Monday, December 28, 2009
"Israel to build 700 apartments in east Jerusalem" - Jerusalem Post
I wonder if the "francais" option near the right top of this page appears because I am accessing the site from France or appears everywhere?
Monday, December 21, 2009
"New Programs Aim to Lure Young Into Digital Jobs" - NYTimes.com
Is North Carolina doing enough in this area, alongside "our" efforts to make high speed connections available to everyone? In other words, are we focused enough on how real people use the hardware to be better people and make us all better in the process?
Sunday, December 13, 2009
"Forum Network" - Free Online Lectures from PBS and NPR
Why aren't local media - above all, newspapers - doing this in each market?
Saturday, December 12, 2009
"In North Carolina, Lawsuit Is Threatened Over Councilman’s Lack of Belief in God" - NYTimes.com
It's embarrassing to be in the same state as those who would impose this requirement. Nonetheless, they are fully entitled to their views, and to using the legal system to test them. With good luck, they will learn that their freedom to express these thoughts does not extend to using the power of the law to enforce them on anyone else.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
"Google Unveils a News-by-Topic Service That Newspapers Can Adopt" - NYTimes.com
It's not clear to me that this will work, but what will work in my view is continued creative discussions with Google about how newspapers can collaborate instead of the knee-jerk kill-the-competitor response we so often see from many corners.
Monday, December 07, 2009
"Apple buys Lala, entering the streaming music business" - USATODAY.com
It's interesting to realize that if music moves into to the cloud, it will have a lot of company -- from the news that is already there. Think about it. News from newspapers and other news organizations is very much in the cloud already, accessible whenever you want it, either for free, with free registration or through some form of payment. Regardless of price, it's universality is something that sometimes now fails to impress us the way it should! It's almost as easy to access as is flipping the pages of a printed newspaper.
"Google Is Adding Live Updates to Searches" - NYTimes.com
Sort of a Googletape? I can recall the excitement of watching all of the stories that emerge on a wire service ticker, printed letter by letter, word by word.
"Map Reveals Which Countries Wikipedia Discusses Most -- And Least"
I am still looking forward to understanding who, specifically, more of the Wikipedia contributors are. I do not know any, from any country. Anonymity in this environment leaves me always suspect and unsure of anything I read in a Wikipedia entry where I don't have some independent means of verifying at least the overall content, if not some of the specifics.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
"Chicago News Cooperative - The Pulse - Truffles and Grass-Fed Beef, With a Side of Crafts" - NYTimes.com
Why is it so hard to add to this story a link to the site for the market? I had no idea where the market was or what it was until I read its site. What does the NYT think a reader might "do" after seeing this piece? It's not that hard to imagine, or perhaps it is...and that is the problem.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
New York Times promoting home delivery
Inside our home-delivered copy of The New York Times this week was a "blow-in" card promoting home delivery subscriptions.
One might think, as I do, that the time surely has arrived, hasn't it, when the Times could recognize home subscribers and treat us a little differently. A simple thank you for our subscription would make a great opener, followed by thoughtful suggestions on how we could draw more value out of the Times, including gift subscriptions, etc. I have never seen such a promotion arrive here. The only semi-personalized notes have been the occasional to whom it may concern letter telling us of a price increase.
For me, this whole arena of communicating with customers needs immediate attention. Imagine the possibilities if it got the creative attention it requires.
One might think, as I do, that the time surely has arrived, hasn't it, when the Times could recognize home subscribers and treat us a little differently. A simple thank you for our subscription would make a great opener, followed by thoughtful suggestions on how we could draw more value out of the Times, including gift subscriptions, etc. I have never seen such a promotion arrive here. The only semi-personalized notes have been the occasional to whom it may concern letter telling us of a price increase.
For me, this whole arena of communicating with customers needs immediate attention. Imagine the possibilities if it got the creative attention it requires.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Personal news spending trends
Maybe I have missed something, but I do not recall seeing any statistics, ever, on how much we spend individually in the US and in other countries for news. Is that number going up or going down over time.
I am thinking all media and all forms of news.
For many, there is a whole category of professional news that is usually the most expensive. Often, that is paid for by an employer or at least is tax deductible as a business expense. How to count that might be a little tricky.
But, put the professional news aside.
For people's non-professional lives what are the trends?
As news consumers, how much do we spend on newspaers, news magazines and newsletters? How big a part of our lives are they?
In our own case, we pay something more each month in order to get cable news channels on our cable system. We watch very little else in that added package and a portion of our basic cable watching consists of news as well. Allocating those expenses is also tricky, but as long as done in some consistent way, I think all of this is measurable.
It would be a very interesting number and the trendline would make it so much more valuable.
I am thinking all media and all forms of news.
For many, there is a whole category of professional news that is usually the most expensive. Often, that is paid for by an employer or at least is tax deductible as a business expense. How to count that might be a little tricky.
But, put the professional news aside.
For people's non-professional lives what are the trends?
As news consumers, how much do we spend on newspaers, news magazines and newsletters? How big a part of our lives are they?
In our own case, we pay something more each month in order to get cable news channels on our cable system. We watch very little else in that added package and a portion of our basic cable watching consists of news as well. Allocating those expenses is also tricky, but as long as done in some consistent way, I think all of this is measurable.
It would be a very interesting number and the trendline would make it so much more valuable.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Newspaper value
Our local newspaper in Chapel Hill, the Herald-Sun, ran a full page print promotion today contending that the coupons in the Sunday edition on any one Sunday add up to 179.96, on average, and that a year's 7-day subscription is only 174, thereby paying for itself in coupons on a single day. It goes on to say that the total annual coupon savings for 52 weeks is, on average, 2,159.
There is a phone number to call.
There is no website mention. No e-mail. No suggestion that the printed value asserted in the ad has anything to do with the electronic life of the newspaper.
I think this is as good an example as I could advance of why newspapers show few signs of survivability.
There is a phone number to call.
There is no website mention. No e-mail. No suggestion that the printed value asserted in the ad has anything to do with the electronic life of the newspaper.
I think this is as good an example as I could advance of why newspapers show few signs of survivability.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
