A wi-fi solution for rural areas
Posted on February 23, 2008
You can read the full text story here.
Four types of Web video watchers
Posted on February 15, 2008
Media Contacts (part of Havas Media — an international communications consulting group) has identified four key types of Web video watchers to help guide media planning efforts (with the data from a comScore study), reports MediaPost (ack … that’s a whole lotta sourcing!).
I thought this might be useful information for planning video viewing. In the rush to slap as much video online as possible, it doesn’t seem to me that many newspapers have researched enough how their readers access their videos and why.
* Content Explorers: These are viewers 35 to 54 who are platform-agnostic and as willing to watch reality shows, daytime soaps and news programs online as on TV. They tend to have household incomes of more than $100,000.
* On Demanders: More likely to be heavy video users, with three-quarters using a DVR and/or a video-on-demand service. These 18- to-34-year-olds are also the most likely to have watched full-length videos online.
* Sight & Sounders: The 55-and-over crowd makes up about one-third of the online video audience, but much prefers TV. That may change over time as high-quality video comes online in more user-friendly form.
* Television Devotees: This group skews more heavily toward women, and would rather watch their favorite shows on TV but will turn to network Web sites to catch up on missed episodes.
If all else fails, try brainwashing ink
Posted on February 9, 2008
I stumbled upon a cartoon, “Jacob Two Two,” this morning while I was flipping channels on TV. The animation caught my eye, and then the content of the show drew me in.
I was watching episode #5 “Jacob Two Two and the Daily Crown,” (which originally aired in 2001, I think) about Jacob, a 10-year-old boy who lives in Montreal, and his friend Buford who think their city’s newspaper is dull, dull, dull. Bad grammar and comics that aren’t funny top their list of complaints. Who would read the newspaper? they ask as they throw it in the trash.
Hmm.
But wait, all is not lost … soon, they find all the adults in Montreal mesmerized by the paper. Everyone’s reading it. Subscriptions and advertising is at an all-time high.
How could this be? Is there actually some news in it worth reading that the kids are missing or don’t understand? Is the newspaper catering too much to older readers? In the end, do Jacob and Buford learn about journalism and the importance of the press?
Nah.
Turns out it’s part of an evil plot by con man Carl Fester King, the new owner of the paper and printing press who declares himself “King of the World.” He put a brainwashing chemical in the ink to get readers to, well, read.
That’s a great lesson for the kids: The only way circulation could rise for print papers is if we brainwash the readers.
Another interesting tidbit: Jacob refused to do research on the newspaper’s Web site, too, saying “no not that one … I want to get the dirt.”
Part I
Part II
Part III
Nontraditional (to us) nontraditional (to them) jobs
Posted on February 7, 2008
It used to be that new media/multimedia jobs were those “nontraditional” jobs. (One could argue they still are in many newsrooms, but I like to think that more journalists are thinking about multimedia.)
Now that it’s becoming more mainstream, I’ve noticed companies outside traditional newspapers are looking for multimedia content producers.
This is good news for those who might feel “stuck” in their jobs. I’ve talked to many folks who say newspapers are all they know, and there’s nothing else they could do. Even if they wanted to move on to something else, they don’t think there’s anyplace they can go.
So now we have another incentive for building multimedia skills (outside of producing good journalism, of course) — you’ll be highly marketable.
Here are just a sample of postings I found (and notice that some are posted on journalismjobs.com, which to me means they are targeting journalists skills and value what they could bring to the job):
>> Multimedia Designer, University Communications at The University of California, Irvine
Under the direction of the Director of Web Communications, University Communications, the Multimedia Designer maintains and supports of the University Web presence through the design, creation, evolution, production and maintenance of multimedia programming used on the UCI Web site (www.uci.edu), Zot!Wire, today@uci Web site (today.uci.edu), chancellor Web site (www.chancellor.uci.edu) and other sites as needed. The designer develops and builds multimedia applications that showcase UC Irvine’s priorities and strengths for internal and external audiences. Working with graphic/Web designers across campus, facilitates the production of materials for highly complex interactive online presentations. Designs print materials (magazine, brochures, and advertisements) as required. As a member of the University Communications team, the multimedia designer will lead and implement projects though programming flash applications, supporting existing multimedia applications and performing a variety of Web site accessibility testing and quality assurance.
>> Multimedia/Online producer, Freedom Forum
The Multimedia and Online Producer is a full-time faculty member of the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute, Inc., a nonprofit school based at the John Seigenthaler Center in Nashville, Tenn.
The producer will be a technology specialist responsible for creating, editing and deploying a variety of online content, with an emphasis on video, audio and interactive multimedia for the Diversity Institute.
Examples of content include video journalism, podcasts, videocasts, Soundslides, interactive tools, widgets and other innovations perhaps not yet conceived.
>> Multimedia producer, McMurry
McMurry is seeking a Multimedia Producer, experienced in hands-on video production, podcasts, audio slide shows and related media for online presentation. The right candidate has at least three years of experience in multimedia production; is skilled at collecting, scripting and editing online content; and knows how to put together a talented production team in multiple cities on short notice. He or she is capable of producing short video pieces in a diverse range of subjects and is comfortable working in a challenging and fast-paced team environment with demanding clients.
The winning candidate is an idea person, knows how to make magazine story ideas relevant electronically, and understands both the world of journalistic editorial and marketing. This contract position—with the chance of becoming full-time employment—is an opportunity to take part in an exciting, high-profile project launch.
>> Multimedia Designer, University of Pennsylvania Health System
The Multimedia Designer in Marketing Services/Business Development supports the graphic design and multimedia needs for all UPHS web sites managed by Marketing. This includes the bulk of the UPHS public web site located at pennhealth.com, as well as additional public and internal sites. The Multimedia Designer also provides graphic design support for online advertising and cross-marketing relationships with other non-UPHS web sites.
The Multimedia Designer works closely with the print designers in the Creative Services division in order to integrate web design with offline design. This designer also works closely with the Senior Multimedia Designer to create a consistent and high-quality look-and-feel, navigational structure, and user interface across all UPHS web sites. The designer interacts regularly with other Web Division staff to understand graphics needs and to ensure that web sites are developed according to the design, and other Marketing staff to understand client needs and preferences.
The Multimedia Designer maintains an awareness and understanding of emerging technologies, standards, and trends in web design and applies those techniques as needed to help maintain a high-quality web presence for UPHS.
>> Multimedia specialist, Harvard Business School Publishing
Harvard Business Digital, the online division of Harvard Business School Publishing (HBSP) is seeking a Multimedia Web Producer for its website, www.harvardbusiness.org HarvardBusiness.org is the primary Web destination for HBSP, housing the online version of Harvard Business Review, thousands of for-sale products such as books and case studies, and a new and growing selection of free content such as blogs, video, audio, and interactive tools.
Reporting to the Lead Producer, the Multimedia Web Producer will be responsible for creating, editing and deploying a variety of online content, with an emphasis on video, audio and interactive multimedia for Harvard Business School Publishing. Examples of content include video interviews, podcasts, interactive tools and widgets. Key responsibilities include: light editing/post-producing video and audio; authoring/editing XHTML, CSS and XML; formatting content and deploying it via content management systems, blogging applications, listservs, mobile platforms and flat HTML pages. This is a hands-on position where the individual will be working directly in a variety of applications and deployment environments. He/she also will assist in project conceptualization, planning and coordination. This is a highly collaborative, team-based environment where work in managed via a project management process.
>> Multimedia Production Analyst, Lockheed Martin
Description: Researches, prepares and produces audiovisual (film, videos, interactive multimedia, DVD or CD) for training for training, sales, promotion, documentation, and other communicative purposes for both internal and external audiences. Consults with user to assess appropriate medium, creates product concepts, plans production, produces video to include scriptwriting, location scouting, shot selection, video shooting, tape logging, music and sound effect selection, digital effect creation, final editing and tape duplication. Researches and prepares the material, writes scripts, selects visual aids, music, sound effects, etc.
Speak up or hold your peace?
Posted on February 6, 2008
Sam Zell, owner of the Tribune Company, dropped the F-Bomb at a staff meeting at the Orlando Sentinel when one of the paper’s photographers asked a question about the role of journalism in a struggling market and pushed back at his first response.
Ironically, this interaction came shortly after the much talked-about release of the new employee handbook, which states:
8. QUESTION AUTHORITY. In transforming Tribune, you are encouraged to ask your manager, supervisor, business unit head or anyone in Corporate, any question you have regarding the business. Question authority and push back if you do not like the answer. You will earn respect, and not get into trouble for asking tough questions. Remember, you are an employee owner. You have the right and obligation to ask questions.
and …
4.1. Working at Tribune means accepting a creative, quirky, intelligent, odd, humorous, diverse, opinionated and sometimes annoying atmosphere.
4.2. Working at Tribune means accepting that sometimes you might hear a word that you, personally, might not use. You might experience an attitude that you don’t share. You might hear a joke that you might not consider funny. That is because a loose, fun, non-linear atmosphere is important to the creative process.
4.3. This should be understood, should not be a surprise and is not considered harassment.
and ..
6.1. Have fun and treat each other with respect.
Now for the news of this blog post, reported by the LA Times (which is one of Zell’s papers):
In Orlando, Sentinel photographer Sara Fajardo asked Zell at the staff meeting for his views on “the role journalism plays in the community, because we’re not the Pennysaver, we’re a newspaper.”
Zell, standing at a podium, responded, “I want to make enough money so that I can afford you. You need to in effect help me by being a journalist that focuses on what our readers want that generates more revenue.”
Fajardo told Zell that “what readers want are puppy dogs,” presumably referring to soft feature stories. She added, “We also need to inform the community.”
Zell shot back: “I’m sorry but you’re giving me the classic, what I would call, journalistic arrogance by deciding that puppies don’t count. . . . What I’m interested in is how can we generate additional interest in our products and additional revenue so we can make our product better and better and hopefully we get to the point where our revenue is so significant that we can do puppies and Iraq.”
As he finished his remarks, he stepped back from the podium and muttered the obscenity.
Watch it yourself here:
I’m fascinated by the responses on orlandosentinel.com and chicagotribune.com that may include some journalists but are mostly reader reactions, which range from:
“I can appreciate that Zell was disrespected, and that he uses salty language, but it’s quite another thing to say “f you” to a person who works for you - that takes things to a whole new level. Especially if you are senior management. I’d expect more from Zell, and he does owe her an apology.”
to …
“He owns the company, if the photographer wants to give him a hard time, then I say fire her. It’s sad that you can’t even tell anyone off anymore without it being “news.” Start printing things that are worthwhile.”
and …
“As a “puppy dog”, I resent the arrogance of reporters who think they know better than the general public. Reporters should report the news, not make the news.”
and …
“Who decides what we need to know, you? Zell isn’t wrong because a paper needs to earn money. If it doesn’t it folds and then no one is telling anyone anything. Typical elitist garbage…”
One comment on Gawker.com explains that “puppies” comment:
“Thanks to instantaneous metrics on Web sites, the Sentinel found it struck gold last year with this story about an 18-ounce, 4-inch tall Chihuahua. That damn dog received the most page views of almost anything else last year. Once top editors in the newsroom saw the hits, the story got moved from B3 to A1. It was a cute brite maybe once, but there were several followups.”
There are two issues here:
>> Is it OK to speak to a coworker/boss/employee that way? And if not in general, are there exceptions, such as when that person seems rude? And should the boss be held to a higher standard? Or does he/she not have to play by the “rules”?
>> Is the photographer really arrogant for thinking that “puppies don’t count”? Should newspapers push the “brites” described above to generate revenue so that “hopefully we get to the point where our revenue is so significant that we can do puppies and Iraq”?
The Times reports that Zell will arrive in L.A. this week for meetings at their newsroom.
That should be interesting.
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