Comments on: Shopping for readers: a proposal for local news

By: Michael Josefowicz

Michael Josefowicz — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:24:21 +0000

Very cool discussion and brainstorming. The part that really caught my eye was "Maybe we have to focus on serving the needs of one master -- the consumer, the reader -- over the ever-elusive "advertiser" in order to build an audience with staying power that's addicted to our information." Yes and nicely put. Addicted is just the right word. as in "addicted to books, or the Mets, or Rock n' Roll. Another word describing the same activity are fans. Fans are very happy to buy stuff that signfies their fandom. So while serving the needs of one master, you can use the web to nurture tribes of fans. Then instead of advertising other people's stuff to sell, invent stuff to sell them directly. It seems to be working for the NewYorker magazine. " target="_blank">www.newyorker.com/"

By: The story so far: I actually want the news business to succeed — Zero Percent Idle

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:47:25 +0000

[...] A proposal for creating a “sales and deals” beat [...]

By: Gus

Gus — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:40:51 +0000

have you seen the "Pogue-o-matic" at NYTimes.com? It's a little too Flash-y for my tastes, but clearly, the NYT is starting to go down this path you're talking about.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/11/18/t...

By: Gus

Gus — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:37:08 +0000

How about Google expanding its BookSearch app for Android to include far more product bar codes? Imagine being able to tag a product review someone writes for a tech blog with the bar code of the item you're reviewing, and not just keyword tags?

http://booksearch.blogspot.com/2008/11/search-p...

By: Gus

Gus — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:43:50 +0000

To be super-useful, i'd like to see such a site incorporate bar-code technology on a mobile platform (with smart phones that can read bar codes.) so people can use their smartphones at stores to access that information while on the fly: product reviews, comparison pricing, recipes, etc. can something like this be done without using bar-code tech? it seems like the lowest common technology denominator for this type of use.

it would be exciting to see something like this in action. but i'm not sure a traditional newspaper company will undertake such a venture. however, i wouldn't be surprised if unemployed journalists end up getting involved in these types of efforts.

By: Gus

Gus — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:40:51 +0000

By: Gus

Gus — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:40:51 +0000

By: Gus

Gus — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:37:08 +0000

By: Gus

Gus — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:43:50 +0000

By: timwindsor

timwindsor — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:18:31 +0000

And imagine if those recipes and wine reviews were databased then flagged
when primary ingredients (steak, flounder) or a particular vintage show up
on sale at the local Safeway. Wouldn't that be useful?

This stuff can be done. A few smart developers, a platoon of interns, some
dedicated reporters and (once they see what's in it for them) a growing
cadre of reader/reporters could build this into a very useful feature.

By: timwindsor

timwindsor — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:15:17 +0000

This stuff can be done. A few smart developers, a platoon of interns, some dedicated reporters and (once they see what's in it for them) a growing cadre of reader/reporters could build this into a very useful feature.

By: anon

anon — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:00:23 +0000

How about even the basics of making a story of practical use to the reader. Our “Food” section every week is full of recipes — but often one or more ingredients aren't available in town. Or, if they are, maybe only at a few small ethnic groceries. Why not take a few minutes to call around and include where such ingredients can be found (or not bother printing the recipe if they're not available here)?

Same with wine reviews — some of the wines reviewed and/or recommended in the wire-service copy we routinely print aren't available here. Why are we bothering?

By: Gus

Gus — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:14:01 +0000

Tim,

I think your ideas are excellent, but I also think it is the kind of undertaking that the business side of newspapers should take the lead on experimenting with, with newsrooms choosing their involvement more carefully. How about a Digg-like interface for advertisers who are willing to pitch their best deals to our readers? great deals get voted up by our readers, poor deals drift to the bottom.

Maybe we have to focus on serving the needs of one master -- the consumer, the reader -- over the ever-elusive "advertiser" in order to build an audience with staying power that's addicted to our information.

Check out www.crowdsprout.com -- a new site that operates on the principle of collective buying power. Why couldn't a newspaper company build something like this for its readers -- a site that acts like a fluid, virtual marketplace?

Anyhow, I like your ideas. I think some will become reality, if not for newspapers, than for other bizes that traffic in news and information.

By: Notes from a Teacher - Tuesday squibs

Notes from a Teacher - Tuesday squibs — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:48:30 +0000

[...] Shopping for readers: a proposal for local news. Tim Windsor riffs on an Amy Gahran comment and wonders why local newspapers don’t include local shopping news (best deals, sales, etc.) among their coverage. I can think of one reason: a high potential to make some potential advertisers unhappy enough to go away. [...]

By: John Hopkins

John Hopkins — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:18:32 +0000

A staple of the first papers published in this country was a listing of the ships arriving in harbor and what cargo they carried. Readers wanted to know that nails, linen, tea or wine soon would be in the local shops or available at the dock. Maybe someone should experiment with a Twitter feed or something like it, reporting posted sales. Two websites have built quite a following with little more than gasoline prices. I liked that consumer-news blog that one of you pointed out at the Raleigh N&O.