit. And the New York Times recently announced it is also considering a subscription fee for its Website.<br /><br />Charging for online news may be possible for major national publications and in some isolated communities when there's little to no competition in a region, but in most cases, I think it's actually a dodge to avoid new thinking about the news business. What should be the purpose of a Website for a news organization? Are there features that can make the printed publication more valuable? Are there unique ways to cover the news? Is it time for convergence -- when news media organizations blend print and video?<br /><br />These questions just scratch the surface of the possible. But simply putting up a fence to charge readers instead of changing the reason/focus of the Website, feels to me like it is one of the last gasps in the last dance of the dinosaurs.  <br /> <div style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; display: none; opacity: 0.9; position: absolute; width: auto; z-index: 99999;" id="seolinx-tooltip"><table style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; border-collapse: separate; width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 1px; padding: 0pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold;" id="seolinx-table"><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; overflow: auto; width: auto;"><table style="border: 1px solid gray; margin: 0pt; border-collapse: separate;" id="seolinx-paramtable"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://toolbarqueries.google.com/favicon.ico" /> PR: <a href="javascript:{}" title="Google pagerank" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="0" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.google.com/favicon.ico" /> I: <a href="javascript:{}" title="Google index" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="1" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.google.com/favicon.ico" /> L: <a href="javascript:{}" title="Google links" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="2" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/favicon.ico" /> LD: <a href="javascript:{}" title="Yahoo linkdomain" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="12" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.bing.com/favicon.ico" /> I: <a href="javascript:{}" title="Bing index" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="20" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="javascript:{}" title="Sitemap.xml" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="40" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.semrush.com/favicon.ico" /> Rank: <a href="javascript:{}" title="SEMRush Rank" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="41" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.semrush.com/favicon.ico" /> Traffic: <a href="javascript:{}" title="SEMRush SE Traffic" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="42" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.semrush.com/favicon.ico" /> Price: <a href="javascript:{}" title="SEMRush SE Traffic price" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="43" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid gray; padding: 2px; background: rgb(240, 240, 240) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: darkgreen; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><img width="12" height="12" style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://siteanalytics.compete.com/favicon.ico" /> C: <a href="javascript:{}" title="Compete Rank" seolinx-type="param" seolinx-param-index="108" style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">wait...</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; overflow: auto; width: auto;"><table id="seolinx-paramtable" style="border: 1px solid gray; margin: 0pt; border-collapse: separate;"></table></div><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; overflow: auto; width: auto;"><table style="border: 1px solid gray; margin: 0pt; border-collapse: separate;" id="seolinx-paramtable"></table></div></td><td title="close" id="seolinx-tooltip-close" style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px; cursor: pointer; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;"><img src="chrome://seoquake/content/skin/close.gif" /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div id="seolinx-tooltip" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; display: none; opacity: 0.9; position: absolute; width: auto; z-index: 99999;"><table style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; border-collapse: separate; width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td id="seolinx-table" style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 1px; padding: 0pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold;"></td><td style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px; cursor: pointer; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" id="seolinx-tooltip-close" title="close"><img src="chrome://seoquake/content/skin/close.gif" /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; display: none; opacity: 0.9; position: absolute; width: auto; z-index: 99999;" id="seolinx-tooltip"><table style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; border-collapse: separate; width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 1px; padding: 0pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold;" id="seolinx-table"></td><td title="close" id="seolinx-tooltip-close" style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt; padding: 1px; cursor: pointer; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;"><img src="chrome://seoquake/content/skin/close.gif" /></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <br /><a href="http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/index.php?/archives/9-The-last-dance-of-the-dinosaurs.html#extended">Continue reading "The last dance of the dinosaurs?"</a> Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:12:14 -0400 http://www.newvillagemedia.com/blog/index.php?/archives/9-guid.html