DailyDirt: Newspapers? Books? We Don't Need Those Where We're Going...

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Tue, Sep 20th 2011 5:00pm — Michael Ho

The era of printing words on dead trees might be coming to an end, but that doesn't mean people aren't reading or writing anymore. When e-readers/e-books/tablets finally take over, it should be no surprise that the volume of reading material produced will be much, much greater than there ever was when the latest technology was just the printing press. Here are just a few projects that journalists are playing around with so they can adapt to an all digital future.

The New York Times has started experimenting with some software projects that might help spread its news. Beta620 is supposed to be "a place for anyone to suggest and collaborate on new ideas and products" -- and maybe it's time for the NYT to split up its online/paper businesses into Netflix/Qwikster-like entities....[url]
Middle school journalists published their writing online via the Living Textbook project. These 7th graders created a blog -- is this the future of journalism? [url]
Writing printed textbooks about journalism isn't an easy job. People write them for love or reputation. But even in the ever-changing field of journalism, there are still some truisms like: "know your audience and know how to reach them." [url]
To discover more interesting journalism-related content, check out what's being reported on StumbleUpon. [url]

By the way, StumbleUpon can recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.

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Filed Under: aaja, beta620, e-books, e-readers, journalism, textbooks
Companies: new york times

6 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 20 Sep 2011 @ 5:10pm

I don't need to overpriced e-reader
These days I read mostly on my cell phone, it has a big screen, good lighting and can handle non-restrictive formats!
I first started it when I visited Japan where I got my first app, and I've never looked back since. Perfect for leisurely trips to the loo
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- Michael Ho (profile), 20 Sep 2011 @ 5:47pm
  
  Re: I don't need to overpriced e-reader
  I'm wondering when picoprojectors will really become a practical display technology for smartphones... there seems to be a fine line between the size of a phone and a tablet for some manufacturers!
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Jimr (profile), 21 Sep 2011 @ 7:29am

I wish I had booked mark the link about the economic analysis of the newspaper giving up the print edition and provide all its customers with a basic e-reader that updated to the latest edition every morning via something like the whisper net. The economic cost saving where there only if they could guarantee the recipients of the new e-newspaper reader would stay a customer for 3-5 years. 3 years being the break even point with the life expectancy of the e-newspaper being 5 years. I could see how it would be a tremendous risk for a current newspaper give up its printing press, delivery boys, etc. and just gamble on the automatic electronic distribution. I suspect some start up will attempt it, maybe even a telco in alliance with an enewspaper reader, or most likely Amazon will just offer the kindle for free if you agree to sign a 5 year deal to newspaper subscription (in which case I would be the first in line to subscribe).
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Cacophonus Flowered, 25 Sep 2011 @ 4:41am

StumbleUpon
I almost signed up for StumbleUpon but their Terms of Service seemed way too anti my online privacy. Who needs that.
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- Michael Ho (profile), 26 Sep 2011 @ 10:06am
  
  Re: StumbleUpon
  Cacophonus Flowered,
  Just curious if you use other social media sites -- and if you think StumbleUpon's Terms are different from other services...?
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Nikky, 12 Nov 2011 @ 11:16pm

I believe we still need to appreciate the value of that publishing firm.News really helps anyways.
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