What really resonated with me:
- apps don’t talk to each other
- social media doesn’t launch apps
- the UI is different for every app so you need to work out how each works
- yah, multitasking… no multiple tabs!
- web content is still free

Really makes me wonder about the volume of trade in the ipad app store. The crucial differences between iphone apps and ipad apps are the display size of the device, the cost of apps, subscription (you keep paying) and the fact that it doesn’t really matter if media companies have worked out how to automatically redirect urls to an optimised experience… as it was in the old days with the iphone… if it is a half decent site to start with that is!

Now, I know there are plenty of places and people and purposes for this. But my post is speaking generally. After all the business model should be about attracting as many consumers as possible. So how many is possible?

I wonder if users are going to be paying more for premium products will it equal less variety per user? How thin will that dollar need to be spread out across the media landscape? Will people really be loyal to more than one paper and a few magazines? And that’s just the slither of the market who are interested in the short to medium term.

At least this whole consumer fanaticism going on in the net world might distract the attentions of developers getting that one URL thing sorted and keep the iphone app industries pockets licked.

Even so, there are free news apps on this device to compete with already. And in many cases they got to market first. Just like the real web. (real, ha!) So does it all come back to brands backed by plesant experiences? (note brands first and loyalty second… UX as insurance?)

I guess what I’m really saying is that we should also be focused on making sure our current web properties perform well on these new devices as well as hopping on the app train. Just like you would support and test for any browser. Users already have two communications bills on the whole. One for our internet and the other for our phone.

Sure, the app store is an amazing business model and a cash cow if you get it right, but is it as neccessary for users with a larger screen for sites with good web infrastructure? In a competitive market it is likely that someone else will get this right if you don’t.

Oh, and please send your suggestions – I’m always on the look out.

On The Media
Website | iTunes
For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of “making media,” especially news media, because it’s through that lens that we literally see the world and the world sees us. | Published: Monday’s EST time, WNYC, USA

The Moth
Website | iTunes
Open mic unscripted story telling. Usually 15 – 20 minutes,  amazingly well told personal stories. | Published: Tuesday’s EST time, Non-for-profit, New York

Future Tense
Website | iTunes
Exploring the social, cultural, political and economic fault lines arising from rapid change. | Aired: Thursday 8.30am repeated Friday 12.30am | Published: Thursday’s, Radio National, ABC

Media Talk USA
Website | iTunes
Jeff Jarvis and a regular panel of media commentators analyse the latest developments in the US media and tech worlds. | Published: Monthly, The Guardian

This American Life
Website | iTunes
This American Life exploring a different theme, every week by telling the stories of everyday people. | Published: Monday’s EST, Chicago Public Radio

The Punch is primarily presented in a blog format which I always think is much more ‘new media’ than the traditional online newspaper format which dictates what editors think you should be reading about, rather than what is just in, most viewed, or most commented on – all formats which lend to an event based or audience driven information hierarchy.

This effort has left me very curious about News Ltd’s broader strategy. They link to their competitors, twitter and even go as far as presenting some of their harshest critics in the “Sites We Like – our web survival guide.” Perhaps someone over there actually gets this web thing!?

Then sigh, I read they will be considering a subscription model down the track.

And I hear – they are not paying contributors. Ho hum. Could it be that big corp got sold on the idea that this awesome new media format could open up opportunities to advertise all over free contributions? Equaling low cost (hopefully), high profits (hopefully) and all off the backs of other people’s good will? This is the primary lash back or concern being talked about today – and rightly so.

So, what are the other traditional players doing? Hmmm…  Now, I know there are some really smart people at News, but I also know it is harder to get those agendas up the reporting lines. So, well done.

At any rate it’s very interesting that they have decided to build a more collaborate offering off their traditional platform, although I know not user groups will see News Ltd as a trustworthy source to such a service. So, what are people saying about it on twitter?

What others are saying:
Punch no Knockout for Journalism

Crickey Counterpoint: two verdicts

@uxrob: News launches http://www.thepunch.com.au/ “Australia’s best conversation”. Nice idea but feels like a flame war waiting to happen.

@mpesce Quoth Crikey: Opinion is not journalism.” I call bullshit. Journalism has always been opinion. Sooner we face that, the better.

Totally agree – controversial launch…  I’m sure the debate will be hot and agendas will be transparent. I’m going to watch and read more. The idea is good, the murdoch aspect is one more agenda among many in this rapidly changing media landscape of survival during the death of print and the vocal control this industry once had. Another addition to conversation is always good by me…

Really keen to learn more about this:

http://www.thepunch.com.au/

There are many ways for users to consume content online, begins Pickard. They consume, react, curate and create. Unfortunately we spend most of our time and efforts engaging them to consume and not enough engaging users to react, curate or create.

UCG or user generated content is considered a pretty dry term by Meg, she’d prefer to think of it as users expressing themselves about stuff they are passionate about.

People also tend to get social media and social networking confused. To often the media tends to provide social media tools in a separate environment to the content, rather than having that engagement interacting with the content.

Meg  encourages that we consider social media as an activity that should be rapped around the content. Moving forward Meg would like us to think not of content as king but context instead.

Another common misconception says Meg, is that social media should be social. Sometimes, it is quite anti-social. For example, a path exists through the forest because many people have walked it over time. This doesn’t mean these people have forged the path together, but more so that they have tracked down it one at a time. However, it is the fact that the path exists that is important because previous interactions with it define the best way to go for future travelers. Having said that – the herd isn’t always right and even if they are you need to figure out where they are going and if that is right for you? Or – if forging your own direction is right for you.

Meg also encourages online media junkies to play where people are already playing. She gives the example of the Guardian’s Message for Obama project which they set up on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/groups/messageforobama/pool/ In this example, the Guardian observed no confusion as to whose project it actually was. They monitored the online chatter and were pleased with the amount of good will this project generated with their readership. Meg advises, “Do what you do well and go else where for what you don’t”

Also, sites need to think about how to encourage participation and reward their passionate users. Being a host isn’t just about being a bouncer and sending your users to the naughty step, says Meg. What we want to do is find a way to engage our more proactive users.

Guardian user cycle = casual > connected > committed > catalyst

iPlayer moto: “Making the unmissable, unmissable”

iPhone users are using their iphone 25x more than smart phone users to access the internet.

Looking at the history of the web, in 1994 the goal was for companies to have an online presence, in 2007 they were offering support to their linear media and in 2009 and beyond we will see much more made for web content that is rich, dynamic and on demand.

2007 -2008 showed the tipping point for many online activities including the iPhone (mobile interaction), social media went mainstream (Barak Obama on twitter) and video on demand grew. BBCs own, iPlayer went from launch to 300 million views in just one year.

The BBC aims to make its video content available not only on the PC or mobile device, but TV sets, PSPs and all conceivable devices into the future and they are looking towards 2012 to be the leader in UK Olympics on demand content.

In the pipeline

• BBC are looking to provide a global service. This year they will move towards providing more of their content in various international languages.
• ‘Democracy Live’ will be launched providing online demand of video from parliaments all over Europe with relevant information and data.
• Continue to embrace the communities.
• Make content shareable. Allow for ‘tear off strips’ of your site to be embedded in others sites.

Keep it simple. A really important thing about sharing is to keep it really simple. Facebook, Youtube and Delicious do this really well by making it as easy as a click of a button.

In summary, Nic bets that we will see IP on TV before we can even imagine. Just as video on demand online was not conceivable only 2 years ago. He says that the future of the BBC is online and that online services will appear on your mobile, TV and personal computer.

Now is the age of free. People expect not to pay.

Newspapers need to do more than repackage their content for online purposes.

Successful journalism on the web depends on:

1. Multimedia Story telling
   We now have more tools, but that doesn’t mean we should use all of them all the time, ask yourself “What is the best way to tell a story?” It may still be text.
   • Users at the Guardian have shown they will be willing to scroll through 100 photos; even on a slow connection.
   • Little show the broadcast of the plane that crashed into the Hudson as a good example of multimedia story telling.
   • Guardian now has 8 video studios in London. It cost $300,00 per hour for live television, but only $140 for live streaming on the net.
2. Database journalism
   Access public databases for rich statistics. Can be harnessed to add depth to a story or utalised in interactive news media content.
3. Reader engagement
   Post.com was the first to put comments on their articles
4. Distribution
   Learn to think of your self as a curator. What happens to the story after it is published, where else will it appear and how will people share it.

Check out:

• State of the media 2008
• Politics 2.0
• Futureofjournalism.org.au

Calling for an open web – I wonder what Al thinks of Google & if he in fact uses it at all.

 http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1622015,00.html

Notes…. on what they had to say

Liz Jackson, Four Corners

• It is no longer a question of traditional media being elite over online as all media have an online presence now.
• Online media adds the capacity for audience to not only watch and read but participate.
• Pressure to simplify messages has always been there – this is not new or unique to online media.
• There is a concern that resources are getting driven into refreshing content constantly rather than investigative journalism.
• Online has opened up the opportunity for a broad range of voices which is a relief. 

Peter Maceroy, former Media Watch

• Isn’t surprised by low brow content like quizzes and weird spots on SMH, Tele etc as it is certainly present in the papers too.
• Concerned that online is stealing advertising revenue from the papers and is concerned about a fall in circulation of papers
• Is concerned about the pressure on traditional media (views it as under threat)
• On the other hand, believes that journalists have only been looking at online as another delivery system for their content and would like to see it being harnessed as a new way of interacting with content.

Dylan Walsh, SMH Online

• Illustrated last weeks most viewed stories, and while the top one was entertainment related, the other four were serious/ hard news stories.
• Not too concerned by Paris and Britney being popular news
• Concern: speed over quality
• Concern: clicks over quality
• Highlights that online readers are new markets and that there is a small cross over in the people who buy paper and those who read online (20%)
• ¼ million papers per day and ½ million unique browsers (during the week)
• In one year smh.com.au grew from ½ million visitors per month to 6 million.
• Big question of how are we going to make consumers pay. New York Times closed its subscription model.
• We make 5 – 10% of revenue in advertising that the newspaper does.
• Worry that click phenomena is precise in its reporting which sends advertising into a frenzy and dictates the importance of content. Content is measured against what is more popular as opposed to what is good work.
• Concern at the high turn over with very little follow up stories. Eg, what if Watergate was a 2 part web story about five guys that got arrested.
• Closed with the sound slide of question time used as an illustration as how an interesting piece in the context of a website, with surrounding content is an opportunity to tell stories in a new way.

Jacqueline Green, http://www.electiontracker.net/

• Vibewire is a by young people for young people model. They run the election tracker which employs four young people to report on the election.
• Thinks that citizen journalism gives room for marginalised and young voiced. Too often adults are writing for other adults.
• Highlighted scenarios where citizen journalism has brought attention to issues that institutions wouldn’t touch. Ie, Matt Drudge (http://www.drudgereport.com/) breaking the Monika Lewinski story where others wouldn’t for fear of political and financial repercussions.
• Thinks that plurality of views is a good thing.
• Thinks that people hold views that are more diverse than what the SMH or Tele would reflect
• Has found a place online where traditional media had given her no space

Catherine Lumby, Uni NSW

• Showed Abu Ghraib prison images and highlighted that it isn’t that the atrocity happened that made these images so impactful it is the fact that ordinary people took these snaps to share with mates. It is that it highlights the possibilities for information now that people have access to the tools (technology) that enables these candid snaps to be distributed. Makes this war less clean looking than the controlled content that came out of the first Gulf War.
• There is a new power in amateur content in that it is less conscious and there is less intervention in its production. (ie, no editors and business agenda)
• Online media is an opportunity not a threat
• Who holds the right to determine what voices matter and where their place is?
• Who determines what serious news journalism is and what is dross?
• View that advertising models among young people will only be successful if you give  them something to entertain them or something that is useful.
• Online media provides an opportunity for new forms of story telling