News organizations in a digital world

The history of news and newspaper.

When newspapers first appeared back in the 16oos, inventers did not have the slightest idea as to what the future of news would become. And even hundreds of years later, news organizations still did not predict the outcome of what is now a “digital nation.” Only about 10 years ago news delivery where primarily newspaper and magazine based with a few news websites here and there. But with the rapid evolution of modern day technology, readers are able to get news through tens of mediums.

The current state of news

According to the PBS documentary, “digital nation,” children today, as well as many adults, own some type of digital gadget most of which has the capability of receiving news. These gadgets include everything from an iPad, iPod, smart phone apps, laptop or just a regular computer. In addition to all that digital clutter, there is also social media such as twitter, Facebook, MySpace and blog sites. All of which has the ability to deliver news to potential readers.

In the midst of a digital nation and the constant rise of technology, many news organizations struggle to keep up with the digital clutter.  And in the midst of the struggle, many are compelled to keep up the fight or face the inevitable predicament of failure. However, the price of the battle is rather costly and not all news organizations can afford the fight. So now the question is how do those that cannot afford to fight stay afloat? 

“We are too small, we don’t have all the staff to do all that social network and all that other stuff. It is impossible, said Rosemary K. Otzman, editor for the Belleville independent newspaper.  “We can’t afford to do it, we are a free newspaper and our budget is based on advertising. So I expand my energy in delivering quality news,”   

Otzman is an old-school journalist who grew up on print newspaper; and even though she admitted that she hates computers, her reality of not being able to compete with the digital world is a common dilemma among many news organizations especially small local newspapers. Other small/local newspapers get a little more creative with available resources. For example, the “Washtenaw Voice” does not have an app or twitter/Facebook account but are still utilizing technology to a certain extent in delivering news to their readers.

When Keith Gave, journalism instructor at The Washtenaw Voice, first came to Washtenaw Community College (WCC) three years ago, “the Voice did not have a good website,” said Gave. “But we’ve added a few bells and whistles to improve our newspaper.” According to Gave, the Voice recently added slide shows and video contents on their website. In addition, all staff members have a twitter and Facebook account through which they spread the news about the Voice. Gave does not consider having multiple tools to deliver news story a clutter. He believes that they are helpful resources but at the end of the day, “Students still want their newspaper on paper and ink. And with all that we’ve added, I would like to think that we are getting into this century of Journalism. And even though we don’t have all the money we need, we are still putting out a damn good newspaper with all the resources we got.” 

Although not every news organization feel compelled or can afford to keep up with the digital clutter, the fact remains that journalism today are changing. Big news organizations like the New York Times, Detroit Free Press and many others are spreading their wings through as many mediums as possible in an effort to maximize their outreach to readers.    

The future of news organizations

There are many people today that believe that print journalism is dying or will die pretty soon. And with pending inventions like the “tablet newspaper,” among smart phones and other electronic mediums, it is hard to disagree. But on the other hand, many still believe that print journalism will still be around for a very long time despite of technological changes.

“I definitely think journalism is not going away, we will always need people to tell the general public the news. But the way they get that news is definitely changing,” said Matt Durr, managing news editor at the Voice. However, “the idea of print journalism means the end of all journalism is ridiculous to me.” I can see us using iPads and tablets as it make sense from an environmental perspective but big cities will always need newspaper. Also, I really think that technology is going to help journalism because then people can take it with them everywhere they go.”

Anonymous online comments

The internet has always been a medium that allows privacy for its users. We have all enjoyed the notion of being able to do almost anything online without having to reveal our identity. As a result of this, many users have chosen to express themselves in ways that are obscene and inappropriate. And with such behaviour becoming more prominent, many news websites are considering pulling back on allowing anonymous comments.

Disallowing anonymous comments is not a bad idea considering some of the contents that are being posted in comment fields. With things like bigotry, swearing (scroll to the bottom) and explicit sexual comments, these contents can and will deface the image of news organizations. 

Asking readers to register with their email address and to post a real picture versus an avatar may be one step in the right direction to avoid insanity. However, it will take more than just that to weed out the corrupted commenters. Nowadays, commenters are becoming more and more clever in posting explicit contents (scroll all the to the bottom) without being noticed. And so, news papers will have to invest in more sophisticated tools that will filter out such comments.

Many readers may argue that it is their freedom of speech which I agree. But it is not about the readers as much as it is about the reputation of the news paper. Further more, if readers are bold enough to spill their guts then they should be bold enough to show their faces.

Mammoth Video

A customer browsing at Mammoth video (photo by Andrew Beckford)

 

Mammoth video Belleville MI (photo by Andrew Beckford)

When it comes to movie and video game rentals and purchases, Nikeisha knows exactly where to go.

“I’ve been coming to Mammoth since 2006 when I moved back to Belleville,” said Nikeisha Edwards a customer at the Mammoth video store in Belleville. “It is close to where I live and usually have what I’m looking for.”

Open since the 1980s, “Mammoth Video” has been serving Belleville residents with movie rentals, purchases and much more. Located in the center of Belleville, (11740 Belleville Rd.) it is convenient to customers with hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 12 to 9 p.m. on Sundays.

Formerly a chain company, Mammoth is currently a mom and pop business own by Liz and Ben since September of 2009. They are both committed to satisfying their customers and are always happy to serve with a big smile on their faces.

“We have a lot of customers, and we always get a lot of compliment on our customer service,” said Liz. 

With amazing customer service, a wealth of knowledge and awesome deals, Mammoth is a must stop location for all your movie and video game rentals and purchases. With over a hundred thousand movies from classics, drama, action, comedy, horror, kids and much more, Mammoth has a wide variety to offer. Not to mention a wide range of video games from Playstation to Wii. However, aside from the wide variety of merchandise available, the daily deals is just one the of many reasons why customers keep going back. On any given day, there is always some kind of special on offer, such as, “rent one get one free” or “buy one get one half off” Mammoth embraces the notion of convenience by offering a variety of services.

Aside from movies and video games, they also sell snacks like popcorn, candies, sodas and more. Owner Liz and Ben are currently working on a store website but in the meantime, customers can interact with them on their Facebook page where they will find reviews, discussions and specials.

Mammoth is currently trying to stay afloat the economical flood that swept the nation and “as long as they remains in business, it will be my first choice for movies and videogames,” said Edwards. 

Location: 11740 Belleville Rd, Belleville MI 48111    Telephone(734) 699-1515.

Video Stills

President Barack Obama works on his statement concerning the situation in Libya with, from left, Chief of Staff Bill Daley, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, and Deputy National Security Advisor for StrategicCommunication Ben Rhodes, in Brasilia, Brazil, March 19, 2011. (Photo by Peter Souza)

President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Feb. 1, 2011. (Photo by Peter Souza)

As news rooms across the country begin to downsize, many journalists are forced to become versatile in the journalism field. Being just a reporter is not quite sufficient and so being able to do tasks like videos, interviews, pictures and write articles at the same time are just a few of the things that are expected from journalists today. With this much knowledge and versatility, journalists are more marketable in the field.   

However, this versatility can become overwhelming for journalists but with the continuous evolution of technology, reporters burden can be a little lighter. With new inventions like the “Cannon EOS 5D” journalist can accomplish a lot with this one device, such as recording, video taping and taking stills from recorded video. Unlike other devices, this device has certainly makes life a little easier for journalist.

Many journalists like David Leeson, believe that this device with its capability of taking stills from video will become the future of journalism. However, I personally disagree. Despite its versatility, reporters will continue to use regular cameras to take stills. Mainly because the EOS 5D is expensive and many reporters (especially freelancers) will not be able to afford such a device. In addition, there are several different types of journalist such as photojournalist and video journalist. A photo journalist would not want to buy one of those devices for the price that it cost and the job that it does because all he needs to take is photos and not videos. As a result, I don’t believe video stills will become the future of Journalism. I think it will be welcomed and utilize by those who can afford it and needs versatility but won’t necessarily be the next big thing.

Belle Isle Revealed

In his article “Belle Isle Revealed;” Brian Kaufman uses depth of field when he focuses on the lady bug and an owl. He also used rule of third with a dear in the first few minutes popped up to the left bottom of the frame. In general, it was a pretty interesting and intriguing video.

Links the New YorkTimes way

Links are an important element in a story. They work as a supplement to the story and help to convey the message to readers.

The New York Times uses links fairly effectively. They incorporate them in almost every story and they are used in the most relevant ways. when you open a link on some websites, it will take you to another page on another window. But the Times however, keep their readers on the website rather than leading them to another window. This linking strategy was created with the hope that readers can get additional information on a story without leaving the website.

In addition to links, the Times also uses shells to provide readers with additional information on a particular subject. According to James C. Foust (author of the book “Online Journalism” second edition); shells are a collection of related links and information organized on a web page and often times surrounds a main story or stories. Examples of shells would be sports, technology, business and so on.

Based on my personal experience with links on the Times website; they all seems to work. They navigates to the promised information based on the link and does not take me away from the website. Another impressive thing about links on the Times website is the wording used in links. They seems to be rather precise and to the point. However, some links are a little too wordy and I personally would shave a few words and make the link more concise and specific. For example, this link “last week bombing of a bus in Jerusalem,” is a little too long. An improved and precise link would be “Jerusalem bus bombing.” This is not only more precise, but it’s also easier to find in a google search.

The untypical spring break

Andrew Becford

3/14/11

Spring break story

The untypical spring break

By ANDREW BECKFORD

Spring breaks are notorious for traveling, beaches, parties, alcohol and flat-out having fun. But not so for 23-year-old Nicole Coven a math and dance major at Washtenaw Community College who lives in Chelsea.  Coven spent her spring break doing something rather unconventional than what many student would be doing on their spring break.

“I dog sit with my boyfriend and worked a little bit,” said Coven. “I don’t have to go down South to have  a good time,” she added.

While many students enjoy the sun and beaches of Florida, Coven stayed home and use her time more constructively.

“I used the time to caught up on work and get some things out the way, said Coven. “By doing this, I alleviate some of the stress and pressures and get some much-needed rest.    

Coven is a rather conservative and reserved individual who values family time over drinking and partying. She enjoys dancing and  going to dance shows.

 “I’m very quiet and family is more important to me,” said Coven.

Being a dance student, Coven mostly enjoys going to theater especially with her boyfriend Allen and family members. “Two of my favorite theaters are the performance network in Ann Arbor and purple rose in Chelsea,” said Coven. “I visit these a lot and enjoy doing so,” added Coven.

For many students; spring break has always been about getting away and having fun but for Coven it’s always about spending time with her family.

“When I was in high school I went to boarding school, and so spring break is always a time for me to come home and be with my family,” said coven. “For me, it is always a time to refocus and start fresh,” she added.

The New York Times Grid structure

The New York Times is considered one of the worlds most famous newspaper. It earned this title for many reasons such as great reporting, consistent reporting, and mostly accurate and reliable reporting. However, there is another important reason for its world renown status and that has to do with the structure of their website. Many people may not thing of a website structure and layout as an important factor, but it’s a vital part of an online newspaper especially the New York Times.

The Times basic structure starts with the mast at the top center of the page, followed by the main headline. The mast is written in a bold noticeable black font in a white space which makes it pop. The navigation bar is located on the left side of the page and contains several different news categories. The center of the page below the main headline contains the day’s news contents. And at the bottom center of the page is where you can find the silo. The silo contains several variety of news topics such as sports, health, magazines etc and can also be considered as a navigation bar. Last but not least is the right side of the page. This side usually contains opinion pieces, business news, blogs and advertisement.

Unity on a web page particularly a news web page is one of the most important elements of the page. A page with poor or no unity at all will more and likely deter a reader from staying and discourage them from coming back. With this in mind, the Times ensure that unity is demonstrated on their website. Unity is displayed in the way the grid is structured. The headlines are bold and bigger than other texts, the navigation bar is always on the left, the main news contents in the center and everything seems to neatly fit on the page. There is also the use of contrast such as dark blue bold headlines, subtle use of graphics and colors, and corresponding pictures to main stories.

Another key element on an online newspaper is hierarchy. Many readers are browsers and so it is very crucial to list the most important news story at the top front page of the newspaper. The Times does this by listing the most trendy, famous and important news article at the very top of the content section. And the higher listed stories are usually bigger bold text. However, the most important thing with a web page is consistency. As much as readers sometimes like changes; they mostly enjoy consistency, this makes navigation more comfortable and user-friendly. With this considered; the Times try to stay consistent in many ways such as the usage of san serif font, bold dark blue headlines, black content font, subtle colors, the use of a pictures that supplements the top story and by using the same grid design and layout. Again this practice make readers comfortable with the web page and most importantly, knows where to find stuff.   

The Times can be considered a user-friendly website. It has consistency, unity, a great grid layout and a navigation bar that connect readers to specific stories. However, they could use a bit of improvement on their webpage. The use of more contrast such as brighter mixed colors, graphics and more pictures will undoubtedly add to what is already a great online newspaper.

Fc Barcelona (Soccer/Football Club)

FC Barcelona (Barca) is a professional soccer club located in Barcelona Spain and competes in the Spanish La Liga. Founded in 1899 by Joan Gamper (ex-footballer), Barcelona has become one of the most famous football club in Europe and essentially the world. With their attractive, entertaining, yet effective Catalan brand of football, Barca earn millions of fans across the world. Barcelona is also world renown for its motto ”Mes Que Un Club” or in English “More Than a Club.” For over its one hundred years of history, Barcelona has never done advertising on their jerseys until the 2011 season (due to financial reasons). Barcelona is a peoples’ club with over 1,335 members world-wide. We are involved in several community affairs that helps children, charities, and so much more.

 Barca also believe in growing youth players to later integrate them into the senior squad. It’s not only an economical way to save the club money but it’s also a way of nurturing young upcoming talents in the unique Barca style of football. Barcelona is  currently the only football club in Spain with over 70% home-grown players in comparison to clubs like Real Madrid who spent over $300 million last year to acquire brand name players. The Barca youth academy (La Massia) has produced some of the finest young talents over the years. Some of those talents currently plays for the senior squad and is doing exceptionally well. In the most recent 2010 Fifa mens world cup held in South Africa, the Spanish national team was represented with no fewer than seven Barcelona players. And in the most recent Fifa world player of the year award, Barcelona was represented with the top three nominees. This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of achievement and success that the club has experienced in recent years. Hence their huge fan base and support. 

In an effort to continue the tradition of growing young talents, Barcelona has opened several academies around the world in places like Mali, Japan and much more to name a few. We are committed to keep our style growing in not just Spanish players but in players world-wide.

Aside from being one of the best clubs in Europe, we are also one of the most sociable. In a continuous effort to reach out to our fans, we are leading daily discussions on Twitter and Facebook and so you can follow us there or simply visit our website (fcbarcelona.com) for news, updates, game schedule, ticket purchases and much more. If you are ever in Barcelona, you are welcome to stop by and check out our wonderful museum, boutiques, restaurants and much more. We are always open to new members and will love to hear from you soon.

New York Times on Twitter

New York Times as well as many other news organizations are taking full advantage of the growing medium of social networking. One of the most popular social network mediums is twitter and it has been well utilized by the Times to convey information. The Times has 68 twitter accounts that tweets about specific topics.

The Times uses tweeting primarily as a way to communicate with readers and as a referral to news articles and blogs on their website. The tweets are updated at least daily and has what I call a professional tone.
They use links in their tweets as a way to direct readers/followers to blogs, news articles, and a wide variety of information. Each tweeter has his or her own New York Times twitter account. Readers/followers are given that particular account in which to use and connect with staff members.
Tweeting is just one of many ways that the Times uses to communicate, interact, and connect with readers. It is a very quick and effective way to massively spread information to its established readers and potential readers and in my opinion will continue to be an effective tool in the Times organization.