Don't Call it a Comeback

I thought then of CNJ 442 would mean the end of this blog. But, as the spring semester began I realized that I still had several things to say.

So, here we are again, discussing online journalism.

This semester I'll be focusing more on Web production, design and industry standards. Hopefully, with several months of experience under my belt I'll sound a tad bit more informed as I discuss the dot-com world.

Let's jump right in there with one of my first assignments: Web Review.

Click through FastCompany.com. If you don't like business stuff but have a jones for innovative technology and social responsibility, you might find yourself spending some time with the dot-com version of the magazine.

The site has an elegant horizontal design which features the site tabs on the tap written in all capital white letters on a black background, or a reverse. The interactive features--photo galleries, videos and comment section--to the right.

What's really nice about the site, is that each link on the homepage is truly microcontent--clear and concise headlines with one sentence explainers underneath and a picture to the left. This feature gives Web users, who tend to scan rather than read, important information allowing them to decide if they wan to click and the read the entire article.

Speaking of scannable text, the site offers enough white space to allow the eye to hone in on key facts without doing too much work. It looks nice too.

So Long. Farewell

This is my final blog post for CNJ 442. The course has provided explanations for many of the things I do during my day job.

The system we work in, I now know is a content management system not just "assembler." We don't edit story comments because it leaves us liable. We constantly promote our selves to get ads.

I'll see ya online.

value added service

Have you ever glanced at the very bottom of news Web site? I mean the way bottom.

There's usually a list of other sites to click of other services, kind of like classified ads. Want to find an job? Click on careerbuilder.com. Lease up and need to find a new apartment? Head to apartment.com.

Newspapers sell their services to these ads sites to promote their services. There actually might be some database maintenance and building, information sharing and lots of other stuff involved in the name of paying for the news.

What's interesting is that the even in Web advertising for the news people are getting more for less.

Blackbeard and Wifi

A local politician used a wifi to let friends know about pirate attack, yes I said pirates.

Aventura Vice Mayor Billy Joel was halfway around the world when modern-day pirates tried to hijack the cruise ship off the coast of Somalia.

Talk about the Internet making the world a little smaller and neighbors a lot closer. From e-mail to Web sites. Both the local sites are buzzing about it.

Educating journalists

Journalist.org is asking how do you bring a not-so-Web-savvy newsroom up to speed?

Well, I know how UM plans to help: By educating students with a vast array of multimedia skills through a new master's program.

Professor Rich Beckman told his class last week that the program should be up and running by the fall. It'll be three semesters and a required summer abroad.

This is the type of program meant to turn out NYTimes/WashingtonPost quality work.

90-9-1 Theory. Who knew!

Have any of you ever heard of the 90-9-1 theory?

Apparently, it states that in any community 90 percent of the users, nine percent are contributors and only one percent participate "very often."

It's being used to explain the Web participation in Wiki world and other online user generated sites with more than one contributor.

The world of cyber news has gotten so big that it's now got it's only theory, well rule really. Theories are very scientific.

Thanks to my friend and former colleague Angela Connor's blog for educating me.

Notorious

This probably falls into the mindless information category, but it's related to online journalism. I promise.

According to Roland Martin's Twitter feed, Angela Bassett is will play Biggie's mother in Notorious, the movie named after his legendary song. (This the online journalism part)

Will Bassett, who lifted weights like crazy to play Tina Turner, spend time in the Islands to get the Biggie's mother's accent down? Talk about taxing part preparation.