C-SPAN video conference with Chris Cilizza

Posted in Video Conference Blogs with tags , , , , on March 4, 2010 by

The Democratic Party was turned upside down when the “People’s Seat” was taken in an election by Republican Scott Brown.

The Democratic Party had been strutting around Washington DC for the past year considering what they were doing something for the people. The people, on the other hand, had a different idea.

The campaign of Martha Coakley, the democratic nominee in the Massachusetts election, was pasted together at the last minute and showed her in a different light than new-comer Republican Scott Brown. It was not a good light to be standing in.

“Steve Rothenberg a friend and a political handicapper said,” explains Chris Cilizza of TheFix in The Washington Post, “ that it is the biggest upset of his lifetime..so that spans about 50 odd years.”

“It is never just one thing,” comments Cilizza.

The myriad of problems with in Martha Coakley’s campaign, from her leaving to go on a ten day vacation during the campaign to meeting with lobbyists in Washington DC, were not helped by a great ad campaign run by Scott Brown.

“What he did,” said Cilizza, “effectively cast him as both a different kind of Republican and someone who understood the average concerns of the people of Massachusetts.”

Scott Brown portrayed himself as the outsider, and he effectively cast Martha Coakley as an insider who met with lobbyists and would do what the Democratic Party wanted her to do, instead of what the Massachusetts people wanted her to do.

This point was reinforced when President Obama went to Massachusetts to stir up support for Martha Coakley.

“So I hear her opponent is calling himself an Independent,” says President Obama, “well you’ve gotta look under the hood because what you learn makes you wonder.”

“It was in some ways a recognition by the president of how effective the ad has been” argued Cilizza, “The fact that the President of the United States 48 hours before voters were going to vote had to feel as though he had to rebut the image Scott Brown had set in the ad from the podium, shows the impact that it had in the race.”

In order for a political campaign to be successful the nominee needs to carry a continuous message from the time they start to the time the election comes around. It is necessary so the public will trust the nominee and understand his or her views.

Chris Cilizza is a blogger for The Washington Post and he joined students participating from the George Mason University Video Studio along with Steve Scully, the political editor for the C-SPAN networks, and students from the University of Denver and Pace University.

This is a distance learning course, which is produced by C-SPAN, is a unique opportunity for students to interview guests via video conference. The course airs on C-SPAN3 on Fridays at 5 p.m. and also streams online (http://www.c-span.org/distance_learning/).

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“Building a Digital Audience for News”

Posted in "Journalism Next" Chapter Blogs with tags , , , , , on March 4, 2010 by

Journalism Next by Mark Briggs Chapter 11

The internet is a whole different animal than print. The internet is full of things to pull the audience away. So how do you get them in, in the first place?

Well you track the progress of your site and see which and what is getting the most traffic. This can be done through programs that count the page clicks. But most sports stories or celebrity stories are going to leave every other story in the dust. That doesn’t mean editors are going to make everyone do sports or celebrities.  It does mean though that editors are going to learn from how those stories grow to make your stories grow.

If you get a small percentage of the daily user community coming to your story online then great! Track it!

“Developing a culture to track and measure your work product is essential to competing in this data-driven world,” explains author Mark Briggs”…So, producing that product on a regular schedule is vital to a functioning business.”

Once you’ve identified the key things you need to track then you can track them with software called web analytics. This complies a database for you of click views on each page, if that is what you want.

After you’ve complied the data and see what you need to work then work on packaging your story to how the audience wants it. I’m not saying change it completely, just cater the headline so search engines can pick it up.

Then you can grow your audience through a multitude of things:

1. Content is king

2. Linking is queen

3. Title tags

4. HTML tags

5. video

6. and a little ‘tude.

Always be promoting your self.

” the top three priorities of Web publishing are distribution, distribution, distribution.”

If you link your articles to your Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, ect. more people will have access it and more people will read it. Send it out. Let people know. Social media is now a marketing tool that can be used to promote and as a news medium as well.

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“Managing News As A Conversation”

Posted in "Journalism Next" Chapter Blogs with tags , , , , on March 4, 2010 by

Journalism Next by Mark Briggs Chapter 10

It has always been said that a journalist’s dream is having their writing create a conversation. A two-way street of ideas and knowledge flowing back and forth. However, with the web taking over, people don’t always read through an article online or even find it to begin with.

“The most significant way that it [the internet] has change journalism,” says Patrick Thorton of Beatblogging.org, “is in how journalists and their communities can cover a beat.”

The interaction between the journalist and his/her information (the audience) is how the news gets out there faster.

When the audiences comments is when things get a little tricky. Due to the anonymity of the web, people feel that they can say whatever they want to matter how offensive it is.

The majority of comments are not useful to look at, but that one comment that hits home, editors have decided it is worth it. This is because the audience feels that the barrier is broken down now between them and the journalist and they like it!

“The audience,” writes Jack McElroy editor of Knoxville News Sentinel, “always choose the kind of journalism it wants–and it always will.”

To interact with the community journalists must take in this rule, because not everyone will contribute: the 1-10-100 rule.

“1 percent of the user community-including the journalists on news sites- create the content.”

“10 percent of the user community will “synthesize” the content by posting a comment, e-mailing a link to a friend, authoring a blog post on a separate site and linking back to it, voting it up or down, ect.”

“100 percent of the user community will benefit from the actions of the first two groups.”

Those rules above are the reasons why comments are allowed and how the user community affects everyone in it.

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Crowd-Powered Collaboration

Posted in "Journalism Next" Chapter Blogs with tags , , , , , on February 25, 2010 by

Journalism Next by Mark Briggs Chapter 3

As the digital age becomes more digital the journalism community is catching on and using it to its benefit. The audience wants to be more involved in their community and newspapers want to cover as much as possible. Hence a win-win situation.

Newspapers, blogs and other journalism mediums are using 3 new tools to harness their audience.

1. crowdsourcing

2. open-source reporting

3. pro-am journalism
______________________________________________________________

Crowdsourcing

“Crowdsourcing,” says author Mark Briggs, “harnesses the sustained power of community to improve a service or information base.”

Basically, crowdsourcing uses the reader base of an organization and asks them to contribute their knowledge on a topic.

“News organizations have used crowdsourcing,” explains Briggs,  “to find instances of voting problems, follow local distribution of disaster payments from the federal government and map potholes on city streets.”

Crowdsourcing taps into the reader’s knowledge and lends it self to the story. The audience knows more than just on reporter, so the more information given to the reporter the better the information sent out to the audience in the end will be.

______________________________________________________________

Open-Source Reporting

Open-source reporting gives the audience an insight into what a reporter is working on. It asks the audience for an opinion about the topic and the reporter can tailor the article to what the audience needs. It is a great way to find an angle that many members of an audience would find beneficial.

“When people see how the process works, “states Mark Briggs, “they are less likely to hang on to any perception that reporters are biased or operating with nefarious motives.”

It also gives the reporter plenty of sources to work from for an article topic.

“Here’s the story so far, ” says Jay Rosen, a New York University professor, “We’ve collected a lot of good information. Add your knowledge and make it better. Add money and make it happen. Work with us if you know things we don’t.”
Open-crowd sourcing has also led to ideas like: beatblogging and link journalism.

Beatblogging can allow the reporter to see what a particular audience set is interested in on an issue.

“A beat blog,” states Patrick Thorton, editor of BeatBlogging.org, “is a great way to find out what people are thing, and unlike the print edition that may run a few thought from readers, a beat blog can allow anyone to comment. Plus, users can interact with each other, share links and debate topics.”

Link journalism is when an article links to other sites on the web that has more detailed information about a topic. A great example is Google.

“All Google does is send people away from itself, “explains Mark Briggs, “And all people do is comeback.”

“Either way,”adds author Mark Briggs,  “they [links] provide value to readers, a layer of navigation that is a new form of journalism.”

______________________________________________________________

Pro-Am Journalism

Do It Yourself journalism has been making its way into the hearts of many online users because of easy and free publishing. Practically anyone, if they want to, can publish whatever they want. So newspapers, blogs and online news sites are latching on to the idea of making its audience works for them.

“audiences are going to be reporting everything from breaking news to church club events somewhere online, ” author Mark Briggs commented, “So, it might as well be happening on organization news sites, alongside their own reporting, thus providing a fuller selection of news and information for the audience.”

A great example of this is CNN’s iReport. They invite their audience to post pictures, videos and commentary on events in their community that are newsworthy.

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“Going Mobile”

Posted in "Journalism Next" Chapter Blogs with tags , , , , , on February 18, 2010 by

Journalism Next by Mark Briggs Chapter 5

Being mobile means that a journalist has the tools to publish information anywhere.Cellphones have revolutionized journalism because they can take video, audio, pictures and text.

Cell phones are, “[a] cheaper, smaller more portable than other devices,” says author Mark Briggs, “like laptops, video cameras and digital still cameras.”

“Now that mobile devices capture quality photos and even video,” says Mark Briggs,” reporters don’t have to wait for photographer or camera crew to appear on the scene. And readers don’t have to wait for the firsthand coverage.”

When a journalist is making mobile journalism they must do two things

1. Keep it Simple

2. Be prepared

Things might just start happening at a political rally or a dog show so journalists must know the tools they brought and how to use them to capture the newsworthy events around them.If the journalist does not know how to use the tools they have, then they risk losing the information and that must always come first.

The deadline for the mobile journalists will never change, it is always right now.

Journalists must decide if they are either a gearhead or a lightpacker.

Either one a journalist decides to be, both will have a hard time publishing from the field. If anything journalists will use microblogging sites such as Twitter, or they will use liveblogging. Neither of these options allow the journalist to offer analysis of what is happening, but the audience will be given the information. The analysis will come later.

Along with mobile journalism comes the use of tools with mobile journalism, like mobile video.

“It put a TV studio in my pocket,” says Robert Scoble.

Thankfully just because these tools are available does not rule out the written word.

“Text is critical- and journalists can be thankful- it’s the easiest to publish,” says Briggs.

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Visual Storytelling and Photographs

Posted in "Journalism Next" Chapter Blogs with tags , , , , , on February 18, 2010 by

Journalism Next by Mark Briggs Chapter 6

Photography, out of all the mediums that have been changed, is the most affected by digital cameras.

“digital photography… lowered the bar on capturing images to the pint where anyone and everyone is a photographer,” says author Mark Briggs.

Digital photography is tricky, but can be learned and needs to be learned by journalists.

“photos full the audience right into the news”, says British reporter, Nicola Dowling.

Question: So what makes up a digital photograph?

Answer: Pixels and resolution.

Pixels and resolution can determine if the photo is clear or not depending on the level of each. Higher number of pixels and a high resolution make a very clear image.

BUT, a computer screen will not show more than a 72 pixels per in (ppi). SO there’s no point in uploading to a website an image larger than that, it will just waste the audience’s time and it will give the audience time to think about other things. Which is not what you want.

Everyone should understand the concept of plagiarism in regards to words. If they are not yours, do not take them. Same rule applies to photographs.

However, with the abundance of photographs out on the web a legal way of using them is to use photographs with a Creative Commons license. This means that you can use the image as long as you give credit to the photographer who took the image.

In digital photography there are two ways to take pictures:

1. a point-and-shoot camera: sold at most technology stores. The ones that most people use to take pictures in everyday life. They have one lens that is not detachable and usually very light. This camera is for most amateurs.

2. a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex):  normally considered a professional digital camera. detachable lens and body so the camera has a range of photographs that it can take.

“A great advantage of a digital camera,” says Mark Briggs, ” is the ability to review the photo on the camera’s screen immediately after snapping a picture.”

The photographer can see if they like the image or not and from there can take another picture. Immediately modifying their technique.

“It’s a simple numbers game:,” says Briggs, “the more shots you take, the better chance you have to get the one you want.”

After taking the picture most photographers edit their photographs, but with the Code of Ethics in mind.

” ‘Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images content and context,’ says the Code of Ethics of the National Press Photographers Association. ‘Do not manipulate images or add or alter sound in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects.”

Some simple rules to go by when editing:

1. Edit a copy of the photo-never the original.

2. Crop the photo.

3. Resize the picture.

4. Modify the resolution.

5. Tone and color correct the picture.

6. Save a Web version.

7. Keep it simple.

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“Data-Driven Journalism and Digitizing Your Life”

Posted in "Journalism Next" Chapter Blogs with tags , , , , on February 12, 2010 by

Journalism Next by Mark Briggs Chapter 9 Blog

“Data-Driven Journalism and Digitizing Your Life”

The amount of information on the internet is endless. If you get too sucked in you will become burned out and not want to look at the computer screen ever again. So, in order to keep yourself sane you must organize, organize, organize!

You must use the technology to your benefit. It might seem like a complete waste of time downloading more and more technology to organize your technology, but it will help!

Once you have that down, the next step is to capitalize on the new technology. In order to capitalize on the technology Mark Briggs refers to “Getting Things Done” author David Allen.

“The key,” says David Allen, “is to find as few solutions as possible that do as many of the things on your list as possible.”

Are you a productive worker? Check here.

Like any busy writer it is very important to have time to write! But you also must save what you write.

“It’s been said,” says Briggs, “that computer users come in two varieties: those who back up their data, and those who will.”

Backing up data is extremely important! Who wants to try to remember a 750 word blog post verbatim? Not me.

Briggs then discusses how to capitalize on technology and be the most productive writer you can be. You can use programs that are online or that are on your computer and sync with everything online. My favorite is using on that is online so I can access everything from wherever I am.

Databases

  • Access broad information and find localized points
  • Give the raw information to the audience for them to search for what they want to know
  • From one or two databases they can grow into a “dynamic and growing data set”, explains Briggs
  • If you use a computer algorithms to help analyze the data in the database it can help journalists find information that they need to create a newsworthy story.

Briggs used a great example of the Google Map Mashups. Google left the codes open for people to expand upon and put in information. So, newspapers can create code for a localized map and publish specific areas where a crime took place, or streets that are closed that day or areas that have no power.

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“Advanced Blogging”

Posted in "Journalism Next" Chapter Blogs with tags , , , , , on February 12, 2010 by

Journalism Next by Mark Briggs Chapter 2 Blog

“Advanced Blogging”

“Every college journalist should have a blog,” states author Mark Briggs.

I tend to agree. Every employer is going to love clicking through an interactive website over reading through endless piles of resumes.

With the blog, you should be interactive. Ask your audience what they think about a certain topic and keep it an on-going conversation.

That being said, it isn’t always easy to keep finding new topics to blog about, or new angles to blog from. Always be aware of what is around you and if it could be newsworthy!

Blogs are revolutionizing journalism as I type. They are more localized, more involved with their communities. Blogs are not normally about the overall news community, but about a niche within a community. Some very successful blogs focus solely on politics, celebrities, news or sports. This is because audiences are able to pick and choose what they want to read now.

To operate a blog successfully you must understand the template of blogs:

  • Post: to write an entry on the blog
  • Permalink: A link to the post, normally with comments available on the page.
  • Trackback: technology that allows the blogger to know if someone has linked to their blog
  • Blogroll: a sidebar that allows the readers to see what sites the blogger visits
  • Vlog: a video blog
  • Moblog: blogging from a mobile device

After learning the language, how do you know people will follow your blog?

Author Mark Briggs is here for you.

Briggs says to… “

  • Put the reader first
  • Organize your ideas
  • Be direct
  • Be the authority, with a personality
  • How’s this, Mom?
    • “Write, the wait 15 minutes before publishing… for you to edit yourself dispassionately”
  • Make posts scanable
  • Link, summarize and analyze
  • Be specific with headlines
  • Have a good attitude

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“Microblogging: Write Small, Think Big”

Posted in "Journalism Next" Chapter Blogs with tags , , , , , on February 12, 2010 by

Journalism Next by Mark Briggs Chapter 4

“Microblogging: Write Small, Think Big”

Microblogging is the fastest way to get the news. On Friday, February 12, 2010, when the DC Metro Red Line derailed the place that was reporting it within five minutes was Twitter. 140 characters can really say a lot.

Especially when newspapers pay people to find out the news and people on Twitter just do it, and they do it faster. For journalists this can be made into something amazing. Even with a lead to a story and you can get feedback to or a link to a possible story line that you are getting feedback immediately.

With microblogging the audience is developing “ambient awareness” says Briggs, [it] allows for one-to-many communication”. This is important because the audience doesn’t have to work for their information anymore. It just comes to them.

Microblogging has created “Real-Time Web”, which allows people to find out what is going on at all times. We have become a world of constant updates.

The audience can now see the journalist’s process and makes it more transparent, so the audience to only responds to the story, but with the writer as well. The best part for journalists is that they can become closer to their audience. Now they will know what their audience wants to know and creates audience interaction.

We all know those people who constantly update with nothing to say. Mark Briggs has a solution for that the 80-20 rule.

“Follow the 80-20 rule:” says Briggs, “On a personal microblogging account, use 80 percent of your psots to add something of value to the community…The other 20 percent of the posts can be self-promoting”.

Blogs are a great tool, but it can be a little intimidating to send your words out to everyone in the world, microblogging can be a little less daunting.

Brigg’s Tips for Microblogging Language

  • Post: write only 140 characters
  • Read: read the messages of the people you follow on your homepage
  • Reply: on someone’s page if you want to reply just click the reply button or write “@username”
  • Direct Messages: click “Direct Messages” and use it as if you were going to send someone an email

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“We Are All Web Workers Now”

Posted in "Journalism Next" Chapter Blogs with tags , , , , , on February 12, 2010 by

Journalism Next by Mark Briggs Chapter 1 blog

In Chapter 1, author Mark Briggs broke down the nuts and bolts of the internet. He dives right into the parts of the internet and computers that well… confuse the living daylights out of me.

Mark Briggs broke down

  • The weight of files
    • How much you should send in an email
  • Internet nuts and bolts
    • I found this the hardest to grasp, but once I read it over a few times I got it. Now I understand web addresses are the URLs and the IP address is basically the directions for the web server to get to the page.

From here Briggs began to focus on how things are shared across the web. He explained what an RSS is (Really Simple Syndication) and how you can interact with them.

  1. RSS online that pops up when you log into a web page
  2. Stand alone RSS that is downloaded on to a computer

“To understand the difference,” Briggs explains, “…Contrast the Hotmail-Gmail system with Outlook or Entourage, which you can use only on your computer.”

Briggs then explained how computers transfer files from one to another, through FTP or File Transfer Protocol. It is also the way that web pages can be published to web servers.

Briggs then expanded his horizon and went from web pages to HTML, which is the code that creates the web page.  If you know enough code, or have a little cheat sheet book you can customize a web page to anything that you want it to look like.

Then by discussing HTML, Briggs discussed the easy ways to get around major HTML hassles by using CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) or XML (Extensible Markup Language).

“CSS makes Web sites look cool” according to Briggs.

I don’t really understand what it looks like to do a CSS, but it lets you edit around the original HTML and fix problems within it.

XML “describes what data is, not how it should look (like HTML does),” says Briggs.

I now understand how the Internet becomes the Internet.

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