A new web paradigm

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/27/userplane-rebuilds-desktop-product-in-air/

"The Desktop product enables web developers to extend functionality outside of the browser with instant messaging, notifications, advertisements, and other general messages."

With this type of technology, your web stream listeners should be able to message each other.

How to Generate Value in the Newsroom

Kevin Kelly's article entitled, "Better Than Free," lists 8 ways to create value on the Internet. Student newspapers should strive to generate these values in the following ways:

• Immediacy - generate value by being the first to publish news. Everything eventually becomes free when distributed on the Internet. However, if your newsroom operation delivers news faster than other sources, that news has more value to readers and decision-makers.
• Personalization - generate value by customizing the reader's experience according to their preferences. A good example of this is Google News which allows you to completely customize your news reading experience. Readers can decide what news is most important to them (international, national or local; science, business or health) and modify preferences to suit them. Personalization is implemented at the technical level, so it is dependent upon the content management system that powers the newspaper web site.
• Interpretation - generate value by providing a news angle. This may seem to contradict authenticity (see below), but complete objectivity is not absolutely possible. Journalists and their editors should know what is relevant to their audience and provide facts in relation to their interest. In the case of student journalism, this can be one of the most important value generators: What does the news mean to the students of your campus?
• Authenticity - generate value by reporting the truth in the most objective way possible. This should be obvious to student journalists. The very essence of journalism is truth backed by independence and comprehensive coverage. Applying these principles inherently creates value.
• Accessibility - generate value by allowing your content to be consumed in any format, at any time, on any device. Accessible content is accessed anywhere. A good example of this are web feeds such as RSS. In addition, the use of CSS and XML allows uses to view media on different devices by providing alternate layouts for smaller screens, such as the iPhone.
• Embodiment - generate value by increasing the "richness" of your content. Become continually aware of innovations in technology and how they can be applied to presenting news. An excellent example of this is the recent mashup of Google Maps and Twitter, called TwitterVision (don't miss the 3D version!). You could turn this into real-time coverage of your campus during certain events, or just facilitate communication and participation on your campus. What about WikiNews? Make sure you consult Mindy McAdams' multimedia cheat sheet when determining how to cover a story with technology.
• Patronage - generate value by making it easy to pay for your content. If you decide that some portion of your content should be paid for, make it easy for users to do so, but this concept is better applied to advertisers. Ad reps should be familiar enough with your web presence that they can explain options to advertisers to facilitate understanding and a hassle-free exchange.
• Findability - generate value by making your articles easy to find. Look for opportunities and partnerships with news aggregators and allow your content to be found outside of your own website. Start your own news aggregator for campuses in your area or state.

The only constant in web culture is rapid change. Expect these generative values to change over time and be prepared to modify your newsroom work-flow to respond to this change as quickly as possible.