Map: Lincoln Park Muggings Summer 2009

Between July 30 and Aug. 4, 2009 there was a series of strong-armed robberies in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago.  There are a total of five attacks which have been linked, and a series of others that could be connected. 

The map shows the five attacks which are definitely connected by using a large pin with a black circle in the middle.  There are two other possibly related attacks on the map which are expressed with a small pin. 

All of the men who were attacked are in their mid-20s and walking alone.  The attackers are also men in their 20s.  The victims were attacked from behind and asked for their wallets.  They were then savagely beaten in the head and face.  Two of the victims needed to be hospitalized.  As of Dec. 27, 2009 no arrests had been made.

Finders Keepers: News in an Aggregated Time

Michael Woolf’s interview on CNBC made him look like an arrogant jerk.  First of all he is a Vanity Fair columnist and creator of Newser.com, so I tend to believe he isn’t exactly a hard-hitting journalist.  Woolf was determined to make himself look like a villain from the onset of the interview when he said, “I’m trying to put newspapers out of business.”

Unfortunately, for Woolf I don’t think his Web site will be able to accomplish this task.  According to an article by PoynterOnline by Larry D. Larsen called “Zero Second News,” News aggregates don’t create or break their own news and therefore are not a threat to existing news sites…[they can] greatly increase the traffic you already have.”

Woolf also claims that it would not matter if The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times stopped producing original material.  But then from who would Newser.com aggregate?  There can never be a world where no one creates original stories, because that would be the end of the news industry.

Woolf’s Web site Newser.com is an aggregate news site, which reduces full-length articles to 65 to 140 words.  He claims that nothing is lost by the reduction, but I beg to differ.  What is the point of going school to study other writers, if not to learn and develop technique?  Yes, I think for less newsworthy stories an aggregate site is beneficial to wade through the enormous amount of information.  Newser.com should be used as a starting point in the hunt for news.  It is clear when comparing the WSJ‘s free summary of the iPad and Newser’s, that the quality of information given on Woolf’s Web site is very basic.

The vast majority of the interview made me upset, and question why I am even in graduate school if an aggregated world is inevitable.  However, Woolf was unable to give clear answers as to how technology would change the hard work needed for “actual” reporting.  The one point I think Woolf made well was that aggregate sites facilitate the authentication process of news from the blog world.

Interaction FLYP style

FLYP More Than a Magazine is a publication dedicated to create a single seamless communication story.  The creators have tapped into text, audio, pictures, video, and animation to create their stories.  FLYP differs from other online publications because of the high level of interaction the site offers to its viewers.

Gapers Block is an example of a more traditional online publication.  The creators of Gapers Block obviously wanted a site with a continuous open dialogue and a rolling deadline; whereas, the FLYP creators produce a new publication every two weeks.  The two sites cannot be compared point by point because they are not meant to fill the same needs.

FLYP follows more closely the 10 Laws of Interactive Storytelling as described by Mike Reilley.  The publication may not offer more news content, but it offers more choices for the reader.  A viewer can decide how in-depth he or she would like to go into a story by selecting more on each page.  Also, each story has imbedded videos to further elaborate on a point.

The next step of the Interactive Laws FLYP follows well is leveraging their digital assets.  The publication uses space thoughtfully.  Not only can a viewer read a story, but there are: videos, pictures, audio clips, animation clips, RSS feeds, podcasts, newsletters, blogs, message boards, and links.

Similarly, the reader is involved with the publication.  The message boards and blogs increase the authenticity of the site, and encourage interaction between reader and creator.  More importantly, the interaction between viewer and provider is done responsibly, unlike NBC5’s opinion polls.

Alan Stoga, FLYP publisher, and his team have also devised a way for their publication to reach the masses in a multitude of ways.  FLYP content is accessible through e-mail, the website, RSS feeds, iTunes, and mobile devices.

In a world of infinite, sometimes confusing choices, FLYP has created a format which enables reader interaction with content.  But more importantly readers can customize the content he or she would like to receive.

The Pure and Simple Truth is Rarely Pure and Simple- Oscar Wilde

Vadim Lavrusik’s article “8 Must-Have Traits of Tomorrow’s Journalist,” explores the skill set Lavrusik believes to be essential for up-and-coming journalists.  I believe his article was redundant, and basically just reworded the need for new journalists to understand the workings of digital technology.  Yes, I do believe it is important that a journalist know how to navigate Twitter and Facebook, but these skills should not take precedent over strong writing skills.

Another, flaw with the article was that Lavrusik neglected to mention the changing business model in the news world.  One of the must have traits a journalists needs to have is an understanding of how the business they are in works.

The step I found to be the most beneficial for a young journalist was number seven.  Lavrusik referred to Robert Quigley, Social Media Editor at the Austin American-Statesman, who stressed journalists, must become knowledgeable of new technology to remain competitive, but these new skills will not replace traditional journalistic skills.  A reporter who is able to connect with the community through words will be more trustworthy, and therefore will always have a place in the job market.

Sean Bladma’s article “The Contentious Relationship Between Hyperlocal and Newspapers,” takes a different approach.  Bladma is more concerned with bridging the gap between hyperlocal news sources and newspapers.  He claims that newspapers can tap into hyperlocal sites and basically pay for community credibility.  Hyperlocal sites are able to become more in touch with a specific area, which is something newspapers are lacking.  Thus, a paper can pay these sites for information at a much lower cost than training and paying new employees.  Economically this is a sound idea.

However, the article fails to mention a way for new journalists to market themselves in this new business model.  It seems unfair to assume that a journalist needs to be either hyperlocal or work with the old traditional newspaper.  Also, Bladma neglects the fact that some readers grow attached to a certain writer and his or her style.  A long-term relationship cannot be formed through a wire service or a collaborative effort.

I don’t have a resolution for this problem, yet.  I can only hope we don’t stray too far away from the core values of journalists, and that quality writing is never compromised.