On Cybernetic Implants and Ultron

What’s the next big thing in news media technology?

I can’t predict what it could be, but I can predict what it has to be. The next big thing in news media technology will be the one that keeps convenience to the reader in mind. Under this premise, various media platforms used today will likely exist tomorrow in some incarnation, since news consumption is intertwined with a reader’s daily habits.

“The news media will have to adapt what they do to our behavior, because we no longer have to fit our behavior to their cycles,” said Tom Rosenstiel, executive director of the American Press Institute, at a 2013 TEDx conference in Atlanta.

Radio didn’t completely supplant newspapers. Television didn’t completely supplant radio. The internet didn’t completely supplant everything.

These media platforms still exist—perhaps to a lesser degree—because each has its place in someone’s daily routine. It’s still convenient to read the morning paper with breakfast, listen to the radio on the morning drive to work and watch TV at the dinner table. It’s also still convenient to read news online on a computer or tablet during work breaks (slack time).

Today, digital technology has allowed us to enjoy these activities on one device—the smartphone. This innovation, however, did not render the other platforms extinct like 8-track tapes or Betamax. Despite its portability, not everybody likes or has the ability to read news or watch TV on 5.5 inch screens.

In the end, I don’t know if cybernetic implants or Ultron will usher a new age of news media technology. I can say that technological advancement catering to reader ease and convenience will.

Snapchat, Twitter and the Unknown

As I began discussing yesterday, I think that the trend in media tech will move further toward citizen engagement. We briefly touched on snapchat, but I think that its model, and its success, will inspire similar innovation going forward. The setup on snapchat is often for an event, for example, and those attending the event are given the ability to upload their own snapchats (photos and short videos) to the events snapstory (feed). The feed can then be viewed by anyone that has a snapchat, and the viewers are able to view the event through the literal lens of those that are in attendance, in real time. As I mentioned in class, these feeds are expensive to produce, but it is possible that media technology will find a way to amend that issue going forward.

The other aspect getting news from snapchat comes on the “discover” page, which is set up similarly to Apple’s Newsstand feature, and there are 12 news producers including CNN, ESPN, Vice, Yahoo!, Daily Mail and more. It has become a great source of news because viewers are able to quickly get information on things that are happening. The news is also delivered in a visual way, and is connected to written versions of the stories for those that want to know more. Having the 12 news sources in one place also accomplishes the goal of aggregation that we discussed in class yesterday.

I also increasingly get my news from twitter. Again, a place where everyone can interact in real time is what makes the social media approach successful. I love that I can follow my favorite news platforms and see the stories they produce all together in one place, rather than having to go to each individual site. Again this kind of aggregation will likely be a feature that remains in place going forward.

Other than that, it is difficult to say where the future of media technology is going. The need for news will always remain, although the way that we get it will undoubtedly evolve.

Predictions for the future

By Cristin Nelson

I thought about titling this post “Magic 8 Ball” because that’s about the quality of response I’ll be able to give regarding a prediction for the future of technology in journalism (“reply hazy, try again”).

There are just so many variables involved—interests, attention spans, access, technological capability, effective synergy of multimedia, and so many more.  I also caution against thinking about what happens next in the U.S. as “the future of journalism,” given that there are huge markets evolving in a different way from markets in the U.S. (such as the large populations in India who, as we discussed yesterday, exclusively use the internet on smartphones).  Variables and priorities differ from country to country, increasing the complexity of this topic.

One thing I do believe we will see in the future is more distinct market segmentation regarding news delivery.  While I agree that the general trend is leaning towards headlines and soundbites, there will always be a place for longer, more in-depth journalism.  Technology will need to exist to satisfy both segments (perhaps the Apple watch or Google Glass for headlines, for example, but tablets/desktops will never go away, because we need them for the longer stuff).  Market segmentation is already diverse but it may become more so, as populations evolve and begin to use technologies in ways that were perhaps unexpected at the outset (#blacktwitter, for example).

I am also convinced that, as compelling as video can be, it will never fully replace the written word.  When I browse the news during a break at work, I am annoyed when confronted with an article featuring a video only, without a written summary.  I can’t always watch videos, so I can’t access that content.  Perhaps other people don’t have the bandwidth or the time for videos, which are often not as concise as a written article; we may not want to spend two minutes getting to the important part of a video, when we could scan a written piece in 30 seconds.  This also speaks to market segmentation—one segment may prefer videos, while another prefers the written word.

Requiem for My Sneakers

Burning through shoe leather is more than a metaphor for diligent reporting. I came to Cambridge wearing a brand new pair of sneakers. Before I fly home Friday, I will lay them to rest. I won’t mourn them though. My sneakers served their purpose.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve met some interesting characters around Cambridge—a music store owner without a filter, a history concentrator with an eidetic memory and a pizzeria clerk who makes the best subs. If I were to search for these folks on Google Maps, I would find them on different sides of town.

Their relative proximity made taking the “T” impractical. Hubway bikes didn’t look comfortable. Moreover, the Harvard shuttles have proven as elusive as an Indiana ice cream truck in June.

Walking offered the only option for me to meet them, and I’m glad I did.

Each person helped make this summer memorable. One of these characters proved to be a highly-entertaining source for this class. Our conversations often involved the word “crap.” Another Cantabrigian regaled me with theories about the homogenization of modern Ukrainian culture. I also found out what “quotidian” means. The third still makes sure I eat a palatable dinner. I no longer need to microwave like champion while he’s around.

In the end, wearing out my sneakers was a good thing. I would be a lesser person if they were still brand new.

The good and the bad of covering Greece

On the cover page of almost every major news outlet is at least one story about Greece’s economy, if not multiple. One was written by a Greek reporter for Politico, that seems aimed at gauging the country’s citizens’ opinions on their prime minister. I found that the article broke almost every rule that we have learned in class so far: the author referenced himself several times, “…voters I spoke to on Sunday,” it started with a quote then never returned to the quotee or anyone else afterward, the structure was confused and jumped from topic to topic, and I kept asking myself ‘what is the point of this article?’ It asked rhetorical questions of the reader, and made such assumptions as “the consequences will be Apocalyptic,” without any quotes or support.

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/07/a-vote-for-populism-in-greece-119768.html#.VZwDVhNViko

In contrast, the first article on Vox is an incredible example of data journalism that makes the case for taking a vacation to Greece. It explains the economic benefits both to the reader, as well as to Greece. It is clear and concise, focused, supported, and informative. Also, rather than attempting to put a new spin on what many other reporters are covering, the article is aimed at answering an embarrassing question that many people around the world want to ask right now. It also inadvertently does the good deed of encouraging Greek tourism, which will help the economy and the people who live there.

http://www.vox.com/2015/7/7/8906009/greece-vacation-debt-crisis

Enticing shorts

By Cristin Nelson

As a food writer, I really saw a use for Roy Peter Clark's chapters on "how to write short."  Almost all recipes in publication have a headnote, which is a short paragraph (usually two to five sentences) about the recipe.  The headnote might include why the author thinks the recipe is special, a story about where the author first had the dish, special notes about the ingredients or the method, the history or typical manner of serving, a combination of the above, or something else entirely.

Unless there are some specific special instructions needed for the dish, the function of a headnote is to entice the reader to make the dish (this is especially true if there is no photo accompanying the recipe).  The headnote has only a few words, really, to introduce the dish and grab the reader's attention.  Words must be carefully selected for their imagery and economy.  Although authors should use headnotes as an extension of their writing style, there is really no room for the wordy and extraneous phrases mentioned in class today.

Writing headnotes could be good practice for writing short because it is difficult to lose focus or swing too wide of your topic when there are no larger issues involved--when you have a simple topic, you would only need to focus on word choice and conciseness.

I found a few examples of headnotes today.  These are interesting examples because in a couple of them, the vivid description in the first half are so enticing (I can almost taste the native fresh corn, coconut milk, lime, and fresh basil, for example).  But, these headnotes don't really seal the deal-- some language is clunky and doesn't read easily, and so the notes lose some of the magic of imagery as I spend another couple of seconds trying to decipher their meaning.

Data Journalism

I read the Washington Post article about police shootings of the mentally ill from our suggested reading over the weekend.

The article did a phenomenal job of using the data collected to reveal an otherwise little known issue in our country. Much of the data available is provided by the government, so I commend the Post staff for taking the initiative to begin collecting their own data when the what the government provided was not sufficient. As journalists, it is important that we use the resources at our disposable to compile such information, and make it available to the public.

Secondly, I like that the article combines the data with stories. The stories bring important context to the numbers and highlight what is really going on. It is important for those reading this article to understand why the police feel that they must shoot those having a mental crisis (lack of training and misunderstanding), otherwise the story would have been one-sided. I think that including both stories from the victims families, as well as input from police management was a great addition.

One thing that I think is missing from this article is a comparison to how things are done in other nations. Mental illness is extremely misunderstood in the U.S., and we are not ranked especially well for our treatment of those with mental disabilities. Pointing this out could have shed even more light on the problem of treating mental illness in the U.S. and why the mentally ill end up with such high fatalities, especially from use of force by police.