Comments on: Building “Verification Communities” http://changingnewsroom.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/building-verification-communities/ New Media. Enduring Values. Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:15:27 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: changingnewsroom http://changingnewsroom.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/building-verification-communities/#comment-62 changingnewsroom Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:15:48 +0000 http://changingnewsroom.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-62 I'm pretty excited about the Lawrence idea. That would be fantastic. Good example of thinking more like Google and less like traditional media. I’m pretty excited about the Lawrence idea. That would be fantastic. Good example of thinking more like Google and less like traditional media.

]]> By: Doreen Marchionni http://changingnewsroom.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/building-verification-communities/#comment-61 Doreen Marchionni Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:33:57 +0000 http://changingnewsroom.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-61 Carrie, I think you captured Bill's message with eloquence. I had never met him before but hope our paths cross many more times. There are so many issues that interconnect, including conversation, transparency and community. I actually think Jane Stevens, who visited MU last week, is on to something about that Lawrence Journal-World. They give away free online advertising to every local business, then charge for upgrades. Seems counterintuitive, but it's paying off in dividends--businesses not only are clamoring for upgrades but taking out ads in the print edition. I love this idea because it captures the essence of participation and user-directed control so important on the Internet. It shows respect for community--the community of citizen businesses in this case--buy providing free ads as a community service. But it also gives control to those businesses on how to frame the message. That works well for Internet audiences accustomed to free content and control. I say we get to work researching how this model might work in other markets and media. Woot! Carrie, I think you captured Bill’s message with eloquence. I had never met him before but hope our paths cross many more times. There are so many issues that interconnect, including conversation, transparency and community. I actually think Jane Stevens, who visited MU last week, is on to something about that Lawrence Journal-World. They give away free online advertising to every local business, then charge for upgrades. Seems counterintuitive, but it’s paying off in dividends–businesses not only are clamoring for upgrades but taking out ads in the print edition. I love this idea because it captures the essence of participation and user-directed control so important on the Internet. It shows respect for community–the community of citizen businesses in this case–buy providing free ads as a community service. But it also gives control to those businesses on how to frame the message. That works well for Internet audiences accustomed to free content and control. I say we get to work researching how this model might work in other markets and media. Woot!

]]> By: changingnewsroom http://changingnewsroom.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/building-verification-communities/#comment-60 changingnewsroom Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:15:12 +0000 http://changingnewsroom.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-60 Good points. I don't know enough about the ad industry as a whole outside of media (I'm thinking I need to learn), but my impressions from what I have read in the trade press is that as a whole, the advertising industry is struggling to find ways to connect with people in the age of the DVR et. al., but I could be wrong. I would clarify that the investigative reporting via donation wasn't presented by Bill as "the" panacea or anything close to it, but more or less thrown out there as one idea that could be a natural outgrowth from an engaged community. I think though that you are right that there would be some clear risks to a "gun-for-hire" strategy. Good points. I don’t know enough about the ad industry as a whole outside of media (I’m thinking I need to learn), but my impressions from what I have read in the trade press is that as a whole, the advertising industry is struggling to find ways to connect with people in the age of the DVR et. al., but I could be wrong.

I would clarify that the investigative reporting via donation wasn’t presented by Bill as “the” panacea or anything close to it, but more or less thrown out there as one idea that could be a natural outgrowth from an engaged community. I think though that you are right that there would be some clear risks to a “gun-for-hire” strategy.

]]> By: Clyde Bentley http://changingnewsroom.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/building-verification-communities/#comment-59 Clyde Bentley Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:00:37 +0000 http://changingnewsroom.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-59 Bill raised some very good points, especially about our need to build community rather than fill columns. But there are two areas where I beg to differ with him. I do not at all believe that "advertisers haven’t figured out how to sell products in new media." They have just figured out that they don't need to sell them as tag-alongs to editorial content. Merchants no longer need us to get into the doors of their customers -- they go directly via Web pages and email. The part of captialism that hasn't come up to speed is the business of journalism. I also reluctantly speculate that investigative reporting via donation is wishful thinking unless we can give it some sort of entertainment value. In the value given for value received formula, altruistic desire falls behind voyeuristic thrill. I'm not ready to be a journalistic gun-for-hire. But someone undoubtedly is. Bill raised some very good points, especially about our need to build community rather than fill columns. But there are two areas where I beg to differ with him.

I do not at all believe that “advertisers haven’t figured out how to sell products in new media.” They have just figured out that they don’t need to sell them as tag-alongs to editorial content. Merchants no longer need us to get into the doors of their customers — they go directly via Web pages and email. The part of captialism that hasn’t come up to speed is the business of journalism.

I also reluctantly speculate that investigative reporting via donation is wishful thinking unless we can give it some sort of entertainment value. In the value given for value received formula, altruistic desire falls behind voyeuristic thrill. I’m not ready to be a journalistic gun-for-hire. But someone undoubtedly is.

]]> By: Madu http://changingnewsroom.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/building-verification-communities/#comment-58 Madu Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:40:54 +0000 http://changingnewsroom.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-58 Dear Chris, Just found your blog —and believe I'll keep coming back! Bill Kovach is an outstanding journalistic mind of our times, and I've got amazed by his view of collaborative roles in journalism. Thank you for sharing! =) Cheers, Madu Dear Chris,
Just found your blog —and believe I’ll keep coming back! Bill Kovach is an outstanding journalistic mind of our times, and I’ve got amazed by his view of collaborative roles in journalism. Thank you for sharing! =)
Cheers,
Madu

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