Good reads for 07.17.07

Posted on July 17, 2007 by Melissa Worden

>> Will the paper edition of newspapers eventually become secondary to online? Says The New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller: ” … the Web audience is growing at a great clip, while print circulation is not. And online revenues are growing faster, too, albeit from a smaller base. If the trend continues, there’s little doubt that — ‘eventually’ — online becomes the main business.” Will newspapers on paper disappear eventually? “Keller: Eventually covers a lot of future. I think newspapers on paper will be around for a good while yet. They may in time become niche products — like vinyl LPs — for a particular loyal audience.” Some more observations about the interview from Mica Swyers on The Editors Weblog.

>> After 126 years, The Cincinnati Post and The Kentucky Post will stop the presses for good on Dec. 31, 2007, the E.W. Scripps Co. announced today. Staffers and readers react.

>> Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive launched its first community site, LoudounExtra.com. “One of the interesting things about the new Loudoun Extra site is that it’s a community-oriented, hyperlocal site… but the site is not depending on the community,” says Beth Lawton, writing for The Digital Edge. “Unlike BackFence, which largely ran on contributions from locals, Loudoun Extra so far is fed mostly by professional reporters and journalism interns.” Rob Curley will chat about the new site with readers on Wednesday.

I find it interesting that they’re using the label “multimedia” on a community site. Is this a mainstream word now, or still industry jargon?

>> Mindy McAdams posted a two-hour video (divided into four parts) of a recent University of Florida panel discussion about video on newspaper Web sites. The experts (Chuck Fadely, Regina McCombs and Chet Rhodes) share video training and workflow tips and samples.

>> Richard Koci Hernandez shares 6 rules for video on the Internet.

>> Smashing magazine reviews “unusual, remarkable and outstanding” homepages. I don’t see newspapers trying these, but some design ideas here are quite innovative.