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Posted April 1995


What are newspapers not providing now?
(Which they could provide with the new medium)

Is the newspaper all things to all people? No, whether due to limited newshole or the traditions of the product, there are many features, beats, styles that are not accommodated with the current medium. Think of ways the press can take advantage of the bottomless newshole and a new publishing tradition to satisfy some of the following:

  • Language in various expansive forms: Our language now is dictated by the stylebook. How can the new medium allow different styles, vocabularies?

  • Different attitudes: As with language, outlook and perspective can vary widely. How can the luxury of space in the new medium be used to provide a variety of perspectives?

  • Personalities / identities for reporters: Now there is little opportunity to learn about the reporter telling you about the news. Except for columnists, whose personalities come out in their writing, there is little known about reporters. Could links to bios of the reporters from their bylines help in giving an identity and credibility to the person reporting the news?

  • Pop culture: One of several beats that gets little attention in the traditional product. How does the new medium's audience change the need to emphasis a more alternative approach to entertainment coverage?

  • Sports stats (local): Newshole limits the ability to report local and neighborhood sports stats.

  • Background on "How I wrote the story": So much of what the reporter does is invisible to the reader. Having the space to background the reporting of the story might add a valuable feature in the new news product.

  • Links to past stories: Now, a story as a daylong shelf-life. The story the next day might repeat some of the previous story, but not always. How can the new medium's linking capabilities tie together stories into a continuously updated package?

  • Follow-up on stories: Newspapers are traditionally bad at following-up on stories. How might the new medium help to keep readers current on stories that previously were hot news?

  • Interaction between reporter and readers and the community:Currently, there is little interaction between the reporter and the reader. How can the interactive capabilities of the new medium enhance the relationship between reporters and their public?

  • Ways for readers to connect with other readers: There is no easy way for the print media to connect readers with other readers. The new media can provide opportunities for readers to supply opinions, and receive reactions to their comments from other readers.

  • Personalize the news: The newspaper now is scattershot coverage, and chances are many of the stories are not personally involving. The new medium allows the concept of the "Daily Me" to come about.

  • Enough space to have relevant source documents: We report about the speech, but don't have room for the speech. We tell about the ruling, but don't run the full text. Limitless newshole makes it possible to have the supporting documents available if people are interested.

  • Deep local news: Another function of the lack of space is the lack of deep local news, only surface local news finds it's way into the newspaper. The potential of space and outside contributions by readers can make the coverage of local stories deeper and richer.

    Summary: Use the potential of the new medium to deliver things that just aren't possible with print.

     

 
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