Rob's Picks

So, the presentation was very interesting. I think I've sort of changed my perspective on this project as a result. Hopefully someone can put up that mp3 pretty quick. I recommend giving it a listen. Warning- long post ahead.

So this is just coming out of my ass but here's what I'm thinking. Maybe we shouldn't be focusing on individual gadgets so much (not that we necessarily are since a lot of our ideas don't) but really look at how to present the major tools of journalism(photos, data, writing, video, interviews, etc) in a more cohesive, web-only manner. I think that if we can figure out a new way of combining all the elements into a truly cohesive mash thats quick and useful that it will work out very well. Right now a typical story is text, pics, and maybe a video, or a podcast of the same info. All of which are presented almost as separate entities. We should be combining each piece as a critical section of the whole story. Rob Curley showed some really cool projects by the Washington Post and um the Naples Paper where he did that kind thing with flash. They were very large projects though. I'm thinking maybe we could devise something like those but on a smaller scale, like for each story, and make every story really interrelated to the others. Anyways I'll try and find those so ya'll can see. I was thinking something like browsing through news the same way you would browse google earth(click on locations for pictures, video, wikepedia articles and such) but maybe not based on actual location, not sure how they would be "mapped" though. I need to give it some thought. Not just a simple list of course. I don't know, just thinking.

Anyways top 5

1. Jenna's #7 and my #1.
I think they can easily be combined. I was really thinking like maybe a news website where theres only a few Journalists but the audience really gets to know them and is able to participate and see everything thats going on. They would have to be likable though, no Norm!'s. Of course some people might say that getting to know a journalist makes them less objective to the audience but I don't think so. They would have to be willing to lead a "Real Worldish" life though. Although a bit classier I would hope.

2. Hepi's #1 is interesting.
Not sure if it's possible anymore with all the privacy software out there, unless you type in your zipcode or something. I guess IP address can do it for you. Seems like it would be more of a feature though like at the side of the news page- heres what happened on your block- who got arrested, who sold a house, which restaurant is good, etc. could be a nice element in the whole interrelated content thing though.

3. Hepi's #6 + Lauren's #8 + Rob's #9, 4 & 5.
Okay this is big one but all of our ideas are basically about having people report and be able to easily post the stories and integrate or meld their stuff into other people's stuff. This is already being done of course. I think we can work on a new protocol maybe that standardizes and sort of combines your material into the existing mesh, once there is one. Defining aspect I think would have to be a heavy lean toward multimedia resources. I dont think for instance, that there is a place where soldiers or reporters or locals can post pictures up of Iraq (as a group) and really discuss the problems depicted in the pictures. but I did find some gems like- here- but its not really grouped with other Iraq stuff- most Iraq tagged photos are of protests. I'd like to post pictures of all the crashes I see on the streets (or into walls) up to a place where other people do the same and we can talk about why people drive so terrible in this city and what intersections are the worst or what drivers you should watch out for (anyone in a Hummer).

4. Rob's #6 + Hepi's #2 + Lauren's #1, 2 & 5 + Dero's #6.
I think all of us, except Jenna, did something with Facebook or Myspace. Not sure I understand Lauren's ideas but maybe we should talk about this one next meeting. I think there is a niche there but Its tough to fill. I just signed up for facebook so I'm still feeling that out. I mean Networks? I cant just look people up? wtf? And Myspace seems hostile to the idea of news but who knows.

5. Jenna's #8 + Hepi's #4 & 7 + Rob's #3 + Dero's #2
All these are sort of based on the 'Why should I care?' aspect of journalism. Or narrowing down of the story parameters to appeal to a certain type of reader. Smart targeting type stuff. I think this might be interesting to do. Like when you're writing a story you might be thinking about who would really want to read this article. And how can you get it to them? I always think about how I can make it interesting to people beside myself. I think this might also be a good way to approach the interrelation thing I was talking about.

OK, have a snack.