Those clickable CNN.com headlines
As web producers know, it’s all about the headlines. A great headline can double the clicks over a mediocre one. So I couldn’t help but notice how CNN.com was working overtime on Tuesday night in its main headline block with these gems: X-Men illustrator dies in Superman pajamas Clerk swings machete to stop porn theft [...]
New jobs posted on Lost Remote
Seattle is about to set the all-time record for rain in a single month, with flooding, snow and ice, so I’ve been a little busy with my real job. (Last night I was stranded and stayed the night at a hotel next to the station). But I just updated the jobs section with a ton [...]
Philly newspaper writers may publish online if strike hits
Staffers from the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News say they’re prepared to publish their work online, if a strike deadline passes Thursday. 900 members of the Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia are certainly ready to walk the picket line – just check out the union’s website. At issue are matters of sick pay, a [...]
Pulitzers let door creak open to more online materials
The Pulitzer Prizes will now allow submissions from some more online efforts. Last year, you may remember, the Pulitzers started considering online work, but only still pics and written reports. A press release from the Pulitzer board says that “newspapers may now submit a full array of online material-such as databases, interactive graphics, and streaming [...]
CBS: Viewer comfort with web lets us rest ‘Jericho’
CBS has put Jericho on hiatus and doesn’t plan on running new episodes until late February. (At the end of sweeps?) But here’s the spin: The Eye says it’s going to run original content and clips online to keep Jericho loyalists hooked. Execs say viewer comfort with the web was a big part of their [...]
MTV developing ‘hyper-programmed’ online verticals
This is exactly what programmers should be doing: MTV networks is going deep into niches by developing 20+ websites. Each site focuses on a different audience – and each will have its own URL. In addition to several different music sites, there will be sites that focus on games, dance, entertainment and personal development. Local [...]
NBC News: situation in Iraq is ‘civil war’
NBC News has become the first network to make the editorial decision to call the battles between Shi’a and Sunni Muslims in Iraq a “civil war.” Today host Matt Lauer made the announcement Monday morning. The White House says the sectarian violence is certainly serious but is not a civil war. While some reporters at [...]
YouTube service coming to VCast subscribers
Verizon Wireless customers who have the $15/month VCast service will soon have access to YouTube clips. The service is limited, however. Subscribers won’t be able to watch every YouTube clips – just an unspecified number of clips approved by YouTube and Verizon Wireless. I don’t see this as being an especially tempting offering – it [...]
Car dealers keep accelerating online ad spending
Pass this one along to your web sales department: nearly two thirds of car dealers are going to increase their online advertising next year. Cars.com polled dealers about plans for web ad spending in 2007. 20 percent are going to keep their budgets about where they are, meaning only 18 percent are cutting back. eMarketer [...]
Two promotions at NBC.com
NBC.com has promoted Stephen Andrade to SVP, Digital Development and General Manager of NBC.com. Andrade was appointed VP of Interactive Development in August 1999. And Carole Panick has been promoted to VP Digital Content and Development.
Media coverage of election criticized, especially online
The Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism took a look at mainstream media coverage of the November 7th national elections and found use of the web seriously lacking. For newspaper websites “… finding the balance between speed and offering a rich narrative still has to be reconciled…They are still struggling with the possibilities and risks [...]
Handhelds coming for WiFi calls anywhere
We’ve long predicted the day when WiFi portable phones will either replace or compliment traditional cellphones. That day is starting to come. The NY Times reports on a few phones that let you make calls via the web on Skype and Vonage, taking advantage of the free or low-cost call plans. (NYT free sub. req.)
Burger King debuts its own Xbox games
Yet another example of corporate America’s continued move into content. Burger King is selling its own Xbox titles: Pocketbike Racer, Big Bumpin and Sneak King. Each feature the BK mascot “The King” with Xbox Live functionality and a companion site, BKGamer.com that features high scores and downloadable content. Now, why would anyone want to buy [...]
Celebrate embedded Comedy Central vids with a ‘sigh’
Lost Remote has encouraged the media sites to allow their videos to be shared easily on other blogs. The best way to do that is to follow the YouTube model by allowing bloggers to embed video, right on the page. So, to celebrate the ability to embed Comedy Central video, here’s a “Word” from the [...]
Figuring out what to look for in a digital CEO
The New York Times looks at all the recent internet exec shuffling at big media companies and asks whether there is an ideal profile yet for a candidate. (If there is nobody has figured it out, argues reporter Richard Siklos.) Funny lead to the article includes fictional “JOB DESCRIPTION: To take all the stuff we [...]
