When robots choose the news . . .

Interesting news item this morning in my Google News roundup. I have alerts there for stories about newspapers, and this one showed up under the heading "Cop Kills Wife, Child, Self." It's about a South African policeman who killed his wife, child and himself.

It had nothing to do with newspapers. They weren't mentioned in the story, photo captions, heading. Nowhere. So why was it listed under newspapers? Don't have a clue, but it does reinforce my suspicion of "news selected by robots." I can't depend on them to get it right. In fact, they're just as fallible as humans.

Radio was most effective in delivering earthquake news to Haiti, analysis finds

Along comes an analysis that reminds us that various forms of media have their own strengths and weaknesses. It's a story about the earthquake in Haiti. It concludes that radio -- really old media -- was the most import in getting the story out.

That's not shocking, if you think about it. Radio is free, can be independent of the need for electricity, and is immediate. All the other forms, especially the Internet, are deficient in at least one of those.

Maybe the Internet isn't really going to kill all forms of old media.

AOL move reminds us of need for journalism

The announcement by AOL that it is shifting more toward becoming a portal and streaming "content" provided by others actually makes a strong point for journalism education.

"Content" is written. And it's written by people. Journalism teaches students who to write and manage news, which is what "content" is all about. The techies are needed since someone has to set up and manage Internet sites. But the Internet is full of "content," and that needs writers. There's a bright future in journalism.

Survey shows Internet continues to gain among news consumers

I guess I have to admit that I have a fascination with numbers. I love being able to look at raw data in number form. And that led to a fascination with the newest Pew Research survey, which showed continuations of recent trends in media usage that has deep ramifications for society in general and the news business in particular.

For example, the Internet being cited by people as their main source of news is the only area to climb with 41% of respondents reporting this is where they get most of their national and international news. Television continues to lead with 66%, trailed by newspapers (31%) and radio (16%). Numbers are more than 100 since people could list two sources.

As you can see on the chart, "old media" is trending down and the Internet is trending up. These, especially when trends for young people are added in (Internet 65%, television 52, newspapers 21 and radio 15), cannot be ignored. Does it mean television, newspapers and radio are dead? Far from it. It does mean that "old media" must continue to rethink their roles, perhaps seeking strategies to change the trending dynamic as many already have. It's a continuing evolution of news.

If you're interested in news, please read the entire report summary.

Debunking myths about social media sites

New study backs up earlier study in debunking some myths about social media and young adults. In short, the report says, college students may keep tuned in to a social media site like Facebook, but they use search engines to research possible purchases, not a social site.

It makes all the money being thrown at social sites look like money thrown away

Survey results raise questions about online ads

Interesting story today on Internet advertising. I'm not an advertising expert, but this story raises a number of questions that I have to ask as a media observer.

Online Media Daily, quoting an online marketer's study, found that most Internet users are aware of advertising they assume is targeted at them -- but more than a third of those viewers dislike the ads with many concerned about privacy.

The study is filled with contradictory information like that, but it left me with a question for those who are advertising experts -- is it a good thing if people are aware of your advertising, but hate the ads? An anecdote: I complete online crossword puzzles most days and there is one particular advertiser whose popup ad is incredibly bothersome. I don't go to this large retailer even though I've enjoyed it in the past.

Ethnic media isn't keeping pace in influence

Ethnic media continue to grow in audience, but its influence isn't keeping pace, conference determines.

The numbers attract attention (57 million and growing, not counting Univision and the Black Entertainment Network power), but general audiences want to use ethnic media to sell products but don't listen to what's being said, said Félix Gutiérrez, a long-time student of ethnic media.

It's a shame since ethnic media is clearly fulfilling key roles in places like Milwaukee where it's the only media around (except for the Internet) that continues to grow. We really see that with Wisconsin's new governor effectively killing the only new industrial facility built in our central city.

AP suspends internship program

A report quotes the Associated Press' Media Relations Director Paul Colford as saying that AP is suspending its internship program for a year. Not only is this bad news for prospective journalists, but it's yet another dumb idea from an industry wallowing in dumb ideas, I think. Interns are the cheapest labor possible (as well as being some of the best), and keep supplying content when regular staffers are off. It shows once again that too many media companies don't really understand that content is what sells.

Freelancing, business style

Freelance business journalists make $25,000 to $30,000 a year, survey shows, but most of them wouldn't take their old jobs back if they could (40% were laid off).

The Society of American Business Editors and Writers conducted the survey, and plans to repeat it annually. It's yet another brick in the edifice that is the new journalism. I remember making more than $20,000 a year freelancing back in the '80s, and think it is a viable way to make a living. At least it's better than working for some of the media companies out there.

What's the world's largest new site?

The examiner.com experiment is intriguing; a new report calls it the largest "news" organization in the world. Don't really trust these reported numbers, but it's certainly worth following. The link above takes you to the organization's Milwaukee site -- today featuring a story on M.U.'s Vander Blue. The site unfortunately is littered with old stories as well as credibility issues, but it's certainly interesting.

The great paywall debate -- part (x)

The planned paywall at the New York Times prompts frenzied (well, frenzied for journalists anyway) debate at the Nieman Journalism Lab's online newsletter, with many contributors saying it'll be a flop or won't happen at all with others saying it'll be a big success. Interesting reading. I'll go with one of the commenters -- I just won't tell you which one.

Press freedom and Wikileaks

It's interesting that the best discussion of the implications of the Wikileaks situation from the point of view of freedom of the press that I've seen so far comes from a German site.

Spiegel online's Thomas Darnstadt argues that press freedom has come under attack ever since 9/11 and that "the U.S. government has transformed itself into a huge security apparatus." He makes a strong case for fighting back in the article titled "Is Treason a Civic Duty?"

Press freedom is vital, he argues, and this essay will make you question some of our assumptions.