By Steve
Filed in msn, random
Tagged with curation, google books, journalism, msn, news, ona, PA, Reuters, stationers, training
January 29th, 2010 @ 9:16 AM
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:
- Will the settlement result in Google actually getting a copyright agreement passed into US law?
- Will Google start to charge for these books?
- Will Google adopt a DRM approach to digitalisation? If so, look what DRM did for the music industry with disastrous consequences.
- Will Google start providing a commercial digitalisation service where companies can use their technology, but not their distribution network?
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.
Flip video. We love them and use them in the office. Saw this very short video dishing out a few handy tips from the team at Flip. Tasty.
This week I’ve been ploughing through ‘Getting Things Done’ by David Allen – and I’ve been liking it. Now, I’ve never read a productivity book before, partly because I never knew they existed but also because I used to think productivity consultants were really the great undead who walked the earth with a vague sense of what life was truly about. However, I recently watched a Live Meeting which David led and it inspired me to pick up one of his books and give it a go.
So here goes:
The key message behind ‘Getting Things Done’ is simply ‘action’. You’ve got to plan how you are going to deal with all the ‘low level’ tasks that hit you everyday in order to give yourself time and space to focus on the big wins. It’s a little early to say if this book has worked out for me but it’s definitely helped me to be more aware of of my own planning techniques and how I deal with people. Plus, my desk at work has now benefited from a spring clean. ‘Everything in its right place’ as someone used to sing.
Second thing I learnt this week is ‘HAVE FUN!’ So that’s what I’ll be doing from now on.
Sorry for the radio silence but I’ve just been on a two day onboard training course here at MSN to learn more about the latest industry trends and future Microsoft strategy. On the second day we walked over to the Telegraph to chat to Editor in Chief William Lewis to find out more about their business and approach to New Media. Have to say that, although we’ve all seen the photos before, their office did look pretty nifty.
What really made an impression on me was although everyone in new media has raved about the great technological changes that the Telegraph have initiated, their execution has been quite simple and logical. Firstly, project the homepage on the wall to remind the journalists that the website actually exists. Secondly, provide the journalists with enough training so they are aware of all the new media channels that are available to them and provide adequate support.
Oh, and also big up the columnists.
here’s looking at you!
Yesterday we had a visit from Yada Yada who took us through everything we could ever need to know about producing podcasts. From preparation, scripting, interviewing to recording and editing – there was quite a lot to digest! However, the most important lesson I guess I learnt was to have fun with the format because, if you’re not, then why should your audience?
Anyway, the day progressed and we ended up producing a show each on subjects like Coffee, Heather Mills and the World Cup in 2013. Some took a news angle, others more entertainment. The shows were knocked up in less then two hours so they were pretty shoddy, but they did highlight the fact that, with a little careful planning (and the ability to wing it) you can produce something that someone will want to listen to. Which, at the end of the day, is what it’s all about!
Note: Check out this podcast they used to demonstrate what you can do with the format. It Rocks!
