My criteria for via links are simple: If someone points me to an article I did not find on my own (either through my RSS reader or at its original source), I’ll include a via.
Chris’ post is a lot more succinct than mine was.
Category: Journalism
The Almighty Via
In writing, sources are everything. As early as grade school, we’re told to list our sources at the end of book reports. In journalism school, you’re taught how to find, cultivate and protect sources.
Many writers on the Internet aren’t great at listing their sources, though.
The Internet has far more material than any school or public library. You can find anything online. There is simply too much content out there to process it all.
A Review of Phraseology: The iPad App for Writers
There are a lot of writing apps for the iPad. So many, in fact, I usually gloss over new releases, assuming they won’t offer much over my current setup of text files syncing with Dropbox and Notesy.
Enter Phraseology, by Agile Tortoise. While Dropbox syncing support is coming, this app is about far more than taking notes. It’s designed as a writing tool, from the ground up.
Take re-rearranging paragraphs for example. When I’m working on a long piece (like this review), I often re-order my paragraphs more than once, to find the flow I want to portray in my writing.
The AP Gets a Look at Rare Apple History
In the interview, Steve Wozniak and the late Steve Jobs recall a seminal moment in Silicon Valley history - how they named their upstart computer company some 35 years ago.
[…]
The interview, recorded for an in-house video for company employees in the mid–1980s, was among a storehouse of materials Apple had been collecting for a company museum. But in 1997, soon after Jobs returned to the company, Apple officials contacted Stanford University and offered to donate the collection to the school’s Silicon Valley Archives.
Best Local News Bloopers of 2011
Journaling with Day One
I think I’m going to join David Sparks on this challenge.
The New Curator
Drew Coffman, weighing in on the curation thing:
I’m thinking the term “curator” shouldn’t be thrown out just yet. What we know as digital curation is such a unique beast that no other word seems to really fit. Traditional curators are often degree-holding specialists trusted with their materials. Translating this idea to the digital world places emphasis on content that I find very good for web culture. It shows that people place real value in the things they love. However, I think there is a requirement for those who use the term - one must provide some unique context or information when displaying their prized possessions. I have a hard time taking digital “curators” seriously when all they do is throw links together. The why is so important to me when it comes to art.
Gannet Buys ‘Thousands’ of iOS Devices for Employees
Jim Hopkins has a copy of the memo. In it, Bob Dickey, President of Gannet, writes:
In every local market, we have the most and the best journalists. These new tools will help our journalists meet the demands of the new news cycle, one that requires agility in real-time reporting, social media and greater emphasis on video storytelling, further increasing our competitive advantage.
In addition, we’ll provide the devices to create a “digital workstation” at each of our local Information Centers to monitor the content experience we provide across digital channels — tablets and smart phones, in particular. This will give us a vital point of view so we can adjust our storytelling with greater precision.
The Killer App is Credibility
Robert Hernandez at the Nieman Journalism Lab:
In the age that we live in, content is relatively cheap. Anyone can create it. If not through their computer, everyone’s phone can basically do live shots, record newsworthy sound clips and file stories. Some can do interactive 360 videos or augmented reality presentations. Really cool stuff.
[…]
With technology empowering everyone with the ability to create and to distribute, I predict — and wish — that in 2012 the new dominating factor will be Credibility. Actually, earned Credibility.
Speaking of Credibility
CNN recently laid off at least 50 staff, including several photojournalists, in favor of affiliate contributions and iReport – CNN’s user-generated content department which does not pay users for their submissions. To many inside the industry and out, the move seemed based on flawed reasoning that might best be summarized by Stephen Colbert’s quip on the subject: “Why buy the cow when you can have it shakily videotape its own milk for free?”
Bloggers and Shield Laws
Timothy B. Lee for Ars Technica:
An Oregon judge has ruled that a Montana blogger is not eligible for the legal protections afforded to journalists, letting stand a $2.5 million defamation verdict.
This case draws a clear line between people who write for traditional media outlets and for blogs. Judge Marco Hernandez wrote:
Although defendant is a self-proclaimed ‘investigative blogger’ and defines herself as ‘media,’ the record fails to show that she is affiliated with any newspaper, magazine, periodical, book, pamphlet, news service, wire service, news or feature syndicate, broadcast station or network, or cable television system. Thus, she is not entitled to the protections of the [Oregon journalist shield] law.
Layoffs and Paywalls
Memphis Newspaper Guild president Wayne Risher:
With sadness and regret, I must inform you that the Memphis Newspaper Guild was notified today, Tuesday morning, by The Commercial Appeal that 9 Guild covered employees will lose their jobs by Dec. 20 as part of a reduction in force. The company, confirming rumors that had been swirling for the last few months, said job reductions would be made to cut expenses and achieve efficiencies in the business. The company said names of affected employees could be released to the guild later today.