I think I started reading this blog post back in April, it got stuck in my brain, and when I pitched for it a few weeks later my bosses thought it was worth a try. Our breaking news editor updates it five days a week, the other two days it goes stagnant. http://www.denverpost.com/firstinthepost and http://feeds.denverpost.com/dp-news-firstinthepost .

-Joe

I think if you are going to push for a standard, you would need an independent conflict free elected fully transparent board to manage this new extension format. Funding could be provided by the government or based on revenues of the companies participating assuming they meet the standards.

It could happen, probably will be a slow process at first but it will eventually pick up steam.

My reply to Eric Gauvin can be found here: http://logotrax.com/blog/?p=48 only because I don’t know how to use trackback links yet. I’m still a blogger in training.

– my bad

Keep this part: Any ideas where I can get a book on it Jeff?

I’m assuming no great understanding of business; nor have I extensive exposure to the news industry. I do however have a long history in search engine optimization. The concept of a Link Economy is something my peers and I have always understood.

Now, as it’s being used here, it relates to the exchange of information, or more particularly, news content. The term link is surely clear, and economy sounds clear to me also. I would gather the inference is: a wealth of links that exchange information (news) creates a strong economy. And just like with any other economy, it’s the currency that makes exchange of goods and services possible. Links are the currency!

Let me say it differently so that Eric may understand. If you got no currency – you broke. If you broke – you can’t buy no toys. No toys – you can’t play with the big boys.

Sorry about that; my Appalachian Mountain Man just popped out for a second. Let me restate. If an organization does not build its currency (links) then they are in a lower socioeconomic group. They will soon fall behind; like so many they will have to live on the fringes of the web picking scrapes to survive. What once was main stream can quickly become marginalized. If companies are left holding old currency, like the Confederate States were after the war, just watch how fast they fall.

I have to touch on networking just a bit. The link economy has a distinct advantage over the tradition real money economy. In the money economy only one entity can print money, from then on we all trying to get piece of it. In the Link Economy any stiff with a decent PC or Mac and some extra time can create their own wealth. If accepted by their peers and working within networks these new age entrepreneurs, the Gen Y Echo Boomers, can outperform firms that spend millions to build internet wealth. And they do it all with minimal capital output.

A final consideration about networks; they are self policing. It’s the members of any given network that select who they network with. Old School firms operate on exclusivity. They position themselves so that if you’re not on their payroll and under a no compete agreement then you’re out. Networks, on the other hand, are by default open systems. Everyone is allowed in and you have to mess up really bad before you get kicked out; trust me I know firsthand. Even then, when the dust settles, most folks are welcomed back in; agin I know firsthand.

I’ll finish with this, and feel free to quote this:

When the power goes out in your house at night; it’s not so hard to find the light switch. If the power goes out, and you’re in a stranger’s house, you may wonder around in the dark for a long time. Ask yourself – Do I know where I am tonight?

And another thing . . . just kidding – later.

That says something if you feel being pressed to define “the link economy” is an attack. Didn’t you invent the term? Perhaps my persistence annoys you, but I stand firm that you haven’t really said anything. I don’t believe “the link economy” means anything more than “website traffic is good.”