Annie Leibovitz is on a book tour for her book "Annie Leibovitz at Work" and there are a few places that have posted interviews. This is a longer interview in Seattle.
She's really created her own career and carer path in the realm of photography. It should be interesting to see what she included in the book and the back-stories. She also included who influenced and what images stand out to her.
NPR also has an interview and some photos.
12.01.2008
Need help with some photo biz works?
John Harrington's book "Best Business Practices for Photographers" has been uploaded to AmazonOnlineReader. You can read it there for free to see if you want to buy it.
Listened to John speak at a workshop a few years ago. He's a smart guy and must know what he's doing considering the photo empire he has created.
Listened to John speak at a workshop a few years ago. He's a smart guy and must know what he's doing considering the photo empire he has created.
Labels:
books,
business,
online tools,
photography
Old School film, I mean old school
A post on APAD about the lone Kodachrome processing lab in the world with a audio slide show.
Platon talking about his portraits
This has been out there a while, but this is a solid audio file to listen to. Great stories and insight.
Labels:
blogs,
inspirational,
multimedia,
photography
Faces of Sunset Blvd
Great portraiture work and idea out of California for a book. Fun site as well. The video about shooting the LAPD chief is pretty cool. Check it out.
Found via 10,000 Words Twitter Feed.
Found via 10,000 Words Twitter Feed.
11.26.2008
Tilt shift video playground
Metal Heart from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.
Keith Loutit produced a pretty cool video using a tilt/shift lens on a DLSR shot at intervals. Pretty cool look. Kind of limiting at times I'm sure, but nonetheless a fun trick to play with.
Labels:
blogs,
fun stuff,
online video,
photography
11.19.2008
10,000 Words and Photojournalism
There's some fantastic links in this blog post of the best places to find the best photos.
Happy viewing.
Happy viewing.
Labels:
blogs,
photography,
photojournalism
MTV's Gideon Yago putting the smack down on Journalism
Gideon Yago worked with The IFC Media Project to create a series about journalism and how news sausage is made. Should be interesting. Hopefully it's available online!
Testing your awareness, again
I posted a link a while back that the Transport For London did to test your awareness while watching a situation. The campaign is in an effort to remind motorists to look out for cyclists.
Well, I got an email from the creator of the videos and they made a few new ones. I'll admit, the first one I watched, I failed miserably. Dare you to take it yourself.
One more great use of online video and the ability to convey a message. Brilliant work.
Well, I got an email from the creator of the videos and they made a few new ones. I'll admit, the first one I watched, I failed miserably. Dare you to take it yourself.
One more great use of online video and the ability to convey a message. Brilliant work.
Labels:
education,
fun stuff,
online video
11.18.2008
This will be fantastic, 10 million times.
Google scores one for their "good" column in my book – though their "bad" column in my book has been franticly growing. In Google's quest to dominate the planet and the moon, they have secured 10 million images from the LIFE collection owned by Time, Inc. to be hosted on their servers.
Only about three percent of the collection has ever been published. Can you imagine the photos that you will be able to see there? From all the greats? I may have to set a timer to limit the amount of time a kill just looking at the greatest visual record of history.
Only about three percent of the collection has ever been published. Can you imagine the photos that you will be able to see there? From all the greats? I may have to set a timer to limit the amount of time a kill just looking at the greatest visual record of history.
Labels:
inspirational,
internet,
photography,
photojournalism
11.17.2008
Minority Report meets 2008
Very interesting video showing physical computing and design. And we all thought Tom Cruise was living in a futuristic time.
Labels:
convergence,
internet,
multimedia,
new audiences,
online video
Anyone have $30K I can borrow?
RED's Scarlet has been unveiled. As were several other versions of the high-end digital video cameras. It will be a few months before the culmination of video capture rates at pro-DSLR resolution goodness arrives on shelves. But I don't care, I just need to find someone with some investment capital.
There's a lot of possibilities coming very soon. Very soon...
There's a lot of possibilities coming very soon. Very soon...
A good pair of shoes and...
Alec Soth sent an email to the entire staff of Magnum asking two questions: 1. When did you first get exited about photography? and 2. What advice do you have for young photographers?
There are a lot of responses all over the map, but in the end there is definitely a consistent thread of passion, curiosity and need to be self-motivated regardless of the consequences.
Good find from an up and coming photog herself. You can also download a pdf of the responses here.
There are a lot of responses all over the map, but in the end there is definitely a consistent thread of passion, curiosity and need to be self-motivated regardless of the consequences.
Good find from an up and coming photog herself. You can also download a pdf of the responses here.
Labels:
inspirational,
photography,
photojournalism,
quoted
The real version of Man on Fire
A photo gallery on NYTimes.com about bodyguards in Mexico. Some good images in a sticky situation. Not only the chances of getting caught up in a shootout but not being able to visually identify the "principal" or his family.
Labels:
journalism,
newspapers,
photojournalism
11.14.2008
Let the bottlenecking begin!!!
So one of the Fox and NBC stations in Philly are going to "pool" the video operations of the two news organizations in an effort to cut costs. Brilliant!! Lessen the scope of journalism even more. The newsrooms will be independent of each other in how they edit or use the footage.
The ever growing notion of doing more with less in journalism.
Only that showing the exact same content on two competing stations will dilute your audience even more, thus weakening your advertising base further. Nope, not a single downside. Nor the jobs that can now be eliminated to reduce costs.
And the fat cats in the corporate offices wonder why their market share is only shrinking ever more rapidly. How about producing unique content that no other news org has? If you are the only one with it, where are the viewers going to have to look for it? I guess on your competition's 10 o'clock newscast.
The ever growing notion of doing more with less in journalism.
Mr. Wallace added, “We see no downside on this.”
Only that showing the exact same content on two competing stations will dilute your audience even more, thus weakening your advertising base further. Nope, not a single downside. Nor the jobs that can now be eliminated to reduce costs.
And the fat cats in the corporate offices wonder why their market share is only shrinking ever more rapidly. How about producing unique content that no other news org has? If you are the only one with it, where are the viewers going to have to look for it? I guess on your competition's 10 o'clock newscast.
11.08.2008
Laforet and power of the web
Mr. Laforet is trying out a new widget from Photoshelter to promote his print sales and generate money for a student scholarship. As more aspects of business move to the web being able to capitalize on technology is the key to success. I think he's going to make this one works as well as the Reverie video.
Labels:
advertising,
business,
internet,
photography
11.06.2008
Christopher Anderson and Objectivity
Great interview with the Magnum photographer talking about his role as a photographer versus a photojournalist.
Labels:
inspirational,
online video,
photography,
photojournalism
11.05.2008
Timelapse web watch
Here's a sweet video brief showing the progression of the NYTime's homepage during election night. The crazy kat that had the skills to time it to the music deserves a quality drink. Bravo
Labels:
blogs,
fun stuff,
journalism,
multimedia,
newspapers,
online video
Umm, WOW! That's a lot of viewers.
NewTeeVee put together an interesting post about the volume of people consuming information on the web during election night. The numbers are staggering.
Check it out.
Check it out.
Labels:
convergence,
internet,
journalism,
new audiences,
online tools
11.03.2008
Tell me people don't enjoy looking at photos
Some serious numbers of photos being uploaded to a couple social networks. Flickr and Facebook are hosting over 13 BILLION photos.
And that's just two of the several popular social networking sites.
And that's just two of the several popular social networking sites.
Labels:
internet,
new audiences,
online tools,
photography
Convergence and an election
Here's a good NYTimes article about how the various platforms of media collided while following the presidential election.
After this is all over –thankfully– it will be interesting to compare the results of the American votes to the investments in the various media platforms used to campaign.
We all know Barack Obama was able to build a media empire with his dozens of sites, YouTube channel, Twitter, Facebook as well as applications within FB and others. McCain did as well, but not nearly to the degree of his rival. Did all of the media platforms and the mainstream media outlets play as much of a role in generating interest in the election as the challenges that our country face?
I guess we'll have to wait and see and give all the talking heads a day or two to find new things to fill all those channels with the next big story.
After this is all over –thankfully– it will be interesting to compare the results of the American votes to the investments in the various media platforms used to campaign.
We all know Barack Obama was able to build a media empire with his dozens of sites, YouTube channel, Twitter, Facebook as well as applications within FB and others. McCain did as well, but not nearly to the degree of his rival. Did all of the media platforms and the mainstream media outlets play as much of a role in generating interest in the election as the challenges that our country face?
I guess we'll have to wait and see and give all the talking heads a day or two to find new things to fill all those channels with the next big story.
Labels:
convergence,
internet,
new audiences,
TV
11.02.2008
Experiential multimedia
I'm a skiing nut. So when I was looking at my daily digest of New York Times headlines I noticed a little box highlighting a multimedia piece about how to ski the most treacherous downhill course in World Cup skiing.
The Hahnenkamm in Kitzbühel, Austria, is a torture fest of skill, speed and human limits. In an effort to explain how and what it takes to ski this ice glazed course at 80-plus miles an hour they recruited a former downhiller to be the voice for a multimedia experience.
This is a fantastic way to present information and data about a unique topic. The limitations are falling away in ways to share information and educate. So many more ideas are bouncing around in my brain now. Including wanting to take a couple of runs on the course.
The Hahnenkamm in Kitzbühel, Austria, is a torture fest of skill, speed and human limits. In an effort to explain how and what it takes to ski this ice glazed course at 80-plus miles an hour they recruited a former downhiller to be the voice for a multimedia experience.
This is a fantastic way to present information and data about a unique topic. The limitations are falling away in ways to share information and educate. So many more ideas are bouncing around in my brain now. Including wanting to take a couple of runs on the course.
Labels:
convergence,
fun stuff,
multimedia,
new audiences
10.31.2008
Breaking the rules
A fantastic idea that destroys all the limitations of rules in documentary and journalism to create a unique piece. I really want to see the camera setup. A Canon HV-20 with a Nikon 50 f/1.8.
I'm still thinking about what my answer would be.
Labels:
convergence,
documentary,
inspirational,
online video
10.28.2008
The dominoes are starting to fall
Once the campaign advertising dollars stop flowing in by the truck-load, the majority coming from the Obama media machine, the advertising dollars will dry up like the lakes east of Los Angeles have.
Let's face it, we're in the midst of a recession. Advertising dollars are the first to go from budgets. Advertising is the rocket fuel for newspapers in print, whereas the ad dollars from the online version resemble the concoction of two-stroke motor oil and unleaded gasoline. You don't see NASA using two-stroke to get the space shuttle into orbit do you?
That recession is going to prevent many from spending too many ad dollars for the holidays, let alone some general advertising. Newspapers are beginning to topple before the election has even come to a close. The first quarter of 2009 is going to look like a scene out of the movie "Saw."
The question becomes: Do we cut off integral parts of the paper in an effort to free it for possible growth online? But if the recent digestion of data is any clue, cutting all the aspects of each newspaper might not work.
The first few dominoes have started to fall, how far will they go?
Let's face it, we're in the midst of a recession. Advertising dollars are the first to go from budgets. Advertising is the rocket fuel for newspapers in print, whereas the ad dollars from the online version resemble the concoction of two-stroke motor oil and unleaded gasoline. You don't see NASA using two-stroke to get the space shuttle into orbit do you?
That recession is going to prevent many from spending too many ad dollars for the holidays, let alone some general advertising. Newspapers are beginning to topple before the election has even come to a close. The first quarter of 2009 is going to look like a scene out of the movie "Saw."
The question becomes: Do we cut off integral parts of the paper in an effort to free it for possible growth online? But if the recent digestion of data is any clue, cutting all the aspects of each newspaper might not work.
The first few dominoes have started to fall, how far will they go?
Labels:
advertising,
journalism,
money numbers,
news biz
Making Media work for you
Here's a great story about a guy who found a niché and made his own possibilities with digital media. Entering user-generated ad contests he's nearly made a living out of it. Though he did start off in a rather bleak situation.
It's just another case of finding possibility and capitalizing on it.
It's just another case of finding possibility and capitalizing on it.
Labels:
advertising,
fun stuff,
inspirational,
internet,
online video
10.17.2008
InSight America
Magnum photo agency is doing a running project up to the election with some of their top notch photogs. Their objective?
Found via APhotoADay
Could be another interesting series to keep an eye on much like Hard Times.Who are the people of America? What are we thinking? What makes us angry and frustrated? What gives us hope? Are some of us really all blue and some all red? Or are we mostly shades of purple?
What is the American Dream today?
Found via APhotoADay
10.15.2008
Four for a Quarter
I was waiting around at the UPS Customer Service center while they dug up a package for me and decided to look through a couple issues of the Smithsonian magazine. I found great photo articles in both of them, but one had a url with more content.
A photographer produced a book based on the photobooth. You know, the ones you used to see in the mall and would get four photos on a strip. There are some great images and a unique notion about how these inexpensive commerce photography sessions recorded very interesting aspects of history. Four frames at a time.
Today, photographic imagery is at nearly every fingertip on a smartphone that the notion a trip to the photobooth could be one of the lone images of a person in existence seems crazy. I only hope that at some point this over abundant digital immersion will drive people back to analog, much like vinyl records are popular again as CD sales plummet.
A photographer produced a book based on the photobooth. You know, the ones you used to see in the mall and would get four photos on a strip. There are some great images and a unique notion about how these inexpensive commerce photography sessions recorded very interesting aspects of history. Four frames at a time.
Today, photographic imagery is at nearly every fingertip on a smartphone that the notion a trip to the photobooth could be one of the lone images of a person in existence seems crazy. I only hope that at some point this over abundant digital immersion will drive people back to analog, much like vinyl records are popular again as CD sales plummet.
Got Passion?
Simply put: If You Don't Have Passion - Get Out Da' Kitchen.
That's the title of DigiDave's blog post and it has some great thoughts and links about passion. It's a nice refresher for some of my goals.
Found via Journerdism
That's the title of DigiDave's blog post and it has some great thoughts and links about passion. It's a nice refresher for some of my goals.
Found via Journerdism
Pray for Snow
It's opening day at Arapahoe Basin and Loveland today and all I can think about is fluffy white blankets of joy.
Be sure to watch the hi-def version. The video has a lots of quick transitions that the normal definition looks lame.
Labels:
blogs,
fun stuff,
online video,
photography
10.03.2008
9.30.2008
Watershed moment in the future of American politics?
"We know it's in the millions," he said of the number of e-mails that lawmakers in the House have been receiving. "But we haven't counted yet, because when you're about to get hit by a tidal wave, you don't count the drops of water in the wave."
Seems as though millions of Americans let their voices be heard not only by calling their representatives. They used the fastest communication tool available. E-mail. And the US House wasn't ready for the traffic.
This is the first presidential election cycle that is saturated with the use of online tools and portals. The ease and effectiveness of the Internet in communication will become more and more integrated into our world. Hence, the iPhone and Android phones are the early stages of the evolution towards the mobility and connectivity of our communication world.
Labels:
internet,
new audiences,
news,
online tools
A digital stereo camera
Fuji has come up with a two-lensed 3-D camera.
I'm sure the camera is cheap, but the headset player will probably cost a fortune. It'll be interesting to say the least. Maybe someone will be able to hack it and use it for visual storytelling in a new way. Curious...very curious.
I'm sure the camera is cheap, but the headset player will probably cost a fortune. It'll be interesting to say the least. Maybe someone will be able to hack it and use it for visual storytelling in a new way. Curious...very curious.
Nachtwey's Wish is revealed Oct. 3

I'm curious as hell to see what it is. There's a lot of stories to cover with a $100,000.
Here's the video from last year when he won the award.
Labels:
inspirational,
journalism,
online video,
photojournalism
9.26.2008
Photog that rocks
This is a CNN story about a high school student that created a program for homeless children to have a voice with a camera. Watch the video. She won a huge grant to continue the program and expand it. There's some interesting photos that the children made as well.
This is a great example of the power of photography.
This is a great example of the power of photography.
Labels:
education,
inspirational,
online video,
photography
9.23.2008
Is digital photography killing photography?
The advent of inexpensive equipment that allows for even more photographers to produce photography. I paid nearly $4,000 for a Nikon D1H in 2004. I recently picked up a D300 that is nearly 20 times the camera for $1700. And don't forget to add inflation, it would be over $4,700. I remember buying a Nikon N90s film camera for about $1,000 in 1994 and thought it was unreasonable. Boy, was I wrong. The Kodak DCS420 was about $12,000 in 1994. Your cell phone now has twice the resolution the 420 had.
Eventually supply and demand market forces take over and the imagery becomes worth less and less. Add to the dog pile the notion of people willing to give their content away for free so that they can say they have been "published" or in hopes of getting "more business" and you have a recipe for destruction. One more layer to make it truly gloomy? Working photographers struggling to make ends meet in this harsh economy begin to under-cut each other's bids to get work.
All that adds up to an acceleration of inexpensive photography to go with the relatively inexpensive gear.
CNN's iReport and the like go even farther to destroy the notion of a working photojournalist. Why pay for the cow when the milk is free?
Sure, I'm a Flickr user. But I reserve copyright on all my images. Many don't and leave their work open to Creative Commons. Others give their work to Getty in an over-saturated stock photo market.
What's the future of photography? I don't know, but I'm thinking of buying a bunch of silver gelatin paper from Europe since it's fading so fast here in the US, finding a sweet Leica enlarger at a garage sale and preparing for the rebirth of traditional process.
Eventually supply and demand market forces take over and the imagery becomes worth less and less. Add to the dog pile the notion of people willing to give their content away for free so that they can say they have been "published" or in hopes of getting "more business" and you have a recipe for destruction. One more layer to make it truly gloomy? Working photographers struggling to make ends meet in this harsh economy begin to under-cut each other's bids to get work.
All that adds up to an acceleration of inexpensive photography to go with the relatively inexpensive gear.
CNN's iReport and the like go even farther to destroy the notion of a working photojournalist. Why pay for the cow when the milk is free?
Sure, I'm a Flickr user. But I reserve copyright on all my images. Many don't and leave their work open to Creative Commons. Others give their work to Getty in an over-saturated stock photo market.
What's the future of photography? I don't know, but I'm thinking of buying a bunch of silver gelatin paper from Europe since it's fading so fast here in the US, finding a sweet Leica enlarger at a garage sale and preparing for the rebirth of traditional process.
Labels:
money numbers,
new audiences,
photography,
photojournalism
9.22.2008
Convergence might as well be retired as a word
Power photographer Vincent Laforet was tasked with putting the new Canon 5D MkII through its paces earlier this month. Well, this video nearly made my soil my pants. The rich visuals and complete command of the lighting are something dreamlike. Then we can talk about the camera and the absolute thrashing of the notion of a DSLR.
Also check out the behind-the-scenes video.
Nikon better react very very fast with an upgrade on the D700 –the D90 was going to be good until Canon did this– or they will be stuck at the back of the pack with Olympus, Sony and Fuji in the digital camera market.
All this being said, I'm still waiting for Scarlet. With the announcement of the 5D MkII it looks like the Scarlet will also be radically different.
All of this rapidly changing technology is just getting rolling. Hold on tight, just like Miss Budweiser it's going to get fast and rough.
Also check out the behind-the-scenes video.
Nikon better react very very fast with an upgrade on the D700 –the D90 was going to be good until Canon did this– or they will be stuck at the back of the pack with Olympus, Sony and Fuji in the digital camera market.
All this being said, I'm still waiting for Scarlet. With the announcement of the 5D MkII it looks like the Scarlet will also be radically different.
All of this rapidly changing technology is just getting rolling. Hold on tight, just like Miss Budweiser it's going to get fast and rough.
Labels:
blogs,
convergence,
gear,
inspirational,
multimedia,
online video,
photography
9.11.2008
Where's the line?
Parents are now social networking their children before they are barely even cognizant of life. Does this further the social interaction of people or does this go too far? Is there a line of no return in our constant sharing and publishing of our lives?
I know that I over broadcast my life at times and am too hyper-connected to various portals of social and digital media. I'm sure some people get sick of some of my pointless Twitter updates which is also connected to my Facebook and FriendFeed. Will all of this computational connecting become shallow and get people to connect in reality again? Social networking has seemingly taken over the web with it's ability to search out those of likemindedness and communicate. I just don't think that it is enough of a replacement for the true social interactions of a true social species.
I guess we'll see, right?
I know that I over broadcast my life at times and am too hyper-connected to various portals of social and digital media. I'm sure some people get sick of some of my pointless Twitter updates which is also connected to my Facebook and FriendFeed. Will all of this computational connecting become shallow and get people to connect in reality again? Social networking has seemingly taken over the web with it's ability to search out those of likemindedness and communicate. I just don't think that it is enough of a replacement for the true social interactions of a true social species.
I guess we'll see, right?
Labels:
internet,
online tools,
social networking
9.10.2008
9.08.2008
A business opportunity in Colorado?
Those Canucks may have figured out a way to use beetle-killed trees for newsprint. Since the price for newsprint is going through the stratosphere, why not figure out a way to go local?
Just need some investment capital to set up a shop in Silverthorne or Dillon and fire up the chainsaw.
9.06.2008
Todd Heisler, Damon Winter and David Scull on photographing the conventions
Talking about covering the political conventions. I always like to hear what was going on outside the view of the viewfinder and behind it.
Labels:
education,
journalism,
multimedia,
photojournalism
Traffic is Growing Fast—but Capacity is Keeping Pace
Some interesting tidbits about the growth of Internet traffic and trends.
9.02.2008
Red is going hunting
Nikon has announced the release of the D90, which is a DSLR with video capability. Well RED has already been turning the motion picture world on its head with his proposed 5K RED Epic camera and now plans on snaring the DSLR world in his spiderweb.
I may just wait another year to buy any kind of camera.
8.25.2008
8.22.2008
Sweet, yummy Olympic goodness
A truckload of fun photos from the Olympics. It's always good to see the photographer frames and not the stuff that runs on the printed page or sports section gallery.
Labels:
inspirational,
photography,
photojournalism
8.20.2008
Media Needs a Makeover
Rob Haggart reinforces the notion that content is king. Media outlets need to stop chasing those "every once in a while" readers/viewers and capitalize on the readers/viewers that are consuming.
How many times has it been said....
How many times has it been said....
Labels:
advertising,
blogs,
convergence,
money numbers,
news biz,
newspapers
8.19.2008
The shapeshifter that is Flash video
NewsVideographer's Angela Grant dug up a goldmine with a gaggle of info pages about converting digital video to Flash video. I'm sure I'll be pouring over the pages in the coming weeks.
Power of Photojournalism to connect the world
Just watch it. Nothing more need be said.
Labels:
documentary,
inspirational,
journalism,
online video,
photojournalism
8.17.2008
Creative info graphic about men dying
There's a lot of ways to go out there. But the leader is the evil that is cancer. I hate even typing that word.
Found via Popurls on Twitter.
Found via Popurls on Twitter.
8.16.2008
The Krauts are doing pretty well
It's looking more and more that if you want to work for a newspaper, you might look at going international. Asia's papers are exploding. Europe's papers are gaining more and more traction. South America still gets its info from lady grays.
The last line of this post is striking.
The last line of this post is striking.
Labels:
advertising,
convergence,
internet,
journalism,
money numbers,
new audiences,
news biz,
newspapers
8.13.2008
Photography as a weapon
An interesting discussion about the fake Iranian missile launch and other fakes photos.
The power of a visual image is very broad, yet many take it for granted.
The power of a visual image is very broad, yet many take it for granted.
Labels:
blogs,
journalism,
photography,
photojournalism
8.08.2008
The nightmare that is online video compression
Angela Grant over at NewsVideographer posted a week or so ago her settings for compression and was given a few other resources for figuring out what kind of hand grenade to use. I'm hoping we can figure out a better number set to work with the new Scripps player.
Labels:
internet,
online tools,
online video,
tips
J-students shouldn't be too worried
… nearly the same percentage of graduates in 2007 found full-time jobs within six to eight months of graduation as in the previous year, and salaries remained the same.
The stagnant salaries isn't much to rave about, but the notion that graduates are still getting jobs is a good sign. Might be a bad sign for those entrenched old-skool journos though. Having multiple skills is the key to getting a job.
8.05.2008
Future browsing experience?
Here's a video clip about a browser in development by the Mozilla folks. There's some interesting notions in there as well as some that will probably be developed faster than the final browser. Scary, yet interesting stuff.
Labels:
convergence,
internet,
online tools,
online video
8.02.2008
And people wonder why social networking works so well
Microsoft studied their instant messenger users and learned that the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is nearly true. It's 6.6. Can you say LinkedIn? That's basically the premise for that site: Who do your friends know that could get you a job or some business?
Labels:
internet,
new audiences,
online tools
7.30.2008
Opec 2.0
An interesting column about how the controllers of access to bandwidth could be likened to OPEC's control of oil. Comcast has already been testing tiered bandwidth plans in Canada and Time Warner is testing it on new customers in the southern states.
Who really should control access to the Internet, which is rapidly becoming the primary source of communication for all types of media?
Who really should control access to the Internet, which is rapidly becoming the primary source of communication for all types of media?
7.28.2008
So, how many journos got cut for this?
Despite Gannet cutting and cutting in newspaper and broadcast newsrooms they spend $10 million on an online streaming startup. At least they're doing something more than just cutting and cutting.
Labels:
convergence,
internet,
journalism,
new audiences,
newspapers,
online video
7.25.2008
Tight limits on War Photographers
A NYTimes story about Iraq War photojournalism coverage. The trend is if a photo is made of injured soldiers or especially those killed in action, the photog is removed from their embed. There's a good gallery of images as well.
7.24.2008
7.23.2008
Parting Thoughts
The Columbia Journalism Review has set up a place for those that have left or pushed out the door of journalism to reflect. After reading Jim Spencer's piece, I'm looking forward to reading a few more in hopes of finding some solace. Solace in knowing that once I walk out the door of a newspaper in several weeks I'm not alone in feeling like I'm walking away from one of the most important and passionate aspects of my career.
Labels:
blogs,
internet,
journalism,
money numbers,
news biz,
newspapers
7.21.2008
AMEN!! Can this be done last month?
The first notion of reader comments at the bottom of newspaper.com stories I had was it would be a good thing. Maybe people would chime in and figure out a way to solve problems or illuminate other problems. Thus a wiser and stronger community. After watching the constant attacks and childish games in the comments of the Camera, I have to say it's time to pull the plug.
After three comments the story is thrown to the gutter so that only a small number of people scratch, claw and bludgeon each other with poorly chosen words accelerating the downward spiral of humanity. And that's after the really horrific spiteful "comments" are removed by our lone web editor. Once more reason to dump them is not paying someone to babysit the comments.
I guess they didn't learn that lesson from Grandma: "If you don't have anything nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all."
After three comments the story is thrown to the gutter so that only a small number of people scratch, claw and bludgeon each other with poorly chosen words accelerating the downward spiral of humanity. And that's after the really horrific spiteful "comments" are removed by our lone web editor. Once more reason to dump them is not paying someone to babysit the comments.
I guess they didn't learn that lesson from Grandma: "If you don't have anything nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all."
Labels:
blogs,
internet,
journalism,
new audiences,
newspapers
Pew's stinky report
"Another diminishing skill set, interestingly, is photographers," the report says. "Overall, 31% of newspapers say they have cut back on photographers in the last three years, vs. 12% that had made net increases. At the biggest papers, this trend is more pronounced, with the majority reporting cutbacks on photographers (52%) and just 6% saying they had made net additions."
The underwhelming conclusion of the report is that as papers cut staff so goes the content. BRILLIANT!! Great idea, make a less desirable product for an already shrinking audience. That'll make all those greedy investors happy. I'm sure of it.
Ok, time to go get a tow truck to remove the tongue from my cheek.
Labels:
journalism,
money numbers,
news biz,
newspapers,
photojournalism
7.16.2008
Vanishing Americana
This website predicts that film cameras are at #13 of 25 things that will vanish from America.
At #23 is Newspaper Classifieds
The classifieds thing, I can see. Given some of the scary numbers the last few days from the newspaper industry, a few papers all together will cease to exist. The film camera on the other hand, will shrink and in time become a coveted form of art because of the limited number of people that know how to use film and traditional printing well.
At #23 is Newspaper Classifieds
The classifieds thing, I can see. Given some of the scary numbers the last few days from the newspaper industry, a few papers all together will cease to exist. The film camera on the other hand, will shrink and in time become a coveted form of art because of the limited number of people that know how to use film and traditional printing well.
Labels:
money numbers,
news biz,
newspapers,
photography
7.14.2008
Social Media: What the...
A great slide presentation about what social media is, can be and might become. Pay attention to trends and try to predict for potentials.
Found via Danny Holland
Found via Danny Holland
Labels:
internet,
multimedia,
new audiences,
online tools
What's after convergence? Mobile Media
1 million iPhones sold over the weekend. I'm planning on picking one up myself in September. Too bad Apple went with AT&T, but I can't wait until 2011 for the market to open up. The media landscape will be vastly different by that time.
Labels:
convergence,
gear,
internet,
new audiences,
news
Interactive Narratives
The site has been re-launched with a new design and easier ways to search for content. Haven't had a chance to peruse too much, but will be a good source to find good ideas to borrow and use.
Labels:
documentary,
education,
inspirational,
internet,
journalism,
multimedia,
online video
Video-journalism site funded by donations
Don't know if it will work or not, but hell it's worth a shot. Especially if they are doing coverage of very important issues that people "need" and "want" to be informed about. Time will tell.
Labels:
inspirational,
internet,
journalism,
new audiences,
online video,
photojournalism
Disney and the interactive Blu-ray
Looks like Disney is seeing an opportunity to be innovative with some technology to use the Internet with Blu-ray DVDs. Further evidence of the impending convergence. I like the line from Mr. Chapek – “We don’t rely on the consumer to have our vision for us.”
Labels:
convergence,
internet,
multimedia,
new audiences
Open letter to Craigslist
Some good ideas in this one asking Craigslist to help keep local professional journalism alive. We can only hope that Craig and Jim actually read it.
Labels:
advertising,
journalism,
new audiences,
news biz,
newspapers
7.02.2008
Foreshadowing your own demise
A designer at the Mercury News shot a series of carnage photos after a few rounds of layofffs at the paper and posted them on Flickr. Everyone found solace and some humor in the midst of all the chaos. Well, the ax felled his job as well.
Labels:
journalism,
news biz,
newspapers,
online tools,
photography
This made me throw up a little in my mouth
Alan Mutter figures the companies have lost a cumulative $49.7 billion in market capitalization in 3 1/2 years, vaporizing 51% of shareholder value since Dec. 31. 2004.
Found via Romenesko
Found via Romenesko
Labels:
journalism,
money numbers,
news biz,
newspapers
Why doesn't this guy live here?!
A group of private investors is still very interested in buying the Baltimore Sun, adding that they would take less of a profit and –GET THIS!!!– invest in newsgathering.
Sweet Jesus! What a concept! Maybe there are a few people smart enough to make some newspapers work. God knows that most of the clowns running around buying up everything on a maxed out credit card are not doing the worker bees any favors.
Sweet Jesus! What a concept! Maybe there are a few people smart enough to make some newspapers work. God knows that most of the clowns running around buying up everything on a maxed out credit card are not doing the worker bees any favors.
Labels:
inspirational,
journalism,
news biz,
newspapers
The dying Two-Newspaper-Town
A business columnist at the Rocky Mountain News talks about how the News gets a bad rap concerning circulation numbers in Denver and that the landscape of the biz will not allow for the JOA papers to continue.
MediaNews is in the hurt locker with the collection agencies (financial backers that are already reeling from the housing debacle) as we speak. The completion of the Scripps split is final but there is not nearly the debt burden if any at all for the newspaper side. So the notion that The Denver Post will outlive the News could be a losing bet.
MediaNews is in the hurt locker with the collection agencies (financial backers that are already reeling from the housing debacle) as we speak. The completion of the Scripps split is final but there is not nearly the debt burden if any at all for the newspaper side. So the notion that The Denver Post will outlive the News could be a losing bet.
Labels:
advertising,
internet,
journalism,
news biz,
newspapers
Sue happy in the US, but funny
A former journalist turned lawyer is suing the newspaper he subscribed to because the layoffs and cutbacks will create an inferior product and he would not have renewed his subscription if that had been disclosed.
Go get 'em!!
Found via Fading to Black
Go get 'em!!
Found via Fading to Black
Labels:
fun stuff,
journalism,
news biz,
newspapers
6.26.2008
A J-skool graduate thinking smart
"Fight the war, don't sweat the battle." That's her approach to the deluge of negative news (especially in the last week) about the newspaper biz.
Labels:
blogs,
inspirational,
journalism,
news biz,
newspapers
6.24.2008
Why even have titles anymore?
John Temple, editor, publisher and president of the Rocky Mountain News, writes about the new process of producing news in this time of "somewhere in between the old and new days."
As I read about all the types of coverage and types of mediums used I only recognized two names from the photo staff producing visual content from the field out of the seven or more identified in the blog post. All the others were from other parts of the newsroom. Starting to look like a convergent newsroom in Denver, where you need to know how to do everything when it comes to reporting the news.
As I read about all the types of coverage and types of mediums used I only recognized two names from the photo staff producing visual content from the field out of the seven or more identified in the blog post. All the others were from other parts of the newsroom. Starting to look like a convergent newsroom in Denver, where you need to know how to do everything when it comes to reporting the news.
Labels:
blogs,
convergence,
internet,
journalism,
news,
newspapers,
online video,
photography,
photojournalism
Some help from the newspaper Gods
Two charitable organizations are funding projects to find a way to keep newspapers viable, despite double digit declines in revenue percentages while cutting the staff that produces the content. Let's hope they find some brilliant people to create a way for one of the most important aspects of freedom in this country.
Labels:
convergence,
inspirational,
internet,
journalism,
news biz,
newspapers
Time spent on "newspaper" sites down
Wonder what the cause is? Is it not enough time to spend reading because people work two and three jobs? Or is it because the content presented and published just isn't of interest or decent quality with the blood letting in the industry?
Labels:
convergence,
internet,
journalism,
money numbers,
news biz
Time's Top 50 Websites
A breakdown of Time's Top 50 sites and the type of advertising –if they have any– used. Google may just take over the world at any moment. They are going to beat down comScore and Neilsen too.
Found via Journerdism
Found via Journerdism
6.18.2008
'Til Debt Do Us Part
Not to be a doom and gloomer with the recent posts, but......
Editor & Publisher story about how newspaper debt is strangling the industry and the cost cutting might not help in the long run.
Editor & Publisher story about how newspaper debt is strangling the industry and the cost cutting might not help in the long run.
Twitter's got a competitor - PLURK
It's a bit more interactive and visual, but the biggest catch is the karma points. Based on your use and other's feedback on your use you gain or lose karma points. An interesting way to try and keep it real and away from the spammers, I guess. We'll see if it works. I'll probably stick with Twitter for a bit longer though.
Labels:
blogs,
internet,
new audiences,
online tools
Newspaper cuts on a map
Here's a nifty Google map with known staff reductions at US newspapers. Kind of ugly and sick to look at, but basically where there's a higher population there's a higher reduction of staff. The number of those cut the last 13 months is staggering.
Found via cyberjournalist.net
Found via cyberjournalist.net
6.17.2008
Are you kidding me? $3.50?
Sad to learn some very pertinent information about the company that owns the paper I work for from a blogger in the company rather than our own management. It's pathetic that management doesn't have the stomach to pull everyone into a quick meeting and explain what is going to happen when the company is split into to separate companies. Thankfully there are bloggers out there digging up the information and sharing it, if only a few are finding it.
Labels:
advertising,
internet,
journalism,
money numbers,
news biz,
photojournalism
Romenesko's Impact on Journalism
The Poynter blogger has definitely changed the landscape. But in some respects I wonder how much damage he's done as well. I mean, I get all kinds of information about the progressing downfall of the industry on his blog that has helped me form the notion that like the Titanic, the orchestra is going to continue to play as the ship sinks into the abyss.
Labels:
blogs,
internet,
journalism,
new audiences,
news biz
Lazy Bastards
A fantastic post about how we read online and what studies have shown about reading habits. Near the end is a caveat about how reading a print product will never go away because it is a different style of reading.
6.12.2008
Google's moral compass
Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said the company has a duty to make advertising work in order to help companies continue to make high quality content. Glad that they realize the fact they don't supply any of the content that they make all the money off of. There are discussions on projects about not being "evil." Shocker.
I sure hope they figure it out soon. Wall Street isn't all that patient last time I checked, unless it's Google they are talking about.
I sure hope they figure it out soon. Wall Street isn't all that patient last time I checked, unless it's Google they are talking about.
6.11.2008
Newspapers will outlive Microsoft
A funny column by a Seatlle PI writer hammering a Microsoft exec for a prediction that all content will be read and fed electronically as print media dies.
Labels:
convergence,
internet,
journalism,
news biz
6.10.2008
The question that still needs to be answered
A question was asked at a newspaper conference of what we mean when searching for ways of "saving the newspaper." So what do we mean when we feel the need to "save" the newspaper? What should be saved and what doesn't need to be saved?
Performance based pay cuts but still BIG salaries
Here's a nifty comparison of CEO pay and shareholder values and the respective pay increases or decreases for 2006-2007. I'm curious to hear what next year's numbers will be. The comments are typical on the post but the one about Scripps point-man Lowe is staggering.
When you take into account inflation most staff journalists have taken a pay cut as well with the measly two percent annual increases. Here's an interesting column about that one.
When you take into account inflation most staff journalists have taken a pay cut as well with the measly two percent annual increases. Here's an interesting column about that one.
Want a newspaper job?
Looks like you better be willing to speak another language and move to another country. But there are lots of papers with increasing circulations out there. Just not in the US or Europe.
Newspaper financial woes explained simply
Here's one of the best explanations of the financial issues facing newspapers these days. Only catch is that newspapers are not investing for the flip side of the coin. Say they make it through the dark scary tunnel? They'll come out the other side and run into another critical issue of not having a quality product or even a staff to try to salvage a product.
Scary numbers and charts
Umm, don't know what to say other than - damn. I highly doubt that Wall Street will hold out for the transition of revenue sources. That's one more thing that has yet to be brought up. What's going to happen when investors want to cash in all their chips when the writing on the wall becomes more apparent.
5.30.2008
It's been bad for graduates before
Regina McCombs' speech to the University of Minnesota Journalism and Mass Communication graduation this month. It's been bad before, it will get bad again in the future. It's all about maximizing opportunities.
Labels:
education,
inspirational,
journalism,
news biz,
photojournalism
5.27.2008
A photo a day
An interesting blog about a found series of photos. Never know how your images will effect or impact people.
Keep shooting!
Keep shooting!
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