The U.T. School of Journalism and Electronic Media's conference on web journalism hosted a presentation by Rob Curley of the Washington Post last night.
He gave an entertaining presentation on some of the incredible, award winning work he has done with interactive news websites over the years. Some of it is mind boggling.
Here are some brief notes from his 2+ hour presentation...
Why do people visit websites? 1) Passion: to read about and participate in things they are interested in. 2) Practical: to get practical advice and info on consumer purchases, reviews, movie schedules, traffic reports, etc. 3) Playful: as a diversion, to waste time.
Some notes on news website development:
Create "hyper-deep" content, with layers and layers of information about a topic that users can drill down into.
Support this using database driven coverage, and hire the best database geeks to build it.
Go for multimedia overkill.
Evergeeen content: for example, a town's history. You only have to write it and build it once and update it every year or so.
Platform independent delivery: design for reading via mobile devices, iPhones, RSS readers, internet, video distribution, e-mail, the web, etc. etc.
Create a dialog, not a monologue.
Build websites that work the way the internet works.
Use "intern-ology", getting lots of interns to do lots of labor intensive work and research.
Many of the innovative examples presented to illustrate these concepts are extinct, presumably because Rob has moved on and taken the crews that knew how they worked with him (which could be another topic of discussion: "sustainable development" in the software world). One that survives is Washington Post's On Being.
The Next Big Things:
• HD over IP, Apple TV
• Metered internet
• Google Open Social
UPDATE: Katie has this report about the venue, and will have more on the presentation throughout the day.
UPDATE: Jack Lail comments on the presentation.
UPDATE: Russ McBee comments on the presentations.
UPDATE: Bob Benz, who was also a panelist at the conference, weighs in. (If you want to monetize your website, Bob Benz is the go to guy.)
Topics:
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Discussing:
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- DOJ mixed messages-Is it safe? (2 replies)
- UFC confirms Trump's plan to host a fight at White House in 2026 (1 reply)
- Cost of a hamburger at Old City restaurants (1 reply)
- U.S. Rep. Burchett (TN): Seriously??? (1 reply)
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TN Progressive
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- My choices in the August election (Left Wing Cracker)
- July 4, 2024 - aka The Twilight Zone (Joe Powell)
- Chef steals food to serve at restaurant? (BlountViews)
- Winter at the Big Rocks (Whitescreek Journal)
TN Politics
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Knox TN Today
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- Nicky Anosike to enter Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame (Knox TN Today)
- Ijams gets $46,732 boost + Rappelling for Rivers + Lonsdale landscaping ++ (Knox TN Today)
- Dining Duo goes to Dean’s (Knox TN Today)
- Zoo Knoxville welcomes new female gorilla, Bella (Knox TN Today)
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- Samantha’s story as ‘foster parent’ (Knox TN Today)
- HEADLINES 7/11: World & national news to ‘Movies Under the Stars’ (Knox TN Today)
- Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration by Food City (Knox TN Today)
- Solo traveling: The Smokies are calling … (Knox TN Today)
- More residents working & owning homes, BUT … (Knox TN Today)
Local TV News
- Following Texas floods, warning sirens get renewed attention (WATE)
- Man facing charges in Lexington arrested after pursuit through West Knoxville (WATE)
- Federal funding freeze hits support staff, gifted program at Knox County Schools (WATE)
- Blount County Sheriff's Office searching for man last seen Wednesday (WATE)
- Tennesseans can now obtain a boating license online (WATE)
- New Dandridge greenway along Douglas Lake aims to boost tourism (WATE)
News Sentinel
State News
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- The Rant - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- Remember When, Chattanooga? Frog lights illuminated this Market Street restaurant - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- Crews contain fire near Incline Railway tracks - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
Wire Reports
- Judge Blocks Trump Administration Tactics in L.A. Immigration Raids - The New York Times (US News)
- Hospital says California farmworker is alive after 30-foot fall during ICE raid - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos (US News)
- Trump tours devastation in Texas, meeting with families and first responders - The Washington Post (US News)
- Fed building renovation gives Trump new opening to attack Powell - The Washington Post (Business)
- Dow Jones Futures: Stocks Hold Up Amid Trump Tariffs, But This Is Worrisome; Google, AMD Near Buy Points - Investor's Business Daily (Business)
- Google Hires A.I. Leaders From a Start-Up Courted by OpenAI - The New York Times (Business)
- These terrific, Verge-approved gifts are all discounted for Prime Day - The Verge (Business)
- State Department starts firing more than 1,350 workers in Trump's shake-up of diplomatic corps - Reuters (US News)
- Trump praises FEMA response in Texas after earlier threats to eliminate agency - Politico (US News)
- Kraft Heinz Is Preparing to Break Itself Up - Bloomberg (Business)
- Breakfast cereal sales declined for decades before Kellogg’s sale to Italian company - AP News (Business)
- Bitcoin Pegs Record; ETFs, Miners Basing Ahead Of Crypto Week Legislation Blitz - Investor's Business Daily (Business)
- Researchers Find Grok 4 Checking Elon Musk's Opinions Before Answering 'Sensitive' Questions - Gizmodo (Business)
- Guantánamo plea deals for accused 9/11 plotters are canceled by federal appeals court - NPR (US News)
- What to know about Trump's new tariffs on Canada - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos (US News)
Local Media
Lost Medicaid Funding
Search and Archives
TN Progressive
Nearby:
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- Herston TN Family Law
- Inside of Knoxville
- Instapundit
- Jack Lail
- Jim Stovall
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- Pittman Properties
- Reality Me
- Stop Alcoa Parkway
Beyond:
- Nashville Scene
- Nashville Post
- Smart City Memphis
- TN Dems
- TN Journal
- TN Lookout
- Bob Stepno
- Facing South
Hey Randy, I think you
Hey Randy, I think you forgot Rob's fourth "p" :)
(No subject)
Hey Randy, I think you forgot Rob's fourth "p" :)
My notes are sketchy. What was it?
Pr0n!
"The Internet is for Porn"
What an entertaining evening
Most of us noted that none of the really cool award winning web projects of our presenter made a profit or even paid for themselves, but did that stop him? No way.
Every failure got him bumped into a bigger newspaper.
There's a moral here but danged if I can sort it out.
Twas totally fun, even if it was the most bloggers I'd ever seen in one spot totally sober.
Right, Rikki?
Sobriety
Damn that no-alcohol policy!
It sure was an amazing presentation, even totally sober.
~Russ
Heh. Yes, forgot about the
Heh. Yes, forgot about the other "P", which seems to be the only guaranteed way to make money on the internets.
P.S. Post updated with links to other comments about the presentation.