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<div id="breadcrumb"><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/">Readers' Blog</a> - Archive</div>

<h1>March 2005</h1>




<h3>BBC Arabic Web site hosts stories of young women</h3>

<i>2005-03-01</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=59652&d=28&m=2&y=2005">Arab News</A>: For the first time, the BBC's Arab language news Web site is hosting the media and audio-visual presentations of eight Arab women. The "My Life" project, started by the BBC World Service Trust, helps young women in the Arab world to develop their own media portfolios, or audiovisual stories and also talk about their future ambitions and goals. The <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/arabic/news/">BBC Arabic Service</A> is already carrying the stories from Egypt, Syria and Yemen on its Web site and will soon add the Saudi girls’ stories in March. It will also feature a "Have Your Say" column for users to comment on the stories. <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk">BBC News</A> and <A HREF="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/">BBC Arabic Radio</A> are expected to air the stories soon. The participating women said it was "a wonderful experience."



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/256/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Why the Web suddenly stops appealing to some</h3>

<i>2005-03-01</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via the <A HREF="http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/02/28/business/numa.html">International Herald Tribune</A>: Online media can be unforgiving. Just ask Gary Brolsma, of the <A HREF="http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/206373">'Numa Numa dance'</A> fame, who may not be the biggest fan of cyber technology right now. Brolsma, who shot an amateur video clip of himself dancing to the tune of a Romanian pop song, soon found himself an Internet craze triggered off by Newgrounds.com, which placed a link to the clip on its homepage. After the initial effect of fame wore off, Brolsma sought refuge at his parents' house, turning down interviews with The New York Times and NBC's Today Show. Just another example of how "with the Internet, humiliation - like everything else - has gone public." 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/comments.cfm?id=257" target="new2" onclick="window.open('','new2','resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=500,width=500')">Comments (1)</a> | <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/257/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>More votes for citizen journalism</h3>

<i>2005-03-01</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/huangchr/">Christine Huang</a>: </b>




From <A HREF= http://www.newmediamusings.com/blog/2005/03/can_citizens_jo.html>New Media Musings</A>: A 70% media consumer dissatisfaction rate is part of the catalyst behind<A HREF="http://www.mediachannel.org/views/dissector/affalert329.shtml">  MediaChannel.org's </A> willingness to explore citizen journalism. Tired of the conservative bias and "commercial imperatives" within the media, MediaChannel.org wants to follow in the footsteps of sites such as South Korea’s <A HREF="http://www.ohmynews.com/"> OhmyNews. </A><P>“In Korea, readers’ dissatisfaction and distrust with the conventional press had considerably increased. Citizens’ desire to express themselves greatly increased,” said founder of OhmyNews Oh Yeon Ho. <P>His site has been credited with influencing the election of a president. <P>Media.org's Danny Schechter also points to the forces of Google and Wikipedia to illustrate the success of active consumerism on the Web thus far. <P>"You get the feeling that we are living in the last days of our media system," he wrote. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/253/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Retailers target teens with creative Web sites</h3>

<i>2005-03-01</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




More retailers are targeting teens online and, according to The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com">New York Times</a>, doing so in an innovative fashion. <a href="http://www.macys.com">Macy's</a>, the traditional department store retailer, has recently struggled with a way to reach the lucrative teen demographic. They found the answer online, with their new teen Web site, <a href="http://www.thisit.com">ThisIt.com</a>. The site targets teens by interacting with them through features such as trend advice, music downloads and even an online photo layout by the editors of <a href="http://www.teenvogue.com">Teen Vogue</a>. Other teen-focused retailers, such as <a href="http://www.hollisterco.com">Hollister Co.</a> and <a href="http://www.abercrombie.com">Abercrombie & Fitch</a>, are also fully leveraging their online presence by entertaining teens while marketing their products. "Teens are so demanding of 'what's in it for me'... so the more they can read about trends, see makeovers, know what's cool and then buy it, the better," said Jane Buckingham, president of New York-based consulting firm <a href="http://www.youthintelligence.com">The Intelligence Group</a>. Retailers admit, however, that they use their online presence as more of a marketing tool; they hope the sites will get teens to their brick-and-mortar shops.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Business/261/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>The Web throbs with a Pinoy Pulse</h3>

<i>2005-03-01</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/janinemk/">Janine Kahn</a>: </b>




From the <a href=http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/chi-0503010003mar01,1,3176518.story?coll=chi-techtopheds-hed>Chicago Tribune</a>: Far-flung Filipinos are using the annals and byways of the Web to keep virtual tabs on their roots, and Fil-Am researcher Emily Noelle Ignacio is hot on her countrymen’s trail, having analyzed some 2,000 postings from an <a href=http://news-reader.org/soc.culture.filipino/>Internet newsgroup</a> that bursts with talk of the homeland for her doctoral dissertation. The news forum touches on everything from history and race to patriarchy and colonialism, and is a great spot for venting out the frustrations of living in a Western society that clings to the misinformed image of the third world as “filled with poverty-ridden savages needing a quick infusion of Western ways.” <P>Thanks to the Web, sociologists like Chicago-based Ignacio can cut travel time and research from the behind-the-screen comfort the Net provides instead of facing “a gaggle of aunts and uncles” and their “boisterous laughter.” Instead of going to Samoa or Borneo like others in her field, Ignacio’s use of the internet to find traces of her culture has brought new insight into Filipino-oriented sociological study. Her research shows that Filipinos “have used subtle, cyber, but very real social connections to construct and reinforce a sense of … identity with distant others,” according to Rutgers University Press.      <P>Aiming to break through “the one-dimensional images of Filipinos around the world,” brought Ignacio to the Net, a maxim that seeps forth from her new book, “Building Diaspora: Filipino Community Formation on the Internet.”<P>Sick of sterotype, Ignacio believes that “We need to discuss these things to break the cycle."<P>Every country, the Philippines included, has its strengths and weaknesses according to Ignacio, but one of her posted sources put more passion into this sentiment. <P>"Why do they always have to show that poor, dirty, shoeless Filipino child on this commercial [about alleviating world poverty]. Hypocrites! As if there aren't any poor people and dirty places in this country. There are many beautiful and modern places in the Philippines," smoked a post from "Mom" based in Chicago.<P>"Oh, that actually was my mother," said Ignacio.<P>The war against sterotype is far from over, but it's going to be a long restless battle with people like Ignacio picking up the gauntlet. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/258/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Wall Street Journal for Blackberry palm-tops</h3>

<i>2005-03-02</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story1277.shtml">dotJournalism</A>: The <A HREF="http://online.wsj.com/public/us">Wall Street Journal</A> has introduced a financial news version that can now be obtained on the Blackberry palm-top organizer. The new version will allow users to scan business news, comment and financial market reports. Customized news alerts on specific topics or companies can also be obtained on the organizer. The edition, costing $8.95 in the United States, is available for a free trial run at <A HREF="http://www.outercurve.com/fs_wsj.asp">Outercurve.com</A>. The WSJ also sends general news headlines and alerts to mobile phones. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Technology/262/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Yahoo celebrates 10 years on the Web</h3>

<i>2005-03-02</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




<A HREF="http://www.yahoo.com/">Yahoo</A> turns 10 come Mar. 2, reported the <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4307867.stm">BBC</A>. The Web portal, started by two Stanford students and named so because of its dictionary definition as a rude, unsophisticated, uncouth person, went from two to 7,600 employees in 10 years. One of the few companies to survive the dotcom crash, it has become a key player in breaking news online. Even though it faces fierce competition from other contenders like MSN, AOL etc., the Web portal seems to have an exclusive fan following and is programmed "to discover, get more done, share and interact," said Jerry Yang, one of its founders.  



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/263/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Yahoo developing new search engine</h3>

<i>2005-03-02</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/huangchr/">Christine Huang</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://news.com.com/Yahoo+opens+up+its+search+toolbox+to+developers/2100-1038_3-5593301.html?part=rss&tag=5587315&subj=news"> CNet News: </A> <A HREF="http://www.yahoo.com"> Yahoo </A> is hoping to come up with a new and improved search engine that includes images, video, news and local searches. The launch is waiting for approval from its software developer team as project co- founder Jerry Yang introduces it to the Search Engine Strategies Conference in New York. If the project is convincing, software developers will create new applications on top of Yahoo search through the use of application programming interfaces, or APIs. "Search is not just a service; it's becoming a piece of the infrastructure of the Internet, its file system. We're making it much easier for third parties to develop value-added services for search," said director of product management Eckart Walther. Yahoo also hopes to create a program, which will broaden its database on colloquial words such as "bling bling."<BR>



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/264/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Financial constraints lead news site to drop Leftie columnist</h3>

<i>2005-03-02</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/janinemk/">Janine Kahn</a>: </b>




From <a href=http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/online/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000825257>Editor and Publisher Online</a>: “Liberal iconoclast” freelance writer <A HREF="mailto:harleysorensen@yahoo.com"><BR>Harley Sorensen</a> columned his last this week for <a href=http://sfgate.com/>SF Gate</a>, the San Francisco Chronicle’s online counterpart. The unabashedly left-winged writer, among others, was cut from the SF Gate’s column lineup for purely financial reasons, according to News Director Vlae Kershner.  Sorenson did not dispute the claim.<P>"Bear in mind that when Hearst bought the Chron a few years ago, it brought along its entire editorial staff from the Examiner. So the Chron is grossly overstaffed. It could use some trimming," said Sorensen.<P>While some suggested that Sorensen was laid off for his political bent, Kershner denied that politics played any role in the termination.     <P>"Mark Morford is still our lead columnist," he said, "and he's as liberal as they get."<P>Sorensen was his liberal self in his latest and last contribution to SF Gate in his article "<a href=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/g/a/2005/02/28/hsorensen.DTL>Wead Whacking and Gannon Fodder</a>,” the final cap to several years of column writing for the site.<P>"I have no indication that it's anything other than economics," Sorensen told Editor and Publisher. "And, incidentally, if any publisher is interested in a 'liberal with an attitude,' I'm available."<BR>



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/266/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>U.S. government to regulate political blogs?</h3>

<i>2005-03-03</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/robert/">Robert Niles</a>: </b>




Websites <a href="http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.com.com%2FThe%2Bcoming%2Bcrackdown%2Bon%2Bblogging%2F2008-1028_3-5597079.html">are buzzing</a> over a report that the U.S. Federal Election Commission might restrict the ability of some bloggers to link to or republish information from political campaigns.<P>In an interview with CNET News.com, <a href="http://news.com.com/The+coming+crackdown+on+blogging/2008-1028_3-5597079.html?tag=st.prev">FEC Commissioner Bradley Smith warned</a> that the commission might rule that links to campaign websites reconstitute a financial contribution to those campaigns. Smith was responding to a federal appellate court ruling last year overturning the FEC's decision to exempt the Internet from a 2002 U.S. Campaign finance reform law.<P>"It's going to be a battle," Smith told CNET News.com, "and if nobody in Congress is willing to stand up and say, 'Keep your hands off of this, and we'll change the statute to make it clear,' then I think grassroots Internet activity is in danger."



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/comments.cfm?id=268" target="new2" onclick="window.open('','new2','resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=500,width=500')">Comments (1)</a> | <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Business/268/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Few Internet users catching onto blog phenomenon</h3>

<i>2005-03-04</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Danielle/">Danielle Datu</a>: </b>




From <A HREF="http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/internet/03/03/poll.blogs/">CNN</A>: Only 26% of the more than three quarters of Americans who described themselves as Internet users said they were “very familiar” or “somewhat familiar” with blogs, according to the <A HREF="http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/internet/03/03/poll.blogs/">CNN</A>/<A HREF="http://usatoday.com/">USA Today</A>/<A HREF="http://www.gallup.com/">Gallup poll</A>. The responses were based on 1,008 American adults interviewed over the phone between Feb. 25 and Feb. 27.  While 7% of adults said they perused blogs no less than a few times a week, 48% reported that they did not read them at all.  Nonetheless, blogs –kept by thousands of people— "have been credited with forcing the mainstream media to pay attention to issues they might otherwise have disregarded."  The hot-button issues include the accuracy of <A HREF="http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/home/main100.shtml">CBS News</A>  exposé of President Bush’s military records and legitimacy of ex-White House "reporter" James Guckert.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Technology/271/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Web publications must reveal sources in Apple lawsuit</h3>

<i>2005-03-04</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/easwim7/">Eric Lindberg</a>: </b>




From <a href="http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/11049112.htm">Mercury News</a>: A San Jose judge ruled that three online publications have to disclose the names of confidential sources that gave them information about <a href="http://www.apple.com/">Apple Computer’s</a> upcoming products.  Apple filed suits against the three Web sites back in December and early January, as reported by <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050125glaser/">Mark Glaser</a>, after they wrote about an unreleased Apple product. The judge ruled Thursday that the Web sites, <a href="http://www.ojr.org:80/ojr/blog/www.appleinsider.com">Apple Insider</a>, <a href="http://www.powerpage.org">PowerPage</a> and <a href="http://www.thinksecret.com">Think Secret</a>, should not receive protection from revealing unidentified sources or undisclosed materials. This ruling suggests that online news organizations are not constitutionally protected in the same way as print and broadcast media. Apple argues that free speech protections in the state and federal constitutions do not extend to online journalists and only apply to "legitimate members of the press."



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/275/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Defamation case overturned; bloggers see victory</h3>

<i>2005-03-04</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




The California Superme Court turned over a 2002 Santa Clara county court decision that awarded <A HREF="http://www.varian.com">Varian Medical Systems</A> $770,000 from bloggers charged with defamation. The decision, which came Thursday, allows bloggers and Varian ex-employees Michelangelo Delfino and Mary Day to continue posting about Varian. The decision also provides the two with a new trial.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/comments.cfm?id=273" target="new2" onclick="window.open('','new2','resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=500,width=500')">Comments (1)</a> | <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/273/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Cities use Web to report news</h3>

<i>2005-03-04</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




More and more California cities are turning to the Web to tell their stories, reports the <A HREF="http://www.latimes.com">Los Angeles Times</A>. Officials from such cities as Bellflower, Cupertino and Irvine cite a lack of interest from mainstream news media in their city's news as the motivation for creating Web sites to communicate with residents. According to Larry Pryor, director of <A HREF="http://www.usc.edu">USC's</A> online journalism program, these cities are following the model of the traditional community papers that offered news about local affairs.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/272/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Online news but in conventional style</h3>

<i>2005-03-07</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via the <A HREF="http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/local/11062644.htm">Wichita Eagle</A>: The University of Missouri at Columbia is inviting Web news readers to the curtain raiser of <A HREF="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/emprint/">EmPRINT (Electronic Media Print)</A>, a new technology that gives readers the option to read news from the cyberworld in a newspaper format. News will be dished out for the next 10 Sundays on the university's Web site in the same newspaper layout, sans all pop-ups or incessant scrolling. It will, however provide readers with color, clear font and assured delivery. The paper can be downloaded in a short while and stored on laptops or printed to facilitate easy reading. "This isn't really anything like a Web site. It's more like a book or newsmagazine reading experience, but it's your familiar local newspaper," said Pam Johnson, founding director of Missouri's recently launched Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the university.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/283/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Time to deflate popup ads</h3>

<i>2005-03-07</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,66764,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_2">Wired News</A>: If you hate those frustrating pop-ups that crowd your screen when you are in the middle of some serious surfing, you must be one in the 80% of people who have a "strong and intense dislike for pop-up ads, resulting in a negative attitude toward the Web site itself." But why then, are news Web sites such as The <A HREF="http://nytimes.com/">New York Times</A>, <A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/">Washington Post</A> and <A HREF="http://www.cnn.com/">CNN</A> not doing anything about those irritating windows that pop-up on every page? Studies show that pop-ups discourage readers from returning to that site and even hurt new traffic. The high click- through rates were the result of trying to close the window or not being able to figure how to get rid of it. News sites may have to give that particular sales strategy a thought, according to the article, which also points out that "the reign of the much-maligned pop-up ad may be coming to an end."



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Technology/279/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Hunter S. Thompson: pre-Internet blogger?</h3>

<i>2005-03-07</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/janinemk/">Janine Kahn</a>: </b>




From <a href="http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=45&aid=79205">Poynter Online</a>: New York Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/top/features/arts/columns/frankrich/index.html">writer</a> Frank Rich <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/06/arts/06rich.html">deems</a> the late Hunter S. Thompson a blogger without an Internet, taking into account the Gonzo proponent's "unruly mix of fact, opinion and masturbatory self-regard." <P>"Today you can't tell the phonies without a scorecard," wrote Rich, lamenting bloggers and journalists who were on campaign payrolls in last year's election. In comparison, Thompson was pure.<P>"He was a blogger who had the zeal to leave home and report firsthand and who could write great sentences that made you want to savor what he found out rather than just scroll quickly through screen after screen of minutiae and rant," said Rich.<P>NBC's slogan "Reporting America's Story" was actually what Thompson did "before the phrase was downsized into a vacuous marketing strategy," he added. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/278/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Out of the FishBowl and into the Whitehouse</h3>

<i>2005-03-07</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/janinemk/">Janine Kahn</a>: </b>




From <a href="http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000828039">Editor & Publisher Online</a>: <a href=mailto:garrett@mediabistro.com>Garret M. Graff</a>, a Web log keeper for the <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/">FishBowlDC</a>, a Washington news media blog for <a href="http://mediabistro.com/">mediabistro.com</a>, will be the first blogger to gain admission for a regular White house briefing scheduled Monday. After multiple failed attempts at securing a day pass, Graff was finally admitted after mainstream media outlets made a few calls on his behalf.<BR>"USA Today started making calls on Thursday. CNN mentioned it on 'Inside Politics,' and Ron Hutcheson, president of the White House Correspondents Association, raised the issue with the White House Press Office," Graff <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/07/technology/07press.html?oref=login">told the New York Times</a>. "I think a combination of all of that made the White House pay attention and decide to let me in."<BR>After letting reporter/escort James Guckert in for two years, under the alias "Jeff Gannon," it seems just about time, writes Editor and Publisher.<BR>Graff said that the <a href="http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/search/article_display.jsp?schema=&vnu_content_id=1000799881&WebLogicSession=QiySsHAIacxqr8T3Kp90D2IOF6cz2R0t1lpK2CexxSvjfNEuhquH|-2901528203928362938/181605428/6/7005/7005/7002/7002/7005/-1">Guckert/Gannon controversy</a> was what inspired him to try for a day pass to begin with. <BR>Jay Rosen, a NYU journalism professor and blogging specialist, said Graff's adventure was significant for two reasons: First, he was living proof that it was harder to get a pass than the White House said it was after Guckert's identity was uncovered. And secondly, Graff was "expanding the definition of what constitutes the press, just as radio and television once pushed those boundaries."



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/284/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Freedom of press: Only for 'legit' journalists?</h3>

<i>2005-03-07</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




From <a href="http://www.news.com">CNET News</a>: <a href="http://www.apple.com">Apple</a> has taken a case to court that forces online publishers, such as bloggers, to reveal their sources. This landmark case is raising many questions about U.S. shield laws and their inability to include online journalists and bloggers. While the California constitution protects those professional journalists, such as ones for <a href="http://www.slate.com">Slate.com</a> or <a href="http://www.latimes.com">LATimes.com</a>, it does not protect independent online journalists or bloggers. This issue is cause for concern for many bloggers, as it limits their free speech rights. One potential piece of legisltation, the Free Speech Protection Act, would protect "electronic means of disseminating news or information to the public." If passed, this act would include online journalists and bloggers in the shield law and protect them from having to reveal sources.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/286/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Study: Web played critical role in 2004 elections</h3>

<i>2005-03-07</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




<a href="http://www.pewinternet.org">The Pew Internet & American Life Project</a> has released its findings from a study about the Internet's role in the 2004 presidential election. According to the study, 37% of American adults and 61% of the online population in the U.S. relied on the Internet for political news, discussions of the candidates and debates of the main issues. The study also found that many used the Web to directly participate in the political process through campaign contributions and volunteer work. The study can be found <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_2004_Campaign.pdf">here</a>.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/285/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Slashdot no longer spikes steady page view increase</h3>

<i>2005-03-08</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/ebiz/41034.html">E-Commerce News</A>: Gone are the days where the mention of one's Web site on <A HREF="http://slashdot.org/">Slashdot</A> would spike the site's traffic up by 30%. The "Slashdot effect" is not as strong as it used to be, with the proliferation of rival Web sites and scores of other tech blogs, according to an article in Business Week Online. Higher traffic used to mean greater ad revenue and general recognition for a site, but now the affect is steadily decreasing. Typically, users frequent sites within three hours of a mention on Slashdot, but then they fade into obscurity. Today, a small Web site may rejoice at the mention of its name on the site, but for other bigger tech destinations on the Web, Slashdot is "looking more and more like a big fish in a huge and growing pond." 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/289/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>The news grid - with an arty element </h3>

<i>2005-03-08</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via the <A HREF="http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/arts/bal-as.webart06mar06,1,6799839.story?coll=bal-artslife-society&ctrack=1&cset=true">Baltimore Sun</A>: If you appreciate modern art and daily news, the perfect dose of both is at <A HREF="http://tenbyten.org/index.html">tenbyten.org</A>. A refreshingly different way of presenting news, Jonathan Harris employs a program to pick out the 100 most used words in news sites like BBC, The New York Times' International edition, and Reuters etc. These words are juxtaposed with meaningful pictures in a 10x10 grid, serving up the smallest, yet most loaded version of news. The list of words and images are refreshed every hour. When one runs the cursor over a word on the list, its accompanying image in the grid is highlighted and, when clicking on the picture, the headline of the story appears. Click on the headline itself, and you get the complete story. "It's a shorthand view of the world," says Harris, of New York. "How do you encapsulate a single moment in time in an objective and rational way?"



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/288/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>OJR introduces new wikis on journalism</h3>

<i>2005-03-08</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/robert/">Robert Niles</a>: </b>




<b>Editor's Note:</b> Today, OJR launches a new feature, designed to help "grassroots" journalists, bloggers, students and other Web publishers without formal journalism training to write more accurate and informative content. <P>We start with <a href="http://www.ojr.org:80/ojr/wiki/">three tutorials</a>, intended to help a beginner write and report clearly, accurately and ethically. But these are not static lessons. Instead, we present them as wikis, articles that any OJR registered user can add to or edit. Each article also includes a discussion area, where readers can submit questions for other OJR readers to answer.<P>These first drafts are simple, and will seem obvious to experienced journalists. Our hope is that each article will evolve as OJR readers add examples derived from their wisdom and experience. Some of what we present, especially our article on ethics, is destined to elicit controversy. By offering these lessons as wikis, with discussion areas attached, we hope to provide a forum for our readers to discover some consensus about these skills, from which we can all engage in thoughtful debate.<P>But we do not wish for these articles to evolve into PhD-level discussions about journalism. We want them to remain practical advice, accessible to anyone who writes online, especially those who never went to j-school. <P>This feature represents an experiment for OJR, as well. My goal is to transform OJR into the "test kitchen" for the online publishing industry. Few traditional news websites have experimented with wikis. So we will. Together, we will find how our community of readers responds. Then, from time to time, I'll report on our progress, either on these pages or at industry conferences. <P>We are also presenting these articles under a Creative Commons license, another first for OJR. Our writers <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050120seebach/">have written on Creative Commons</a> before, and I think that it is important that we illustrate, as well as report, many of the innovations challenging online journalists.<BR>



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/291/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Google Maps: Still working out the kinks</h3>

<i>2005-03-08</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




Via <a href="http://www.scripting.com">Scripting News</a>: <a href="http://www.infoworld.com">InfoWorld</a> reports that <a href="http://maps.google.com">Google Maps</a>, the beta version of <a href="http://www.google.com">Google's</a> mapping service that launched two weeks ago, still needs some time to work out the kinks in its system. Users have complained that directions have been off, even by as much as half a mile, or that accuracy is lacking in street names. Others, however, are taking advantage of the system and downloading Google Maps onto their cars' GPS systems, relying upon the service to get them from point A to B. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/292/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Australia to outlaw online suicide sites</h3>

<i>2005-03-08</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




Via <a href="http://news.yahoo.com">Yahoo News</a>: Australia plans to outlaw Web sites that promote or teach suicide skills, reports <a href="http://www.reuters.com">Reuters</a>. The decision is unrelated to the euthanasia debate, according to Justice Minister Chris Ellison, but is rather intended to "protect vulnerable individuals from people who use the Internet with destructive intent to counsel or incite others to kill themselves." Organized Internet suicide has recently become a large problem in countries like Japan, where last year 54 people committed suicides linked to online activity. Australia will charge any individuals or corporations guilty of posting suicide-inducing information on the Web with up to $430,000 in fines.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/293/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Missouri School takes on convergence track</h3>

<i>2005-03-09</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/janinemk/">Janine Kahn</a>: </b>




From <a href=http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/001950.php>CyberJournalist.net</a>: Missouri University’s School of Journalism plans to launch a convergence track for undergraduates and grad students alike starting this fall, <a href=http://www.jour.sc.edu/news/convergence/issue19.html>according to associate professor Mike McKean</a>. The new program will "make sure students receive in-depth training in at least one 'traditional' medium as well as the breadth of experience that comes from working in teams on multiple media platforms." The convergence launch comes at an optimal time for Missouri, which has been experimenting with new ways of teaching directly related to the convergence lineup for more than a year now. Current initiatives include a <a href=http://jfig.missouri.edu/>freshman “movie” competition</a>, encouraging students to learn the basics of digital media with Apple’s iLife software, alongside issuing laptops and cameras to students in entry-level news writing classes, allowing them to put their stories <a href=http://jfig.missouri.edu/j2100/index.htm>on the Web</a>.    



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/290/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>A new way to browse</h3>

<i>2005-03-09</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/huangchr/">Christine Huang</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.newmediamusings.com/"> New Media Musings: </A> Want to be able to preview links without having to go to actual URL? When users access search engines such as Google and Yahoo, <A HREF="http://www.browster.com/"> Browster </A> will display a preview window of each site. News site surfers will be able to scan headlines and articles more efficiently. A preview version of Browster was officially launched in mid- February, but a complete 1.0 version should be available sometime early April, according to the San Francisco based company. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Technology/294/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Users finding ways around China's cyber restrictions</h3>

<i>2005-03-09</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via the <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4327067.stm">BBC</A>:  Even as people are going more to the cyber world for their news and information, the Chinese government is increasingly "sanitizing" what its people can read. Firewalls, censoring engines and an online patrol squad pretty much clamp down on access to sites such as the BBC's news site and Google. But what could be causing them embarrassment is how people still find ways to get around such barriers. For example, <A HREF="http://elgoog.rb-hosting.de/index.cgi">Elgoog</A>, the Google's mirror site apparently lets people access Google's information - only the search is backwards, like the information it throws up. Many activist organizations also watch the sites that are shut down and create identical new sites for continued access. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/295/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Reuters Web site features new world crisis section</h3>

<i>2005-03-09</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story1289.shtml">dotJournalism</A>: The Reuters.co.uk news site has introduced a new channel to cover international relief efforts and humanitarian crises. "This new service is designed to give our viewers a continual picture of what's going on and raise the awareness of humanitarian stories," said Alisa Bowen, head of <A HREF="http://www.reuters.co.uk/">reuters.co.uk</A>. The <A HREF="http://today.reuters.co.uk/News/HumanitarianCrises.aspx">"World Crises" section</A> features news on global health issues, conflicts and natural disasters. Currently, the South Asian tsunami crisis and the relief process, the Sudan conflict and Nepal protests take the spotlight on the site. Reuters' network of journalists and photographers along with Reuters AlertNet produce the site. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/296/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Sunshine for blogs this Sunday</h3>

<i>2005-03-10</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/janinemk/">Janine Kahn</a>: </b>




International student activist group <a href="http://freeculture.org/">FreeCulture.org</a> invites bloggers everywhere to participate in "<a href="http://blogshine.org/">Blogshine Sunday</a>" on March 13. The event will run parallel to "Sunshine Sunday," a U.S. news media fest wherein the mainstream runs stories and editorials supporting public access to government information. Blogshine will be a day for bloggers across the globe to bring their own experiences with obtaining access to government documents into the sunlight. <BR>“Blogshine Sunday is about preserving the right of all citizens, not just credentialed journalists, to observe the workings of their government. Whether local council meetings or federal advisory committees, the activity of public officials should be clear and visible to ordinary people,” writes Blogshine director <a href="mailto:grbaker@ufl.edu">Gavin Baker.</a><BR>The event will spotlight digital access to records, an important topic to traditional journalists and bloggers alike.<BR>Find out how you can participate by clicking the image below:<BR><html><body><center><BR><a href="http://blogshine.org/blog/2005/03/09/how-to-participate"><BR><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/janinemk/blogshinesunday.jpg" alt="Blogshine Sunday"><BR></center></body></html>



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/301/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>The pod squad</h3>

<i>2005-03-10</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/stromsta/">Karl-Erik Stromsta</a>: </b>




Via <a href=”http://media.guardian.co.uk/newmedia/story/0,7496,1433170,00.html”>MediaGuardian</a>: Radio fans in the U.K. will soon be able to listen to Pete Mitchell and Geoff Lloyd’s morning talk show anywhere – thanks to podcasting. The Virgin Radio-produced show will be available for download, and is believed to be one of the first daily radio shows from a major radio group to embrace podcasting. The half-hour podcast will contain the "best bits" from the show, but due to tricky legal issues, will not have the music heard by normal radio listeners. The daily podcast will be sponsored by the U.K. government’s Central Office of Information and travel company Expedia. "Radio stations have to adapt to the changing market and new platforms in order to create new revenue channels, we're proud to be the first with podvertising" said Lee Roberts, Virgin’s sales director. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Technology/302/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Google News site equips users with editing tools</h3>

<i>2005-03-11</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Danielle/">Danielle Datu</a>: </b>




From <A HREF="http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3489156">Internet News</A>:  <A HREF="http://news.google.com/">Google's News site</A> now offers news according to users’ preferences.  New <A HREF="http://news.google.com/intl/en_us/about_customized_news.html"> customization options</A> allow users to prioritize news categories, secure stories containing specific keywords, and combine sections from Google’s 4,500 global news sources any way they see fit.  Readers can also limit the number of headlines in their news sections and opt to view just headlines minus an accompanying lead or image.  "Each custom Google News page is saved as a unique URL."  The settings for customized Google News pages are stored on users' computers.  Users must <A HREF="http://news.google.com/cookies.html">enable cookies</A> on their browsers to save their custom sections.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Technology/305/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Belarus journalist given 10-day prison sentence</h3>

<i>2005-03-11</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/easwim7/">Eric Lindberg</a>: </b>




From <a href="http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=12835">Reporters Without Borders</a>: An online journalist received a 10-day prison sentence after a Belarus court ruled he was participating in a demonstration by small business owners. Andrei Pochobut, a writer for the online news site <a href="http://www.pahonia.promedia.by">Pahonia</a>, was covering the event when he was arrested for "participating in an unauthorized demonstration" and "creating tension." <a href="http://www.rsf.org">Reporters Without Borders</a> is protesting his confinement, saying it shows a harassment of independent media and a deterioration of respect for Belarus’ press law. "We are outraged by this sentence, especially as Pochobut produced evidence proving that he was working as a journalist when he was arrested," said organization officials. At the trial, police officers admitted Pochobut had been taking notes and photographs, but the judge said he should have remained outside of the crowd.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/308/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Online networking turns into real-life mini summits</h3>

<i>2005-03-11</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




From the <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk">BBC News</A>: Former world leaders, which comprise the Madrid Club, are meeting today in the Spanish capital to discuss terrorism issues affecting the world. The organization has teamed up with UK-based Web magazine, <A HREF="http://www.opendemocracy.net">OpenDemocracy.net</A>, to give everyone a voice. The Madrid Club is encouraging small groups of people to organize via the Web and meet in person to discuss the pertinent issues. "People are now used to the idea that the Internet is a tool that enables political action," said Internet consultant Bill Thompson. While OpenDemocracy.net does not believe the mainstream press will cover the small global meetings, they recognize that it will still get coverage. "The great thing about the Web is that you don't need to read about it in the papers to know that it's happening," said OpenDemocracy.net editor Anthony Barnett.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/310/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Report: Online consumers willing to pay more for content</h3>

<i>2005-03-11</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




From <A HREF="http://www.editorandpublisher.com">Editor and Publisher Online</A>: A new report by the <A HREF="http://www.online-publishers.org">Online Publishers Association</A> and <A HREF="http://www.comscore.com">comScore Media Matrix</A> shows that more users are willing to pay for online content, especially in the entertainment sector. Spending for online content grew in 2004 by 14% to $1.8 billion. The entertainment sector experienced the most growth, at 90% to nearly $470 million last year alone. While this growth is a positive sign for online publishers, paid-content users are still vastly outnumbered by those who don't; only 11.6% of the online population actually pays for content.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Business/311/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Judge rules for Apple; denies reporters confidential source protection</h3>

<i>2005-03-11</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/secolombo/">Sarah Colombo</a>: </b>




Three independent online reporters may have to reveal sources for discovery in the lawsuit brought against them by Apple Computer, a San Jose judge <A HREF= http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/appleopinion.doc >ruled</A> Friday. (See <A HREF=http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/275/index.cfm>related coverage</A>.)  Denying protection from the publication of "trade secrets," Judge James P. Kleinberg preliminarily ruled that expansion of media roles (i.e. bloggers as journalists) does not equivocate a "free pass" for source confidentiality. <P>"Defining what is a 'journalist' has become more complicated as the variety of media has expanded. But even if the movants are journalists, this is not the equivalent of a free pass. The journalist’s privilege is not absolute. For example, journalists cannot refuse to disclose information when it relates to a crime," wrote Judge Kleinberg.<P>He also opined that the movants failed to justify the public’s right to know Apple’s "private and secret information."<P>"Unlike the whistleblower who discloses a health, safety, or welfare hazard affecting all, or the government employee who reveals mismanagement or worse by our public officials, the movants are doing nothing more than feeding the public’s insatiable desire for information," he added.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/comments.cfm?id=313" target="new2" onclick="window.open('','new2','resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=500,width=500')">Comments (1)</a> | <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/313/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Libel case could jeopardize online freedom of expression </h3>

<i>2005-03-13</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Danielle/">Danielle Datu</a>: </b>




<A HREF="http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=12833">Reporters Without Borders</A> sent a letter to the Canadian justice minister discussing an "important question of law for online media:" Can a journalist be sued for libel wherever an Internet report is accessible?  The answer to this query is apparently "yes," citing Cheickh Bangoura v. <A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/">Washington Post</A>.  Bangoura, a former U.N. official, won his lawusuit against the U.S.-based newspaper early last year over a nearly decade old article, which recounted "allegations by U.N. colleagues that he was guilty of serious improprieties," that could still be read online by Internet users in Canada, his country of residence since 2000. The Post filed an appeal March 8.   <A HREF="http://www.rsf.org/">Reporters Without Borders</A> argued that journalists would be discouraged from publishing their articles online if the initial verdict persists, even after the appeal process because "any individual who posts something online could be sued over it in any country in the world."  It added that a country should only have jurisdiction over online content if the material is hosted on its territory, or if its Internet users are explicitly targeted by the material.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/314/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Bloggers organize conference calls with traditional media</h3>

<i>2005-03-14</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/03/14/business/bloggers.html">International Herald Tribune</A>: Bloggers for the first time organized a conference telephone call to encourage flow of news ideas and techniques between themselves and mainstream media. "We hope that good credible stories that are broken on the Internet find their way into coverage in the mainstream media," said Bob Fertik, president of Democrats.com. With the line between online and traditional media blurring fast, especially in the wake of the Apple ruling, reporters have started recognizing the need to help each other. Even though criticized by some, the first telephone call was downloaded at least 2000 times. Reporters from MSNBC, the Washington Post and CBS asked for a call-in number, according to a participant. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/315/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Choice of pictures on the BBC news site</h3>

<i>2005-03-14</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via the <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4339799.stm">BBC</A>: The Web site fielded more criticism this week for its choice of pictures, in the cases of the <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4330039.stm">Chechen leader's death</A> and <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4326811.stm">Michael Jackson's trial</A>, said Pete Clifton, editor of the BBC News site. Clifton said once a picture was on the Web, it was there for everyone to see. He said that the decision was always tough to make, but news site could not as a rule "sanitize" their reports all the time. The best way to do it would be to evaluate the importance of the material at hand and put it high up in the story if it is vital, three or four paragraphs into the story if it can wait, or if it is really graphic content, then slap a warning on it and make it a separate launch window.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/comments.cfm?id=316" target="new2" onclick="window.open('','new2','resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=500,width=500')">Comments (1)</a> | <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/316/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Extremist Muslim groups advancing online effort</h3>

<i>2005-03-14</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




Iraqi insurgents and Muslim Jihad groups are gaining ground--online. Many of these organizations are turning to the Web to communicate not only with one another, but with the rest of the world as well. <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com">The New York Times</A> reports that the trend has grown far beyond the postings on Islamic Web sites that follow attacks. It has now reached the level where loyalist groups are using chat rooms and creating an online magazine to communicate their agenda. "I think they feel they are losing the battle," said <A HREF="http://siteinstitute.org">SITE Institute</A> director Rita Katz. "They realize there will be a new government soon, and they seem very nervous about the future." The Web sites, however, communicate a bit of a different message, with statements that call for greater responsibility of the media and even highlight the press power of the extremist groups.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/317/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>'Digital Age' to explore traditional and online media</h3>

<i>2005-03-14</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




<A HREF="http://www.ojr.org:80/ojr/blog/"></A> <A HREF="http://www.editorandpublisher.com">Editor and Publisher Online</A> reports a public television program, "Digital Age" will explore the world of mainstream media and bloggers, and whether or not the two can peacefully co-exist. The show will air this Saturday, Mar. 19 on New York public and cable TV and online at <A HREF="http://www.digitalage.com">DigitalAge.com</A>. The program will feature Alex Jones of the <A HREF="http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/presspol/<BR>">Shorenstein Center on the Press and Public Policy</A> at <A HREF="http://www.harvard.edu">Harvard</A> and Tom Lipscomb of the <A HREF="http://www.suntimes.com">Chicago Sun-Times</A> with host lawyer and former vice chairman of the <A HREF="http://www.nytco.com">New York Times Co.</A>, James Goodale.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/318/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Opinion-strewn blogosphere: part of junk-news diet?</h3>

<i>2005-03-15</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/janinemk/">Janine Kahn</a>: </b>




From the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-media14mar14,1,1752475.story?coll=la-headlines-nation">Los Angeles Times</a>: A recent study conducted by the Columbia University-affiliated <a href="http://www.stateofthemedia.org/2005/narrative_online_intro.asp?cat=1&media=3%20">Project for Excellence in Journalism</a> reported that online blogs, alongside cable TV programs, have led the trend of "journalism of assertion," which relies less on reporting and more on personal opinion. Project director Tom Rosenstiel said <BR>that the "culture of opinion journalism" has expanded in exponential proportions alongside the growth of Internet commentary, with blog readership bloating up a good 58% in just six months. Now some 32 million Americans can say they have obtained information from Web logs. <P>The report says that the downside of this is that some bloggers seem to act upon a philosophy that flips the mainstream media model over, one that reads "publish anything, especially points of view, and the reporting and verification will occur afterward in the response of fellow bloggers." <P>The study concluded that blogs seem to focus on "prepackaging and presenting information, not … gathering it," and recommends that news consumers be like dieters: more finicky and discerning about what they consume. "The real crisis may be news obesity," the study said, "consuming too little that can nourish citizens and too much that can bloat them." 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/319/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Top blogs of the year awarded at Texas ceremony</h3>

<i>2005-03-15</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via the <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4350041.stm">BBC</A>: The Pulitzers of online media - the Bloggies - were given away to winners from 30 categories at the SXSW Interactive Festival in Texas. Among those recognized were: <A HREF="http://boingboing.net/">Boing Boing</A>: A Directory of Wonderful Things, walking away with the overall blog prize, and <A HREF="http://www.dooce.com/">Dooce</A>, the blog of the first woman to be fired for blogging about her professional work, for the most humorous, best taglined, and best-written blog. Also taking away top awards were <A HREF="http://plasticbag.org/">plasticBag.org</A>,for the best British blog and the lifetime achievement award, <A HREF="http://www.gizmodo.com/">Gizmodo</A> for best technology blog, <A HREF="http://www.wonkette.com/">Wonkette</A>, as the best political blog and <A HREF="http://slashdot.org/">Slashdot</A> for its "community" efforts. "There were many other deserving blogs up for awards, backed by talented folks who work very hard," said Xeni Jardin of Boing Boing. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/320/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Online media needs more input from traditional resources</h3>

<i>2005-03-15</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via the <A HREF="http://www.boston.com/ae/media/articles/2005/03/15/study_online_media_is_still_developing_voice/">Boston Globe</A>: A study released by the Washington-based Project for Excellence in Journalism, titled State of the News Media 2005, reported that there is a deficit of resources and creative input from traditional media to their news sites, which may be opening up the arena to citizen journalism. "The current conundrum is that online news, though prospering in some measures, [is] dependent on organizations whose core economics are moving in the other direction," said Merrill Brown, founding editor in chief of MSNBC.com. There is also widespread concern that with mainstream media fast losing credibility, the news overload on the Internet may lead to information chaos. Other results released indicated a 58% increase in blog readership and a 34% jump in online revenues for nine major news outlets.  



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/321/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Online content: To pay or not to pay</h3>

<i>2005-03-15</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




The age-old tension of free vs. paid-for content online is up for questioning again, as The <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com">New York Times</A> explores the profitability of print newspapers who offer free online content. The main source of Web editions' revenues come from online advertising, which news publishers fear will decline if they begin to charge access fees. Newspaper publishers with a Web presence also fear that mandated subscription fees will fail in a world where users expect free content. "A big part of the motivation for newspapers to charge for their online content is not the revenue it will generate, but the revenue it will save, by slowing the erosion of their print subscriptions,"  said Colby Atwood, vice president of <A HREF="http://www.borrellassociates.com">Borrell Associates, Inc.</A>, a media research firm. "We're in the midst of a long and painful transition." <P>Print newspapers and their online arms are indeed torn about which route to take. Only one major newspaper--<A HREF="http://www.wsj.com">The Wall Street Journal</A>--charges for online content, and does well doing so, with around 700,000 subscribers. However, many claim the Journal's financial focus gives professionals incentive to write the online subscription off as a business expense. And while the Journal's site has grown dramatically since 1997, it only grew 2% from last year to this year. "Print is going the way it's going, which is down, which is unfortunate because it's the revenue engine that keeps this whole thing going," said Ken Sands, online publisher of the <A HREF="http://www.spokesmanreview.com">Spokesman-Review</A>, which also charges for content. "The online business model won't ever be able to support the whole news infrastructure."<P>Several other newspapers, such as The New York Times and <A HREF="http://www.chicagotribune.com">Chicago Tribune</A>, have toyed with the idea of charging for online content, but all have restrained from taking the leap. Many fear the financial incentives are just not strong enough, or the loss of online advertising revenues would affect newspapers more than subscriber fees. Yet the online advertising model may not be as stable as online publishers would like to think. Bill Keller, executive editor of The New York Times, said, "My main concern is that, however we distribute our work, we have to generate the money to pay for it. The advertising model looks appealing now, but ... What happens when somebody develops software to filter out advertising - TiVo for the Web?" 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Business/324/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>ESPN unveils plans to deliver mobile content</h3>

<i>2005-03-15</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.iwantmedia.com">I Want Media</A>: <A HREF="http://www.espn.com">ESPN</A> announced Monday that it will launch a mobile phone initiative by year's end where it will deliver sports-related content to subscribers' cell phones. The deal includes wireless carrier <A HREF="http://www.sprint.com">Sprint</A>. George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN and <A HREF="http://www.abcsports.com">ABC Sports</A>, said that sports fans are a lucrative market for such a service as they tend to be early adopters of technology and tech-related services.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Technology/323/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Yahoo concocts cocktail of popular features </h3>

<i>2005-03-16</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via<A HREF="http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=584608"> ABC News</A>: Yahoo's newest project, Yahoo 360, combines the 10-year-old Web site's features with bloging and social networking. Even as critics continue to call blogs as "mostly prosaic rambling," 27% of adults in the United States read them and  7% write them, according to a recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. The service will enable Yahoo users to pull content from any of Yahoo's services from news, photos and groups into their blogs and either allow public access or restrictive viewing. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/326/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>A shift in communication technology</h3>

<i>2005-03-16</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2005/mar/15guest.htm">rediff.com</A>: Writer Amit Khanna has observed a slow but sure turn of technology, as well as the influence teenagers have on news content and access. Blogs have already cast their spell over a growing Internet audience, mostly youngsters, who are most comfortable with digital information, given its easy access and variety. Immersive story telling and video blogs are soon going to find their way into the better news sites. A peer-to-peer TV streaming version is already available on the Internet. News is going to be presented in an entirely different and possibly more efficient package in the future. "It is these digital generations that will take the world online further and eventually wholly, embracing the universe in a virtual cornucopia of information and entertainment," said Khanna. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/327/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Gillmor: Citizen journalists must pick up media's slack</h3>

<i>2005-03-17</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/stromsta/">Karl-Erik Stromsta</a>: </b>




The Project for Excellence in Journalism’s <a href=“http://www.stateofthemedia.org/2005/index.asp”>annual report</a> concluded the media are too focused on "repackaging and presenting" news, rather than finding new and innovative ways to gather it, reports Dan Gillmor on his <a href=“http://dangillmor.typepad.com/dan_gillmor_on_grassroots/2005/03/whos_investing_.html”>grassroots journalism</a>blog. Agreeing with their conclusion, Gillmor says he doubts the media – "conservative to a fault when it comes to adapting to change" – will begin investing more heavily in original reporting. Instead, he puts his stock in 'citizen journalism,' via blogs and other media, as the best way to propagate new perspectives and information. There "are folks who want to have their say and want to be part of a conversation, not talked down to in lecture mode by an industry that sees news as just another widget on the assembly line," he writes. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/328/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>AP excludes Web from alternative lead option</h3>

<i>2005-03-17</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/secolombo/">Sarah Colombo</a>: </b>




From <A HREF=http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000844185>Editor and Publisher Online</A>: In an effort to keep print editions fresh, the <A HREF= http://www.ap.org/>AP</A> will offer its clients a creative alternative to a straight lead on major spot stories that will <b>not</b> be available to the news services’ Internet clients.  The alternative lead will focus more on imagery or narrative for the first few grafs, and then will return to the original copy. "Many newspaper wire desks don't have the resources for a lot of heavy lifting on our copy," said AP Managing Editor Mike Silverman. "They would like our help in giving the reader something different from what is posted on the Web."<BR>Should content producers feel threatened?



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Business/329/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Exclusive content and self-censorship: tools in Iraq war coverage</h3>

<i>2005-03-18</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/janinemk/">Janine Kahn</a>: </b>




A <a href="http://soc.american.edu/main.cfm?pageid=1235">study</a> conducted by <a href="http://soc.american.edu/main.cfm?pageid=1">American University's School of Communication</a> revealed that media outlets covering the Iraq war and its outcome have been using their online sites to publish different content from what appears in newspapers and is broadcasted on TV and radio. <P>"Most indicated the reasons were due to lack of space in print and broadcast and not due to the nature of the content. So, 'extended' coverage on the Web allowed many more photographs to be published along with first-person, behind the scenes reporter accounts." <P>The research indicates that online news has become mainstream, according to Professor Bear, a founding board member of the Online News Association and a current Knight International Press Fellow. "Publishers no longer think twice about putting up coverage online that hasn't been published elsewhere. Instead they realize that Web content extends what they do in print and on-the-air," he said.<P>The study, which <a href="http://www.zoomerang.com/reports/public_report.zgi?ID=L226Y8AH6TME">surveyed</a> more than 200 American and international journalists involved in Iraq coverage, also put forth that self-censorship was used in the publishing of graphic images and details on account of a high level of concern over the audience's reaction. The survey found that one-third of news outlets published material online that was not in print or aired and that a majority of newsrooms did not have prior rules about controversial material in terms of publishing. Thus, editors have had to deal with graphic content on a case-by-case basis. Many respondents reported that vigorous discussions concerning publishing material ensued when graphic content was vital to a story. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/330/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Web site helps Iraqi journalists collaborate</h3>

<i>2005-03-18</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/stromsta/">Karl-Erik Stromsta</a>: </b>




Thanks to the <a href="http://www.aswataliraq.info/">'Voices of Iraq'</a> Web site, disparate Iraqi media outlets can share stories and pool resources, reports <a href="http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000844158">Editor and Publisher</a>. The site, which is funded by the United Nations and Reuters, works like a swap meet: Journalists submit print and broadcast stories to www.aswataliraq.info, and in return can utilize items submitted by other contributors. Jo Weir of Reuters said it is difficult for Iraqi media to cover every event of import because of unsafe roads and inadequate communications infrastructure. "This project creates a network for them to exchange and share information, creating a more complete picture of what is happening across the country," said Weir. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/332/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>A watchdog for the watchdogs</h3>

<i>2005-03-18</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




The hot-topic question of journalists vs. bloggers is still up for debate, as the <A HREF="http://www.csmonitor.com">Christian Science Monitor</A> explores some of the key issues in the divide. While traditional journalists may shun bloggers, no one can deny the contribution that bloggers have made to the media landscape in the past two years alone. From rooting out false stories to covering big news events firsthand, the watchdogs of society have now received watchdogs of their own. While there is indeed a certain level of skill necessary in order to succeed in the craft of journalism, readers seem to welcome the unbiased and unregulated opinions of bloggers today.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/334/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>CNN explores blogging--on the air</h3>

<i>2005-03-18</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




News stations, such as <A HREF="http://www.cnn.com">CNN</A>, are starting to acknowledge blogs not only as legitimate sources of news, but as a force to be reckoned with. <A HREF="http://www.marketwatch.com">MarketWatch</A> reports that CNN, for instance, features a commentary on blogs called "Inside the Blogs," which appears on the program, "Inside Politics." The segment began on Feb. 14 and has been quite popular to date. David Bohrman, CNN's vice president of news and production and Washington bureau chief said, "I would expect you'll see a lot more of it on CNN in the coming months. By mid-summer, we're going to be dipping into the blogs several times a day. This is something new and different. Cable TV is largely the same during the day. I don't mind experimenting on the air." Bohrman also noted the opportunity that blogs provide for new and unexpected sources of breaking news.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/333/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Yahoo takes to Hollywood</h3>

<i>2005-03-21</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/janinemk/">Janine Kahn</a>: </b>




Silicon Valley search giant <a href="http://www.yahoo.com/">Yahoo</a> has been making its way down to Hollywood seeking hires for its new Media Group, according to <a href="http://news.com.com/Yahoos+SoCal+plans+take+shape/2100-1038_3-5626249.html?tag=html.alert">CNET News</a>. Though the company has been largely silent about the move, it posted job openings in the past two weeks for positions in news and information, including a news product manager and a news editor who will "have the opportunity to help shape the direction of online journalism by contributing to the overall editorial direction and growth of Yahoo News." <P>"The job postings underscore Yahoo's big bet on media to sell display advertising, while its competitor Google focuses more on using its technology to drive direct response "pay per click" ads," reports CNET News.<P>Positions will be based in the Yahoo Center in Santa Monica, the "new home of the Yahoo Media Group," but until the move in May, "regular commuting to Yahoo's Sunnyvale campus may be necessary." Yahoo has been on the move with this project for quite some time, having <a href="http://news.com.com/Ex-TV+exec+to+lead+Yahoo+media+group/2100-1026_3-5435251.html?tag=nl">hired former ABC television executive Lloyd Braun</a> to head its media and entertainment division, <a href="http://news.com.com/Yahoo+hires+newspaper+veteran/2100-1038_3-5450160.html?tag=nl">as well as Neil Budde</a>, founding editor and former publisher of the Wall Street Journal Online edition.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Business/336/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>PR firms bypass media for blogs</h3>

<i>2005-03-21</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050321/REDELMAN21/TPBusiness/Canadian">The Globe and Mail</A>: Using the pervasive nature of blogs and online media, public relations firms are slowly nudging traditional media out of their audience outreach efforts. A few years ago, it was TV, but now PR practitioners are turning to online means such as chat rooms, promotional sites and blogs to maximize publicity. Richard Edelman, president and chief executive officer of <A HREF="http://www.edelman.com/">Edelman Public Relations Worldwide</A> said blogs facilitated easy and efficient communication and had the power to shape public opinion. The 2005 Edelman Trust Barometer found that Canadians are more likely to trust average people over a CEO or spokesperson about any company. "What I've really understood since the mid-1990s is the power of this on-line business," Edelman said.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/comments.cfm?id=337" target="new2" onclick="window.open('','new2','resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=500,width=500')">Comments (2)</a> | <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/337/">Archive Link</a></p>

<br />


<h3>Internet investment firm buys Ask Jeeves</h3>

<i>2005-03-21</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via the <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4367197.stm">BBC</A>: U.S. media mogul Barry Diller's <A HREF="http://www.iac.com/">IAC/Interactive Corporation</A>, an Internet investing firm, is buying web search engine <A HREF="http://www.ask.com/">Ask Jeeves</A> for $1.85 billion. "Ask Jeeves has the potential to become one of the great brands on the Internet," Diller said. The acquisition is an indication of rising competition among companies such as Google, Yahoo and Microsoft's MSN Search. Internet users often go to multiple search engines for news and information and each engine has its own unique luxury. Ask Jeeves, for example, allows a user to ask a question in natural language like: "What is the capital of Brazil?"  <P>



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/339/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>White House credentialed blogger has new ambitions</h3>

<i>2005-03-21</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




<A HREF="http://www.ojr.org:80/ojr/blog/"></A> In an interview for The <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com">New York Times</A>, infamous journalist and blogger James Guckart, or Jeff Gannon, as he prefers to be called, discusses his role as a White House correpsondent for the <A HREF="http://www.talonnews.com">Talon News</A>. Gannon gained access to White House press conferences under his pseudonym, until his controversial comment calling Democrats being "divorced from reality" forced him to resign from his position. "I made the decision by myself after I learned that my family had received threatening phone calls," says Gannon. He also says he would enjoy getting back into the working field of journalism, "as a commentator or one of those political analysts that you see on the news shows all the time."



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/341/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Internet continues to develop video and interactive features</h3>

<i>2005-03-21</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/easwim7/">Eric Lindberg</a>: </b>




From <a href="http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=3105157">KVOA</a>: Streaming video and user interaction on Web sites like the new <a href="http://www.hgtvpro.com">HGTV Pro.com</a> site suggest a further step in the development of the Internet and online information resources.  As companies expand into the Internet and news companies continue to load their sites with video and interactive elements, the Internet is proving itself as a rich resource for entertainment and media. "This is far from a fully developed market, but we are getting past the introduction phase," said Charles Buchwalter, vice president of analytics at <a href="http://www.nielsen-netratings.com/">Nielsen//NetRatings</a>. "A lot of pretty innovative things are happening." According to Nielsen//NetRatings, a increasing portion of the Internet population spends more time on the Web than watching television. The advent of broadband and high-speed Internet access is making video clips and interactive material on the Web more and more possible, according to Peter Zollman, an industry consultant. In the case of HGTV Pro.com, it's a "new television network without the television and without the cable," Zollman said. "This is another television network."



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Technology/343/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Social networking sites add to their services</h3>

<i>2005-03-21</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.scripting.com">Scripting.com</A>: While social networking sites are no longer the Internet darling they were nearly two years ago, many are reforumulating their business models to continually attract and keep users. <A HREF="http://www.wired.com">Wired News</A> reports that <A HREF="http://www.ojr.org:80/ojr/blog/http:www.linkedin.com">LinkedIn</A>, for instance, focuses solely on business networking and boasts such members as Bill Gates and Kelly Perdew of the Apprentice 2. <A HREF="http://www.myspace.com">MySpace</A> and <A HREF="http://www.friendster.com">Friendster</A>, the more well-known social networking sites, tend to focus on the friendship aspect of the Internet--but both are adding to their offerings. MySpace provides a combination of blogs, games and music, recognizing that social networking cannot sustain the business model alone. <A HREF="http://www.yahoo.com">Yahoo</A> has also announced plans to launch its own social networking site, Yahoo 360, which will include blogging as well. Others, such as professional networking site, <A HREF="http://www.ryze.org">Ryze</A>, are using a more traditional business model: Subscriptions to the service. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/342/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Zimbabwean paper goes online</h3>

<i>2005-03-22</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0,,2-11-1662_1679420,00.html">News24.com</A>: A Zimbabwean newspaper has been made available online, catering to the news requirements of Zimbabweans in the country and around the world. <A HREF="http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/">The Zimbabwean</A> will host a variety of articles from politics and human rights to entertainment and analysis, free of cost. Publisher Wilf Mbanga said it was vital to have a news source that provides all viewpoints and can be easily accessed, especially in the wake of the upcoming elections. Mbanga also said "the newspaper would strive to be a reliable source of information."  The Zimbabwean was launched on Feb. 11 with weekly editions in Britain and South Africa.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/344/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Magic Kingdom shuts down Disney blogger, but cannot shut him up </h3>

<i>2005-03-22</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/janinemk/">Janine Kahn</a>: </b>




Web master cum writer <a href="http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/columnists/showauthor.php?ID=10">Jim Hill</a> has been giving reality-check "warts and all" tours of Disneyland for the past two years to readers who sign up for them <a href="http://www.jimhillmedia.com/">on his website</a>. But the so-called "happiest place on earth" sicced park security and an Anaheim police detective on Hill last weekend for giving unauthorized tours of the Magic Kingdom, convincing the author to leave the premises peaceably and abandon what <a href+"http://www.o-meon.com/pages/news%26features/n%26f_03-21-05.html">o-meon.com</a> editor Chuck Oberleitner once called "The 'E' True Hollywood version of Disneyland's history." <P>Hill left, but refused to be silenced by the event, given that this treatment has never been given to any of the tons of tour operators who show people (oftentimes large groups of foreigners) around Disney parks. Logging onto his computer, Hill posted an article with <a href="http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles/showarticle.php?ID=1356">a complete account</a> on his site, <a href="http://www.jimhillmedia.com/">Jim Hill Media</a>.<P>"In the 25 years that I have been writing & telling stories about the Walt Disney Company, this is the first time ever that Mickey has made an effort to gag me," wrote Hill, who added that his stories about the theme park would continue at JHM. <P>Though Disney has made sure that Hill has given his last tour of the Magic Kingdom in person, he has plans to record a CD version of his tour spiel, allowing his following to have him along for the ride--haunting the park as a disembodied voice of dissent.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/comments.cfm?id=346" target="new2" onclick="window.open('','new2','resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=500,width=500')">Comments (1)</a> | <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/346/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Bloggers upset over potential FEC rules change</h3>

<i>2005-03-22</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/easwim7/">Eric Lindberg</a>: </b>




	From the <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/chi-0503220225mar22,1,353881.story?coll=chi-technology-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true">Chicago Tribune</a>: The <a href="http://www.fec.gov/">Federal Election Commission</a>, following a September ruling, is set to create new rules regarding online political activity that "contributes" or <BR>"coordinates" with political campaigns. Civil libertarians and bloggers are concerned over the possibility of regulating what they feel is free speech. "I’m nervous about how this line is going to be drawn because we’re going to end up setting some arbitrary box around political communication," said Ren Bucholz, a member of the civil liberties group <a href="http://www.eff.org/">Electronic Frontier Foundation</a>. Before the ruling last fall, online activity was not included in the 2002 McCain-Feingold law, which regulates campaign financing. Critics of the McCain-Feingold law said it has "loopholes that had allowed soft money to corrupt federal elections," and took issue with political advertisements aired online, links from blogs to campaign Websites and bloggers urging readers to support certain candidates. While bloggers remain in an uproar over the potential changes, many people feel they are overreacting and that any changes will only affect corporate and union use of the Internet during election campaigns. "No one is seriously talking about dragging every blogger into campaign finance laws," Larry Noble, executive director of the <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/index.asp">Center for Responsible Politics</a>, said. The FEC expects to reach a decision on the rules change by late July.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/345/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Google News drops AFP from its service</h3>

<i>2005-03-22</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




From <http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,120125,00.asp>PCWorld.com</A>: <A HREF="http://www.google.com">Google</A> is dropping <A HREF="http://www.afp.com/english">Agence France Presse</A> from its news aggregation service, <A HREF="http://news.google.com">Google News</A>, after AFP filed a lawsuit against Google for alleged copyright infringement last week. Google spokesman Steve Langdon said, "We allow publishers to opt out of Google News. Most, however, want to be included in Google News because they believe it's a benefit to them and their readers." While there is not yet a timetable for when all AFP articles will be removed from the Google News system, Google claims to be 'actively working' on the matter. AFP is seeking $17.5 million worth of damages from Google in addition to the removal of its content from the Google News site.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Business/349/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Bloggers in Bethlehem narrate experiences </h3>

<i>2005-03-22</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3702.shtml">The Electronic Intifada</A>: Following the Iranians' example, Palestinians and other immigrants in the Bethlehem region have recently started a blog called <A HREF="http://www.bethlehemghetto.blogspot.com/">Bethlehem Ghetto</A>. Managed by activists and professionals, The Bethlehem Bloggers Web site brings first hand insight into life and politics inside Bethlehem, according to the article. Even though access and resources remain insufficient and on occasion, impossible, bloggers in Bethlehem are narrating their experiences online for the world to know what it is like to live under the world's last military occupation. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/347/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Online journalists pick up their shields and fight back </h3>

<i>2005-03-23</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Danielle/">Danielle Datu</a>: </b>




From <A HREF="http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2005/03/22/ap1900643.html">Forbes.com</A>:  The online journalists who publicized private trade information about <A HREF="http://www.apple.com/"> Apple Computer Inc.</A> filed an appeal Tuesday in an endeavor to secure their immunity from revealing confidential sources.  A Santa Clara County Superior Court judge ruled earlier this month that the three independent online reporters were not safeguarded by shield laws and may have to unveil the identities of their informants.(See <A HREF=http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/313/index.cfm>  related brief</A>.)  The journalists maintained that such disclosure "could erode the media's ability to report in the public's interest." Their attorneys insisted Tuesday that the judge’s decision infringed on the First Amendment.  Kurt Opsahl, an attorney representing the journalists, referred to the California courts’ longstanding fortification of the freedom of the press.  He said, "The Court of Appeal will now get the opportunity to correct a ruling that endangers all journalists." 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/351/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Major newspaper publishers buy a piece of online news site</h3>

<i>2005-03-23</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Danielle/">Danielle Datu</a>: </b>




From <A HREF="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05082/475927.stm">Pittsburg Post-Gazette</A>: Three newspaper publishers each bought a quarter share of <A HREF="http://www.topix.net/">Topix.net</A>, a technology company that caters to 1.4 million monthly users as of last month by compiling and sorting news articles according to topic and location from different Internet sources. Its founders will keep the remaining 25% stake. <A HREF="http://www.gannett.com/">Gannett Co.</A>, <A HREF="http://www.kri.com/">Knight Ridder Inc.</A> and <A HREF="http://www.tribune.com/">Tribune Co.</A> will link to Topix on the Web sites belonging to the local newspapers that they own nationwide as part of the deal.   Although users of Topix, which started just more than a year ago, are not as many as the 5.9 million users <A HREF="http://news.google.com/nwshp?hl=en&gl=us">Google News</A> had last month, it still proved to be lucrative this past December.  The company grossed around $1 million in annual revenues, primarily from advertising.  The new investors will likewise "allow Topix to sell online advertising from their (news) sites."



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Business/354/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Bloggers participate in debate at Washington research institute</h3>

<i>2005-03-23</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via the <A HREF="http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050321-104105-2817r.htm">Washington Times</A>: Organized by the Brookings Institute, bloggers gathered Mar. 22 to discuss their evolving role in the American press. Prominent blogs in the discussion included Wonkette, Redstate.org, Donkey Rising and Captain's Quarters. Among the well-known panelists: Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne, Ellen Ratner of Talk Radio News Service, columnist and blogger Andrew Sullivan, Jodie Allen of the Pew Research Center and Ana Marie Cox of Wonkette. The event was "live blogged" by six prominent political bloggers, and their commentary was made available both on the Internet and a live screen at the discussion.   



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/352/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>AFP lawsuit against Google could impact other sites</h3>

<i>2005-03-24</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/stromsta/">Karl-Erik Stromsta</a>: </b>




According to a <a href="http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read.html?id=3313">Political Gateway</a> editorial, the copyright infringement lawsuit filed by l’Agence France-Press (<a href="http://www.afp.com/english/home/">AFP</a>) against <a href="http://www.google.com/">Google</a> last week is not just doomed in its own right; it will also negatively impact all other news sites that syndicate AFP material. The lawsuit claims that Google’s news aggregator-- which compiles stories from around the world-- violates fair use practices. In fact, there are many other news aggregators on the Web, and Google sells no ad space. In addition to blacklisting AFP, the search engine has also started shunning all news sites that syndicate AFP material. Such a move has the potential to shut down a number of smaller sites.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Business/356/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Schiavo case has Net users in a search frenzy</h3>

<i>2005-03-24</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/janinemk/">Janine Kahn</a>: </b>




At this point, most have heard of Terry Schiavo, the brain-damaged Florida woman who has been lying in a persistent vegetative state for at least a decade, with no say in her fate as her life lies in the balance. The controversy over her much broadcasted case has sparked a Net interest in researching and writing <a href="http://www.living-will-us.usa.za.com/">living wills</a>--something Shiavo lacked that could have allowed her to express her wishes concerning the degree of medical care she would have wanted in case of an illness of this magnitude, <a href="http://news.com.com/Schiavo+case+sparks+Net+interest+in+living+wills/2100-1025_3-5632528.html?tag=nefd.top">reports CNET News</a>. The Internet has played a role in sparking interest in the case, it being "unlikely that a decade ago, Schiavo's case would have generated as much attention, nor would there have been such a proactive response by the public."<P>"With the Internet at hand, someone can be moved to tears by Schiavo's plight and quickly act on the lessons they feel they've learned, whether to sign an online petition or visit any number of Web sites to download free living-will templates and advice," notes CNET News.<P>Many have been furthering their knowledge of the case online, and the term "Terry Schiavo" ranked second on the Google Zeitgeist gainers, which compared the percentiles of search queries through March 15 and 21. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/355/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Establishment or bloggers: who controls the media?</h3>

<i>2005-03-24</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/huangchr/">Christine Huang</a>: </b>




Who controls the voice for online media? <A HREF="http://www.boston.com/ae/media/articles/2005/03/15/study_online_media_is_still_developing_voice/"> The Boston Globe </A> reports the answer is a toss up between established organizations like <A HREF="http://www.ojr.org:80/ojr/blog/ http://www.cnn.com/"> CNN.com </A> and journal entries generated by bloggers. <P>"If the innovative edge for online media is to come from great media institutions with their resources and experience, the signs are so far disappointing. Maybe the innovation will be left to citizens, entrepreneurs, and bloggers who see themselves, perhaps mistakenly, as working in opposition to mainstream journalism," according to a report, titled State of the Media 2005. <P>A survey conducted by the <A HREF=http://www.pewinternet.org/>Pew Internet & American Life Project</A> also indicated that 27% of Internet users are blog readers, which is a significant increase of 58% in this past year. <P>A possible reason for the discrepancy may be that declining newspaper circulation and diminishing television viewership have strained the resources of the news organizations that are capable of producing large- scale online journalism, according to founding Editor-in-Chief of <A HREF="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/"> MSNBC.com </A> Merrill Brown.<BR>



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/312/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Bloggers still need to earn the public's trust</h3>

<i>2005-03-24</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/huangchr/">Christine Huang</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.editorsweblog.org/2005/03/bloggers_future.html"> Editor's Weblog: </A> Public opinion is mixed on who to trust as the best source of news information: bloggers or tradtional news outlets. In the past year, bloggers have had a greater influence on the media industry and trust polls from Toronto’s <A HREF="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20050321.REDELMAN21/BNPrint/theglobeandmail/Canadian"> The Globe and Mail </A> have shown that 56% of Americans are more likely to trust someone like themselves. <P>The <A HREF="http://www.gallup.com/poll/content/login.aspx?ci=15217"> Gallup Poll </A> has also shown that a factor may be the age gap. For example, 91% of 18 to 29-year-olds use the Internet with 44% browsing the blogosphere while 65% of 65-year-olds and older read the newspaper. <P>The <A HREF="http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0324/p02s01-uspo.html"> Christian Science Monitor </A> has also reported that politicians are using blogs to avoid the media, which often puts a spin on speeches and comments. <P>Despite the blogesphere's influence, CNN, USA and the Gallop Poll all agree that, "While blogging is wielding some influence in media and political circles, traditional news outlets are still the dominant sources of information for the American public."   



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Technology/358/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Bloggers Dodge Regulatory Bullet</h3>

<i>2005-03-25</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/stromsta/">Karl-Erik Stromsta</a>: </b>




If a proposed set of campaign finance rules for the Internet had gone into effect, political bloggers would have been imposed with decades-old rules designed for federal election campaigns, including the need to be password-protected unless they were read by fewer than 500 people each month. But <a href=“http://news.com.com/Bloggers+narrowly+dodge+federal+crackdown/2100-1028_3-5635724.html?tag=nefd.top”>CNET</a> reports that the rules were so vehemently decried by the public that FEC Commissioner Bradley Smith specifically warned against a government crackdown on bloggers. “If the March 10 draft had gone into effect, it would have been bloggers with pitchforks and torches storming the Federal Election Commission,” said <a href=“http://redstate.org/”>RedState.org</a> blogger Mike Krempasky. A new set of rules regarding bloggers have been proposed which are far more permissive.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Technology/361/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Online libel case reaches verdict in UK; writer guilty</h3>

<i>2005-03-25</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




From the <A HREF="http://guardian.co.uk">Guardian Online</A>: A landmark libel case has been settled in the UK this week, as fund manager Jerry Benjamin has been ordered to pay damages for the libelous remarks he made about executive Terry Smith on the message board of the <A HREF="http://www.fool.com">Motley Fool</A> Web site. While Benjamin refused to provide details about his identity at first, the court ordered Motley Fool to reveal Benjamin's information sooon afterward. The case is perhaps the UK's first "Internet-related case in which a defendant has settled publicly after making comments anonymously."



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/364/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Gannett names new online news execs</h3>

<i>2005-03-25</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




<A HREF="http://www.gannett.com">Gannett</A> has made two new appointments to its newspaper and online divisions, reports <A HREF="http://www.editorandpublisher.com">Editor and Publisher Online</A>. Peter Lundquist has been appointed vice president/online content and operations and Daniel J. Donaghy has been named vice president/online sales and marketing. Both executives were previously involved in online media. Donaghy was director of online classified sales and Lundquist was director of online content for Gannett's newspaper division, in addition to starting news sites <A HREF="http://www.desmoinesregister.com">DesMoinesRegister.com</A> and <A HREF="http://www.ljworld.com">LJWorld.com</A>.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Business/363/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Clear Channel shifts focus online</h3>

<i>2005-03-25</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.scripting.com">Scripting.com</A>: <A HREF="http://www.clearchannel.com">Clear Channel</A> is shifting its focus to the Internet, reports <A HREF="http://www.reuters.com">Reuters</A>, as the media giant announced plans this week to add original radio programming to all its stations' Web sites. The company also plans to provide subscription online radio services, podcasting and music downloads sometime this year. "Clear Channel is forced into doing this," said Phil Leigh, founder of the firm <A HREF="http://www.insidedigitalmedia.com">Inside Digital Media</A>. "It's very clear that Internet and satellite radio are impacting them." Clear Channel hopes that its new online strategy will be rewarding in terms of online advertising revenues, as the online ad market is growing 25% this year alone. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Business/362/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>FactCheck continues its work</h3>

<i>2005-03-28</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/huangchr/">Christine Huang</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story1318.shtml"> dotJournalism: </A> <A HREF="http://www.channel4.com/news/microsites/F/FactCheck/index.html"> FactCheck.org, </A> the hugely successful site launched for the U.S. Presidential election in November 2004, is at it again. <A HREF="http://www.channel4.com/"> Channel 4 </A> and <A HREF="http://www.itn.co.uk/"> ITN </A> have created a crack team of political journalists to scrutinize and monitor press releases, speeches, interviews and broadcasts given by UK politicians in the run up to the UK’s general election, according to dotJournalism. The team will post up any facts that are extremely exaggerated, inaccurate or significantly altered. FactCheck is led by Jon Bernstein, who was the former editor-in-chief of the UK <A HREF="http://www.directgov.gov.uk/Homepage/fs/en"> DirectGov </A> Website. “This is a second chance for dot com journalism. The credibility gap is closing and the fact that Channel 4 and ITN have chose to set up this project demonstrates that,” said Bernstein. The project is set to launch  March 30 and is expected to run until the general election on May 5. <P><P><BR> <P>



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/366/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Bloggers in Asia covering latest earthquake</h3>

<i>2005-03-28</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/robert/">Robert Niles</a>: </b>




Global Voices Online, at Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society, is tracking <a href="http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/globalvoices/?p=97">several Asian bloggers' responses and reports</a> on today's major quake off the west coast of Indonesia's Sumatra Island. (Link via <a href="http://www.scripting.com/">Scripting News</a>.)<P>OJR documented bloggers' response to last Decmeber's devastating quake and tsunami in a <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050107srinivas/">January article</a>.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/368/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>N.C. newspapers use blogs to keep readership</h3>

<i>2005-03-28</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050327/reinventing_a_newspaper.html?.v=4">Yahoo News</A>: Greensboro's <A HREF="http://www.news-record.com/">News & Record</A> will be the first newspaper of its kind to try an audacious online experiment - its Web site will consist soley of fact-driven blogs. There's a page for reader-submitted articles, another for letters to the editor and an online tips' form. The Web site has online forums on 23 topics, including safety at a local high school and constant updates on road conditions by way of traffic cams that will monitor local roads. The site also posts up-to-date public records on property ownership, marriages and divorce. The move is considered the paper's strategy to combat declining readership and also to restore audience trust in mainstream media. Other newspapers like <A HREF="http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/">The Oregonian</A> and <A HREF="http://usatoday.com/">USA Today</A> are already watching the response to the site, to implement it in their own. "When the paper's overhaul is complete, it may be a model for the sort of 21st century paper that many journalism big thinkers have been talking about, chewing over, and confabbing on for the last few years," according to magazine Editor & Publisher.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/367/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>FEC draft bill regulates paid ads, not bloggers</h3>

<i>2005-03-28</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




From <A HREF="http://www.editorandpublisher.com">Editor and Publisher Online</A>: The <A HREF="http://www.ojr.org:80/ojr/blog/www.fec.gov">Federal Election Commission</A> (FEC) has created a draft bill for campaign finance controls online, reports the <A HREF="http://www.ap.org">AP</A>. The draft includes some types of paid, political ads and political spam e-mail. The FEC was cautious not to regulate too much of the Internet, as they recognize the Web's unique format. The FEC has stayed away from regulating bloggers, even though it has asked for public comment on the regulation of bloggers who are paid to endorse political candidates. Still, some Web advocacy groups, such as the <A HREF="http://www.cfif.org">Center for Individual Freedom</A>, accuse this attempt as the start of the government's foray into online regulation. There will be a hearing held on the issue June 28 and 29, following the current public comment period.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/369/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Podcasting: Money-making force or online fad?</h3>

<i>2005-03-28</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




From the <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk">BBC News</A>: Is podcasting the dotcom revolution of the new millennium? Many, like former <A HREF="http://www.mtv.com">MTV</A> veejay Adam Curry, seem to think so. He and his partner Ron Bloom have created <A HREF="http://www.podshow.com">PodShow</A>, a venture that allows virtually anyone to create, distribute and market their podcasts online. This goal of this growing phenomenon, according to Curry, "is to create a network that, in aggregation, will have enough numbers to support a return on investment for the advertisers and for the podcasters," since podcast audiences are pre-selected via their subscriptions to the program. Others, such as <A HREF="http://www.scripting.com">Scripting.com</A> writer and RSS creator Dave Winer, are more conservative about the power of podcasts. "No matter how you look at it, commercializing this medium isn't going to make very much money," he says. "Podcasting is going to be a medium of niches, with 'audiences' measured in the single digits, like e-mail or blogs."



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/comments.cfm?id=371" target="new2" onclick="window.open('','new2','resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=500,width=500')">Comments (1)</a> | <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Business/371/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Chinese web surfers protest restriction of Internet forum</h3>

<i>2005-03-29</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/easwim7/">Eric Lindberg</a>: </b>




From <a href="http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/article/41792.html"> Linux Insider</a>: Students at Tsinghua University, Beijing, protested a move by the Chinese government to stop critics from posting subversive messages in chat rooms and message boards. Non-students and outsiders are no longer able to use Shuimu.com, a large university forum used by students, alumni and the general public until the recent restrictions. Users posted complaints and pleas for action on other sites, saying the freedom of speech in China is being increasingly restricted. "I feel our channels of communication are already controlled by an invisible hand and our free breathing space is becoming smaller and smaller," one posting read. Chinese censors "crawl" across message boards and chat rooms, looking for sensitive topics and penalizing sites that don’t censor public posts. Others are worried that the protest might create more problems instead of solving them. "It’s thanks to you people out there who are clamoring for freedom all day that we small potatoes worry that we won’t even be able to use the Internet at all in the future," said an anonymous posting. If chat room and bulletin board  freedoms are restricted, many believe blogs will become more popular.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/372/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>NY tech reporter under fire for online articles</h3>

<i>2005-03-29</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000856099">Editor and Publisher Online</A>: Michelle Delio, a a 37-year-old New York City freelance technology writer, is facing scrutiny for some online articles she may have written. <BR>The probing was initiated when MIT's Technology Review magazine pulled back two articles she wrote for them due to source credibility. Delio has been a regular contributor for Wired News. New York University professor Adam Penenberg, who also writes a media column for Wired News, will review Delio's work. On the fallacies of new media, Technology Review's editor-in-chief, Jason Pontin said that "the hard truth of online publishing is that we trust to the accuracy and honesty of reporters." 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/373/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>AOL launches teen blogging service</h3>

<i>2005-03-29</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/easwim7/">Eric Lindberg</a>: </b>




From <a href="http://news.com.com/AOL+unveils+blogging+service+for+teens/2100-1038_3-5645000.html">CNET News</a>: <a href="http://www.aol.com">AOL</a> on Tuesday launched a new blogging service, Red Blogs, directed toward teenage users. The blog service allows teens to change color and layout as well as varying degrees of privacy. "With the unique customization features threaded throughout Red Blogs, we are confident that our more than 5 million teen members will find this the best place online to express their creativity, showcase ideas and share their thoughts with others," said Malcolm Bird, general manager of AOL Teens & Kids. In a survey by AOL and <a href="http://www.dmsdallas.com/company_overview.html">Digital Marketing Services</a>, teenagers said they found blogs more interesting than other sites and they prefer reading blogs about entertainment and celebrity news. AOL joins a list of companies offering blogging services to their users, including <a href="http://www.msn.com">MSN</a> and <a href="http://www.yahoo.com">Yahoo</a>.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/comments.cfm?id=374" target="new2" onclick="window.open('','new2','resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=500,width=500')">Comments (1)</a> | <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/374/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Dishing the dirt--online vs. traditional gossip</h3>

<i>2005-03-29</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




From <a href="http://www.news.com">CNET News</a>: Did you hear about the blogger who took the gossip columnist's job away? In today's world of citizen journalists and bloggers, Liz Smith dishes about the role of traditional gossip columnists. "You can go to so many places now to get the down and dirty, I don't even try," she says. "It's really hard now to get a scoop. With the whole world writing gossip, where is the place for the professional gossip?" With sites like <a href="http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com">NewYorkSocialDiary.com</a> to <a href="http://www.wonkette.com">Wonkette</a> to <a href="http://www.starmagazine.com">Star</a> and <a href="http://www.usweekly.com">Us Weekly's</a> sites, the Internet is fast-becoming a gossip mecca. Jeannette Walls, <a href="http://www.msnbc.com">MSNBC's</a> gossip queen says the Web is the perfect medium for gossip: "It's quick and immediate, you can write short and you can go into it and update it if something happens." So will the mighty dame of gossip give in to the blog frenzy anytime soon? Smith says she reads six newspapers a day-- no blogs. But she does make her presence known both in print and online; you can find her column at <a href="http://www.pagesix.com">PageSix.com</a>.<BR>



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/377/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Dow Jones exec hopeful for online news subscriptions</h3>

<i>2005-03-29</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




Via <a href="http://www.iwantmedia.com">I Want Media</a>: Gordon Crovitz, president of electronic publishing at <a href="http://www.dowjones.com">Dow Jones</a>, said on Tuesday that he believes more and more newspapers will start charging for access to their online content, reports <a href="http://www.reuters.com">Reuters</a>. Currently, the <a href="http://www.wsj.com">Wall Street Journal</a>--a Dow Jones paper--is the only publication to charge for access to nearly all of its online content. "Publishers in all mediums have tended to devalue their brands," said Crovitz. "I am very confident that other publishers will find ways to generate online subscription revenues." The paid-for vs. free online content is a hot topic in online journalism right now, but Crovitz believes it's ok to provide free content as long as it doesn't affect the print version's viability. <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com">MarketWatch</a>, for instance, is also a Dow Jones company but doesn't charge for access to its content because it's an "Internet-only publication that does not compete with a print version of itself." Other major news sites, such as <a href="http://www.nytimes.com">The New York Times</a>, have been wrestling with whether or not to charge for access to most of their content, but have not yet reached a solid decision.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Business/376/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>BBC News online radio streams growing in popularity</h3>

<i>2005-03-29</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Sogole/">Sogole Honarvar</a>: </b>




<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk">BBC News</a> reports that the number of people listening to its online streaming radio shows has grown 25% in the last month alone. All forms of online radio listening for the outlet have increased; digital-only shows, shows available only online and on-demand shows, shows available after initial airing, have both grown in popularity as well.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Business/375/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>USC to work with DoD: survey state of soldiers’ comm. tech.</h3>

<i>2005-03-30</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/janinemk/">Janine Kahn</a>: </b>




The USC Annenberg School's <a href="http://www.digitalcenter.org/">Center for the Digital Future</a> will be working closely with the U.S. <a href="http://www.defenselink.mil/">Department of Defense</a> during the next three years, conducing an extensive survey to discern the state of communication technology within the military, according to director <a href="http://www.digitalcenter.org/pages/person_details.asp?intTypeId=1">Jeffery Cole</a>, who spoke at the "Dean's Open Forum on Politics, War ... and more" at USC last Thursday.<BR> <BR>The survey will span "all ranks across all services across all locations," and will include everyone from soldiers stationed with their families in America, to those overseas--whether in harm’s way or not, and even those manning isolated aircraft carriers.<P>"We’re going to try to learn what kind of access they have, what kind of information to they want to share," said Cole, maintaining that technology has already transformed the battlefield, changing communication in a way that is staggering.<P>"Soldiers are now active in their families' lives. You have soldiers who are online doing homework with their children from Iraq and Afghanistan. We have now had soldiers say that they will call home and talk to their spouses who will say 'I’m sorry, just put a little laundry in, can you call me back?'" <P>Having looked over surveys conducted by the DoD in the past, Cole said that when asked what the government could do for them short of sending them home to improve their quality of life, the soldiers' reply was a resounding: "more Internet access." <P>"The DoD is terrified of this technology," said Cole, touching on the department's desire for protection and secrecy. <P>"Now, literally, families know where their loved ones are at any moment. They know which engagements they’re about to go through. They worry at certain times. If it’s 6 p.m. and they haven’t heard anything they worry about what happened." <P>While it still takes the DoD 48 hours to inform a family of a casualty, "in almost every instance, the family already knows what's happened within 2 hours."<P>People don't want to join the military for two reasons, said Cole: loneliness and separation. But communication technology is starting to change all that. <P>"I came to believe that this technology, Internet and wireless, wars to minimize the hardship of separation and distance and to improve the quality of life of those who serve." 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Technology/380/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>CBS site posts Schiavo obit early</h3>

<i>2005-03-30</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Danielle/">Danielle Datu</a>: </b>




From <A HREF="http://www.americandaily.com/article/7302">American Daily</A>:  CBS prematurely announced Terri Schiavo’s death on its <A HREF="http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/home/main100.shtml">news site</A> March 28th.  The article, written by Christine Lagorio, was pulled within a day.  However, Glen Beck, talk radio show host of "The Glenn Beck Program" in Philadelphia, caught the story before it became a disappearing act.  Beck published it on his <A HREF="http://www.glennbeck.com/news/03292005.shtml">site</A> and made it available in <A HREF="http://www.glennbeck.com/news/03-29-05/printable683.pdf">PDF format </A>.  The article predicted, "Surrounded by stuffed animals and medical equipment in her small hospice room in Pinellas Park, Fla., Theresa Marie Schindler Schiavo died TK."<BR>



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/People/383/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Oldest Asian news site turns 10</h3>

<i>2005-03-30</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Via <A HREF="http://joongangdaily.joins.com/">JoonAng Daily National</A>:  JoongAng Ilbo's <A HREF="http://joongangdaily.joins.com/">Asian news site</A> celebrated its 10-year anniversary. "Joins.com is based on news but it is growing into a new media portal site," said Kim Jin-ki, president of Joins.com. Launched in March 1995, the site started with news in Korean, English and Japanese and added more services over the years. Today, it boasts a blog service for access to magazines published by the Joong-Ang's publishing company. The site also allows one to browse through e-comic books, register for online lectures and make travel reservations.  Only 300,000 people used the Internet in Korea when the site was launched. Now, Korean Click Media and Internet Matrix's recent survey estimate around 10 million people visit Joins.com per month. The site is the longest-running online news service in Asia.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/381/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Net-savvy hobbyists and food blogs</h3>

<i>2005-03-30</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/aarthi/">Aarthi Sivaraman</a>: </b>




Move over political blogs, food blogs are asking for space, reports the Washington Post, via <A HREF="http://www.indystar.com/articles/4/232925-6204-047.html">the Indianapolis Star</A>. Internet junkies who also have it big for food are now creating food blogs that range all the way from the life of an aspiring chef to the carefully updated collection of recipes from a Filipino mother. Google hits for "food" and "blogs" exceed eight million, though a good part are not in English. Food blogs are becoming so popular that <A HREF="http://2005.bloggies.com/">Bloggies</A> - awards for popular blogs presented each year - even introduced a food category this year. <A HREF="http://cookingforengineers.com/">Cooking for Engineers</A> walked away with the prize this year for easy and quick recipes. 



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/382/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Reuters to host “Blogs and the Media Debate”</h3>

<i>2005-03-31</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/Danielle/">Danielle Datu</a>: </b>




From <A HREF="http://www.blogherald.com/2005/03/31/reuters-to-host-blog-debate/">The Blog Herald</A>: <A HREF="http://reuters.com">Reuters</A> will host a panel discussion the evening of April 5 called "Blogs and the Media Debate" in New York.  The panel of seven from all walks of media life will consider the validity of blogs in journalism. The media experts include Paul Holmes, Reuters global editor of general and political news, Stephen Baker, senior writer at IT Group/<A HREF="http://www.businessweek.com/">BusinessWeek</A>, Jay Rosen, author/<A HREF="http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/weblogs/pressthink/">blogger</A>/NYU associate professor, Bryan Keefer, assistant managing editor of <A HR F="http://www.cjrdaily.org/"> Columbia Journalism Review Daily </A>, Garrett Graff, first White House accredited <A HREF="http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/">blogger</A>, Dave Winer, editor of <A HREF="http://www.scripting.com/">Scripting News</A> and John Fund, columnist at <A HREF=http://www.opinionjournal.com/> OpinionJournal.com</A>. They will raise and answer questions such as "Should (bloggers) be afforded the same rights as journalists?," and "Are (bloggers) seeking the truth and exposing poor journalism or are they being used as campaigning tools to advance paticular causes or points of view?".



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Events/385/">Archive Link</a></p>

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<h3>Free speech for terrorists?</h3>

<i>2005-03-31</i><p>
<b>By <a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/stromsta/">Karl-Erik Stromsta</a>: </b>




It has become increasingly easy for Islamic militants to post videos of bombings and beheadings on the Internet, reports <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2005/TECH/internet/03/30/al.qaeda.sites.reut/index.html">CNN</a>, and it’s probably only a matter of time until such insurgent groups are able to set up their own stable 'news' sites. Though groups like al Qaeda may have a difficult time finding permanent hosts for their Web sites, the nature of the Internet allows them to simply start anew if one particular host pulls the plug on them. "It becomes an endless 'whack-a-mole' game," said Roger Cressy, a former White House official and security consultant. Web sites are a popular propaganda and recruiting tool for terrorists, and have in some ways become a fixture of the news community, often breaking stories of insurgent attacks.



<p><a href="http://www.ojr.org/ojr/blog/Sites/386/">Archive Link</a></p>

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