So here it is. Yesterday we launched the brand new version of MSN Video Player – our video on demand service here at MSN. Users will now be able to watch full length shows in HD and in Silverlight (although flash is also available).
Check it our for yourselves here. The Tron Trailer looks amazing.
Drum roll. Brand new channel on MSN!
But this is not your typical ‘lads’ website. As MSN Him Content Manager Tom Evans writes: ‘One thing MSN Him does not have is tons of foxy girls wearing very little or indeed nothing; there is quite a lot of that on the internet already, as you may have heard. We love beautiful women as much as you do – and they will certainly not be totally absent – but this is a site you can enjoy at both home or work and in the latter case you won’t get a call from Big Brother over in IT.’
So no naughty photos of Cheryl Cole I’m afraid – but plenty of fun features about how to turn yourself into an Alpha male. Or read about Top action movie double acts. Or 10 most mysterious unsolved murders.
Visit the channel here.
Last night I took was part in a live webcast debate with David Cameron at MSN. Along with about thirty others, we were able to fire questions to DC on the main political issues of the day, with a focus on how the party are trying to get young people to care about politics and vote.
After the session we were able to grab him for an interview -which you can watch here.
Another year, maybe a little unfair to call it another disaster, but you do have to admit that this year was pretty bad. Why?
Read the MSN Music live blog here
The Brit Awards 2010 – top 10 moments
Just watching a live meeting now with Scott Willoughby from SEOmoz and trying to get my head around the SEO Pyramid. Seems to make sense to me. You can’t really make an impact at the top unless you have the basics (base) covered.
Click here to see a video with Scott explaining the Pyramid
The SEO Pyramid
Here’s a very honest interview with Ricky Gervais promoting the DVD release of ‘The Invention Lying’. Hilarious. He also talks about the benefits of hosting this year’s Golden Globes. Click on the image below to watch the video.
Yesterday three great things happened. Firstly, I became a member of the Online News Association. I don’t write news as part of my role here at MSN, but I have some involvement with the daily entertainment news desk which is run by our brilliant Senior Editor Colleen Last. There may be the whole debate about ‘is curation actually journalism’ but, as a publisher, we are still responsible for the the news we serve up, be it from PA or Reuters. So the same strict attention to detail is part of the process. Plus, visitors will always vote with their feet, or eyeballs if the news is late or lame.
Anyway, I’ve joined ONA to give me a further insight into the complexities of news reporting. I’ve only been to the one session so far with guest speaker Guido Fawkes, but that was good enough. I look forward to loads more interesting debates.
The second great thing that happened this week – Mike Ward, head of the Department of Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, visited us. It was good to exchange questions and get a little closer to the issues he is involved in. At MSN I’ve taken for granted the multi-tasked nature of our roles. We don’t have the formal structures that, say, a newspaper might adopt in an online team. If a team member has the talent (or inclination) then they might be writing blogs, shooting and editing video, recording podcasts, scripting shows etc. Does this produce a Jack of all trades master of none? I think it encourages editors to think about the different ways they can tell a story with the tools that are available to them. But, Mike certainly got me thinking about the expectations we place on journalists to get the job done.
Lastly, in the evening I attended a session on ‘Google and the Digitisation of Books’ organised by the Stationer’s Company. Here, Santiago de la Mora discussed Google’s strategy in this area and details around the Google Book settlement issue. Very interesting and left me with the following questions:
So, there you go. Three great things. All I need to do is top that today and I’ll be lined up for an excellent weekend. Until next time.
Now that’s a rather depressing title for a blog post isn’t it – casting all manner of associations, not least of which might include a psychedelic rock band from the 1970s. But that’s not what I mean at all. In fact I was merely referencing the fantastic work that has been carried out on MSN UK recently – an entire redesign no less – documented on our ‘Wide Page’ wall as the photo below clearly illustrates.
I’ve taken this photo because this week i will be removing these print-outs to replace them with some SEO best practice guides for our Editors to view. Once ‘actioned’ I will document the occasion in a photo and then drastically change the title of this blog to widen my potential reach beyond that of Pink Floyd fans.
But saying that, I do love Pink Floyd so please feel free to enjoy the following video:
The tension is mounting. Who are going to be the winners, who are going to be the losers? Who’s going to forget their lines or grab the spotlight to only babble expletives? Who’s going to trip down the steps or miss their cue due to far too many in the green room. Who can say – but we will be watching!
Did you know that we run loads of fantastic interviews on MSN Music? If there’s a band out there that you think we should interview just let us know.
Random thoughts of an MSN Content Manager. Usually on music, editing at MSN and general entertainment.
Copyright © Steven Wilson-Beales
entertainment, editing and MSN
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