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KMD Digital Journalism 2010
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Week 2 - What is online journalism?
Go back to: General discussion
Please read the background to this week's assignment - http://p2pu.org/node/3838/document/3848
Based on the readings (and your own experience and ideas), I'd like you to discuss the how these stories took advantage of the online medium and more importantly, what additional elements would you have added to these stories. Are there more interesting ways in which this could have been covered using multimedia tools or interactive elements? Please use this discussion forum thread to post your thoughts.
Hi everyone,
One of the interesting capabilities of online media is that you can put together in the same article: text, photos, videos, audio, links, etc …
In the case of the first story which reported about an attack on a NATO convoy in Pakistan, I particularly liked the video because first, it supports the text but also contained an interview and real shots from the field.
Concerning the second article entitled: ”Nato's dangerous supply lines”, I liked the photos which are perfectly related to the story. Also, the six links in the article provide more information for those who are eager to know more about other attacks in the region and the history of Nato’s supply lines.
Now, let’s see what is common to both articles?
First, readers can share the information instantaneously using links such as: email article and share article. Second, anyone can send his feedback to Aljazeera including his comments on the story and here I would prefer this link to be placed just under the article as a form to engage more with readers.
What is also important with online media is that next to any article; you will be able to automatically see titles of related articles (thx to who invented the tags).
I also liked the invitation to join Aljazeera page on facebook and here, I would add invitations to other social networks such as: Twitter, LINKED IN, etc …
According to my experience with our e-Zine, http://www.e-taalim.com , we took advantage of social media and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to promote our project. We are based in a developing country, we did not put a penny in marketing till now but we have attracted in six months readership from almost 137 countries, 1430 fans on facebook, 143 folowers on LINKED IN and 135 followers on twitter.
I would also suggest to Mohamed to add usability features to their Web site, such as the possibility of making the text bigger for people who are visually impared.
And why not a nice tags cloud or something simpler like in http://www.ted.com/talks/tags
.
Nadhir,
You've highlighted a number of areas that our industry now consider "basic" elements on a page. For most new sites, it is a matter of ticking a box to enable tags, share buttons and related links. What is important though is to always step back and ask how adding these elements makes for a better story.
This story in particular is begging for a map that outlines the region and the supply lines. It is a simple device that if done well, can put the entire story into perspective.
Your final suggestion on tags is worth further discussion. Tags are a simple way of talking about your content meta-data (data about your data). So while users just see nice tag clouds, we should be thinking about interesting ways of generating and using this data. For example, based on tags we could generate lists of trending topics or drill our database to find correlation between people/places/etc.
A great way of getting started with tags for journalism is playing with Reuters OpenCalais (http://www.opencalais.com/). OpenCalais allows you to submit data to Reuters who will return a set of categorized keywords back to you. You can run this on entire archives of data meaning that even your content written before you thought about tagging has been covered.
Once you have the keywords in your database, you're only limited by your imagination!
Open Calais would certainly be effective here, especially if it helped you create a sort of topic hub (ala Open Publish) that follows recent developments on this region/topic. It would have also been useful to highlight notable people and places in the article, providing links to other Al Jazeera articles where they are mentioned.
In contrasting the two pieces, I'd speculate that the first was written by a more traditional journalist. It was remarkable that there was not a single hyperlink, and this seems to be characteristic of the old guard rather than new media types. Gregg Carlestrom's piece not only contained a number of informative hyperlinks, but also did so at the risk of taking them off the Al Jazeera site (see outgoing links to NYT, CS Monitor, etc). I love publications who do this. It shows confidence and an admirable willingness to serve the reader.
As many have pointed out, the both stories could certainly use a map. If the necessary meta/geo data was included with previous Al Jazeera articles, it would be great to see a map of previous news from the area, perhaps with sliding controls to filter by date or controls on the side to filter sub-regions or further sub-categories.
Rick, glad you picked up on the different writer styles. Very perceptive and was one of the issues I was hoping someone would raise. I like the way Jeff Jarvis put it : "do what you do best and link to the rest". Many journalists are still not comfortable with linking to other news sources - some are concerned with losing traffic (which is not true) and others with loss of control ("how can we rely on someone else?").
I haven't tried Open Publish but Drupal is a solid platform if you're starting a new site. We use it for our blogging system : http://blogs.aljazeera.net
Hi Nadhir,
by Mohamed's website, do you mean P2PU? Most browsers I know of are able to make the text bigger, as long as you use standard HTLML (and not Flash, for example). We are of course interested in hearing about other ways in which we can make the site more accessible with people with various kinds of disabilities or needs.
Hi Stian,
I mean Aljazeera Web site but I think the P2PU Web site is also concerned.
Yes, you are right. Most of browsers offer that functionality but not all people know about it.
Browsers offer basic accessibility options but there is a lot to be done.
Generally speaking, when people develop Web sites, they do not use an expert in accessibility and I think it is important to lower accessibility barriers on the web as we rely more heavily on the web for education, employment, health care, social networking, etc ...
For more information about Web accessibility, you may start by this: http://www.w3.org/WAI/guid-tech.html
I thought a lot about two texts, "Ten ways journalism has changed in the last ten years" and "News site from scratch...".
In both I strengthened the idea of that it is necessary to rethink the teach program of journalism courses.
Today the question of the hacker journalist is very stronger, a guy that it programs in HTML, works well with apps, RSS, data visualization , etc.
A multimedia professional lined up to the reader, multimedia too.
One another thought that came to my mind is the question of that beyond working with the new technologies, it is important to work with the community, the formation of public in specific communities.
For this is necessary a formation of the people about the media traps, therefore I defend a media literacy since the elementary school. It is necessary to have public for the media innovations. Something that in Brazil still occurs here too slow, considering the slowness of our broad band and the small number of public politics.
In the Brazilian reality the great mass of the population not yet folloies or dominates the last technological innovations , saved the adhesion, of the poor classes, with the social medias like orkut, youtube and facebook.
Hi Gilmar,
The Chicago Crime Map was one of the projects that spurred on thinking around hacker journos : http://chicago.everyblock.com/crime/
Do you think that this will remain in the domain of geeky journo's or are the tools becoming sufficiently accessible where most journalists will be able to mine data and/or mash it up?
Mohamed
Hi Mohamed
I believe that the knowledge about the structure, by the journalists, allows to glimpse adjustments and to identify to vulnerabilities and the profits of this they are interesting to the all community of media in the Internet.But this does not mean that I defend journalists graduated in "computer sciences". But I believe that to dominate softwares as the Joomla, know to modify fonts and columns in a blog, know as the search tools works and understand RSS applications, adds very in the formation of the journalist.
About tools becoming sufficiently accessible to most journalists I believe that tools/sites, for example, as many eyes - http://migre.me/ibm/2q - that it facilitates the visualization of data, is very wellcome. But to develop projects in internet, newmedias, and considering the different formats and sizes of the digital screens, know how works the structure of a site/blog is important.
Hi,
I think that the knowledges about the use of tool are a little part of the journalism, before you have to learn to use the pencil before writting. Now you will have to learn using the new communication tools and maintain the interest of the readers.
But your information have to be interesting, always, and a big part of this job is to show the information in the most simple way.
With the time, all those tools will be more intuitive and easier to use, but the journalist is one who has to decide for what.
This is more than based on readings, but it has also been suggested, and emphasized, in the readings, that a comment system always makes for a better interaction from the readers.
The two articles that were given didn't seem to have that system.
Yes, I see a "Send Feedback" link in the pages but that is not a close equivalent of a comments board.
As for me, a comments board is a very important element in a news site - or any site in particular. I'd want to know what the readers felt after reading my posts, or any reaction they have. A feedback line would've been sufficient for that purpose but I'd also want other readers to see how their fellow readers reacted to my article.
A good community is almost a necessity for a well-running site. Without that community, you might as well shut down your site. And good interaction makes for a better community. Hence, a comments section which will allow social interaction from readers.
As for the content itself, I can appreciate the inclusion of relative audiovisual materials - like the YouTube video. And the fact that they also took advantage of what YouTube gives.
Also, the "In Depth" section in one of the articles and the "Topics in this article" section at the bottom are very nice additions. These features have become very common in news sites, like BBC, but only because it works. It allows readers to read more about the article depending on their level of interest.
This is a great point. Building a community around your content/site/brand is a huge part of not only building an audience but also making them part of your news cycle. Lots of people find the discussion in the comments section just as interesting as the article itself.
I'm glad you've raised this point as it allows us to look at the idea of moderation in a bit more detail. This is one of the major challenges that news organisations face - how does one effectively moderate and grow a community. In addition, there are a number of legal issues that need to be considered.
Perhaps we can start a new thread to discuss this.
I agree that zero commenting was a negative (imho), one of the readings put it most aptly: "good writers consider their post only the first comment". What grinds my gears is when sites like the Washington Post use Facebook connect or something else but it doesn't work to post comments. What's the point? Instead of engaging me and letting me comment, instead I get turned off the site.
As for the two articles, I thought there was a fair balance of social media (facebook and share options) paired with tools that made diving deeper into the new easier. Think of how easy it is on that site to learn more about Pakistan, Nato, or Afghanistan. Compared to print, the links and opportunities to continue reading are unrivaled.
I think that the mix of images (very bold images) and the inclusion of a primary resource (video) also made a great opportunity for someone to consume the news in another mode.
One improvement would have been the ability to easily "follow" that article or topic through either email or RSS (though there is a full site RSS available, partitioning it to allow people to get only the news they want would be a great addition).
EDIT: one thing I'd like to add to good practices of online publishing is keeping your text narrower than 20 words per line. Maybe it's just me, but my eyes often get lost on a lines of text that are wider than 8 inches on the screen. With the advent of wide screen monitors that ability to string text all the way across the screen is greatly increased. Personally I prefer a narrower text column, it's easier to read (even if it involves more scrolling). I thought the Aljazeera site was very well laid out (my personal projects all mirror that example).
I like the idea of the first post being the first comment although I think it needs to be broadened to include not only comments on site but also the conversation it may trigger elsewhere (both on and offline).
Hi all,
Focusing on the NATO attack and supply lines story from AlJazeera:
As a reader, I wanted a map showing the supply lines and alternatives. That lack reminded me about the value of maps and how they actually seem to have disappeared from much presentation in print and online these days, despite the presence of Google maps.
Perhaps the ease of opening another tab and going to Google maps has diminished their importance, but for the story on supply lines, I wanted to see those lines, in the news presentation, or at least have a link to go see those lines easily.
Otherwise, the presentation and reporting was straightforward and useful with all the expected features, but nothing was truly compelling for me. The video link, before I clicked, just showed a guy in a tie, and I was disinclined to invest time in clicking on it.
For contrast, this story about U.S. medics in Afghanistan was compelling, painful and struck me as great storytelling, with words and photos:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/world/asia/13medevac.html?scp=8&sq=afg...
In that case, the story and the people were highlighted. Admittedly, it wasn't breaking news, but it brought the war home to me in a much more emotionally appealing way.
Hi all,
I agree with Andria — in the article discussing supply routes and alternatives, a properly designed and informative map is sorely missing. I don't mean a plain Google map either (although that would have been at least some help), but a real info graphic, showing the overall routes as well as the main areas concerned.
I'm probably not the only one who has only an imprecise idea of the region's geography, and I found myself wanting more information when I learned from the video that the attack in question happened not far from an area considered highly secure and containing Pakistan's defense industry. I was surprised to not see this mentioned in the article itself, because to me it really helps to drive home the point about the security situation in Pakistan.
And, well, a beautiful infographic is a pleasure to look at, though it requires a lot of already scarce resources to put together. I remember that TIME magazine had beautiful infographics in their print edition...
I'd also second the motions for better legibility (by using a different font such as Georgia and spacing the lines a little more) and the integration of comments (but those would need a moderation-by-the-users system to stay relevant).
Andrea, Gueorgui,
You've nailed the main element that would make this story so much better. While we have a lot of tools available as online journalists, the key is to know which one to use when!
Mohamed
My sister used to subscribe to TIME,the info-graphics were pretty awesome.
I've read through the comments sections of some websites and they convinced me that a comment has to be very carefully managed. They open themselves up to all kinds of free speech...
It depends on what type of news site you want to run.
Hi all
I have to say one thing I wonder about with the two articles is timing. "NATO convoy attacked..." seems to be one that needed to be out quickly to scoop other organizations. With this in mind, I wonder whether it is fair to look for maps etc. in the first draft. However, there is nothing to stop Al Jazeera from going back to the article later and adding links, new graphic elements etc.
I also wonder whether a map on the supply lines story could not be made a lot more interactive with a bit of programming wizardry. For example, if the map showed the Khyber Pass, then a tool that allowed the reader to see a couple of sentences on that particular area by moving their cursor above it may make for a good element:
"Taliban fighters temporarily shut the Khyber Pass at least seven times last year, and the Pakistani army has occasionally closed it while conducting military operations in the area."
I agree with Mohamed's last comment too. The Internet offers so many resources it can be a challenge keeping the tools used to a level that ensures quality and keeps readers coming back. In print, a similar thing has happened with InDesign. In the hands of less skilled designers that program can lead to messy spreads and typography disasters because it is user friendly and powerful.
I agree the following elements were necessary but were lacking in both pieces:
1. Comments Section: user comments below the main article allow for instant participation and give news a more "human" feeling. The Arabic website (www.aljazeera.net) has a reader’s comments section after every piece of news. Is there a particular reason why the English version doesn’t and only has a “Send Feedback” option instead?
2. Interactive Map Showing the Supply Routes: “Karachi to Afghanistan, by way of two main supply arteries through Pakistan. One route cuts through the Khyber Pass, west of Peshawar; the other crosses the border further south, at Chaman, near the city of Quetta.” For a visual learner, this part is very difficult to comprehend without the use of visual aids (A picture, a map...etc). A flash based interactive map with locations and points that reveal more information on click would have been an interesting addition. On the other hand if these elements are not usually included because of the limited time frame for delivering the news, Google maps could be used. Adding labels, hyperlinks, descriptions, supply routes, to a map like this one (http://www.sacred-destinations.com/pakistan/islamabad-map.htm) could be a great solution.
3. Time line & Map: A time line and map would have brought ‘Nato's dangerous supply lines’ to life. The attack is very close to Islamabad which is a new choice of attack point. To illustrate visually the breakthrough effect of the new attack, a time line with the major events that occurred since the beginning of the war, accompanied with a map pointing to the usual attack locations would have added a depth to the report through a better evaluation of the different dimensions of the attack
The headline of the ‘Nato’s dangerous supply lines’ report is flat and atemporal. It sounds like a text book example of “logistics in war time”. The same headline could have been used since the inception of Nato. A live headline reflecting the “time”, "place", "terrain” and the “local people" will definitely empower the headline.
Visuals were repetitive reflecting low value and shallow reporting. Note, the main picture dates back to December, 2008.
And finally for ‘Nato convoy attacked in Pakistan ‘, I believe the "In Depth" box was an interesting feature, helping users build interest in the background of stories, even if their initial intention was to stop at a particular piece of news.
I will try to comment some thinks more.
I am absolutely agree with you about the good aplication of a map or a flash movie with geografical information. Al jazeera paper edition´s readers know it, but Internet is universal, geographic and lingüisticly.
Online newspapers compete versus all international online newspapers and blogs. This incorporates the need for translations into several languages to reach all possible public (English, Chinese and Spanish preferently http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats7.htm).
Another detail are the links. Normally, the newspapers only links itself, creating a closed circle. In "Nato's dangerous supply lines", some links go to blogs. I think that it is positive because internet already is a source, twitter comments of players in sports news, for example. Little by little internet´s credibility are increasing.
The absence of a comments list is a enormous mistake, and, I would add the option of following the next news about a topic, a protagonist, a zone, a journalist even.
I think that the key are to create a stream; the readers can to "drag" our news to their social networks and we must enable any reader can to follow only what he/she wants to follow.
In the article, "News site from scratch", I was able to relate to and agree on the key items mentioned in setting up a site. I am in the process of setting up a site myself and am searching for the best way to do it from the beginning. My purpose is more for the social media aspect and so being connected in muliple ways is important as well as rss feeds. I am finding it more and more imporatant to be connected constantly to my email, blog and social sites and the investment of a smart phone is late in coming but very critical at this point.
Journalism is becoming more and more of a consuming career. The constant need to be available and present on your blog, website or other is or can be exhausting. The really good journalists are obsessed with their work anyway but change in journalism is putting more pressure on everyone. Would others agree with me?
Calista
This local piece of news on the BBC today (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tyne/10549296.stm ) used a very clear and simple map at the end of the story to illustrate the locations of police investigation. The caption below the map is also interesting and thoughtfully written.
Hala, that is a nice map. Thanks!