Murdoch to give subsciption services a go
The 7 o’clock news on Channel 4 this evening ran a story about the future of online journalism, and how, if Rupert Murdoch has his way, we will soon have to pay to read the news online. He claims the current market system for online news is ‘malfunctioning’ and hemorrhaging money at a dangerous rate.
This is due to poor advertising standards, according to Murdoch. Murdoch’s company News Corp, is suffering a loss in profitability that is probably the driving force behind this idea.
Personally I believe that this will only succeed if all the news sites were to turn to subsciptions at the same time. Murdoch claims he will begin a subsciption service on one of his British online news sites (The Times, The Sun), but I think he will soon find a diminishing user base as his readers flock to one of the other free news sites
The Irish Times is falling behind
This is inspired by a blog post by Ciara NiShe who points out that, unlike most of its competitors, the Times does not provide hyperlinks in its stories. Even its main rival, the Irish Independent, succeeds in this area. Most of these links bring users to stories of a similar nature on the site, but others send users to the source of the story.
As I found out during my research for my Online Journalism essay, hyperlinks such as these are fundamental to a successful website. They are the simplest form of interactivity (navagational interactivity) and as such, the Irish Times is lagging behind in terms of providing a user friendly interface.
This does not seemed to have affected their user base however, as Alexa (a web monitoring company) rates them 2nd highest news site in Ireland, just behind RTÉ.
Multimedia and the Swine Flu
As I pointed out in an earlier post, the Guardian is one of the leading forces in using multimedia to add in depth analysis to some of its headline stories.
This time the Guardian has focused on the Swine Flu virus which is beginning to sweep the world. Usually the Guardian’s interactive features are slick, professional works that definitely add extra depth to the printed stories. This time, however, I was disappointed with the Guardian’s map, which seemed to have been added just for the sake of it. Read more »
Utilising Covergence
Stephen Dunne commented on how listening to radio online, now considered the norm, is a prime example of media convergence. Most radio stations (RTÉ, 104, Newstalk) offer this sevice, as there are no percieved disadvantages. Advertisments and music (issues with rights cause problems with these in online television) are played just the same and radio stations gain listenership with office workers etc. who don’t have a radio nearby, and listeners from abroad.
In another blog, Stephen commented how BBC’s iPlayer, which allows users to watch BBC programmes after they have been broadcast, would be a popular and useful service worldwide were it not restricted to the UK only. It is the same with US services like Hulu and Fox on Demand.
Luckily for us journalists, most news programming is available worldwide, as the same rights issues are not associated with news broadcasting. This means media convergence allows you to watch Fox News online, should the need ever arise.
Google Labs have done it again
As I was catching up on the news courtesy of my BBC RSS feed, I came across this article about a prototype feature called Timeline from Google Labs that arranges news collected from a variety of sources worldwide and places them in a chronological order.
So if you were to type in Sri Lanka, for example, you get breaking stories not only related to the fighting with the Tamil Tigers, but also the national cricket team.
This feature allows you to type in any date and subject, and recieve all the news available about that subject, on that date (all the way back to the 1860’s). It is a truly remarkable piece of software, and I envisage it having a multitude of uses for ordinary users as well as journalists trying to keep track of a story. Google Labs has been responsible for some impressive pieces of software (Earth, Street, Trends) and have never shied away from investing their own money in free projects that bring global benefits.
Sky Sports Feed- Premier League round-up February 9, 2010Manchester City overcame Bolton, Portsmouth salvaged a late draw against Sunderland, Fulham saw off Burnley and Stoke held Wigan.
- Dindane drama salvages point February 9, 2010Aruna Dindane salvaged a priceless point for troubled Portsmouth as they drew 1-1 with Sunderland.
- Grant - I'd had enough February 9, 2010Avram Grant said his dismissal against Sunderland was a product of him 'having enough' of the club's difficulties.
- Bruce blasts 'costly stupidity' February 9, 2010Steve Bruce hit out at Lee Cattermole and David Meyler after the two players saw red at Fratton Park.
- City trample on Trotters February 9, 2010Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor grabbed a goal apiece as Man City overcame Bolton at Eastlands.
- Bolton win pleases Mancini February 9, 2010Roberto Mancini was pleased by Man City's response to the weekend defeat to Hull as they beat Bolton 2-0.
- Coyle laments 'soft' penalty February 9, 2010Owen Coyle felt Bolton keep failing to get the big decisions after they were beaten at Manchester City.
- Jones: I feared for my future February 9, 2010Wales second-rower Alun-Wyn Jones thought his costly sin-binning against England might jeopardise his international career.
- Stalemate at DW February 9, 2010Wigan and Stoke shared a hard-fought but entertaining 1-1 draw at the DW Stadium on Tuesday.
- Martinez salutes character February 9, 2010Wigan boss Roberto Martinez hailed his side's character after the Latics drew 1-1 with Stoke at the DW Stadium.
- Premier League round-up February 9, 2010
- Irish Times
- Johnson lights up CityPremier League review:A new Manchester City star was born in winger Adam Johnson as the Blues nudged up towards the top four with victory over Bolton. Strike duo Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor might have scored the goals that leave City trailing fourth-placed Liverpool on goal difference, but there was no doubt Johnson was the real star.
- Bobsleigh team gets green lightWinter Olympics:Ireland’s women’s bobsleigh team of Aoife Hoey and Claire Bergin has been cleared to compete at the Winter Olympics, which gets underway in Vancouver on Friday. A late legal challenge from the Australian Olympic Committee, to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) had threatened to override Ireland’s qualification on their claim that one Oce […]
- McDonald's sales up 2.6% in JanuaryMcDonald's beat expectations with a 2.6 per cent increase in January sales at established restaurants, as overseas results overcame a sluggish performance in the United States.
- Sudan, Chad agree to end proxy warsSudan and Chad agreed today to end their proxy wars and work together to rebuild their border areas, a move seen aimed at bolstering security and credibility before impending polls in both nations.
- Dublin mayor Bill cleared by CabinetTaoiseach Brian Cowen today said the election for Dublin’s first directly elected mayor would take place this year.
- Kidney delays Ferris decisionRugby - Ireland v France team news:Ireland coach Declan Kidney will afford Stephen Ferris every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash in Paris. Ferris came through training with the rest of the squad this morning but a final decision on the flanker will not be taken until Thursday at the earliest.
- Cowen assurance to Halifax customersBank of Scotland Ireland customers would not be affected by the closure of its Irish Halifax operation, Taoiseach Brian Cowen told the Dáil.
- Ronaldinho left out of Brazil squadDunga has left Ronaldinho out of the Brazil squad to face the Republic of Ireland in London next month, dealing a blow to the AC Milan forward's hopes of travelling to the World Cup in the summer.
- Obama signals sanctions against IranUS president Barack Obama said today a new push toward international sanctions against Iran is moving along fairly quickly and should be completed in the next few weeks.
- Benitez not buying investor talk just yetLiverpool manager Rafael Benitez would welcome any new investors into the club but remains to be convinced of their impending arrival. Reports suggest two tycoons from the sub-continent are competing for bids to buy a significant stake in the club.
- Johnson lights up City
