An excellent analysis of the role of social media in news coverage is presented by Antonia
Zerbisias in the Toronto Star on July 11.
She aptly describes how Twitter became a news sources for untold numbers of people as journalists on the front lines used social media as an instant news wire, sending valuable, pertinent information streaming out to audiences.
She also notes the transformative nature of Twitter and other forms of social media by comparing more traditional forms of coverage to new ones. Link»
Prince Edward County, two hours east of Toronto on Lake Ontario, is the site of a new hyperlocal news project called countylive.ca, started by veteran journalist Sue Capon.
Working with her partner Amber Martin, a graphic designer, the pair have a storefront in Picton and publish solely online.
The enterprise is being well-received and provides a new dimension to coverage.
This is Capon's description of the project in her own words. More»
BBC radio Scotland airs an interesting program pitting an old hack journalist using traditional tools against a younger new media journalist loaded with technology.
The idea is to see which one gets the better, more credible story. The results are aired on the radio.
Eight community newspapers in Alberta received federal funding to subsidize mailing costs and reduce subscription rates.
The Okotoks Western Wheel received more than $269,000, while others received between $10,000 to $40,000. The money comes from the Aid to Publishers program under the Canadian Periodical Fund. The fund provides assistance to magazines and non-daily newspapers.
With all the mainstream and independent working to cover the upcoming G20 summit in Toronto, the new kid on the block has cut itself out a niche.
OpenFile, the new online hyperlocal journalism project, is dedicating an entire section to examining the many aspects of the G20 event, but from a very localize perspective. It is also leveraging its contributors to bring new and fresh approaches to its coverage.
"During the G20 Toronto Summit, the world will be watching as leaders from the 20 most powerful nations converge on our city. OpenFile wants to know who the conference is affecting you and your community. Let us know, and we will tell the world." Link»
Wired staff spent months developing its new iPad app, which become Apple's best-selling app just hours after its May 26 launch. Loud Cloud interviewed creative director Scott Dadich about going digital and why they ditched page-turning sounds and page numbers all-together... More»
Only nine days after launching its iPad edition, Wired has sold 79,000 copies - just shy of the print average of 80,000. Partial thanks go to Steve Jobs, who projected the cover of Wired's iPad magazine onstage while unveiling iPhone 4... More»
One of the first, most comprehensive studies of community news, especially hyperlocal news, was posted May 27, identifying key local online news sites. It surveys publishers, examines what is working and what needs further development.
This is a significant contribution to the emerging trend of hyperlocal news. Link»
The Times blogger Tim Kevan has withdrawn his Baby Barista blog, citing the publication's decision to erect a paywall, which he says will be "a disaster"... More»
When Brian Sharwood isn't busy at his day job, running a little start-up called HomeStars.com, which is a Trip Advisor-type site focussed on the Home Improvement business, he is busy filing stories to his hyperlocal news site Ossington Village.
He moved to the Toronto neighbourhood four years ago, but only started the hyperlocal news site after a local meeting with a city councillor stirred up some controversy.
Sharwood tells his own story about what it is like to start up a hyperlocal news site in a major urban centre. More»
Media innovation centre MaRS discusses the launch of hyperlocal news project OpenFile.ca from a business and information technology perspective.
"OpenFile is positioned as a collaborative newsroom–social media meets
professional journalism – focusing on local news. It’s a newsroom that
complements the current reality of news consumption in an increasingly
digitally dominated world. The team believes in participatory
journalism (quite the term!) and no paywalls. OpenFile gives you a
reason to stick around and chat about news that means something to you
with people who will seriously listen to you. Not only will you have a
say in defining your own news, but you’ll also help collect and share
that information." Link»
Nieman Journalism Lab profiles Toronto-based hyperlocal news site OpenFile suggesting it's initiative will walk the walk, not just talk the talk, when it comes to tapping the potential of online journalism.
"The thing about new
media maxims is that, all too often, they remain just that —
maxims. Smart ideas that guide our thinking, yes, but that don’t get
much tangible testing in the hectic, messy space where journalism lives." Link»
Journalists Sue Capon and Amber Martin launched CountyLive.ca on May10 to serve Prince Edward County, located on the shores of Lake Ontario, about two hours east of Toronto. The pair have more than 20 years of journalistic experience in the county and hope to provide a multimedia, interactive news services for residents.
This section is dedicated to tracking new trends, contemporary movements and latest developments in journalism. We will discuss and share news, information and commentary about what is transforming the industry. Robert Washburn is a former correspondent at CBC Ontario Morning and he currently teaches journalism at Loyalist College.
This section is dedicated to tracking