Dan Gillmor BlogTalk: Journalism and Weblogs BlogTalk: Journalism and Weblogs

Journalism’s New World:  Ubiquitous networks  Powerful new tools for reporting  Anyone can publish  Empowers not just the “former audience,” but also the people (and institutions) we cover  Uncertain business models

Convergence  We Started with “Old Media”  We added “New Media”  Then we added “We Media”  Making the News is now possible for anyone

Weblogs  Yes, some are journalism  Some are not  That debate is endless – And pointless

Weblogs  Blogs and traditional journalism – Complimentary, not competitors – A world full of stringers (Doc Searls) – Stems from long tradition  Reporters read trade journals, etc.  Blogs can break news and keep issues alive

December 5, 2002: Trent Lott’s nostalgia for segregation

February 1, 2003: Space shuttle Columbia is lost

Columbia -- 2

Columbia -- 3

Journalism has been a lecture  We say, “This is the news.”  You buy what we sell – (Or you don’t)

Journalism becomes a conversation… or maybe a seminar  We tell you what we have learned.  You tell us if you think we are correct.  Then we discuss it.  “We can fact-check your ass” -- Ken Layne

A Foundation Principle:  My readers know more than I do.

My Readers Know More Than I Do  This is true for all working journalists  This is not a threat  This is an opportunity

My Readers Knows More… and this guy probably wishes they didn’t Joe Nacchio Former CEO

My Readers Knows More…

My Audience Learns More

Reporting & Distribution  Digital cameras, etc.  Text – SMS etc.  Write on the Web – Radio, Moveable Type, Blogger, Etc.  Audio  Video  The “former audience” joins the party

Tools/Toys

Newer Tools  Newsreaders  RSS  Social software

Newsreaders

RSS

Social Software

“Newsrooms” of the Future: Ad Hoc and More

The Self-Assembling Newsroom

Multimedia Blogging

New Media and Trust  What is true?  How can reader/viewer verify? – KayCee Nicole – Drudge – Rumors move at the speed of light; corrections follow slowly  Retreat to quality?

New Choices for the “Covered”  Judo journalism: – Washington Post  Corporate communications – Ozzie blog  Involving your audience, too – Alpha users

Corporate Communicating

Democracy and an Informed Public  Concentration of media is a danger – Fewer voices – Vanilla journalism – Wall Street’s pernicious influence  But “big media” do vital work – Investigative journalism – Covering the city council; keeping an eye on government and other powerful players – Ear to the community

Financial Model, “Old” Media  In jeopardy, as advertising revenue streams are under attack as Wall Street insists on ever-higher profits  Industry is fearful -- and should be -- but experimenting, at least in case of newspapers  Broadcasters and entertainment media want total control of digital media

Financial Model, New Media Journalism  No one really knows how to make (serious) money on the Internet journalism  Online an adjunct to old media  New media still waiting for a solid business model  It will happen

One New Approach

Another New Approach

And Another …

Big Problem…

How Hollywood Sees the Internet:

Intellectual Property Rights  Digital content: Who sets the rules?  Rest of the world is following U.S. lead  DMCA – Digital Millennium Copyright Act – Owners Exert Absolute Control – Threats and “suggestions” – e.g. Felten  Copyright Extensions – Mickey Mouse loves Scarlett O’Hara

Why Worry?  New media entrants may be thwarted  More power to incumbents  Less useful information for citizens

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