The next Wave?

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Jennifer S. sent in this story today about a new platform called the Google Wave.

Here are her comments: “Google has yet another new feature out trying to revolutionize the internet, the Google wave. This article even touches a bit on how the features of Google Wave can be used for journalism. What I find interesting about Google Wave is that it's very exclusive at the moment, kind of like facebook used to be. You have to have an invite to use it, but my gay ex boyfriend's friend he made at Swiss Business school used to intern at Google has super invites, so he's allowed to invite more than eight people. I commented on his status and asked him to invite me, so hopefully I get to try it out. I figure since we're already focusing on a Google feature this week it's interesting to read about a potential new feature of Google.”

BTW, this extends her lead over everyone but Lorry N., who has taken over second place by herself. Want to get in on the action? Send me a link or comment on this post or others here.

Serwach surges into lead

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Jennifer Serwach took the lead in the extra credit contest this week for her willingness to explore Second Life and report back, earning three extra credit points. That's the typical maximum you can earn in one week. She is now 11 points away from at least a 1 percent grade boost.

Running Google maps

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Back in Chapter 4 of “Principles of Convergent Journalism,” the text talks about Google Earth and discusses how journalists in Chicago have used crime data to make interactive maps with Google, showing crimes on a block-by-block basis. In Chapter 10, we're once again talking about adding multimedia.

One of your assignments this week is to make a simple Google Map. I've done one which you can view below the help video. It shows where I have run marathons (As a reporter, I had A LOT of stress covering Flint City Hall and dealing with editors, so I became a runner. I lost a lot of weight, too). I did it by creating a Google account and following their instructions in the video below.



Next is a wide shot of where I have run marathons. My dad likes to tease me about where I have gone, saying if I want to run 26.2 miles, all I need to do is put on my shoes and run out my front door. Why travel thousands of miles? I hope to run a marathon again in Detroit on Oct. 18, but I will bail if my wife is in labor.


View My marathons in a larger map

Lastly, we have a zoom of New York, where I ran the marathon in 2007 (I created both of these images using the customize embed feature). I thought I could run with Lance Armstrong and I blogged about my experience while I worked for The Flint Journal. I was wrong, but I did get a cool medal. Click on the placemark for a photo that I accessed through Flickr. We'll focus on Flickr more in a few weeks, but if you want to put a photo in, you'll need a place to host your images, so I set up my own account there.


View My marathons in a larger map

My take on Week 4 readings

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — So, here I am trying to figure out how to sit down on an log and I sit in the fire. Ouch, that hurt, I think?

That's how well my foray into Second Life was. Like Jennifer Serwach said on the Discussion Board, I wasn't that impressed with the interface or the virtual world itself — although after I did sit down some stranger walked up to me and asked me in Spanish if I wanted to be his friend (Not exactly like Facebook, eh?).

What I found more fascinating is how these people are writing and producing their own stories about this virtual world. Can't make it as reporter in the real world? Maybe you can make it in Second Life, a place with its own economy and problems just like the other world we share, although MSM, such as Reuters, has already cutback its own bureau in SL (just like the RW).

Apple’s expected tablet could redefine print

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Jennifer S. sent this link about a rumor that Apple will soon have its own digitial book reader to compete with the likes of Amazon’s Kindle.

Here are her comments: “So this article basically says that there's rumors of Apple releasing a product similar to the Kindle. As we all can tell from the iphone, Apple tends to revolutionize technology so perhaps the Apple alternative to the Kindle will be even more unique and revolutionary. If Kindle catches on more mainstream, that could impact newspapers greatly since the Kindle has a lot of features for seeing a newspaper in more of the form that you would see in print. And since Kindles aren't backlit in the same ways computers are they tend to be easier on the eyes. So more companies creating products similar to a Kindle means that they're catching on and that could help the news industry in the long run.”

A virtual summit on arts journalism

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Lorry N. sent this link earlier today about a virtual summit on arts journalism (P.S. This puts Lorry in the lead).

Here are her comments: “Check this website out - I believe it's just a blog but I never knew about this event. It seems like it would be very interesting to get on and watch. But, I'm not sure if it's open to the public or not!
Lorry N.”

AP Stylebook for iPhone

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — For those who want the AP Stylebook wherever they go, there's now the stylebook for the iPhone.

At $28.99, I think it's too pricey.

(Remember, comment here or send me a similar link and get into the extra credit contest).

College journalism workshop this weekend

Update 10:37 a.m.: I received a message from one of the organizers. There's no problem if you sign up the day of the event. Also, the start of the day goes like this: 9:15 a.m. coffee, welcome remarks 9:45 a.m., first session 10 a.m.  

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Interested in learned new journalism skills and brushing up on ones you already know? The Michigan Collegiate Press Association is hosting its fall workshop “ABC Easy as Attitude, Basics and Convergence” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Eastern Michigan University.

The slated sessions include “Going Online Only” and “Adapting to a New Media Environment.” The cost is $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers. An RSVP deadline was Sept. 18, but I would think they'll be flexible (I'm checking into it).

If anyone goes and writes about what they learned from one of the online sessions for a posting here, it'll be worth three extra credit points (Please email if you plan on doing that).

The eyes have it

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Marla D. sent this link about Web site usability and how eyetracking studies have helped in Web site design (I'm posting this from Eastern Michigan University, where I'm also teaching a feature writing class). Here are her comments:

“I was astonished after reading this article on usability of a web page. The technology that was used to follow a readers eye patters on a home page or photos really proves that the content, layout, colors and graphics play a huge role in how effective the information is being relayed. I can relate this article to the comparing website assignment we just did. I thought one of the home pages was far too cluttered and my eyes kept jumping around.
Enjoy,

Marla”

Freep wins another Emmy

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Detroit Free Press captured yet another Emmy for its multimedia journalism with this project about a foster home for boys in Detroit. I think I might later make this a topic of our Discussion Board … but don’t let that stop you from checking out what’s setting the standard. And if you want an extra credit point, post a comment here after taking it in.

My take on Week 3 readings

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — I can’t say it any plainer than we’re witnessing journalism being completely reinvented and no one sure is how the story will turn out. This week’s reading just continues to reinforce that.

These chapters detail how the Internet has transformed the news business forever in print and broadcast. Some is new to me. I never heard of a Fisher Grid (developed by the authors), although it makes sense to these evolving situations. From a reality standpoint, however, in a newsroom, I can tell you, figuring out what’s best for print vs. the Web just happens. No one typically diagrams it. There isn't time.

Blackboard back up, but extension remains

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Blackboard is fixed, and while you can certainly turn in your essay this evening, I'm going abide by my extension for 11:59 p.m. Monday. I think given the circumstances that is fair, but in the future if Blackboard goes down on a deadline day I would like everyone to e-mail their assignments to me as an alternative (Aspiring journalists need learn to be resourceful to make their deadlines).

But in this case, for all of you who were in need an extra day, fate has smiled upon you. Use your additional time wisely.

- Chris

Outage extends deadline for essay

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Because of an unexpected outage of Blackboard today, I’ve decided to extend the deadline for the essay an extra 24 hours.

The assignment is now due at 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21. The Blackboard outage might also affect when next week’s assignments are available. I will keep everyone posted the best I can.

If Blackboard is not up tomorrow, you can submit the essay to me at cmachnia@umflint.edu as an attachment via e-mail (a backup process that we will also now follow for future assignments).

Please email or call me at (810) 730-5565 if you have any questions.

- Chris

Second link focuses on Web design

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Here’s Trina M.’s submission:

“I've been reading “What Web designers can learn from publication design.” I found it made some good points about design and content:

1) Web and publication design should share a rigid design template that determines the look and feel of the content.

2) Great publication design allows the designers to find creativity and flexibility within the template system.

I've have been using some of these ideas in addition to those covered in the text for our assignment to evaluate web publications.”