Games are getting more serious
I had the honor of being a respondent on an extraordinary panel yesterday at SILVERDOCS, the AFI/Discovery independent documentary festival and conference. The title of the session was “It’s Not Just a Game: Storytelling in the Virtual Space,” and moderator Denise DiIanni of WGBH Labs led this fantastic lineup: Trisha Creekmore, Executive Director, Discovery.com Nonny [...]
Fostering investigative journalism
Chuck Lewis and Wendell Cochran, two of my colleagues on the faculty at American University’s School of Communication, have launched the Investigative Reporting Workshop. Mark Glaser talks to Chuck on Mediashift about the peril facing investigative reporting in today’s media marketplace and how IRW is designed to not only save the craft, but push forward [...]
Hearst president and CEO leaves over dispute
The head of the Hearst Corporation, Victor Ganzi, has left the company, citing “irreconcilable policy differences†with the Hearst family trust. The reason wasn’t disclosed, but sources tell the NYTimes that it revolved around the level of investment in newspapers and digital strategy. “The word had come from on high that they weren’t doing enough [...]
Updating archives to protect the innocent
So let’s say your news organization publishes a story about some guy who’s arrested/charged in a crime. Three months later, he’s acquitted. But when you Google his name, the original story about his arrest appears at the top. The story about his acquittal is buried two pages down. Should you go into the original story [...]
Watch the Russert memorial live
It begins at 4 p.m. ET, and msnbc.com is streaming it live right here.
Rethinking TV/web brands at Promax
You have to wonder how many TV promotion/marketing directors’ heads exploded after Steve Safran gave this presentation at Promax today? Good stuff, and similar to Gordon Borrell’s take, which we posted yesterday.
Briefs: TMZ, AP, Tiger, YouTube, NBCU
– TMZ.com exploring live streaming from court, celeb hangouts – The AP’s real problem isn’t bloggers: it’s its own newspapers – Millions watched live streaming coverage of U.S. Open – Uh oh, Tiger’s out, what’s that mean for sports coverage? – YouTube shifts strategy, to [...]
ESPN.com to simplify site
ESPN.com – hands down the best sports information site online is set for a makeover. The site is seeing traffic increase – but B&C says bosses are looking for a simpler presentation. It can’t come soon enough.
NBCU to launch Olympics channel
NBC Universal is in the process of revamping the World Championship Sports Network – after buying a big stake in the channel. The debuts Thursday with a new name: Universal Sports. The Sports Business Journal says the launch will make for an interesting matchup in and of itself – since the US Olympic Committee also [...]
Borrell: TV stations need to step up online
I almost starting cheering as I read this interview (free registration req.) of Gordon Borrell (of Borrell Associates) as he urged TV stations to take a broader, more aggressive approach to building businesses online. He’s right on the mark — like he’s singing the Lost Remote mantra, “the web is not TV,” especially as it [...]
Brightcove ‘gutted and rebuilt’
While many people praise Brightcove’s players, the back-end user interface can get a little confusing. Now there’s word that Brightcove has a “completely rebuilt version” in private beta. The goal? “Brightcove wishes to become the single platform that publishers use to deliver both short and long form content, without requiring users to install a proprietary [...]
Joost plans new approach, relaunch
Remember all the hype surrounding Joost? TV-like video on the web? Big-name content providers? Well, Joost is having a tough time getting noticed these days. Hulu beats it hands-down (Joost requires a downloadable app) and high-quality content is everywhere. “The world has migrated from an exclusive model of content distribution to a non-exclusive model,” says [...]
ABC gives advertisers makegoods… online
When a TV network is unable to deliver the promised gross ratings points (GRPs) for an advertiser, it typically offers “makegoods” — extra TV spots to make up for the shortfall. But for a handful of TV advertisers, ABC is offering the makegoods as online video inventory on ABC.com. I suspect this isn’t the last [...]
McClatchy to cut 10 percent of workforce
That’s around 1,400 jobs. “I can’t tell you where the bottom is,” said McClatchy CEO Gary Pruitt of the newspaper industry. Last week: Very bad news for newspapers
AP rethinking blogger use of its content
Last week the Associated Press sent the Drudge Retort (with a “t” not a “p”) a letter asking that it remove excerpts of AP content — 39 to 79 words in length — saying it was a copyright infringement. Over the weekend, the AP backed off a bit on the letter, but said it was [...]
Fun webcast brings personality to KRIV site
Many stations have webcasts. Heck, even several newspapers have webcasts. But the program that MyFoxHouston is producing is above and beyond most others. The show is made up of several people at the station, including some who don’t usually appear in front of the camera. Watching the show is like watching a group of friends hang out and talk about what’s going on.
Karen Koch, the producer of the webcast (when she isn’t doing her full-time job in the promotions dept), says the goal was to create a program that is fresh and unique. “Our GM and News Director led the way with a real pioneering spirit, and our corporate folks gave us the freedom to ‘have fun.’ So we did,” said Koch. “In the middle of the busy news day, our Webcast provides a quirky oasis where staffers can contribute content that doesn’t fit the traditional news mold. It’s a chance for everyone to show off different skills and fresh ideas, and I think people really value that.”
The program is streamed live at 4PM central weekdays on myfoxhoustonlive.com, and then is available on loop so you can always catch the most recent show.
Tips from Karen about how your station can produce this type of program, after the jump!
NBCSports.com streams US Open playoff
How smart is this? With the US Open going to an 18-hole playoff today, NBCSports.com is streaming the exciting matchup between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate live. The event is airing on ESPN from noon-2pm ET and from 2pm ET forward on NBC, but the at-work audience can watch the whole shindig live. And big [...]
Interactive TV test expands to WMUR, WJAR
In May, WVCB in Boston agreed to trial new interactive TV technology from Backchannel Media. Through Backchannel’s set-top box software, viewers click on various prompts via their remote control for more information. And then they visit a “personal portal” of sorts online, where the information is displayed. Now WMUR and WJAR are joining the trial. [...]
ABC News, union battles over Blackberrys
So if you read/send an email from your Blackberry after you leave work, are you back on the clock? That’s the issue at ABC News, where management has taken away the writers’ company Blackberrys.
