I don’t think there’s any disagreement among those in the newspaper industry that making effective use of the Internet is the key to the future of new.
Then why do our newspaper seem so reluctant to make use of its natural advantages?
Here’s what caught my eye this morning. In print, photographs cost money because they take up a lot of column inches. On the web, it really costs nothing to display photos.
So why does the Star-Bulletin spend the money to send a reporter to Kauai for the closing of the Gay & Robinson sugar plantation and display only a single photo?
Okay, maybe they cheaped out and didn’t send a photographer along, but I’m sure there were more usable photos.
Pick any story, and it’s the same thing. One photo is usually selected to accompany the story when there’s really no reason not to present a gallery of photos.
The Advertiser does better. Their Gay & Robinson story is accompanied by a gallery of photos, also taken by their reporter.
What else is up on this Saturday?
It must gall Hawaiian Air’s pilots to find themselves on the verge of a strike in their ongoing negotiations to obtain a fair share of the company’s profits, while Hawaiian’s management is flying around pitching the company’s prospects to investors at the Imperial Capital 3rd Annual Global Opportunities Conference.
Imperial Capital? There’s a name that says a lot.
And let me guess–they probably aren’t telling investors much about the disgruntled pilots.
I ran across this story about ukulele in Millersville, Pennsylvania. I’m not making it up!
Noted: Honolulu screenwriter, videographer and author Lurline McGregor submitted the winning essay in the “Native Insight” competition sponsored by the Alaska Federation of Natives organization, according to NativeTimes.com.
Here’s the essential insight of her essay:
Although much in Hawai?i has changed, the values of our culture have been passed down to us, and by looking both backward and forward, we can forge real solutions that will improve our sustainability now and in the future. Growth in our western economic system is based on increased consumption. This is a contradiction to the most basic precept that our ancestors passed down to us: take only what you need. If this idea can be at the heart of decisions that leaders, corporate executives and even consumers make, then economic crises will become obsolete.
Take only what you need. A transformational idea, if the lesson were to be relearned.
To survive, the news business has to fully appreciate how the internet changes the way people get their information.
Deadlines are no longer limited to the two or three daily print editions.
Television can readily take advantage of expanded print coverage, which encroaches on what was the traditional domain of newspapers.
But when newspapers try to expand into the medium of video, some are discovering that it’s a tougher deal than expected.
Readers have high expectations. The material has to be acquired, edited and presented with content and quality on par with what is seen on television. That requires proper equipment and training, and a newspaper must make the necessary investment of time and resources to do the job right.
And online producers have to be self-critical enough to know when a video piece isn’t up to par, and why.
The Advertiser generally beats the Star-Bulletin on web presence, especially use of photos. But so much of what the Advertiser chooses to post is just noise or pure garbage, and so much available substance is missing.
re: Dean’s comments
this is an interesting point of discussion
as a counterpoint … internet readers don’t actually need the gloss of television broadcasting
we are actually happy with some raw feed and some written material that puts it into context
if you call it “raw feed” — we won’t be expecting much more
Here’s another reason the S-B shouldn’t wste so much space on pictures in the printe edition: their printing press is NEVER “in-register.” at least when it comes to four-color photos. The individual color images don’t line up so you have an all cyan edge on one side, all magenta on another, etc. It’s worst on faces: people look like they have four eyes, four nostrils, etc.
I’m sorry, it really distracts from the content and looks bush league. Yes, I know new presses are out of the question now but can’t they fine tune waht they’ve got? It’s NEVER right.