Comments on: Sweetheart, get me rewrite… in Bangalore http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/ by Jeff Jarvis Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:40:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: sauerlandthemen · Total, global, lokal http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-368557 sauerlandthemen · Total, global, lokal Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:45:36 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-368557 [...] wenn die Nachricht eigentlich schon ziemlich alt ist, ist sie doch immer noch [...] [...] wenn die Nachricht eigentlich schon ziemlich alt ist, ist sie doch immer noch [...]

]]> By: Outsourcing journalism http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-357349 Outsourcing journalism Sat, 18 Aug 2007 15:58:18 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-357349 [...] More on outsourced journalism from the Freakonomics blog and Buzzmachine. [...] [...] More on outsourced journalism from the Freakonomics blog and Buzzmachine. [...]

]]> By: tony http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349945 tony Thu, 17 May 2007 06:25:18 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349945 I agree with Billy, Bull indeed. If this fellow cant find anyone to sit through the meetings, maybe he should stop giving it to his audience. I've been Editor of the LA city blog LAist (http://www.laist.com/) now for almost exactly 1 year. In that time we have grown to about 20 regular contributers. None of whom get paid. Most were readers who saw what was missing in our coverage and offered to fill it. Pasadena and the Foothills cities are not tiny places. There are colleges everywhere and lots of room for local blogs. It seems to me that this guy seems to think that throwing money at the issue is how you run a blog. Ask Pajamas Media how well that technique works out. I agree with Billy, Bull indeed.

If this fellow cant find anyone to sit through the meetings, maybe he should stop giving it to his audience.

I’ve been Editor of the LA city blog LAist (http://www.laist.com/) now for almost exactly 1 year. In that time we have grown to about 20 regular contributers. None of whom get paid. Most were readers who saw what was missing in our coverage and offered to fill it.

Pasadena and the Foothills cities are not tiny places. There are colleges everywhere and lots of room for local blogs.

It seems to me that this guy seems to think that throwing money at the issue is how you run a blog.

Ask Pajamas Media how well that technique works out.

]]> By: Billy Dennis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349838 Billy Dennis Tue, 15 May 2007 02:57:34 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349838 "“I have been unable to find anyone to work for me who will sit through them to the very end,” he admitted. “No matter how much I offer them. A lot of work in the US is done by aliens because Americans won’t do it. This is just the same as that.” Bull. It's not that there are some jobs American's won't do, it's that there are jobs that Americans won't do at the wages that are being offered. If this ... person had been offering a reporting position that paid something close to a living wage, or its part-time equivalent, someone would have taken that job.peoria ““I have been unable to find anyone to work for me who will sit through them to the very end,” he admitted. “No matter how much I offer them. A lot of work in the US is done by aliens because Americans won’t do it. This is just the same as that.”

Bull. It’s not that there are some jobs American’s won’t do, it’s that there are jobs that Americans won’t do at the wages that are being offered.

If this … person had been offering a reporting position that paid something close to a living wage, or its part-time equivalent, someone would have taken that job.peoria

]]> By: Mark Van Patten http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349836 Mark Van Patten Tue, 15 May 2007 01:25:28 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349836 Don't all cable systems have a government access channel that broadcast meetings live? Ours does: city commission, p & z, utilities board. I think this was a requirement for franchise to be awarded. Don’t all cable systems have a government access channel that broadcast meetings live? Ours does: city commission, p & z, utilities board.
I think this was a requirement for franchise to be awarded.

]]> By: Jeff V http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349758 Jeff V Sun, 13 May 2007 12:17:30 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349758 There are some forward-looking cities that are trying to do that sort of thing, Jeff, but it's hard to convince them of the value of doing what you're asking for. Currently, I index the webcast archive for our City of Troy council meetings by agenda item and post them internally on the city intranet for staff review, instead of giving them DVD copies. Offering the same service on the public website is something that is being discussed right now. There are some forward-looking cities that are trying to do that sort of thing, Jeff, but it’s hard to convince them of the value of doing what you’re asking for. Currently, I index the webcast archive for our City of Troy council meetings by agenda item and post them internally on the city intranet for staff review, instead of giving them DVD copies. Offering the same service on the public website is something that is being discussed right now.

]]> By: Ed Walker http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349754 Ed Walker Sun, 13 May 2007 10:23:45 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349754 Having worked for a media company in Bangalore for two months, this idea seems quite scary. I've seen the standard of writing there and for the most part it's not fantastic, and as tish says they might miss certain bits - inflections that give certain meanings - and it comes out horribly wrong in the transcription. Surely the magazine could have found someone willing in its own patch? Having worked for a media company in Bangalore for two months, this idea seems quite scary. I’ve seen the standard of writing there and for the most part it’s not fantastic, and as tish says they might miss certain bits – inflections that give certain meanings – and it comes out horribly wrong in the transcription. Surely the magazine could have found someone willing in its own patch?

]]> By: Jill Davis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349738 Jill Davis Sun, 13 May 2007 03:34:04 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349738 Amen, Jeff Jarvis! Video highlights would be a great idea. I am a Pasadena citizen, and I think it might be hard to find a local willing to do what Pasadena Now is looking for -- attend every meeting, stay to the end, and report on it by the next day. From what I see and hear from Pasadena, it looks like James Macpherson has been looking for locals to write for Pasadena Now for a while. Mayor Bogaard told the LA Times (jokingly, but probably fairly accurately, too) that he aims for voter boredom. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bogaard20mar20,1,6428472,full.story?ctrack=1&cset=true I think what Macpherson is doing is fascinating, and could it add something valuable to Pasadena news coverage. Amen, Jeff Jarvis! Video highlights would be a great idea. I am a Pasadena citizen, and I think it might be hard to find a local willing to do what Pasadena Now is looking for — attend every meeting, stay to the end, and report on it by the next day. From what I see and hear from Pasadena, it looks like James Macpherson has been looking for locals to write for Pasadena Now for a while. Mayor Bogaard told the LA Times (jokingly, but probably fairly accurately, too) that he aims for voter boredom.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bogaard20mar20,1,6428472,full.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

I think what Macpherson is doing is fascinating, and could it add something valuable to Pasadena news coverage.

]]> By: Links for following the Pasadena Now discussion online « Eye Level Pasadena http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349736 Links for following the Pasadena Now discussion online « Eye Level Pasadena Sun, 13 May 2007 03:24:52 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349736 [...] BuzzMachine: Sweetheart, get me a rewrite… in Bangalore [...] [...] BuzzMachine: Sweetheart, get me a rewrite… in Bangalore [...]

]]> By: Jeff Jarvis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349721 Jeff Jarvis Sat, 12 May 2007 21:29:37 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349721 Yes, John, I'm not saying they edit video but that I think it would be a good idea if they did. Yes, John, I’m not saying they edit video but that I think it would be a good idea if they did.

]]> By: John C Abell http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349720 John C Abell Sat, 12 May 2007 21:12:30 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349720 Actually, they aren't trying to publish video. They are writing stories about the proceedings. The LATimes, which broke this, did a very thorough job at http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pasadena11may11,1,7515978.story And pasadenanow.com isn't much of an MSM mouthpiece. It's a guy and his wife (who is otherwise employed) and two interns. They are paying one reporter 12k and another about 7k to cover the council via webcasts. For a mom and pop operation that does 45,000 visits a month, this is something worth watching. It'll either succeed or fail and their readers will let them know which it is. Actually, they aren’t trying to publish video. They are writing stories about the proceedings. The LATimes, which broke this, did a very thorough job at http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pasadena11may11,1,7515978.story

And pasadenanow.com isn’t much of an MSM mouthpiece. It’s a guy and his wife (who is otherwise employed) and two interns. They are paying one reporter 12k and another about 7k to cover the council via webcasts.

For a mom and pop operation that does 45,000 visits a month, this is something worth watching. It’ll either succeed or fail and their readers will let them know which it is.

]]> By: tish grier http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349717 tish grier Sat, 12 May 2007 20:23:51 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/05/12/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore-2/#comment-349717 I'm never fully convinced of the "we couldn't find anyone to do it" argument--and think even less of it when it comes from an MSM mouthpiece. Did they advertise? Did they make it sound like it was a worthwhile thing to do? I don't worry about the intracacies of politics inasmuch as the nuances of language that might be missed (unless it's simple verbatim transcription.) The better choice would indeed be for Pasadena Now to edit down what's already been taped into digestible chunks, put it up on the site with headding explaining what was being covered during the meeting, and giving people the option to just watch/listen to the particular parts that are important to them. Need to know if the junkyard got license to expand next to your new business? Need to know who voted to suspend the liquor license on the strip club? just watch the clip! Post the entire thing too--just for those masochistic enough to sit through it ;-) That wound not only make more sense, but they'd probably be able to find a student (high school or local college) who might be willing to chop down the video and repost for $12 grand a year. Heck, they might even find a housewife/househusband willing to do it too! That is, if they'd be willing to put in the effort/ads to find the person (which, I wonder, if they bothered doing in the first place.) I’m never fully convinced of the “we couldn’t find anyone to do it” argument–and think even less of it when it comes from an MSM mouthpiece. Did they advertise? Did they make it sound like it was a worthwhile thing to do?

I don’t worry about the intracacies of politics inasmuch as the nuances of language that might be missed (unless it’s simple verbatim transcription.) The better choice would indeed be for Pasadena Now to edit down what’s already been taped into digestible chunks, put it up on the site with headding explaining what was being covered during the meeting, and giving people the option to just watch/listen to the particular parts that are important to them. Need to know if the junkyard got license to expand next to your new business? Need to know who voted to suspend the liquor license on the strip club? just watch the clip!

Post the entire thing too–just for those masochistic enough to sit through it ;-)

That wound not only make more sense, but they’d probably be able to find a student (high school or local college) who might be willing to chop down the video and repost for $12 grand a year. Heck, they might even find a housewife/househusband willing to do it too! That is, if they’d be willing to put in the effort/ads to find the person (which, I wonder, if they bothered doing in the first place.)

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