(This entry has been cross-posted at Tomorrow’s News, Tomorrow’s Journalists.)

Bankruptcy, business models, downsizing, start-ups- they’re all I’m getting in my RSS feeds. And yes, it’s important for young journalists to stay on top of these developments.

But let’s get some perspective here- that’s business, not journalism.

Equally, in discussing how new technologies such as Twitter and blogging and user-generated content can make journalism better, it’s far too easy to (erroneously) jump to the conclusion that they are making journalism better. It’s not a given fact. It’s all about how these new technologies are applied and utilised: the simple action of using them in an unintelligent manner doesn’t help readers, and it certainly doesn’t help reporters.

What this boils down to is that “new media” is not really about content, but it’s a delivery system for content. That’s an important distinction, because the nature of modern media is such that anyone can make use of these delivery systems. The advantage of the professional press lies in the ability to generate cutting-edge, professional content using skills specifically honed for that purpose. I guess what I’m saying is that the ability to propagate content instantaneously world-wide is being used as a crutch- the focus is no longer on generating the best content you possibly can, but on publishing that content in the most effective manner possible. And what we need is some balance.

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Posted by Dave Molloy in •Journalism •Tech
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The Dublin-based office of The Brand Union gets the nod for being the force behind two successful redesigns receiving “distinction” status from the 2009 ReBrand awards.

The excellent redesigns in question are the much-needed National Lottery and GAA brands. It’s a really interesting read, too, as the Rebrand sites linked to show the before and after stages, in addition to materials like colour palettes and website implementation.

Thanks to @lirmac for the retweet that pointed this out.

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A quick look at today’s Sunday Independent demonstrates a great subtle use of editorial control and suggestion. There are three stories on the page: “Lenihan admits VAT error cost us €700m”, “Former FF adviser predicts June 5 general election”, and “RTE tells Nob Nation ‘go easy’ on Cowen over personal jibes.”

Each of these stories is reasonably newsworthy and decently written (though I’m not sure about “Embattled Finance Minister” as an opening- but, the Sindo does use tabloid-isms) but it’s the editorial control here that’s most interesting- the juxtaposition of all three elements together on the main page. The first two are easily front-page stories, but the third- internal wrist-slapping for dome personal attacks in RTÉ- really isn’t, in my opinion, front-page material. Other options included gang attacks, “Armed gang tie up post office owner”, Declan Ganley running for Europe, etc. But, its inclusion creates a staunchly anti-Fianna Fáil front page. On a casual glance, many readers might assume that the RTÉ story is somehow censorship-related (though the text makes it clear that it’s a solely internal affair, with no government pressure).

So what’s going on here? As far as I’m aware, the Sindo used to be pro-FF. Are they just appealing to the lowest common denominator, as their sister publication Herald AM does? Or is this just a once-off coincidence? I’d be surprised fi the latter were true, as this type of placement strikes me as obvious and intentional.

Posted by Dave Molloy in •Journalism
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Just a short while after changing my Joomla template, I’ve decided to move the entire blog to ExpressionEngine. Why? Well, Joomla is an excellent content management system, of that I’ve no doubt. But it’s simple. Too simple. It completes all the tasks for the end user, and that’s not what I’m looking for. I’m a great believer in being multi-skilled, and I need something with a little more flexibility and a little more code on the surface, to tinker with and learn from. Plus, even from the user-friendly side of things, it supports custom fields and Wordpress-like categories straight out of the box. Success.

And it has a built-in spell checker. God, how I need that.

UPDATE: Comments appear to be broken for the moment. Trying to figure it out.

UPDATE 2: Comments fixed. Now, to figure out why text colours in the sidebar are inconsistent between pages.

UPDATE 3: Everything appears to be fixed now. Fingers crossed.

Posted by Dave Molloy in •Tech
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