Sunday, May 10, 2009
Fort Greene and Clinton Hill: further exploration
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/02/27/new-york-times-expected-to-launch-local-blog-network-on-monday/
http://www.clintonhillblog.com/2009/02/27/ny-times-to-start-fort-greene-clinton-hill-blog/
http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/blog/2009/mar/2/new-york-times-goes-local/
Some comparative community news blogs related to the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill area:
Atlantic Yards Report
http://atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com/
Brooklyn Paper
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/sections/fort_greene/
Brooklynian
http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=6
Brownstoner
http://www.brownstoner.com/
CHAOC Blog
http://chaocblog.wordpress.com/
Clinton Hill Blog
http://www.clintonhillblog.com/
Clinton Hill Chill
http://clintonhillchill.wordpress.com/
myrtle minutes
http://www.myrtleavenue.org/blog/
Myrtle Shuffle
http://myrtleshuffle.wordpress.com/
The Hill
http://thehillbrooklyn.org/
modes of control- norms
Here I saw another example of using norms as a mode of control. I expected the NYT to try to enforce journalistic standards, but I did not really expect that it would often be the citizens that would demand that standard from the NYT.
I love how the interviewee tries discussing a serious event that happened in the actual neighborhood, and the interviewer seems more interested in asking about penis noses and crying.
Also, if you’re going to interview locals about life in the neighborhood, please move on from asking them their favorite places to eat. I agree with this guy - food is boring.
Seriously, please fire this interviewer unless she can start asking questions that are neither insipid nor condescending.
Interview Fail.
— shaq-fu
I too think this was a disaster. Here, the subject of the interview started to talk about a serious issue that could have been followed up with another posting about crime, safety and resources for victims in the neighborhood, but no… we got crying and penis noses.
Is this REALLY what the New York Times is about??
— larry
Myryah-
Thank you for responding to our comments. My main issues have already been made; perhaps it was bad editing perhaps not. I simply believe that The New York Times stands for excellence in newspaper journalism. While the blog format is inherently casual, that (in my opinion) does not give reporters quality carte blanche.
As a resident of Clinton Hill, I hoped (and still do) that this blog could be a glimpse of the neighborhood with the same high caliber reporting that the New York Times has built its stellar reputation on. There are other blogs out there that cover the neighborhood. How is this one to be different? A pedigree name alone only gets you so far; ultimately the content (even as casual as blogs are) needs to measure up.
This is not just a commentary on this article but also the blog as a whole.
— larry
Here norms as a mode of control was successful, as NYT editor and reporter Andy Newman responded by posting the full transcript of the interview.
Gentle readers (and writers): In keeping with The Local’s Policy of Maximum Transparency, and because there’s interest, I give you the original text of Myryah’s interview with Karl, unedited save for two swear words that I changed to [expletive]s:
http://fort-greene.blogs.nytimes.com/karl-unabridged/
— Andy Newman
Modes of control- participation
Here, the commenter was asking that participation be the overriding mode of control in the discussion.
“andy,
you missed the real point here.
what you are doing running this blog is a reasonable attempt by the big parent corporation to see whats going on in the streets.
5L4M makes, indirectly, a very strong point, albeit aggressively. you should not have tried “to get the discussion back on point.” you should have left it be. you will learn, eventually, how to deal with the snarky comments. no need to take 5L4M to task for expecting an educator to be educated.
let this one burn bright for what it is, not what you want it to be.”
— hank
Modes of control- filtration
“I went through the following emotions in a very brief amount of time: unaware, curious, informed, aggregated, and now hopeful. There were some valid responses made by community members and others like working on productive relationships, choosing the appropriate school, and educators presenting themselves as models. Even though the apology was made, editting Principal Keaton’s letter was an adrupt way of allowing him to reflect on criticism. Even though blogging is a form of expression, some things should be said in person or never said at all. If people feel so passionate about their opinions, then why not set up a meeting with him. If you never had a “constructive” meeting with Principal Keaton and never plan to, then put your masks back on and SHUT UP!”
— BinyBabe
“BinyBabe - I approved your comment because you make interesting points but you know better than to yell shut up at people. Please don’t do it again if you want to continue commenting.”
— Andy Newman
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Interview with Ava Chin
How did you get involved with writing for The Local? Why did you want to get involved?
I was pitching a foraging story to the newspaper—a quirky only-in-NY kind of piece about stumbling upon a surprising find in Brooklyn’s equivalent of Central Park—when a former colleague from the Village Voice, who runs a sports blog for the Times, recommended the online version of the paper. From there, I sent the story to various editors of the City Room, who forwarded it to the Local’s Andy Newman, who emailed me, I’d love it if you did a version of this for a new section that the Times is starting. I said, sign me up.
What types of things do you like to contribute to the site?
I write the Urban Forager column—it’s a column that centers around finding wild edibles in the neighborhoods. Mostly, I advocate things like, don’t eradicate that weed—make it into salsa instead!
How does your experience compare to writing for more traditional media?
I’ve written for years for various publications like the Los Angeles Times, the Village Voice, SPIN, VIBE, and even Martha Stewart online. Because it’s the NY Times’ online content, the process is relatively the same as with print—there’s a rigorous editing process where an editor and a top editor look at the work, and I answer any queries they may have.
How are journalistic models of citizen reporting advantageous?
What challenges or limitations do citizen reporting news sites face?
In general, citizen-reporting sites may lack quality controls, especially if they’re not run by professionals--and by that I mean folks trained to edit copy and to consider accuracy in reporting.
What challenges does The Local specifically face? What successes have you seen with the site?
At first the Local faced some skepticism from some neighbors—which is understandable. Sort of a, “Who are you and why are you coming in here? We don’t need you to change the nature of our neighborhood and further raise the price of rents.” But from what I can see residents have gotten over that and are happy they have a sort of information about where they live. And people from all over Brooklyn are reading it—not just in the targeted areas of
As long as the NYT name is on this blog, they will have to maintain some oversight with its content. Do you think moving to a citizen generated site is reasonable/sustainable? How much oversight do you think the NYT will need to maintain?
As a journalist and professor of nonfiction writing/journalism at CUNY-Staten Island (City University of New York), I think it’s great that the Times DOES oversee the content—it’s a great brand and why water it down with lesser quality?
It’s funny because even while the Times calls all of its online content a “blog” it’s not a “blog” in the traditional sense of the word—we tend to think of blogs as spontaneous, unedited writing that just erupts from the writer’s head. The Times blogs have all the quality controls of a great publication: you pitch an idea to an editor (at least initially, until you establish yourself), then the story goes through that person and a top editor as well. It’s like the Times is redefining the idea of a blog.
Given that, do you think a site like this is possible to implement and maintain in other communities?
As mentioned before, I’m trained as a journalist and am a professor of nonfiction/journalism at CUNY, so I believe that online sites SHOULD maintain quality and accuracy in reporting.
What sort of process do you go through to submit your writing? Can you post/report whenever you want or does your work go through editors at the NYT? Are you given specific topics/ideas to blog about?
(See my answer above to “How much oversight…”). The Urban Forager comes out about twice a month. I usually email my editor the ideas I have and then go out into the field—but I never know what I’ll find. When I first went out into
Do you anticipate being a long-term contributor to this blog?
Yes, I’m doing the Urban Forager throughout the foraging season, which goes through the winter. Even in December, I’ve found edible weeds poking up through the snow.
Do you see a site like this being able to replace a traditional local newspaper?
I hate to think of traditional newspapers dying out, and I keep thinking of all those people who don’t have computers at home—and there are many. What about them? How are they going to get the news aside from watching it on television or listening to it on the radio?
Interview with C. Zawadi Morris
How did you get involved with writing for The Local? Why did you want to get involved?
When the site launched, they ran a story online about it, and I contacted the editor and gave them my information (I have a master’s degree in journalism from Medill), and they brought me on board. I love writing.
What types of things do you like to contribute to the site?
Stories that deal with life and people in a microcosm; everyday wonders that normally would not make news; and stories that inspire.
How does your experience compare to writing for more traditional media?
They are much more open to pitches about random items. As we are unpaid, they act very supportive and grateful for our contributions. The editing is still very stringent, as it is still The New York Times.
How are journalistic models of citizen reporting advantageous?
It is much more personal. It creates a more intimate dialogue between a community of people, and also inspires greater community activism. It becomes a social networking site of sorts.
What challenges or limitations do citizen reporting news sites face?
The stories are shorter. The tend to incorporate less editorial and more news-based reporting.
What challenges does The Local specifically face? What successes have you seen with the site?
I am unsure of the challenges on the editorial side, as I am just a freelance reporter. However the site’s popularity has grown tremendously in a short period of time, and it continues to grow.
As long as the NYT name is on this blog, they will have to maintain some oversight with its content. Do you think moving to a citizen generated site is reasonable/sustainable? How much oversight do you think the NYT will need to maintain?
I think citizen generated sites are most definitely sustainable, and are the wave of the future.
Given that, do you think a site like this is possible to implement and maintain in other communities?
Yes.
What sort of process do you go through to submit your writing? Can you post/report whenever you want or does your work go through editors at the NYT? Are you given specific topics/ideas to blog about?
We are assigned, as well as pitch stories. Editorial review remains stringent.
Do you anticipate being a long-term contributor to this blog?
Yes.
Do you see a site like this being able to replace a traditional local newspaper?
Over time, yes. But there are so many factors to address and consider before a complete replacement could take place. There’s still great value in news print that is portable. I still enjoy the fact that I can read the Sunday Times the following Tuesday, or on the bus or in the bathroom. These sort of conveniences are not so easily available through online news.
Interview with Frankie Edozien
Here's an except of what he had to say.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Filtering as a mode of control
Comments are always posted unedited, and with the author's (presumably) real name. I've found that most commenters use first names, initials or an alias.
The lowdown on comments:
Why do you moderate readers' comments?
Our goal is to provide substantive commentary for a general readership. By screening submissions, we have created a space where readers can exchange intelligent and informed commentary that enhances the quality of our news and information.
While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderating decisions are subjective. We will make them as carefully and consistently as we can. Because of the volume of reader comments, we cannot review individual moderation decisions with readers and generally cannot alter a comment once it is posted.
What kind of comments are you looking for?
We value thoughtful comments representing a range of views that make their point quickly and politely. We make an effort to protect discussions from repeated comments – either by the same reader or different readers.
We follow the same standards for taste as the daily newspaper. A few things we won't tolerate: personal attacks, obscenity, vulgarity, profanity (including expletives and letters followed by dashes), commercial promotion, impersonations, incoherence and SHOUTING.
Do you edit comments?
No. Comments are either approved or they're not. We reserve the right to edit a comment that is quoted or excerpted in an article or in the "Comment of the Moment" blog feature. In those cases, we may fix spelling and punctuation.
When and where will my comment be displayed?
Comments are typically posted faster during business hours. Moderation can be less frequent in the evening and on weekends. All comments are published to a comments page, which is linked to from the main article or blog post. We reserve the right to display comments in a variety of ways, including within the text of articles or in advertisements.
Should I use my real name when making a comment?
Yes, definitely. Please fill in the name field with your real name or initials. We have found that people who use their names carry on more engaging, respectful conversations. However, we recommend against using your full e-mail address on security grounds.
A reminder: Once your comment is published, it can be found in search results on Web sites like Google and Yahoo. A New York Times reporter may occasionally use the e-mail address you have listed in our Member Center for a follow-up interview. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy.
What about criticism of The Times?
We welcome strong opinions and criticism of our work, but we don't want comments to become bogged down with discussions of our policies, and we will moderate accordingly.
Should I post new information about a breaking news story? What if I see an error in a blog post or article? What is the best way to suggest a correction?
Increasingly, our readers across the globe contribute valuable information and clarifications as news is breaking. Keep it coming!
We appreciate it when readers and people quoted in articles or blog posts point out errors of fact or emphasis and will investigate all assertions. But these suggestions should be sent by e-mail. Many of our blogs provide specific e-mail addresses for feedback and corrections. To avoid distracting other readers, we won't publish comments that suggest a correction. Instead, corrections will be made in a blog post or at the top of an article, and also can be found on the main Corrections page.
To send a message about news coverage, e-mail nytnews@nytimes.com or call toll-free at 1-888-NYT-NEWS (1-888-698-6397). Comments on editorials may be e-mailed to letters@nytimes.com or faxed to (212) 556-3622. Readers dissatisfied with a response or concerned about the paper's journalistic integrity may reach the public editor at public@nytimes.com or (212) 556-7652.
What I love about The Local
Research questions
Thursday, May 7, 2009
So how's this going to work?
Why is The New York Times doing this?
There’s a growing consensus in the media world that one way that newspapers can sustain themselves is to foster what is known as participatory journalism or citizen journalism. The Times wants to see if it can find a sustainable way to do this. Your backyard is the petri dish where we will try to grow it.Visit http://fort-greene.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/hey-kids-lets-put-on-a-blog/ to read more.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The scoop
"We expect to sell ads to local merchants using our telesales and self-serve ad solution. Our two pilot sites are staffed with full-time NYTimes reporters. That’s not cheap. Obviously, it’s also not a sustainable model. We’re trying to figure out what would be. Can we create a combination of journalism, technology and advertising that people who don’t work for us can adopt? How much or how little oversight by us would be needed to keep the quality high? Would people pay to be associated with us? Would there be enough revenue that some split between us and a non-NYT blogger would work?"
(as posted to techcrunch.com)
Welcome to my project
What do invasive plants, children’s artwork, professional wrestling and the local grocer all have in common? They are all topics of interest in the communities of
The interesting part? This community blog incorporates citizen reporting with professional coverage in an attempt to construct a sustainable model of community journalism. But here’s where it gets tricky. According to Jim Schachter, editor for digital initiatives at the NYT, the current model of The Local is anything but sustainable. Currently staffed with full-time reporters, The Local will have to transition to a cheaper model of production in order to stay afloat. But as the site becomes increasingly generated by citizen content, will the The Local be able to maintain the standard of work required to bear the New York Times name? How will its producers attempt such a transition? I will be asking these and other research questions as I follow the development of the blog in its early stages.