The online social network Twitter has become a hotbed for online journalism activity and a resource for newspapers nationwide.
In his blog, Alessio Signorini, a researcher at the University of Iowa, estimated that in October 2009, Twitter received about 26 million tweets per day, up from only 2.4 million tweets daily in January 2009.
Signoini went on to write that of those 26 million tweets, 22.3 percent - or nearly 5.8 million - tweets contained a link. Newspapers now have a unique opportunity to present readers with a direct link to stories and web content like never before.
Local newspapers using Twitter include The Daily Evergreen, The Spokesman Review, The Lewiston Tribune and the Moscow-Pullman News. All four papers report a high of 30 to 40 clicks per link they tweet.
“It appears that we have a 30 percent click through rating, with an average of 30 to 40 clicks per link,” said Jeff Purcell, new media manager for The Lewiston Tribune and the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
According to Purcell, the Tribune first registered their name with the Web site six or eight months ago but didn’t really start utilizing the account until about two months ago.
Purcell said that the Moscow-Pullman Twitter account has more followers, which he attributes to a younger demographic due to the newspaper’s proximity to the two universities.
Washington State University’s The Daily Evergreen, created a Twitter account to create more of a Web presence, reach a greater audience and have a stronger breaking news cycle, according to Rikki King, editor of The Daily Evergreen.
King also said the newspaper gets news tips from students and community members who tweet about their thoughts, clubs, meetings, activities and campus life.
There are also characteristics Twitter provides that other networking sites and traditional advertising do not. King thinks that Twitter gives an opportunity to link to breaking news, is more direct and personal, and involves a more technological audience.
Aspects of Twitter that local newspapers report struggling with are determining what to tweet and how formal or informal the tone of the tweets should be.
“It’s been tricky finding out what to share on our Twitter account,” said Andrew Zahler, online producer for The Spokesman Review.
In regard to the Spokesman’s Twitter account, Zahler said he tries to find a balance between being too institutional and just sharing links, and being too informal and using acronyms.
With these barriers and in light of the dramatic changes in membership Twitter has experienced this year alone, newspapers are left with an uncertain, yet hopeful, tweeting future.
“I’d love to see our traffic from Twitter go up to boost our site numbers,” Zahler said. We’ve tried a few experiments with crowdsourcing on Twitter. I’d like to do a little more of that because it gets back to the interactive part of Twitter.”
Purcell also has high hopes for the future of the newspaper’s online entity and residents’ interaction.
“I really think the next step is community,” Purcell said. “How that will happen – social networking, user blogging, or a user-related news site – I have no idea. We’re working on that but there’s definitely some frustration there.”
Sources:
Jeff Purcell- 208-848-2257 (found via Twitter)
Rikki King- 509-335-1099
Andrew Zahler- 509-459-5314 (found via Twitter)
Alessio Signorini - http://deepintech.wordpress.com/
Monday, November 30, 2009
twitter...
"Are Tweets Literature? Rick Moody Thinks They Can Be" by Alexandra Alter for the Wall Street Journal on 11.30.2009.
"For the next three days, author Rick Moody will be delivering a new short story in 153 Tweets, in hourly increments."
I think this is a pretty interesting use of Twitter both for new media and for literary culture. I do wonder though, whether people will commit to the entire thread of tweets to read the whole story.
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2009/11/30/are-tweets-literature-rick-moody-thinks-they-can-be/
"Refining the Twitter Explosion" by Noam Cohen for the New York Times on 11.8.2009
Twitter gives a representation of the world, but with so much information available, it's hard to search for content and organize what is available. "Geolocation" will work with G.P.S. to determine the location of tweets and categorize accordingly.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/business/09link.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=twitter&st=cse
"For the next three days, author Rick Moody will be delivering a new short story in 153 Tweets, in hourly increments."
I think this is a pretty interesting use of Twitter both for new media and for literary culture. I do wonder though, whether people will commit to the entire thread of tweets to read the whole story.
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2009/11/30/are-tweets-literature-rick-moody-thinks-they-can-be/
"Refining the Twitter Explosion" by Noam Cohen for the New York Times on 11.8.2009
Twitter gives a representation of the world, but with so much information available, it's hard to search for content and organize what is available. "Geolocation" will work with G.P.S. to determine the location of tweets and categorize accordingly.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/business/09link.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=twitter&st=cse
Monday, November 16, 2009
Pullman news
"Library starts charity food drive" by Kari Bray in the Daily Evergreen.
You can donate food rather than pay cash for library fines.
www.dailyevergreen.com/story/30052
"Author to talk about novel and promote 'Everybody Reads'" by Kristen Perrin in the Daily Evergreen
Neill Public Library to host author of "Snow Falling on Cedars" as part of the regional 2009 Everybody Reads Program.
www.dailyevergreen.com/story/30048
You can donate food rather than pay cash for library fines.
www.dailyevergreen.com/story/30052
"Author to talk about novel and promote 'Everybody Reads'" by Kristen Perrin in the Daily Evergreen
Neill Public Library to host author of "Snow Falling on Cedars" as part of the regional 2009 Everybody Reads Program.
www.dailyevergreen.com/story/30048
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Local trend is contrary to national headlines
**Newspapers across the Palouse appear to be weathering the economic storm better than national and metropolitan newspapers.**
“If you look at the numbers of readers we’re reaching now, [and] if you add in the paid online readership and the online readership that we have, we’re reaching more people than ever in our 97-year history,” said Nathan Alford, publisher of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News and the Lewiston Tribune. “We’re not hanging our heads.”
According to the Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation filed by TCP Holdings, owner of the Daily News and Tribune, on average, both newspapers have seen about a 3 percent decrease in total distribution.
Circulation rates have decreased less than 3 percent for The Eagle & Boomerang, based in Moscow, according to office manager and reporter Suesanne Smith.
“[Circulation] hasn’t dropped like everywhere else has,” Smith said. “There are a lot of places that are really losing [subscriptions] but weekly and locals aren’t losing the same.”
And so it seems that newspapers across the Palouse are weathering the economic storm better than national metro newspapers.
“I think that what happens is the people who watch the industry and the news headlines … translate those national headlines with a big, broad brush and assume that that same economic scenario is what’s affecting community market newspapers,” Alford said. “In reality, of the 1,400 newspapers in the country, only 180 to 200 of those are metro newspapers … and the rest are community market newspapers much like ourselves.”
In “U.S. Newspaper Circulation Falls 10%,” published Oct. 27, 2009 in The New York Times, author Richard Perez-Pena wrote, “In the six months ended Sept. 30, sales fell by 10.6 percent on weekdays and 7.5 percent on Sundays, from the period a year earlier, for several hundred papers reporting to the Audit Bureau of Circulations.”
Perez-Pena went on to detail some individual circulation rates nationwide: The Los Angeles Times dropped 11 percent in weekday sales, the USA Today had a 17 percent decrease and the The New York Post fell 19 percent.
According to Perez-Pena, this drop caused USA Today to slip from the “top spot in weekday circulation for the first time since the 1990s,” and The Wall Street Journal, whose circulation rose 0.6 percent, took over the leading position.
Though local newspapers aren’t experiencing double-digit decreases like several large newspapers nationwide, one area of concern among local newspapers is advertising.
“We have seen some loses [in advertising revenue] but they have been made up by other gains,” said Gordon Forgey, publisher of the Whitman County Gazette. “With some very successful special sections, it’s above what it has been in previous years.”
The Moscow-Pullman Daily News and the Lewiston Tribune have a slightly different story.
“Advertising revenue has been down much more than circulation,” said Michael McBride, circulation director for TCP Holdings. “Advertising is down probably 20 percent and that’s where the majority of the money’s at. Classified advertising is way down and that’s where they’re seeing the biggest hit.”
In addition to advertising adaptations, the administration is looking to make even more changes to stay on top of the changing economic climate.
TCP Holdings has invested in a new printing press, has taken on delivery for the Spokesman Review and combined their circulation departments when the Daily News switched to an A.M. delivery cycle.
The new press provided more vibrant, consistent color, and is more economically and environmentally effective because it uses less power, ink and paper. Alford is confident that the new press will be a key player in pulling the newspapers out of the economic downturn.
“I think we’ve made smart decisions for a community newspaper, which is really owned by its readers,” Alford said. “We’ve made very minimal cuts in full-time staff.”
Contacts:
Nathan Alford
208-848-2220
Michael McBride
208-848-2220
Gordon Forgey
509-397-4333
Suesanne Smith
208-882-0666
“If you look at the numbers of readers we’re reaching now, [and] if you add in the paid online readership and the online readership that we have, we’re reaching more people than ever in our 97-year history,” said Nathan Alford, publisher of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News and the Lewiston Tribune. “We’re not hanging our heads.”
According to the Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation filed by TCP Holdings, owner of the Daily News and Tribune, on average, both newspapers have seen about a 3 percent decrease in total distribution.
Circulation rates have decreased less than 3 percent for The Eagle & Boomerang, based in Moscow, according to office manager and reporter Suesanne Smith.
“[Circulation] hasn’t dropped like everywhere else has,” Smith said. “There are a lot of places that are really losing [subscriptions] but weekly and locals aren’t losing the same.”
And so it seems that newspapers across the Palouse are weathering the economic storm better than national metro newspapers.
“I think that what happens is the people who watch the industry and the news headlines … translate those national headlines with a big, broad brush and assume that that same economic scenario is what’s affecting community market newspapers,” Alford said. “In reality, of the 1,400 newspapers in the country, only 180 to 200 of those are metro newspapers … and the rest are community market newspapers much like ourselves.”
In “U.S. Newspaper Circulation Falls 10%,” published Oct. 27, 2009 in The New York Times, author Richard Perez-Pena wrote, “In the six months ended Sept. 30, sales fell by 10.6 percent on weekdays and 7.5 percent on Sundays, from the period a year earlier, for several hundred papers reporting to the Audit Bureau of Circulations.”
Perez-Pena went on to detail some individual circulation rates nationwide: The Los Angeles Times dropped 11 percent in weekday sales, the USA Today had a 17 percent decrease and the The New York Post fell 19 percent.
According to Perez-Pena, this drop caused USA Today to slip from the “top spot in weekday circulation for the first time since the 1990s,” and The Wall Street Journal, whose circulation rose 0.6 percent, took over the leading position.
Though local newspapers aren’t experiencing double-digit decreases like several large newspapers nationwide, one area of concern among local newspapers is advertising.
“We have seen some loses [in advertising revenue] but they have been made up by other gains,” said Gordon Forgey, publisher of the Whitman County Gazette. “With some very successful special sections, it’s above what it has been in previous years.”
The Moscow-Pullman Daily News and the Lewiston Tribune have a slightly different story.
“Advertising revenue has been down much more than circulation,” said Michael McBride, circulation director for TCP Holdings. “Advertising is down probably 20 percent and that’s where the majority of the money’s at. Classified advertising is way down and that’s where they’re seeing the biggest hit.”
In addition to advertising adaptations, the administration is looking to make even more changes to stay on top of the changing economic climate.
TCP Holdings has invested in a new printing press, has taken on delivery for the Spokesman Review and combined their circulation departments when the Daily News switched to an A.M. delivery cycle.
The new press provided more vibrant, consistent color, and is more economically and environmentally effective because it uses less power, ink and paper. Alford is confident that the new press will be a key player in pulling the newspapers out of the economic downturn.
“I think we’ve made smart decisions for a community newspaper, which is really owned by its readers,” Alford said. “We’ve made very minimal cuts in full-time staff.”
Contacts:
Nathan Alford
208-848-2220
Michael McBride
208-848-2220
Gordon Forgey
509-397-4333
Suesanne Smith
208-882-0666
Monday, November 9, 2009
News
"Publisher in Portugal Picks a Fine Time to Start a Newspaper" by Eric Pfanner, pub. 11/08/09 in the New York Times.
www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/business/media/09iht-paper.html
"Tribune Co. newspapers won't use AP next week" by the AP
("to test whether the financially struggling company can do without it.")
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ijJtQAHWUnZQQPsa1LonfpdfcIeAD9BO3JV00
www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/business/media/09iht-paper.html
"Tribune Co. newspapers won't use AP next week" by the AP
("to test whether the financially struggling company can do without it.")
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ijJtQAHWUnZQQPsa1LonfpdfcIeAD9BO3JV00
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Jim West responses
I saw this video last year in Brett Atwood's class.
It was interesting to me to think about whether the story was about sexual orientation or about unlawful activity promising an internship for favors.
As I said in class, the story has to be, at least in part, about sexual orientation because of all the background presented that's required to understand the story completely.
The biggest problem I have with West's actions is the hypocrisy. In the past, he voted for "anti-gay" measures and his actions, on the other hand, portrayed him to be either gay or bisexual. Like we discussed in class, he didn't actually do anything wrong since he didn't persue the "teen" online until he had his 18th birthday. Though he did offer the possibility of an internship, that never came through to fruition so I don't know that we can infer too much about that offer and how it reflects his character.
It was interesting to me to think about whether the story was about sexual orientation or about unlawful activity promising an internship for favors.
As I said in class, the story has to be, at least in part, about sexual orientation because of all the background presented that's required to understand the story completely.
The biggest problem I have with West's actions is the hypocrisy. In the past, he voted for "anti-gay" measures and his actions, on the other hand, portrayed him to be either gay or bisexual. Like we discussed in class, he didn't actually do anything wrong since he didn't persue the "teen" online until he had his 18th birthday. Though he did offer the possibility of an internship, that never came through to fruition so I don't know that we can infer too much about that offer and how it reflects his character.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Math fun is rarely fun. I should know.
1. $7885.00
2. The spelling and grammar test was taken by 217 students. Thirty-seven failed. What percent passed? 83%
3. We have a company. We make crap. Some people get paid more than others.
* The CEO earns $150,000 a year. She has a nice office and thinks big ideas.
* Two top managers earn $100,000 a year for attending meetings, writing memos, etc.
* The company has three security guards. They bust heads and carry Tasers. They earn $40,000 a year.
* Finally, we have two designers/engineers. They do the actual work. We pay them $35,000 and put them in cubicles like zoo animals.
Mean salary? $67,500 Median salary? $40,000
Which is more accurate? Median salary.
4. Desperate for revenue, the government decides to increase the tax on beer. The tax on food is 5 percent. But if you buy beer, you pay an extra percent, or a total of 6 percent. Supporters of the tax say this is only a 1 percentage increase; critics say this is a 20 percent increase. Who is right? Both
5. a. The city’s budget was cut from $2 million to $1.5 million. What was the percent decrease?
25% decrease. (new value-original value/original value)
b. The city’s budget increased from $1.5 million to $2 million. What was the percent increase? 33% increase
6. Last year, your property tax bill was $1,152. This year, it rose to $1,275. What’s the percent increase? 11% increase
7. We want to look at home sales in October.
* House 3 costs $129,000.
* House 4 costs $192,000.
* House 2 costs $207,000.
* House 1 costs $225,000.
* House 5 costs $3.2 million.
What’s the mean price? $790,600 What’s the median? $207,000 (use median more often)
8. You and your four roommates have ordered a 16-slice pizza. Because you skipped lunch, it is agreed that you should have a 1/4 share of the total. The roommates divide the remainder equally. How much does each one get? me: 4, roommates: 3
9. Let’s say someone wants to establish a University District. To gain support, he/she needs to establish that safety is a problem in the area. Assume the following:
* Pullman had 183 assaults last year. Spokane had 502.
* Spokane has 200,000 people. Pullman has 25,000.
Is the average person more likely to be assaulted in Spokane or Pullman? What's the per capita assault rate in each city? Spokane: .0025 (25 per 10,000 people)----- Pullman: or .0073 (73.2 per 10,000 people)
10. House prices increased 40 percent this year to a median price of $210,000. What was the median house price last year? $150,000
2. The spelling and grammar test was taken by 217 students. Thirty-seven failed. What percent passed? 83%
3. We have a company. We make crap. Some people get paid more than others.
* The CEO earns $150,000 a year. She has a nice office and thinks big ideas.
* Two top managers earn $100,000 a year for attending meetings, writing memos, etc.
* The company has three security guards. They bust heads and carry Tasers. They earn $40,000 a year.
* Finally, we have two designers/engineers. They do the actual work. We pay them $35,000 and put them in cubicles like zoo animals.
Mean salary? $67,500 Median salary? $40,000
Which is more accurate? Median salary.
4. Desperate for revenue, the government decides to increase the tax on beer. The tax on food is 5 percent. But if you buy beer, you pay an extra percent, or a total of 6 percent. Supporters of the tax say this is only a 1 percentage increase; critics say this is a 20 percent increase. Who is right? Both
5. a. The city’s budget was cut from $2 million to $1.5 million. What was the percent decrease?
25% decrease. (new value-original value/original value)
b. The city’s budget increased from $1.5 million to $2 million. What was the percent increase? 33% increase
6. Last year, your property tax bill was $1,152. This year, it rose to $1,275. What’s the percent increase? 11% increase
7. We want to look at home sales in October.
* House 3 costs $129,000.
* House 4 costs $192,000.
* House 2 costs $207,000.
* House 1 costs $225,000.
* House 5 costs $3.2 million.
What’s the mean price? $790,600 What’s the median? $207,000 (use median more often)
8. You and your four roommates have ordered a 16-slice pizza. Because you skipped lunch, it is agreed that you should have a 1/4 share of the total. The roommates divide the remainder equally. How much does each one get? me: 4, roommates: 3
9. Let’s say someone wants to establish a University District. To gain support, he/she needs to establish that safety is a problem in the area. Assume the following:
* Pullman had 183 assaults last year. Spokane had 502.
* Spokane has 200,000 people. Pullman has 25,000.
Is the average person more likely to be assaulted in Spokane or Pullman? What's the per capita assault rate in each city? Spokane: .0025 (25 per 10,000 people)----- Pullman: or .0073 (73.2 per 10,000 people)
10. House prices increased 40 percent this year to a median price of $210,000. What was the median house price last year? $150,000
Monday, November 2, 2009
News
Here we go again: Crazy stuff in the world of words.
Booksellers Ask Justice Dept. to Probe Price Wars
by Reuters in the NYT, pub. Oct. 22
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Target Corp and Amazon.com Inc. are going head-to-head to see who can beat out the competition, providing customers with the absolute lowest prices on new (even some unreleased) hardback books by some pretty famous authors. The American Booksellers Association sent a letter to the U.S. Dept. of Justice, asking them to investigate the pricewars. The association claimed the war was causing devaluation of the concept of the books themselves.
www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/10/22/business/business-us-booksellers-doj.html
A Different Look at Common Reading
by Andrea Castillo in the Daily Evergreen, pub. Oct. 29
Professor Melissa Goodman-Elgar spoke on Oct. 27 regarding the freshman required reading, "The Omnivore's Dilema." The talk focused on the anthropological perspective on the history of maize in three main regions of Mesoamerica.
www.dailyevergreen.com/story/29925
Booksellers Ask Justice Dept. to Probe Price Wars
by Reuters in the NYT, pub. Oct. 22
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Target Corp and Amazon.com Inc. are going head-to-head to see who can beat out the competition, providing customers with the absolute lowest prices on new (even some unreleased) hardback books by some pretty famous authors. The American Booksellers Association sent a letter to the U.S. Dept. of Justice, asking them to investigate the pricewars. The association claimed the war was causing devaluation of the concept of the books themselves.
www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/10/22/business/business-us-booksellers-doj.html
A Different Look at Common Reading
by Andrea Castillo in the Daily Evergreen, pub. Oct. 29
Professor Melissa Goodman-Elgar spoke on Oct. 27 regarding the freshman required reading, "The Omnivore's Dilema." The talk focused on the anthropological perspective on the history of maize in three main regions of Mesoamerica.
www.dailyevergreen.com/story/29925
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