Comments on: Reading 3: “Out of Print,” Alterman http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/ Interactive Storytelling Spring 2008 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:44:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: averwymeren http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-248 averwymeren Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:07:41 +0000 http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-248 People keep making the point that blogs are killing straight news and I don’t buy it. Sure, more people are going to these sites to fill their news needs, but just as some people like reading liberal blogs, there are people who still have an appetite for objective news. News papers will have to learn to share their audience with opinion pages, but the Huffington Post will never supplant the New York Times. A lot of people go to the Huffington Post to get perspective on the straight news they already read earlier in the day. It’s like Jon Stewart says, people don’t come to his show to learn about the news because his show wouldn’t be funny if you don’t already know what’s happening in the world. People keep making the point that blogs are killing straight news and I don’t buy it. Sure, more people are going to these sites to fill their news needs, but just as some people like reading liberal blogs, there are people who still have an appetite for objective news. News papers will have to learn to share their audience with opinion pages, but the Huffington Post will never supplant the New York Times. A lot of people go to the Huffington Post to get perspective on the straight news they already read earlier in the day.

It’s like Jon Stewart says, people don’t come to his show to learn about the news because his show wouldn’t be funny if you don’t already know what’s happening in the world.

]]> By: bboyer http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-247 bboyer Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:44:31 +0000 http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-247 An excellent article, but I take issue with the idea that "to imagine that philanthropy can fill all the gaps arising from journalistic cutbacks is wishful thinking." There's a lot more story here than the author lets on. Alterman dismisses philanthropically-funded news organizations and doesn't even mention other forms of not-for-profit news gathering and delivery. Organizations like <a href="http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/" rel="nofollow">American Public Media</a> and <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/" rel="nofollow">Minnesota Public Radio</a>, as well as the <a href="http://www.plos.org/" rel="nofollow">Public Library of Science</a>, and the <a href="http://www.wikipedia.org/" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a> are shining examples of a not-for-profit path to deliver media. Radio and the Web are similar in that the marginal cost to deliver news over both mediums is itsy bitsy. There are no trucks, ink, or printing plants. Just journalists, and a couple of techies to keep the shop running. Add in that production of audio and text can now be done on commodity equipment, using <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FOSS" rel="nofollow">free and open sourse software</a>, and the cost of running a news organization is reduced to just above the salaries of the staff. For-profit and non-profit shops both benefit from these advances, but the non-profit world seems to have been the innovator in this space, because, I imagine, that they have always had fewer resources, and are always forced to improvise. Minnesota Public Radio's <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/publicinsightjournalism/" rel="nofollow">Public Insight Journalism</a> program is a perfect example of this. With a little bit of relatively low-tech software, they have created a huge database of volunteer sources, enabling them to very cheaply gather newsworthy information. An excellent article, but I take issue with the idea that “to imagine that philanthropy can fill all the gaps arising from journalistic cutbacks is wishful thinking.” There’s a lot more story here than the author lets on.

Alterman dismisses philanthropically-funded news organizations and doesn’t even mention other forms of not-for-profit news gathering and delivery. Organizations like American Public Media and Minnesota Public Radio, as well as the Public Library of Science, and the Wikipedia are shining examples of a not-for-profit path to deliver media.

Radio and the Web are similar in that the marginal cost to deliver news over both mediums is itsy bitsy. There are no trucks, ink, or printing plants. Just journalists, and a couple of techies to keep the shop running.

Add in that production of audio and text can now be done on commodity equipment, using free and open sourse software, and the cost of running a news organization is reduced to just above the salaries of the staff.

For-profit and non-profit shops both benefit from these advances, but the non-profit world seems to have been the innovator in this space, because, I imagine, that they have always had fewer resources, and are always forced to improvise.

Minnesota Public Radio’s Public Insight Journalism program is a perfect example of this. With a little bit of relatively low-tech software, they have created a huge database of volunteer sources, enabling them to very cheaply gather newsworthy information.

]]> By: Ryan Mark http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-245 Ryan Mark Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:03:54 +0000 http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-245 Ya definitely wonderfully written article that tries to cover as much as this complicated issue as possible. Lippman would be proud (sarcasm). So much is changing right now that is very difficult to see how this is going to all shake out. I do see the point made about how blogs and sites like the Huffington Post feed off of mainstream Journalistic sources. But these websites are aggregating and analyzing the news in a way that people want. And people want the news. I find it difficult to believe that journalistic endeavors will disappear when there is such a demand for them. Newspapers will move their focus to the online medium because its cheaper and where the eyes are. Ink and paper will always be around, but as our generation ages the physical newspaper will become something nostalgic, or necessary as our eyes will be destroyed all the small text on these flickering computer screens. Point is we have time to figure this all out. The media companies don't because their losing money and having trouble figuring out what to do, but none of us work for them yet. Demand for the news is here and will always be. Ya definitely wonderfully written article that tries to cover as much as this complicated issue as possible. Lippman would be proud (sarcasm). So much is changing right now that is very difficult to see how this is going to all shake out. I do see the point made about how blogs and sites like the Huffington Post feed off of mainstream Journalistic sources. But these websites are aggregating and analyzing the news in a way that people want. And people want the news. I find it difficult to believe that journalistic endeavors will disappear when there is such a demand for them. Newspapers will move their focus to the online medium because its cheaper and where the eyes are. Ink and paper will always be around, but as our generation ages the physical newspaper will become something nostalgic, or necessary as our eyes will be destroyed all the small text on these flickering computer screens.

Point is we have time to figure this all out. The media companies don’t because their losing money and having trouble figuring out what to do, but none of us work for them yet. Demand for the news is here and will always be.

]]> By: jedwards http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-240 jedwards Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:42:17 +0000 http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-240 One aspect not mentioned is the simple fact newspapers are no longer our window to the world. Although the business and technology related to it has played a role in its decline, the most important factor in the devolution of the newspaper is the evolution of society over the past 40 years. We are flooded with cars, roads and highways to take us from side of the country to the other. We're traveling overseas. Globalization has shrunken the gap between somewhere like Flint, MI and Seoul. We can use the Internet not just to access our favorite blog but also read the newspaper from any country across the globe. Sadly, the newspaper industry hasn't been able to fully adjust to that fact. One aspect not mentioned is the simple fact newspapers are no longer our window to the world. Although the business and technology related to it has played a role in its decline, the most important factor in the devolution of the newspaper is the evolution of society over the past 40 years. We are flooded with cars, roads and highways to take us from side of the country to the other. We’re traveling overseas. Globalization has shrunken the gap between somewhere like Flint, MI and Seoul. We can use the Internet not just to access our favorite blog but also read the newspaper from any country across the globe. Sadly, the newspaper industry hasn’t been able to fully adjust to that fact.

]]> By: chillstrom http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-238 chillstrom Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:52:31 +0000 http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-238 I completely agree with Erin about the significance of a 'single national narrative.' The more and more specific information outlets become, the bigger the potential for readership to fracture off into their own directions. And people are drawn to reading viewpoints that they share. The more specific and narrowed-down the news source is in its opinions, the less exposure we all get to ideas that are out there. And this goes for all sides of the debate, and both sides of the political spectrum. There's incredible value in cultivating a society that will listen and acknowledge viewpoints it strongly disagrees with, but perhaps as we move into an age where we choose news that mirrors our own lifestyles and opinions, there will be less and less of this happening. I completely agree with Erin about the significance of a ’single national narrative.’ The more and more specific information outlets become, the bigger the potential for readership to fracture off into their own directions. And people are drawn to reading viewpoints that they share. The more specific and narrowed-down the news source is in its opinions, the less exposure we all get to ideas that are out there. And this goes for all sides of the debate, and both sides of the political spectrum. There’s incredible value in cultivating a society that will listen and acknowledge viewpoints it strongly disagrees with, but perhaps as we move into an age where we choose news that mirrors our own lifestyles and opinions, there will be less and less of this happening.

]]> By: Joshua Pollock http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-234 Joshua Pollock Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:52:32 +0000 http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-234 I think almost all blogs have to work off the publications of other organizations. It's the World Wide Web. Unless the blog has contributers to your blog who actually go out into the field across the globe, nation, or whatever physical territory the blog is geared toward, then it has to work strictly off the work posted by others on the Web. Any "blog" that would actually have these people however, would not be a blog. I would then consider it a news service! When I think of a blog, I think of news junkies who have nothing better to do than to post their thoughts on what is actually going on out there, thinking that their opinion actually matters. These self-fulfilling websites are spawning millions of would-be columnists who need to voice their opinion in some way to others who are consuming the same information and translate it in the same way. Because of this inherant bias, the "reporting" any of these individuals would do would be deliberately slanted, and to me, and work they produce would be entirely useless. It's buyer beware out there though; everyone is free to read what they want, and trust who they want - no matter what the truth is. I would just hope that they can tell the difference from a news source, and a blog. ...so now that I have an F for the quarter ;) I think almost all blogs have to work off the publications of other organizations. It’s the World Wide Web. Unless the blog has contributers to your blog who actually go out into the field across the globe, nation, or whatever physical territory the blog is geared toward, then it has to work strictly off the work posted by others on the Web. Any “blog” that would actually have these people however, would not be a blog. I would then consider it a news service!

When I think of a blog, I think of news junkies who have nothing better to do than to post their thoughts on what is actually going on out there, thinking that their opinion actually matters. These self-fulfilling websites are spawning millions of would-be columnists who need to voice their opinion in some way to others who are consuming the same information and translate it in the same way.

Because of this inherant bias, the “reporting” any of these individuals would do would be deliberately slanted, and to me, and work they produce would be entirely useless.

It’s buyer beware out there though; everyone is free to read what they want, and trust who they want - no matter what the truth is. I would just hope that they can tell the difference from a news source, and a blog.

…so now that I have an F for the quarter ;)

]]> By: ehalasz http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-230 ehalasz Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:06:11 +0000 http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-230 Alterman did a fantastic job in this article of describing the many sides of this debate. The practical, the philosophical, the financial, the political. It's all very complicated, but I think I agree overall with his conclusions about where journalism is headed. As for what it means, I'm not so sure. In my opinion the "single national narrative" that newspapers tell isn't important so much because of a newspaper's facts or access to information, but because good newspapers introduce readers to topics they might not seek out on their own. Good websites could do this, too. But as of yet I haven't seen the formula mastered. And then the issue of reader participation. I think it's great overall, in spite of the petty bickering and nonsense, because of the limitless amount of information that could be available to anyone. We have to get better at sifting through it for sure. But I definitely appreciate the move away from elitism. Alterman did a fantastic job in this article of describing the many sides of this debate. The practical, the philosophical, the financial, the political. It’s all very complicated, but I think I agree overall with his conclusions about where journalism is headed.

As for what it means, I’m not so sure. In my opinion the “single national narrative” that newspapers tell isn’t important so much because of a newspaper’s facts or access to information, but because good newspapers introduce readers to topics they might not seek out on their own. Good websites could do this, too. But as of yet I haven’t seen the formula mastered.

And then the issue of reader participation. I think it’s great overall, in spite of the petty bickering and nonsense, because of the limitless amount of information that could be available to anyone. We have to get better at sifting through it for sure. But I definitely appreciate the move away from elitism.

]]> By: epeterson http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-228 epeterson Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:27:42 +0000 http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-228 In his article, Alterman cited statistics saying that nine in ten Americans believe the "media consciously seek to influence public policies, though they disagree about whether the bias is liberal or conservative." Though obviously the goal of the media is to be neither liberal or conservative, wouldn't it be fair to say that the media DOES seek to influence pubic policies? I see the central purpose of the media as informing the public, and a well-informed public will be equipped to influence public policies through the traditional forms of protest, petition, etc. I think Alterman is leaning towards the idea that eventually, mainstream and internet media will meet in the middle and we'll ultimately not be able to distinguish one from another. The traditional newspapers will cut back a bit and go totally online, while the smaller news sites and blogs will grow bigger, hire more staff, and be totally online. In his article, Alterman cited statistics saying that nine in ten Americans believe the “media consciously seek to influence public policies, though they disagree about whether the bias is liberal or conservative.” Though obviously the goal of the media is to be neither liberal or conservative, wouldn’t it be fair to say that the media DOES seek to influence pubic policies? I see the central purpose of the media as informing the public, and a well-informed public will be equipped to influence public policies through the traditional forms of protest, petition, etc.

I think Alterman is leaning towards the idea that eventually, mainstream and internet media will meet in the middle and we’ll ultimately not be able to distinguish one from another. The traditional newspapers will cut back a bit and go totally online, while the smaller news sites and blogs will grow bigger, hire more staff, and be totally online.

]]> By: rknowles http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-227 rknowles Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:22:55 +0000 http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-227 I actually do have some conerns about the loss of “a single national narrative and agreed upon set of facts by which to judge our politics” -- sift through comments on any given political blog about the two Democratic candidates and you'll find people on both sides with vehemently different views on not just who would make the better President, but the facts about each. For instance, a staggering number of people are operating under the belief that Barack Obama is a Muslim, and are voting at least in part on that belief. It's not information they got from a traditional news outlet, but no doubt can find what they consider credible info online to support it. No doubt, there are countless advantages to our luxury of instant communication and endless amounts of available information, but unrestricted info that passes as 'news' does come with some risks. I actually do have some conerns about the loss of “a single national narrative and agreed upon set of facts by which to judge our politics” — sift through comments on any given political blog about the two Democratic candidates and you’ll find people on both sides with vehemently different views on not just who would make the better President, but the facts about each. For instance, a staggering number of people are operating under the belief that Barack Obama is a Muslim, and are voting at least in part on that belief. It’s not information they got from a traditional news outlet, but no doubt can find what they consider credible info online to support it.

No doubt, there are countless advantages to our luxury of instant communication and endless amounts of available information, but unrestricted info that passes as ‘news’ does come with some risks.

]]> By: bishola http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-224 bishola Sun, 06 Apr 2008 07:19:39 +0000 http://medillinteractivepublishing.com/reading-3-out-of-print-alterman/#comment-224 I'm not so sure ink and paper will cease to exist any time soon. At least, not anytime TOO soon. While newspapers are dying, I'm hesitant to believe that all will die. I like having something tangible to hold and get tired of surfing the internet and staring at the screen. I do think what makes blogs more appealing to newspapers is the formula the Huffington Post capitalized on: making news a shared enterprise. I'm not sure if new blogs will need to continue being parasitic in order to succeed. They will have to be parasitic on the quality of traditional media though. Like Joyce pointed out, forums and comments are often riddled with narrow-minded viewpoints. Hopefully that's not what our news will become. For a news blog to step up and fill the gap, and to no longer feed off traditional media outlets, I think they'd have to become online newspapers -- have all the staff, resources, etc and simply be online instead of in print. I don't believe in the complete objectivity in journalism myself. I do believe in fair and balance reporting ... in that we are transparent and own up to the fact that news can't exactly be unbiased. News blogs have the transparency newspapers lack. I’m not so sure ink and paper will cease to exist any time soon. At least, not anytime TOO soon. While newspapers are dying, I’m hesitant to believe that all will die. I like having something tangible to hold and get tired of surfing the internet and staring at the screen. I do think what makes blogs more appealing to newspapers is the formula the Huffington Post capitalized on: making news a shared enterprise.

I’m not sure if new blogs will need to continue being parasitic in order to succeed. They will have to be parasitic on the quality of traditional media though. Like Joyce pointed out, forums and comments are often riddled with narrow-minded viewpoints. Hopefully that’s not what our news will become. For a news blog to step up and fill the gap, and to no longer feed off traditional media outlets, I think they’d have to become online newspapers — have all the staff, resources, etc and simply be online instead of in print.

I don’t believe in the complete objectivity in journalism myself. I do believe in fair and balance reporting … in that we are transparent and own up to the fact that news can’t exactly be unbiased. News blogs have the transparency newspapers lack.

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