September 2007 Archives

Must-read. The American Journalism Review takes a look at the reinvention of the newsroom and editorial process through the eyes of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s (AJC), Politico, and others.

The Evening Standard in London is readying for its relaunch on Monday. The paper will be less tabloid-prone, with more analytical content and a clearer look.

The Washington Times has an online feature (launched last October) that automatically translates written content into audio and MP3 files, enabling users to listen to the articles while on-site or download them on the go.

The latest ABCe figures for national newspaper websites show that the Guardian remains well ahead in traffic. The Sun Online and the Telegraph registered the strongest growth.

The Spanish media group Prisa, owner of El Pais, could take legal action against US-based metrics firm Nielsen Company. Prisa claims that Nielsen proceeded to an "unjustifiable downward revision" of its figures for unique visitors to www.elpais.com.

A few weeks ago, USA Today announced the launch of widgets. The Washington Post launched its first widgets only two months ago. Both newspapers, which tend to be at the edge of multimedia innovation, plan on rolling out more widgets in the weeks to come. For those who haven’t caught on to the craze, washingtonpost.com’s Executive Editor, Jim Brady, and USA Today’s Executive Producer, Joel Sucherman, describe their use and advantages for newspapers.

Freebie Metro has partnered with annoncesjaunes.fr, a classifieds site, to provide a new weekly ‘Housing’ section in its print edition.

A study conducted by Deutsche Bank analysts reveals that newspapers’ deal with Yahoo could lead to a surprisingly quick surge in online revenue.

The Daily Mail and General Trust’s (DMGT) total ad revenues rose 8% year-on-year, during the six-month period ending in August, thanks to strong digital growth.

According to the Press Gazette, Rupert Murdoch is making his presence felt at the Wall Street Journal. Among the changes he wishes for: snappier news on the front page and more Washington coverage.

The Richmond and Twickenham Times has been banned from revealing the identity of a convicted sex offender facing new charges, but reporters continue to fight to overturn the court order, claiming this would serve the public good.

Seeking Alpha takes a look at Gannett’s ‘Web 3.0’ online holdings, which are its only operations that are currently growing. Thanks to online initiatives, Gannett has recaptured revenues that were once – but no longer are – a given for newspapers.

An increasing number of newspapers are using Google Maps to complement their articles and get readers involved. These free online services can easily be implemented.

The Huffintgon Post confirmed its established success by securing an additional $5 million in funding, and its next step will be to become an all-inclusive digital newspaper.

            Starting on Oct. 5, the quality daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) is changing its design to include color pictures on its traditionally sober front page.

There’s no better way to encourage staff than with a well-deserved reward. The Washington Post has come up with its own: coupons to the nearby popcorn stand.

The New York Times has launched a site for mobile real estate listings. Readers can search and send property listings from their mobile phone. For more information, visit our partner site, the SFN Blog.

The Wall Street Journal is merging its New York tech bureau with its Media & Marketing group, in light of industry changes and the diversified activities of tech and media companies.

Rue89.com was founded in May by four former journalists and bloggers from the French leftist daily Libération. Within months, the online-only news site unearthed a few scoops and became a recognized independent source in the French media landscape, ranking first among French news sites for time spent, ahead of newspapers, according to Nielsen NetRatings. One of its founders and director, Pierre Haski, tells the Editors Weblog how Rue89 found a working compromise to pro-am journalism.