When You've Only Got Time to Scan...

This week the Media & Society class is examining newspapers, their storied history and their uncertain future. One of the students' assignments is to discuss ideas for transforming newspapers so they can survive and grow.

Obviously, this is going to take some innovation. So speaking of innovation, 10,000 Words alerted followers to a unique headline service that USA Today is trying out.

Called "NewsDeck," it features scrolling headlines in eight categories that correspond to the newspaper's regular sections: News, Sports, Money, Life... When you find a headline that interests you, click and it takes you to the story on USA Today's Web site.

It's kind of funky. Who knows whether it will catch on, or if other newspapers can do something similar.

NewsDeck is one of several headline-service innovations highlighted by 10,000 Words. The others are from the New York Times, Google and DoodleBuzz.

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Facebook Alert: When Social Networking Becomes Criminal

We're all well aware that employers use Facebook to screen job applicants and that divorce lawyers love what they can dig up on the social networking site. But what about more evil uses of this routine -- though powerful -- medium.

An opinion piece on NPR.org described how Iranian agents are using Facebook to track those who may disagree with the government, along with all their friends. It's pretty frightening.

As Evgeny Morozov notes:

"... It means that the Iranian authorities are paying very close attention to what's going on Facebook and Twitter (which, in my opinion, also explains why they decided not to take those web-sites down entirely - they are useful tools of intelligence gathering).

Second, it means, as far as authorities are concerned, our online and offline identities are closely tied and we have to be fully prepared to be quizzed about any online trace that we have left."

It's unsettling to think that forwarding messages or supporting others involved in causes may land somebody in the gulag -- or worse!

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(Photo credit: "tyranny" by rachaelvoorhees, courtesy of Flickr.com)

Godin Talks Blogging with Groundswell

Most who read this column already know that I'm a fan of Seth Godin.

So here's a unique opportunity to pick up a few tips from one of the masters of marketing and media -- an interview on Groundswell by Josh Bernoff.

Asked about his daily blogging routine, Godin responded:

One reason I encourage people to blog is that the act of doing it stretches your available vocabulary and hones a new voice. You won’t get it for a while, but you’ll get it. To one person who wrote in and said he didn’t think he had anything interesting to say, I asked him whether he was boring in person too? Boring at breakfast? Boring on a date? That boring?! Probably not.

And on inspiration:

How come some people can visit a place like New York and see a thousand amazing things, take hundreds of great photos (like Thomas Hawk) or even write a novel... and other people visit, eat at Applebee’s and send home a John Lennon postcard? It's not where you go, it’s what you look for.

As a daily Godin reader, I find value in most of what Seth shares. (I have to disagree on "not eating bacon," however.) And my classes have enjoyed watching several of his speeches on TED.com. I think you will too.

Finally, as Seth urged on his own blog yesterday: "Go ahead, do something impossible."

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Making Multimedia Fun

Amid all the serious talk about journalism and its role in our democracy, it's always good to keep watch on the media landscape for all the fun stuff that many journalists and others are doing out there.

Here's a few examples, beginning with the LBCC production of the the "pop-up" roadrunner, the school's mascot. It's now getting some run on the Commuter Web site. It was put together by some of the creative types at LBCC's Student Life and Leadership office.

The second is a piece from the New York Times called "The Water Dance." Though dated and maybe better titled "The Slush Dance," it's still fun to watch, especially for those of us from not-so-mild home states. (Thanks to 10,000 Words for bringing this to my attention.)

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New Commuter Crew on Board for Summer

Summer may be a slow time on campus, but several LBCC journalism students are putting their reporting, writing, photography and other talents to work this summer at the Commuter.

The online campus information and entertainment resource is marking its first anniversary this summer. The new staff is looking to add a variety of new features this year and regular readers can expect to begin seeing some changes later this summer.

The core group includes new Editor-in-chief Ryan Henson, Managing Editor Max Brown and Photo Editor Eve Bruntlett.

If there's something you'd like to see in the Commuter or have other comments to share with the staff, drop them a line at commuter@linnbenton.edu or call 541-917-4451.

The editors also are looking to fill out the staff heading into the 2009-10 school year, so be sure to let them know if you'd like to contribute this summer and fall.

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A Checklist for Modern Journalists

Feeling ambitious this summer? Now is as good a time as any to develop the skills you will need to be a better journalist. Or to break into the business if you're just out of college or soon to be looking for a job in the media.

10,000 Words has compiled a list of 30 things a new journalism grad should do this summer to make her/himself more marketable. Actually, this is a great list for any journalist who wants to thrive in the new media. Some of the more interesting and challenging tasks on the list include:

5. Become a part of a crowdsourcing project

6. Improve at least 5 Wikipedia entries

10. Create and maintain a Delicious account with at least 50 links that you find interesting

16. Learn another programming language besides HTML (e.g. XML, PHP, MySQL)

17. Create an avatar and use it on all your social networking profiles

22. Interview 10 people using a video camera

23. Create a map mashup using a CSV file

If this seems daunting, then write up No. 30 and tape it to your computer: Remind yourself why you want to be a journalist.

For more, see "The New Visual Journalist" on Mindy McAdams' blog, Teaching Online Journalism. Among those she interviews is Colin Mulvany, a photojournalist/multimedia producer at The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Wash. As he notes:

“I firmly believe there will be no more just reporters or just photographers. We all need to have crossover skills. The Web demands it.”

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Photo credit: "Creative Commons Creativity Poster" by maven, courtesy of Flickr.com