In class last Thursday, we learned about about RSS feeds. It was interesting because I knew what an RSS feed was, but I didn't know what it was called. Being an acronym for "really simple syndication" is the perfect description - because it is really simple. Although we were given instructions on how to make RSS feeds from scratch, we were also shown ways to do it through online servers. That made it really simple. However, we still have to know how to make them from scratch, so here it is:
First, RSS feeds have to be done through XML, which is different from HTML, which is what we're used to doing code on. However, XML is more interactive. Then you have to give it a channel and give it information on what you want to blog. Then you add the RSS links, close the channel and validate it. That should work. I look forward to putting this all on my site.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Review of 5 Blogs
Mindy McAdams
This is a blog that we were referred to in class. It's all about teaching journalism, and McAdams does a pretty good job at critiquing other sites and talking about her experiences with online journalism topics such as using flash. http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifHer new blog site, which a link from her old site directs you to, is interesting because it shows her own style and doesn't conform to the basic Blogger layout. Her most recent post, from March 25, talks about a journalist talking to her class. This is much like a reported story, which is journalism. Although some may argue that blogging is not journalism, McAdams, who is a journalism teacher, makes her blog journalism by writing her own stories and doing research. Journalists are her audience, and the way she presents her material - in a journalistic fashion - is very effective.
Paul Bradshaw
Bradshaw's blog page immediately interests a reader because he uses basic colors and form in an appealing way. He thrives on the "less is more" concept. He even calls his blog the "online journalism blog" and the link is the same thing. He talks about online journalism in a commentary sort of way. I would consider him a columnist because he specifically sites different sites that he is writing about. Basically, he's doing the same thing that we're doing for our blogs for J295 - he just looks like he has more experience.
Dan Gillmor
Gillmor's site is different from a traditional Blogger layout site, but it's neat in the fact that it is a basic list of what he's writing about. He uses his blog to express his opinion on everything, and even though the list format may not be as appealing as Bradshaw's blog layout, readers can easily click on his articles. His articles are less formal than traditional newspaper commentary, but it seems like he's appealing to more casual readers, just Internet surfers.
Adrian Holovaty
Holovaty's site is more simplistic, but it appeals to readers looking for a simpler blog. The first page is more like a table of contents, which is appealing to someone who doesn't want to sort through a blog page to get to what they want. It's interesting because he has media coverage as well as his favorite music. His page is more personal, in that sense.
Jeff Jarvis
This site automatically attracts a reader because of its name, the "BuzzMachine." It's interesting, and like an actual buzz word, it's just attractive. Jarvis is very opinionated, and this is probably entertaining to his frequent visitors. He discusses newspapers and the FCC, and he just gives his honest opinion. His site is more like a commentary talk show with one of the news talking heads than a newspaper commentary, but he's appealing to a more modern, television audience.
This is a blog that we were referred to in class. It's all about teaching journalism, and McAdams does a pretty good job at critiquing other sites and talking about her experiences with online journalism topics such as using flash. http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifHer new blog site, which a link from her old site directs you to, is interesting because it shows her own style and doesn't conform to the basic Blogger layout. Her most recent post, from March 25, talks about a journalist talking to her class. This is much like a reported story, which is journalism. Although some may argue that blogging is not journalism, McAdams, who is a journalism teacher, makes her blog journalism by writing her own stories and doing research. Journalists are her audience, and the way she presents her material - in a journalistic fashion - is very effective.
Paul Bradshaw
Bradshaw's blog page immediately interests a reader because he uses basic colors and form in an appealing way. He thrives on the "less is more" concept. He even calls his blog the "online journalism blog" and the link is the same thing. He talks about online journalism in a commentary sort of way. I would consider him a columnist because he specifically sites different sites that he is writing about. Basically, he's doing the same thing that we're doing for our blogs for J295 - he just looks like he has more experience.
Dan Gillmor
Gillmor's site is different from a traditional Blogger layout site, but it's neat in the fact that it is a basic list of what he's writing about. He uses his blog to express his opinion on everything, and even though the list format may not be as appealing as Bradshaw's blog layout, readers can easily click on his articles. His articles are less formal than traditional newspaper commentary, but it seems like he's appealing to more casual readers, just Internet surfers.
Adrian Holovaty
Holovaty's site is more simplistic, but it appeals to readers looking for a simpler blog. The first page is more like a table of contents, which is appealing to someone who doesn't want to sort through a blog page to get to what they want. It's interesting because he has media coverage as well as his favorite music. His page is more personal, in that sense.
Jeff Jarvis
This site automatically attracts a reader because of its name, the "BuzzMachine." It's interesting, and like an actual buzz word, it's just attractive. Jarvis is very opinionated, and this is probably entertaining to his frequent visitors. He discusses newspapers and the FCC, and he just gives his honest opinion. His site is more like a commentary talk show with one of the news talking heads than a newspaper commentary, but he's appealing to a more modern, television audience.
The Corruption of Journalism?
While I kind of know what Kodi means when he wants us to write on the topic of "The Corruption of Journalism," I also don't know what he means, so I'll just go on the topic of blogging.
Blogging may just be "The Corruption of Journalism." It's different from the traditional making phone calls, going out and finding sources and writing an objective story in the inverted pyramid style. Some journalists may be offended by bloggers who say they're being journalists, who get credit for the work that "real" journalists do. For example, we talked about bloggers who make money selecting news stories each day and just listing good ones. Are they really journalists? Could this be the corruption of journalism?
In a sense, these bloggers are journalists because they're finding sources and they're relaying information to their readers. I understand that this may be considered a form of corruption to a pure form of journalism, but really, I don't think there ever was a pure for of journalism. Style has changed. If blogging is a form of journalism, it's a new style. If it's not, then journalists can rest assured that bloggers aren't corrupting it.
Blogging may just be "The Corruption of Journalism." It's different from the traditional making phone calls, going out and finding sources and writing an objective story in the inverted pyramid style. Some journalists may be offended by bloggers who say they're being journalists, who get credit for the work that "real" journalists do. For example, we talked about bloggers who make money selecting news stories each day and just listing good ones. Are they really journalists? Could this be the corruption of journalism?
In a sense, these bloggers are journalists because they're finding sources and they're relaying information to their readers. I understand that this may be considered a form of corruption to a pure form of journalism, but really, I don't think there ever was a pure for of journalism. Style has changed. If blogging is a form of journalism, it's a new style. If it's not, then journalists can rest assured that bloggers aren't corrupting it.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
WNPR: Good Example of Use of Online Medium
The Connecticut Public Radio Station, WNPR, uses the Internet to its advantage. As more people are reading news online and fewer people are listening to the radio, this station has posted its broadcasts online, in an archive format. It uses the Internet to be accessible at all times.
It also has print stories and photos, something that people cannot get from just listening to the radio. The print stories tend to be written scripts of what the audio reports are, so they aren't catered to an online medium in that sense, but because they are broadcast stories, they are brief and to the point. However, the fact that they are brief does not mean that they lack detail. NPR has a reputation of being a good source of news, and it does not lose that reputation on the Web site.
It also has print stories and photos, something that people cannot get from just listening to the radio. The print stories tend to be written scripts of what the audio reports are, so they aren't catered to an online medium in that sense, but because they are broadcast stories, they are brief and to the point. However, the fact that they are brief does not mean that they lack detail. NPR has a reputation of being a good source of news, and it does not lose that reputation on the Web site.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Original Journalism on the Web
The Dressler Family Ranch
This Web site is a great example of original journalism online. Done by students at the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, the site includes stories about the ranch, about why ranchers are in trouble. Stories are brief and interesting. The site includes broadcast stories as well as print stories, and it has great slide shows and interactivity. It is organized very well and has headlines that would entice the reader as well as show up on a search engine.
This Web site is a great example of original journalism online. Done by students at the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, the site includes stories about the ranch, about why ranchers are in trouble. Stories are brief and interesting. The site includes broadcast stories as well as print stories, and it has great slide shows and interactivity. It is organized very well and has headlines that would entice the reader as well as show up on a search engine.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Election 2008 Online Coverage
People are really interested in the 2008 election. From primary coverage to polls of who could win the presidency, people are keeping track of it all - especially online.
I often check RealClearPolitics.com because they have informative and balanced blogs. You don't have to worry that it's all leaning toward one side. The site has many writers. It also has a good search system and breaks the election up into categories such as the parties and candidates. I had to write a paper for a political science class that predicted who would win the primaries in a certain state, Arkansas, and even though the answers would seem obvious - Clinton and Huckabee in one of their home states - the blogs helped me come to a full conclusion.
I don't have time to subscribe to the New York Times like I did for the past two years, so when I find time to read news, I often go to their Web site or other news sites such as CNN or NPR. I listen to NPR while driving to get some election coverage, but when I get home, I want to read about the coverage I miss when I park my car and go back to my apartment.
The CNN site is especially helpful because they have a full election center page, as linked above. It displays the number of votes each delegate has and shows a map of all the states and shows who has done primaries.
I often check RealClearPolitics.com because they have informative and balanced blogs. You don't have to worry that it's all leaning toward one side. The site has many writers. It also has a good search system and breaks the election up into categories such as the parties and candidates. I had to write a paper for a political science class that predicted who would win the primaries in a certain state, Arkansas, and even though the answers would seem obvious - Clinton and Huckabee in one of their home states - the blogs helped me come to a full conclusion.
I don't have time to subscribe to the New York Times like I did for the past two years, so when I find time to read news, I often go to their Web site or other news sites such as CNN or NPR. I listen to NPR while driving to get some election coverage, but when I get home, I want to read about the coverage I miss when I park my car and go back to my apartment.
The CNN site is especially helpful because they have a full election center page, as linked above. It displays the number of votes each delegate has and shows a map of all the states and shows who has done primaries.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
J295 Links
How do you get started, really?
-We looked at this site in class, and I thought these web design tips were a lot like newspaper copyediting tips. Basically, every web page, like a newspaper page, should have something dominant. Colors and fonts should match. I thought it was interesting because web pages are different and newer than old newspapers, but a lot of the things that make a page a quality page don't change, no matter what medium you're using.
Are Navs useful?
-I agree with this site, that users look at content before navigation points. When I first started making my page in this class, I thought it would be OK to put my navigations in different places on the side. However, as Kodi noted, navs are useful, and people need them to get to places on the site.
Prioritize.
-I don't have much experience in online journalism, but like I said about getting started, it is a lot like newspaper layout in that it appeals to human nature. People will read what's on top first, so as editors, we should put the most important information on top.
Design Tutorials
-These sites give basic information on design. At first, I didn't think I'd need these because I already had a design layout in mind, but because we had to look at this, I ended up finding it helpful to see other ideas.
Dmitry's design lab
-I liked how Dmitry gave us tips on font. The other day, I drove past an "Aquatic Wildlife" store and the font on the store's main sign was awful. It was too whimsical and curly for a pet store - it looked more like an artsy coffee shop. Fonts, like Web sites, have character, and the characters should fit together. The same goes for color. It's impossible to have a green Web site about anything other than nature or money because the color characterizes it.
Top 10 Mistakes
-These mistakes are easy to make for new Web designers. For example, I don't know what my site looks like online quite yet. If I were to use small fonts, they might not look that small on my computer screen but very small on another. Also, it could be easy to forget some content such as contact information, and that could greatly deter the site.
Web pages that suck
-From this site, I looked at the top 10 worst sites.
-We looked at this site in class, and I thought these web design tips were a lot like newspaper copyediting tips. Basically, every web page, like a newspaper page, should have something dominant. Colors and fonts should match. I thought it was interesting because web pages are different and newer than old newspapers, but a lot of the things that make a page a quality page don't change, no matter what medium you're using.
Are Navs useful?
-I agree with this site, that users look at content before navigation points. When I first started making my page in this class, I thought it would be OK to put my navigations in different places on the side. However, as Kodi noted, navs are useful, and people need them to get to places on the site.
Prioritize.
-I don't have much experience in online journalism, but like I said about getting started, it is a lot like newspaper layout in that it appeals to human nature. People will read what's on top first, so as editors, we should put the most important information on top.
Design Tutorials
-These sites give basic information on design. At first, I didn't think I'd need these because I already had a design layout in mind, but because we had to look at this, I ended up finding it helpful to see other ideas.
Dmitry's design lab
-I liked how Dmitry gave us tips on font. The other day, I drove past an "Aquatic Wildlife" store and the font on the store's main sign was awful. It was too whimsical and curly for a pet store - it looked more like an artsy coffee shop. Fonts, like Web sites, have character, and the characters should fit together. The same goes for color. It's impossible to have a green Web site about anything other than nature or money because the color characterizes it.
Top 10 Mistakes
-These mistakes are easy to make for new Web designers. For example, I don't know what my site looks like online quite yet. If I were to use small fonts, they might not look that small on my computer screen but very small on another. Also, it could be easy to forget some content such as contact information, and that could greatly deter the site.
Web pages that suck
-From this site, I looked at the top 10 worst sites.
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