Adopt-a-multimedia journalist

This weblog’s existence can be credited to Bryan Murley, my Multimedia Journalism professor at Eastern Illinois University. I say this because a weblog is a requirement of that class. As such, we (the students of the class) have a few requirements for our blogs. One of which is a final project entitled “Adopt-a-multimedia Journalism” where we choose a journalist in the field that is currently creating new media work (videos, Flash, Soundslides, etc.) and then we have to write a critique of their work. That said, I have chosen Amanda Cox of the New York Times and her work is amazing, so there will be inspirational value within. Avoid or flock to these posts as you see fit.

Click the image for the actual piece.

Filed under: Adopt-a-multimedia Journalist, Graphic, Inspiration, Newspapers, School, Web, Web Design , Adopt-a-multimedia Journalist, Assignments, Beauty, Class, Graphics, Inspire, Interactives, Personal, School, Web

Monitor introduces Sunday ‘Print Edition Exclusives’

Well, at least someone is trying something different. Hopefully the Monitor publishes the results of this experiment. My guess: No one will care.

Beginning this Sunday, we are going to begin reversing that trend a bit. From now on, each Sunday edition of The Monitor will prominently feature one or more “Print Edition Exclusive” stories that are of major impact, importance and interest to Valley readers.

via Monitor introduces Sunday ‘Print Edition Exclusives’ | monitor, print, edition – Now – TheMonitor.com.

Filed under: Newspapers, Print, State of the Industry, Web , Experimentation, Newspapers, Print, Web

Inaugruation day

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Round up

• Charles Apple rounds them up
• Apple analyzes pages the day after inauguration
• Robb Montgomery gives a more international look

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NY Times interactive

This and this are the type of interactive pieces newspapers should be doing. With our (still) large staffs, this kind of “story” is what will separate us from the standard news blog. For a paper that gets flack for being “stuck in their ways,” The New York Times consistently sets itself ahead of the American news media with pieces like this. Keep it up.

Filed under: Uncategorized , Interactives, Newspapers, Print, Web

The Trib goes tab (updated)

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Update: How they’re handling the work load

Charles Apple profiles the 4 new Trib designers

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Round up

• The Tribune’s letter to its readers
• SND talks to Steve Cavindish
• Editor and Publisher gives a review
• A couple of videos about the new format
• Ron Reason interviews the Trib’s Associate Editor
• The business benefits of the new format
• Charles Apple’s take

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My Thoughts

I like the new attitude the Chicago Tribune has started taking on. This is design with purpose. The reviews seem positive and the paper is giving readers what they want. I’m still a bit puzzled how they are handling this with recent staff cuts, but that’s their issue and not mine. So far, so good.

Unfortunately, this  addresses half of the Trib’s problems. Their website is in a severe need of an update. Videos are weak, navigation is a struggle, and outside content is nearly non-existent. Contrast this to the attitude of the New York Times who have headed directly into the online fray.

As much as I love print design (seriously, this industry downturn has produced so much redesign crack that I’m considering rehab), this reformatting is only a temporary bandage on a gaping wound. I’ll save the details for a future post, but newspapers should be taking over the online space, not sitting on the sidelines. We have companies with millions of dollars — for now, anyway — losing millions of visitors to sites like Digg, Reddit, Delicious, and even The Huffington Post. These sites prove that people still like reading the news — they just don’t take it in the same way.

So, great job, Chicago: You have made your print product more relevant. Now take this attitude to the web.

Filed under: Newspapers , Newspapers, Print, Tabloid, Web