Comments on: Same old same old http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/ by Jeff Jarvis Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:08:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: bfrank http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/#comment-373176 bfrank Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:16:47 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/#comment-373176 Newspapers must innovate - agreed. But the problem is that so much of what passes as innovation as newspapers cross over to the web is simply drivel that is being done much better elsewhere. In an attempt to innovate, they're throwing everything they can at the wall and hoping it'll stick. They're in an awkward panic and it's pathetic to watch. What they need to do is use innovation to do what they did best - write and report the news - and adapt it to the web using video, interactivity, etc. So many newspapers have launched web sites that try and do too much. I work for a newspaper that has food blogs, parenting blogs, a surfing blog. Reporters are doing this in their spare moments and it shows. It's a huge waste of limited resources and in the process the really good stuff that newspapers do is getting obliterated and abondoned by these catchall web sites. You can't compete with good food websites, good parenting blogs, etc. that specialize in that and newspapers shouldn't try. Newspapers need to trim down and adapt their specialty - news and reporting - to the web. That would be innovative. Having veteran muckrakers and grizzled newshounds blog lamely about their weekend hobbies is not innovation. Newspapers must innovate - agreed. But the problem is that so much of what passes as innovation as newspapers cross over to the web is simply drivel that is being done much better elsewhere. In an attempt to innovate, they’re throwing everything they can at the wall and hoping it’ll stick. They’re in an awkward panic and it’s pathetic to watch. What they need to do is use innovation to do what they did best - write and report the news - and adapt it to the web using video, interactivity, etc. So many newspapers have launched web sites that try and do too much. I work for a newspaper that has food blogs, parenting blogs, a surfing blog. Reporters are doing this in their spare moments and it shows. It’s a huge waste of limited resources and in the process the really good stuff that newspapers do is getting obliterated and abondoned by these catchall web sites. You can’t compete with good food websites, good parenting blogs, etc. that specialize in that and newspapers shouldn’t try.

Newspapers need to trim down and adapt their specialty - news and reporting - to the web. That would be innovative. Having veteran muckrakers and grizzled newshounds blog lamely about their weekend hobbies is not innovation.

]]> By: Jeff Jarvis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/#comment-373113 Jeff Jarvis Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:40:38 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/#comment-373113 Tom I"m not blaming you for this (only for the delayed gratification of reading teh essays). I'm saying we as a group need to push this discussion to the next level, to solutions and innovations and new things we had better try, as Clay says. I want to see more of that. Tom
I”m not blaming you for this (only for the delayed gratification of reading teh essays). I’m saying we as a group need to push this discussion to the next level, to solutions and innovations and new things we had better try, as Clay says. I want to see more of that.

]]> By: Tom Panelas http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/#comment-373110 Tom Panelas Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:50:51 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/#comment-373110 "What we need is discussion of ideas and action." Jeff, As Ross Perot once said, I'm all ears. Sorry to have disappointed you. Tom at Britannica “What we need is discussion of ideas and action.”

Jeff,

As Ross Perot once said, I’m all ears.

Sorry to have disappointed you.

Tom at Britannica

]]> By: robertdfeinman http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/#comment-373083 robertdfeinman Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:12:41 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/#comment-373083 The people with the new ideas are holed up in a garage someplace inventing the next big thing. They are too busy (or unknown) to be wasting their time in discussions. It's the same thing one sees with the nightly business reports where they invite some pundit on to make stock picks. If he really has a good idea on what is going to be profitable why would he share it with the audience? The people with the new ideas are holed up in a garage someplace inventing the next big thing. They are too busy (or unknown) to be wasting their time in discussions.

It’s the same thing one sees with the nightly business reports where they invite some pundit on to make stock picks. If he really has a good idea on what is going to be profitable why would he share it with the audience?

]]> By: The Internet: It Might Kill TV Someday, But No Day Soon http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/#comment-373073 The Internet: It Might Kill TV Someday, But No Day Soon Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:49:36 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/#comment-373073 [...] was reading a rant by Jeff Jarvis about the newspaper industry.  And it was so funny to me I had to comment on his blog.  One business completely destroyed the [...] [...] was reading a rant by Jeff Jarvis about the newspaper industry.  And it was so funny to me I had to comment on his blog.  One business completely destroyed the [...]

]]> By: Printed Matters » The end of journalism? Sorry, not buying http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/#comment-373069 Printed Matters » The end of journalism? Sorry, not buying Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:58:09 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/#comment-373069 [...] will likely remain, the websites of traditional news companies. Yes, the dreaded MSM.  (UPDATE: this comment on Jeff Jarvis’s blog post on the same issue got me thinking: it won’t be the MSMs at [...] [...] will likely remain, the websites of traditional news companies. Yes, the dreaded MSM.  (UPDATE: this comment on Jeff Jarvis’s blog post on the same issue got me thinking: it won’t be the MSMs at [...]

]]> By: Robert Seidman http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/#comment-373065 Robert Seidman Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:26:34 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/04/09/same-old-same-old/#comment-373065 Awww c'mon, Jeff! One business completely runover by the Internet (encyclopedias) struggling to remain relevant by talking about a business almost completely run over by the Internet (newspapers)? Don't let it get to you. It's comedy! Maybe farce isn't your thing, but I got a chuckle out of it. What future? As former Washington Redskins' coach George Allen (RIP) used to say, "The future is now!" And it is now and kind of has been for many years now. Sure, a few key traditional newspapers are still at the center of the news universe, but only a few really, and that's OK, I think a few will stick around. Otherwise, I'm completely fine with Reuters and AP handling the "news" and getting my opinion and analysis from smart people like Fred Wilson, Arrington, you and many others. I'm completely happy with the model and so are millions of millions of others who feel no need to read the paper or watch the nightly news on TV. I still like the NYT, LA Times and Washington Post, but I don't imagine any of those will fade off the face of the earth anytime soon. But living here in San Francisco, when the Chronicle tanks I won't miss it At all. Sure, it has some good sports coverage and restuarant reviews -- but its food critic (Michael Bauer) has a blog, and I think when the paper goes, he'll figure out a business for himself. There's no shortage of good sports coverage online. If the Chronicle/SF Gate can figure out a good online business model and sustain the traffic -- great! I don't imagine it's going to include many "news reporters" on staff at all. And why should it? I'm either missing something (quite possible), or the problem isn't one of not thinking about the future properly, it's one of not accepting the present. The producers of news may not accept it, but by and large the consumers of news already have. Awww c’mon, Jeff! One business completely runover by the Internet (encyclopedias) struggling to remain relevant by talking about a business almost completely run over by the Internet (newspapers)? Don’t let it get to you. It’s comedy! Maybe farce isn’t your thing, but I got a chuckle out of it.

What future? As former Washington Redskins’ coach George Allen (RIP) used to say, “The future is now!” And it is now and kind of has been for many years now.

Sure, a few key traditional newspapers are still at the center of the news universe, but only a few really, and that’s OK, I think a few will stick around. Otherwise, I’m completely fine with Reuters and AP handling the “news” and getting my opinion and analysis from smart people like Fred Wilson, Arrington, you and many others. I’m completely happy with the model and so are millions of millions of others who feel no need to read the paper or watch the nightly news on TV.

I still like the NYT, LA Times and Washington Post, but I don’t imagine any of those will fade off the face of the earth anytime soon.

But living here in San Francisco, when the Chronicle tanks I won’t miss it At all. Sure, it has some good sports coverage and restuarant reviews — but its food critic (Michael Bauer) has a blog, and I think when the paper goes, he’ll figure out a business for himself. There’s no shortage of good sports coverage online.

If the Chronicle/SF Gate can figure out a good online business model and sustain the traffic — great! I don’t imagine it’s going to include many “news reporters” on staff at all. And why should it?

I’m either missing something (quite possible), or the problem isn’t one of not thinking about the future properly, it’s one of not accepting the present. The producers of news may not accept it, but by and large the consumers of news already have.

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