Journalism is broken, ‘programming’ can fix it!

July 24, 2008July 24, 2008 / Angelo Fernando / Leave a comment

The “Journalism is broken” cry is not a new one, especially with the rise of citizen journalism, loss of readership and viewership etc.

So when a Journalist / programmer (an unusual combination of skills, don’t you agree?) tries to fix this crisis, it’s worth paying some attention. Adrian Holovaty has an idea of how to use the ‘data’ of a story to come up with a better narrative. Listen to him here

To me this approach is interesting not because I am a writer of business stories but because of where I work.

Data is the basis of every decision we make, whether we call it that or not. At the Decision Theater we take data and help create a narrative for policy makers to see what’s often invisible –either too complex to fathom, or simply buried in plain sight by a data smog. Data, once you connect the dots, could be used to construct scenarios. There is a whole lot of programming, data selection, data mining and layering at the back end. But the scenario shows up as a richer story. It is maybe about a discrete event, but it could have a wider relevance.

The news media is grappling with that same choices between creating the thumbnail or the sound bite versus giving people the context. Giving readers (and this applies to viewers, listeners, browsers) the former is easy, but like the evening TV news that packs a world event into a few seconds, the ‘story’ is crippled because it is data poor. The latter cannot be banged out on a word processor that easily.

The data-rich story needs a programmer’s mindset.

Journalists will blog about journalism. Resistance is futile

July 22, 2008 / Angelo Fernando / Leave a comment

When you write about your own company, you’ve got to expect some push-back. Blog about your industry and you can expect a downpour.

That’s what happened when one newspaper intern, Jessica DaSilva reported on a company matter at the newspaper she was working at, the Tampa Tribune. Of course, this was not a report in her paper, but it had her byline (on her blog.) This was not about any company matter, it was a post about a layoff, and the editor in chief explaining it to the newsroom.

What made this blog post and the social media newsroom discussion that ensued acrimonious (and relevant to anyone in a job with analog-digital tension) could be summed up with this statement from the editor:

“We can see a better future for journalism right across the bridge on the other side, but the bridge is on fire, and if we just stand here, we are going to burn up with it.”

But the downpour came not from her employer as you probably imagined–for blogging about something as sensitive as a layoff — but from people who were angry that this young inexperienced person supported the ‘innovate or or obliterate’ concept. More than 200 comments later, she was ridiculed for a lot of things including blogging about a newsroom (“If I were your boss, I’d fire you for posting this. Is this your first job?”), her spelling and her misplaced enthusiasm ( “I really do admire your enthusiasm, but your post comes off extremely naive.”)

Many others rallied in support. When someone threatened her saying:

“I’m an editor at a medium-sized paper and I’m sending your name around to everyone I know in the business to make sure that you are never hired anywhere.“

another responded:

“Michael: I’m an editor at a gigantic website and before that was in the print business for 20 years up to the largest metros, and believe me, if you had a full name, I would also send it around to everybody I knew to tell them not to hire the idiot who is willing to write off the career of a young woman who truly has a passion for a trouble profession — something we really need right now — because of something she wrote in a single blog entry when she was just starting out.”

The bridge was definitely on fire!

The digital world to many must seem scary and disruptive, but resistance is futile. John Byrne of Businessweek put it this way, describing his recent leap from print into digital journalism:

“I think of the web as not just another medium, but rather a new utility, like electricity. It’s print, radio, and television all in one, except better and much more than all of them together.”

What a magazine’s colophon tells you

July 14, 2008July 14, 2008 / Angelo Fernando / 1 Comment

If you are in any way involved in writing –and who isn’t?– and you have not thumbed through a copy of Wired, stop reading blogs, and get thee to a book store. The online version of the magazine will not suffice, either.

Why? The very act of turning the page, absorbing the impact of the typography, and juxtaposition of content will teach you something. The contents page looks different every time, the photo-illustrations are quirky, risque, challenging; the sections (like Artifacts from the future) and color really push the boundaries of print. And as for audience engagement, try putting it down after two minutes. I dare you!

Wired also does a few neat things you won’t see in many other publications:

Place cryptic words or phrases next to the publication date on the cover that relate to the cover story. July 2006 featured the letters ‘TMI’ because the story was about data. March ’08 was ‘Nothing is sacred.’ For the April ’08 cover story, Evil Genius, it was “original Sin.’ The story was about Apple.
Use photo illustrations that are basically articles condensed into illustrated stories and maps –a different way to tell a story.
Use a colophon. A what? Somewhere at the back of the book is a column set in all caps titled ‘Colophon.’ It’s one of those obscure words that derive from a much earlier print industry -tablets and manuscripts. It describes odd little details about the making of that issue including the blood sweat and bloody mary’s involved.

I’ve been reading Wired for about ten years now. It’s one of those pubs you know will not go away no matter where digital content is moving into, despite the dire predictions of the ‘Print is toast‘ crowd. Why? Because they pay attention to excruciating details.

Quotes for the week ending 12 July, 2008

July 12, 2008August 31, 2008 / Angelo Fernando / Leave a comment

“He brought wit, grace and a great love of country to his work.”

President Bush, on Tony Snow, former White House press secretary who died today.

“But Obama is not just tacking gently toward the center. He’s lurching right when it suits him, and he’s zigging with the kind of reckless abandon that’s guaranteed to cause disillusion, if not whiplash.”

Bob Herbert, syndicated columnist for The New York Times

“Wake up and smell the rice Mr. Ploom! Im tired of Americans who don’t know a thing about the beauty, complexity or richness of Chinese culture.”

Online reader comment to a story about Ambush Marketing at the Olympics, by Businessweek. The story turned into an ugly exchange between readers from Japan and China.

“…it’s not the story about of the burglar who fell asleep on the resident’s couch that matters. Instead, it’s the everyday news affecting everyday life that we hope keep you coming back.”

Jacqueline Shoyeb, Online Editor, Mesa Republic

“As a metaphor, it’s strained. As a narrative –well, it has none.”

Bob Garfield, in Advertising Age, on the ad for HP’s TouchSmart PC, that he calls a large step ahead of the Mac.

“Together, they represent the real stories of the Games.”

Lenovo launching a web site called “Voices of the Olympic Games” featuring 100 athletes, from more than 25 countries.

Ambushing the 2008 Olympics, too irresistible

July 11, 2008 / Angelo Fernando / 2 Comments

Beijing, 2008

Someone’s going to pull off an ambush next month in Beijing. It may be a brand ambush, but it could also be a story ambush. There’s going to be a PR controversy over a brand defending the tactic, or someone attacking the ambusher.

I say this because of two trends that have collided:

The capacity to blur the lines between mainstream and viral, and
The field of diamonds that awaits the publicity seeker because of so much media attention on China

It could happen in a variety of ways, such as the old methods of sneaking in a T-shirt with a logo, a sign with an caustic slogan, or accidental product placement. But there are more sophisticated ways of beating the logo police. The whole idea of ambush marketing is to get attention not inside the Olympic village, but outside it. To you and me.

And that means defying not the logo police but the publishing police. Portable media such as smart phones and cameras can do that all too easily. Naturally the authorities have been cagy.

Rings around social media. And how about video sharing, live streaming, blogging? It’s so easy to stand up in front of an Olympic landmark -even a competitor’s sign –shoot a video and post it in a few clicks. The Official TV sponsor, NBC, may have the rights to all the venues, but rights means nothing to someone who has audience.

Rush to blog. Blog policy is being debated for obvious reasons. NBC has made sure it won’t be usurped by some media upstart, and is embedding its own journalist-blogger, Alan Abrahamson, at the games. Other blogs have cropped up fast, such as the New York Times‘ Rings, and The China Beat written by a group largely comprised of academics. Not media people, mind you! If I remember correct, athletes are still allowed to blog.

At the time of writing, there are 23,800 YouTube videos that come up for the keywords “2008 Olympics.” This includes a BBC clip using a ‘pollution detector‘ that tells a damaging story. In sixty days you can bet that number will be a lot higher, and quite possibly include a few that document tales of ambush.

Earth to Live Earth: where are you now?

July 7, 2008July 7, 2008 / Angelo Fernando / Leave a comment

Anyone recall what happened on 07.07.07 or SOS? I don’t blame you!

Today is the anniversary of Live Earth the SOS call to everyone that took the form of a seven continent concert. NBC and satellite radio promoted it. So much has happened since then with regard to climate initiatives that the huge global music concert for planet earth seems like a distant dream.

There were ‘Green Guidelines‘ and an album summing up the event. But the event struck me as too much entertainment and less engagement, and I had hoped they would fix that in the months that followed.

Today there seems to be no news. No statements from folks like Leonardo DiCaprio and Al Gore who helped promote the event. Just a pretty (static) web site.

Hoipolloireport

Angelo Fernando's blog since 2004

Media

Journalism is broken, ‘programming’ can fix it!

What a magazine’s colophon tells you

Quotes for the week ending 12 July, 2008

President Bush, on Tony Snow, former White House press secretary who died today.

Bob Herbert, syndicated columnist for The New York Times

Online reader comment to a story about Ambush Marketing at the Olympics, by Businessweek. The story turned into an ugly exchange between readers from Japan and China.

Jacqueline Shoyeb, Online Editor, Mesa Republic

Bob Garfield, in Advertising Age, on the ad for HP’s TouchSmart PC, that he calls a large step ahead of the Mac.

Lenovo launching a web site called “Voices of the Olympic Games” featuring 100 athletes, from more than 25 countries.

Earth to Live Earth: where are you now?

Obama campaign spokesperson on the incendiary cover of New Yorker magazine for the story Making it. How Chicago shaped Obama.

Cut Me Some Flack. A PR Blog by Robyn Itule, Shannon Danitz and Nicole Williams at Armstrong Troyky.

Edward C. Baig of USA Today reviewing Apple’s latest killer app, the App Store for the iPhone

Chuck Todd, the political director for NBC News, on the excessive media coverage Obama is getting.

Jessica Reed, of the Guardian, writing about Gawker Media and its two intoxicated bloggers who were interviewed on a comedy show.

Immigration lawyer, Geri Kahn, on visiting the Bar Association gathering in Second Life.

President Bush, on Tony Snow, former White House press secretary who died today.

Bob Herbert, syndicated columnist for The New York Times

Online reader comment to a story about Ambush Marketing at the Olympics, by Businessweek. The story turned into an ugly exchange between readers from Japan and China.

Jacqueline Shoyeb, Online Editor, Mesa Republic

Bob Garfield, in Advertising Age, on the ad for HP’s TouchSmart PC, that he calls a large step ahead of the Mac.

Lenovo launching a web site called “Voices of the Olympic Games” featuring 100 athletes, from more than 25 countries.

New York Times, reporting on how people are adopting Barack Obama’s middle name to counter those who are using it in a negative way.

Fast Company article on the power of Twitter, highlighting Tweets from Robert Scoble’s Tweetstream.

Robert Fronk, senior VP-senior consultant, reputation strategy, at Harris Interactive.

Derek LaVallee, VP-U.S. public affairs practice at Waggener Edstrom, on research showing digital media preference of 18-35 year olds.

A mashup of a name for a webinar (which itself is a mashup) and conversations talking place via Twitter before, during and after a webinar, attributed to Chris Brogan.

Headline for a story in USA Today, about Louiville, Florida police opening a text messaging tip line for teens to report crime.

Mitch Joel, on a cautionary note about how people in an organization embracing social media should not expect others to have the same passion for it.