Recently the Associated Press faced a firestorm of criticism for launching advertising in its Twitter feed. Martin Belam, formerly UX lead for the Guardian, weighed in on the difficulties of developing a business model for media. Try and charge for content and everybody will tell you that a … [Read more...] about Martin Belam on Media Business Models: Try to Make Money And Your Audience Turns on You
Why Having a Photo Editor is a Good Idea
Images matter. Poor use can irreparably damage your work. via Deadspin … [Read more...] about Why Having a Photo Editor is a Good Idea
“It shouldn’t take extraordinary people to do ordinary things.”
Back in the stone age I worked for Ed Zander, who once said, "It shouldn't take extraordinary people to do ordinary things." Ed (who went on to become CEO of Motorola) meant that a department's regular operations shouldn't require herculean efforts. Everyday activities like bringing on a new … [Read more...] about “It shouldn’t take extraordinary people to do ordinary things.”
Creative Disruption: Introducing the Paperback (1939)
A new format for books priced at less than a tenth of the current hardcover price? It'll destroy publishing, right? Well, it didn't the first time. In 1939, Pocket Books launched the paperback, a 25-cent version of books that usually sold for $2.75. Critics said that no one would buy. Some said … [Read more...] about Creative Disruption: Introducing the Paperback (1939)
2012 Best and Worst Media Errors and Corrections
Craig Silverman writes "Regret the Error," a regular column on Poytner.org covering the media's funniest errors and corrections. In the end-of-year spirit, he's gathered up his favorites -- from CNN and Fox reporting that the Supreme Court struck down ObamaCare, to more NSFW fare. Here's my … [Read more...] about 2012 Best and Worst Media Errors and Corrections
Paywall Media — Why Not Bundle?
This week, Rick Edmonds at Poynter, Ryan Chittum at CJR, and Mathew Ingram at Gigaom debated the state of the paywall at news sites. Not surprisingly, there is little consensus whether or not subscription paywalls are a deadend or the wave of the future. However, there is one kind of paywall that I … [Read more...] about Paywall Media — Why Not Bundle?
eBooks, Copyright and “Rent-Seeking”
In 1974, former World Bank Economist Anne Krueger wrote a famous article defining "rent-seeking." The term, of course, stems from the practice of gaining ownership of land and forcing tenants to pay rent. As an economic principle, the idea is that rather than creating new wealth through growth, some … [Read more...] about eBooks, Copyright and “Rent-Seeking”
The Religion of Analytics
Here are a few notes from a recent cross-country flight. I'm not sure what I was reading at the time ("The Lean Startup?"), but it's sound advice. Any really good accountant will tell you that the numbers should inform your decisions, not make them. Analytics work best when chasing incremental … [Read more...] about The Religion of Analytics