USA Today rethinks newspaper in community terms
USA Today is the US’ largest national newspaper.
“As the next logical step, we're building the nation's newspaper into the nation's conversation,” read the USA Today ‘On Deadline’ blog.
Readers will be able to comment on every story. The website will also enable members (free registration) to get a profile page, on which users can post content, pictures, start a blog and link to other members’ profiles.
USAToday.com goes further down the road and implements very personal interactive features, to allow its users to communicate and network.
“Whenever you see a comment on the new site, you can click on the commenter's name, find out what they've told the world about themselves, make them your friends, leave them public messages and see where they've left comments. The conversation is fair and responsible that way,” read the blog.
In this way, USA Today tends towards social networking websites, although it insists its focus will remain news-related.
“Instead of trying to be a social networking site, we want to keep the personalities and conversation open in a way that focuses on the news.”
While giving an increased role to its readers, USA today will also encourage its journalists and staffers to indulge in these activities.
“You're going to see USA TODAY journalists around the site: creating profiles, joining you in conversation, asking you for your thoughts and experiences around different stories, and looking to create connections that help build better journalism. There's a concept here called "network journalism" -- the idea that reporting can drive readers and readers can drive reporting.”
Other new features on the website will include ‘most popular’ feeds, ‘most-read’, ‘most-commented’ and ‘most-recommended.’ The website will also establish open forums and use user-generated pictures and stories.
At the same time, USA Today will implement a ‘Report Abuse’ function that will supposedly allow to “keep the site civil and smart.”
Although users will have to wait until this week-end to see these new features in practice, the concept is interesting. In any case, it looks like a brand new step. The era of ‘network journalism’?
Source: USA Today blog through Ifra
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: USA Today rethinks newspaper in community terms.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.editorsweblog.org/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1388

Can i have Etemad web site for reading the news paper
can i have etemad newspapar website went]
PLEASE SEND ME WEB.ADRESS
Can i have Etemad web site for reading the news paper
y dont u publish etamd on web so that most N.R.I can read news through loging on web.its me ahmed from hyderabad staying in oman,my contact number in hyderabad is 00919848798740,and here my contact number is 0096895415092.
thankyou sir
ahmed
Its very good news to know the etemad is going to launch but please inform the web side address.
Please provide us with more information and updated news of Hyderabad
Etemad is truly a modern Urdu newspaper. In our state, J&K, close to two dozen offset newspapers are published daily. Most of them are full color editions. I believe Kashmir is the ideal market for Urdu writers from Hyderabad
Pls. provide etemad web address to view and read the newspaper online.
Your early action would be highly appreciated.
Regards,
Ahmed Kamal
THE HISTORY OF MUSLIM MAJLIS-ITTEHADUL-MUSLIMEEN PARTY IN HYDERABAD AND ITS POWER
DOWN BUT NOT OUT CAN BE SAID RIGHTLY
The grip of the Majlis-e-ittehadul Muslimeen on the community remains strong, despite minor dents.
WITH A Member representing Hyderabad in the Lok Sabha, five members in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, 40 corporators in Hyderabad and 95-plus members elected to various municipal bodies in Andhra Pradesh, the All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen is one of the foremost representatives of the city’s Muslims and the most powerful Muslim party in India and one can see the partys strenghth if it goes to Hyderabads Old city everywhere u look u can see MIM written on walls ,lightpoles and buildings leaving aside flags and posters of its Leadership and its offices .The Majlis has brought lot of development to the Old part of the city even after it is said it hasnt done anything by its opponents who are mostly Ex Majlis workers.
The Majlis was formed in 1927 “for educational and social uplift of Muslims”. But it articulated the position that “the ruler and throne (Nizam) are symbols of the political and cultural rights of the Muslim community… (and) this status must continue forever”.
The Majlis pitted itself against the Andhra Mahasabha and the communists who questioned the feudal order that sustained the Nizam’s rule. It also bitterly opposed the Arya Samaj, which gave social and cultural expression to the aspirations of the urban Hindu population in the Hyderabad State of those days.
By the mid-1940s, the Majlis had come to represent a remarkably aggressive and violent face of Muslim communal politics as it organised the razakars (volunteers) to defend the “independence” of this “Muslim” State from merger with the Indian Union.
According to historians, over 1,50,000 such `volunteers’ were organised by the Majlis for the Nizam State’s defence but they are remembered for unleashing unparalleled violence against Hindu populations, the communists and all those who opposed the Nizam’s “go it alone” policy. It is estimated that during the height of the razakar `agitation’, over 30,000 people had taken shelter in the Secunderabad cantonment alone to protect themselves from these `volunteers’.
But the razakars could do little against the Indian Army and did not even put up a fight. Kasim Rizvi, the Majlis leader, was imprisoned and the organisation banned in 1948. Rizvi was released in 1957 on the undertaking that he would leave for Pakistan in 48 hours. Before he left though, Rizvi met some of the erstwhile activists of the Majlis and passed on the presidentship to Abdul Wahed Owaisi, a famous lawyer and an Islamic scholar who also was jailed for nearly 10 months after he took over the Majlis leadership as the then govt wanted to abolish the Majlis party but Owaisi refused to do so and was seen as a person who had financially supported the party when it was a bankrupt and weak one after the Police Action in Hyderabad State.
Owaisi is credited with having “re-written” the Majlis constitution according to the provisions of the Indian Constitution and “the realities of Muslim minority in independent India”, according to a former journalist, Chander Srivastava. For the first decade-and-a-half after this “reinvention”, the Majlis remained, at best, a marginal player in Hyderabad politics and even though every election saw a rise in its vote share, it could not win more than one Assembly seat.
The 1970s saw an upswing in Majlis’ political fortunes. In 1969, it won back its party headquarters, Dar-us-Salaam — a sprawling 4.5-acre compound in the heart of the New City. It also won compensation which was used to set up an ITI on the premises and a women’s degree college in Nizamabad town. In 1976, Salahuddin Owaisi took over the presidentship of the Majlis after his father’s demise.
This started an important phase in the history of the Majlis as it continued expanding its educational institutions,Hospitals,Banks, including the first Muslim minority Engineering College and Medical College. Courses in MBA, MCA ,Nursing, Pharmacy and other professional degrees followed and now a daily newspaper known as Etemaad Daily. The 1970s were also a watershed in Majlis’ history as after a long period of 31 years, Hyderabad witnessed large-scale communal rioting in 1979. The Majlis came to the forefront in “defending” Muslim life and property Majlis workers could be seen at these moments defending the properties of Muslims in the wake of riots and these workers were very hard even for the police to control them even now it is a known fact that there are nearly about 2500 units of strong members who only act if there is a seirous threat to the Owaisi family and these members are under the direct orders of the Owaisi family which leads the Majlis party leaving aside thousands of workers and informers throughout the State and even outside the country far away till America and the Gulf countries.
Salahuddin Owaisi, also known as “Salar-e-Millat” (commander of the community), has repeatedly alleged in his speeches that the Indian state has “abandoned” the Muslims to their fate. Therefore, “Muslims should stand on their own feet, rather than look to the State for help'’, he argues.
This policy has been an unambiguous success in leveraging the Majlis today to its position of being practically the “sole spokesman” of the Muslims in Hyderabad and its environs.
Voting figures show this clearly. From 58,000 votes in the 1962 Lok Sabha elections for the Hyderabad seat, Majlis votes rose to 1,12,000 in 1980. The clear articulation of this “stand on one’s feet” policy in education and `protection’ during riots doubled its vote-share by 1984. Salahuddin Owaisi won the seat for the first time, polling 2.22 lakh votes. This vote-share doubled in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections to over four lakhs.
The Majlis has since continued its hold on the Hyderabad seat winning about five-and-a-half lakh votes each time.
Despite remarkable economic prosperity and negligible communal violence in the past decade, the hold of the Majlis on the Muslims of Hyderabad remains, despite minor dents. And despite widespread allegations of Majlis leaders having “made money”, most ordinary Muslims continue to support them because, as one bank executive put it “they represent our issues clearly and unambiguously'’. An old Historian Bakhtiyar khan says the Owaisi family was a rich family even before entering Politics and he says he had seen the late Majlis leader Abdul Wahed Owaisi in an American Buick car at a time when rarely cars were seen on Hyderabad Roads and the family had strong relations with the ersthwhile Nizams of Hyderabad and the Paighs even now the family is considered to be one of the richest familes in Hyderabad.
A university teacher says that the Majlis helped Muslims live with dignity and security at a time when they were under attack and even took the fear out of them after the Police action and adds that he has seen Majlis leaders in the front at times confronting with the Police and the Govt.
Asaduddin Owaisi, the articulate UK educated barrister son of Salahuddin Owaisi and Former leader of the Majlis’ Legislature party and now an MP himself who has travelled across the globe meeting world leaders and organizatons and even in war zones compares the Majlis to the Black Power movement of America.
The Majlis that emerged after 1957 is a completely different entity from its pre-independence edition, he says adding that comparisons with that bloody past are “misleading and mischievous”. “That Majlis was fighting for state power, while we have no such ambitions or illusions”.
He stoutly defends the need for “an independent political voice” for the minorities, which is willing to defend them and project their issues “firmly”.
“How can an independent articulation of minority interests and aspirations be termed communal,” he asks and contests any definition of democracy which questions the loyalty of minorities if they assert their independent political identity. “We are a threat not only to the BJP and Hindu communalism, but also to Muslim extremism,” Asaduddin claims. “By providing a legitimate political vent for Muslims to voice their aspirations and fears, we are preventing the rise of political extremism and religious obscurantism when the community is under unprecedented attack from Hindu communalists and the state'’. He can be seen in his speeches speaking against terrorism in the Country and says if the time arises Majlis will stand side by side in defending the Nation. Asaduddins younger brother Akbaruddin Owaisi who is the new Majlis Legislature Party leader in the State Assembly is also a very charismatic leader whose speeches attract thousands of people hanging from buildings to hear him and is heard saying that majlis opponents are just a bunch of people who have been paidup by the BJP to finish the majlis in Andhra pradesh Akbaruddin is also seen as the most powerful youth leader seen in recent times in hyderbad . He is also known to be popular among and the citys mixed population and seen as the richest and most flamboyant
politican in Hyderabd.
PRO,MIM, Hyderabad. AsSalaamu Alaikum w r b. It is well known fact that the MIM was a brain child of that great soul Hazrath Nawab Bahadur Yar Jang (R.A). I presume, our "new" MIM still holds the ideals of its founder. I fully agree that, given the changed circumstances, the most important task is to bring back the lost self-confidence by enhancing the literacy percentage among the Muslims and helping them to improve on the economic condition of especially down trodden Muslims particularly in the suburban and rulral areas. Here I wish to emphasise the point that even Aurangabad, Parbhani and Raichur etc are still "Hyderabad". Hyderabad is not only a place having buildings, roads, rivers etc. rather it is a spirit, a movement and an ideology. hence Gulbarga is also "Hyderabad".
I earnestly hope and pray that MIM will as ever stand with the hope and aspirations of the commoners like me.
Allah Hafiz wa Nasir.
MA Lateef
Johannesburg
assalam allekum please send me daily news to me via my e.mail
thanking you
yours faithfully
waqiful qadir
assalam allekum please send me daily news to me via my e.mail
thanking you
yours faithfully
asak
Its really good to read about MIM dedications to the poor and the needy muslims,but pls do mention the name of the founder of MIM Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung as most of the young generation are unaware of it.
Every muslims wishes and prayers with MIM.
Respected Sir Why are u launched Urdu Paper only for your image become good why are u vistited money in paper launching so you see in hyderabad so many people are hungry i think in your staff member also hungrey because they cant get money what they want so please see your back and don`t forget your emplye as a lamp has gave your white ness and you are giving darkness for emplye
respected sir any type of job in your organisation please call me Ph:- 9393347754
asalam valikum please send me daily news to my e .mail.
thank u
I am all for communication, and I think this is going to make this happen. This will work as long as it doesn't replace all aspects of traditional journalism. Looks like you have this sorted out. Best of luck!
Etemaad daily news is very good paper. Congrats. Aziz (Karwan constitunency)
Muhterm Janab Muder-e-A'ala Saheb. Roznamah Etemaad Hyderabad Deccan.
AsSalaamu Alaikum w r b. I earnestly hope this will find you in good health and high spirits.
Myself and others were perturbed to learn the tragic incident which took place at great Makkah Masjid. May Allah SWT in His infinite mercy shower chicest blessings on the departed souls and grant courage and patience to endure the catastrophe A'ameen.
I have every reason to believe that, the perpetrators of this dastardly and cowardice act cannot be "Hyderabadis"; because Hyderabad symbolises civility, sanity, respect for human values and tolerance. We Hyderabadi Muslims Alhamdu lillah, feel proud to be integral part of Muslim Ummah as a whole. Still more "Hyderabad Deccan" (that includes Aadil abad, Osmanabad and Raichur etc. ) in the words of Fani Badayuni, Hindustaan mein rehtay hain Hindustan say dur! No regrets or no remorse for this.
will you please be kind enough to send me special weekly editions of your esteemed newspapers?
will you please allow me to contribute articles, write ups etc. of course in Urdu language my mother tongue, for your newspaper?
Kindly accept my gratefulness in anticipation.
Jazak Allah Khaira.
Allah Hafiz wa Nasir
MA Lateef
Johannesburg
Dear brother,
I am S.A.Majeed I am based in KSA daily I am reading these Etemad news paper on internet it is very good please convey my Salam to Mr.Salar, Mr.Asad bhai,Akber bhai and all the team of Etemad, may I request for sunday edision on my E-mail please.
Thanks a lot
SAM
TO WHOM EVER IT MAY CONCERN
May I request you to kindly send me Hadees on a weekly basis to my email.
Preferably in Urdu language.
May Allah reward you for this.
Ghazy
Dear Brother in Islam, Assalamu Alykum
It is pleasure to know that Etemad Urdu News Paper is going to be published in Hyderabad soon. Will there be any place for Islamic knowledge?.
I would highly appreciate it if you could advise me with the above.
Warm Regards.
Aabid South Indian
asak, janab can i get your website link so v can have online newspaper 2
PLS SEND ME INFORMATION
As Salam Walkum
After a long time I saw a Urdu News Paper
in very modern printing neat and clean and paper is very good.Really I appriciate the quality of paper.
The news as usal and one thing I find late News also we can read the same time
I thing this is just coz Etamad is using very modern tecnology
hope Inshallah Etmad paper will grow like MIM
Thanx
Abdul Mannan
Riyadh
January 18, 2008
DEAR USA TODAY,
Do you ever wonder why the public is UNCERTAIN about the Current state of the Real estate and mortgage markets…? Shame on you USA and author of the Cover story “Coping with the real estate slump” I just happen to pick up a copy of the January 4-6 issue when my eyes caught this headline
As a professional Lending Advisor in the Pacific Northwest I am so angry at all of the misinformation that is being splashed about our industry that is either not true or only partially true. I would think that a publication such as USA Today would validate its sources of information.
I am in the markets each and everyday assisting individuals and families in financing choices for real estate. I know what products are available.
Your story states a recent Federal Reserve survey of lending officers indicating that they had tightened their lending standards, and this is the case. However 3 emphasized statements that follow STARTING WITH THE WORD “GONE” in this paragraph are not true.
Let’s look at them as they are printed and clarify for your readers the information you tried to share…
1. GONE are loans for people who have trouble paying their bills on time.
Many people do not pay their bills on time. Some pay late, a few days late, to 30, 60 and 90 days past due. There are many home loans available for these individuals. They are Non Prime Loans and they are available and make sense in many situations.
THE truth is there are not as many of these as there once was under some of terms that were available last year.
2. GONE are mortgages for 100% of the home price.
Shame on you twice.. If you would have checked with the largest agencies that still purchases home loans in the US FANNIE MAE and FREDDIE MAC, you would see that these loans are still available and popular at low interest rates.
THE truth is you must have decent credit and verifiable income and sometimes financial reserves to qualify.
3.) GONE are loans requiring no proof of income or assets.
Shame on you a third time. Several large National Investors are making loans where both income and financial assets are STATED on the application and not verified. They are in most cases good solid loans and are made to people with good credit scores and that have a down payment and/or equity in the transaction.
THE truth is there are not as many of these as there once was, and the information on the application as a whole must make sense.
Bottom line, I hope in the future the information regarding mortgage products is correct.
If I had read your article, was going to buy my first house, or second home and wanting to partake of the American Dream with the opportunity of building long term equity and maybe even wealth, you would have STOPPED ME DEAD IN MY TRACKS.
Tom Lasswell, scfl
Sr. Lending Advisor
Liberty Financial Group