The Printed Blog

I was perusing through some websites yesterday afternoon at work when I stumbled upon the following New York Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/technology/start-ups/22blogpaper.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=the%20print%20blog&st=cse

It's about a company that is going to launch the first printed blog, called just that: The Printed Blog. The idea is that the company and staff will spend their entire days reading the blog-liture posted by you and me. The best blogs; the most newsworthy; the most in-demand by web-users will be printed in an online format.

To begin the venture will be printed weekly as a part of already established news organizations. Soon, however, the business aims to expand in geographically and quantitatively eventually being printed two times daily in a variety of cities.

I think the business idea is one of the best so far for a changing media market. It combines cheap resources, good stories, vocalizes and realized demand from consumers, and print and web content. The final printed piece will look nothing like your typical newspaper. Rather, the blogs will be printed on spreadsheets that resemble what blogs look like.

Think of the possibilities this sort of change in media will allow:
1) a diverse, ever-changing news content
2) a poperie of voices, styles and tones of writing
3) the news that really matters to its users, and nothing else: for more information or more stories visit the website.
4) a dynamic, realistic news venture
5) a committment to both web news and print journalism
6) and for the capitalist: the biggest benefit is the potential revenue and profits the business will see

I think I am going to try to contact the creators and interview them to try to understand how their idea evolved and what obstacles they are facing, or expect to face.

It would be really interesting to work for this sort of company, and beat the curve to new media markets fresh out of college. Magazine work is a safe bet, and I would love to work for Backpacker this spring....but if media is actually changing I want to be one of the first people to jump on that boat and start rowing.

I would love to hear your reactions to this article if you read it. Or if you just take my word from my blog I'd also like to hear your impressions.

What do you think media will look like in the nest year? 5 years? 10 years?
Will this idea fly or plummet?
Would you subscribe?
What else would you need for something like this to be something that you are interested in?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
jean

Front page coverage and antoher assignment

Two of my articles from yesterday stared back at me this morning from the front page of the paper. I was tickled happy.

One was on on an MLK celebration at the local theater, the Lincoln Center:
http://coloradoan.com/article/20090119/NEWS01/901190328&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

The other was a blurb about how a local high school band who traveled to D.C. to play at the inagural parade was asked to be featured on CBS's the Early Show:
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090119/NEWS01/901190324/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02

Today I get to fight for the top spot, because there are two potentail front page stories on tehe events of MLK day.

Gotta get back to work.

jean

Day 5 in the office

Today is my fifth day as a Coloradoan intern.

So far I have covered a variety of news briefs, a local Palestinian protest, a local High School charity garage sale, and a profile story on a 300 pound pig.

Today has been slow in the office. Sundays are not only God's day of rest, but the newsroom's too. Only an editor and I occupy the office sapce, built for maybe 70 employees. I have sat at my desk all afternoon, doing a variety of odds and ends tasks, awaiting my real assignment which begnis tonight at 6:30 p.m. - an MLK speech/dance/festival thing.

At my desk, through my north facing window seat, I have watched the Fort Collins landscape slowly fade into sunset.

But not all work has been slow.
Everyday I come to the office I learn a new thing, or am signed up for a new program: national wire sites, coloradoan webmail and news ed desk work. Today I attended the news meeting at 3:30 and watched those present discuss what tomorrow's paper should/might/probably will look like and the details of which stories hold the most importance to the Fort Collins community.

I also now have a Coloradoan blog as well. You can check it out on the Fort Collins Coloradoan site, www.coloradoan.com.

Also, check out a few of my articles.

Gotta go. I'm going to do some background work for tonight's MLK story. I think i'll look up the cookies on the keynote speaker as well as some background info on the church that is sponsoring the event.

Love from the intern. And a bit of a hunger growl...

As a beginner

As a beginner in personal blogging, a beginner at a daily newsroom, and a beginner at helping to establishing a new, reputable face for media, I will use this blog to document my adventures, obstacles, successes and other info.

I am excited to launch this blog. I encourage comments, feedback an questions because I believe establishing a good center for communication is key to the world of blogging. I will hold up my end of being a reader and contributer to this site, if you do too.

My name is Jean Spencer, nice to meet you.