Comments on: The ‘public beta’ without the ‘right spirits’ http://smithlt.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/the-%e2%80%98public-beta%e2%80%99-without-the-%e2%80%98right-spirits%e2%80%99/ Ideas behind the man Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:09:13 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: KC Cowen http://smithlt.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/the-%e2%80%98public-beta%e2%80%99-without-the-%e2%80%98right-spirits%e2%80%99/#comment-24 KC Cowen Thu, 01 May 2008 18:52:34 +0000 http://smithlt.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-24 I agree with Lorin that "truth" is subjective. And also that the creators of wikitorials have a long way to go in standardizing, filtering, controling their medium. Still, I commend the LA Times for beleiving in the good of humanity with this experiment. The LA Times learned a good lesson and can now try again... They will probably fail again, but hey, third times a charm! I agree with Lorin that “truth” is subjective. And also that the creators of wikitorials have a long way to go in standardizing, filtering, controling their medium. Still, I commend the LA Times for beleiving in the good of humanity with this experiment. The LA Times learned a good lesson and can now try again… They will probably fail again, but hey, third times a charm!

]]> By: paks2008 http://smithlt.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/the-%e2%80%98public-beta%e2%80%99-without-the-%e2%80%98right-spirits%e2%80%99/#comment-23 paks2008 Thu, 01 May 2008 18:49:52 +0000 http://smithlt.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-23 Lorin, I agree with you in saying that the LA Times editors had the right idea with trying to include readers. They were doing it in hopes to appeal to people's better sides and neglected to think of the not so great side. If they added more control over the posts they would definitely be able to utilize this new technology to best of their benefits. This has the potential to become something really great for journalism and I hope that what happened with the LA Times doesn't discourage other publications from going for it! Lorin, I agree with you in saying that the LA Times editors had the right idea with trying to include readers. They were doing it in hopes to appeal to people’s better sides and neglected to think of the not so great side. If they added more control over the posts they would definitely be able to utilize this new technology to best of their benefits. This has the potential to become something really great for journalism and I hope that what happened with the LA Times doesn’t discourage other publications from going for it!

]]> By: Jason C http://smithlt.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/the-%e2%80%98public-beta%e2%80%99-without-the-%e2%80%98right-spirits%e2%80%99/#comment-22 Jason C Thu, 01 May 2008 18:47:15 +0000 http://smithlt.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-22 I think the notion of using the wikitorial as a kind of break-in point is very interesting. I like the fact rather than abandoning old forms of media it really creates a bridge. If bloggers who subscribed did get a byline in a major or local paper than would could start to see a melting of ideas, ethics, etc. that people seem to be most concerned with in this class. I think the notion of using the wikitorial as a kind of break-in point is very interesting. I like the fact rather than abandoning old forms of media it really creates a bridge. If bloggers who subscribed did get a byline in a major or local paper than would could start to see a melting of ideas, ethics, etc. that people seem to be most concerned with in this class.

]]> By: whitney t http://smithlt.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/the-%e2%80%98public-beta%e2%80%99-without-the-%e2%80%98right-spirits%e2%80%99/#comment-21 whitney t Thu, 01 May 2008 18:45:00 +0000 http://smithlt.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-21 Like lorin said, my favorite part about this entire thread is the word "wikitorialize." Can we please make it a goal it invent more words during class this quarter? Like lorin said, my favorite part about this entire thread is the word “wikitorialize.” Can we please make it a goal it invent more words during class this quarter?

]]> By: Wk5, TH - Blogs As Citizen Journalism Cont’d « Social Technologies, Media and Politics http://smithlt.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/the-%e2%80%98public-beta%e2%80%99-without-the-%e2%80%98right-spirits%e2%80%99/#comment-20 Wk5, TH - Blogs As Citizen Journalism Cont’d « Social Technologies, Media and Politics Thu, 01 May 2008 18:19:31 +0000 http://smithlt.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-20 [...] The ‘public beta’ without the ‘right spirits’ (Lorin) [...] [...] The ‘public beta’ without the ‘right spirits’ (Lorin) [...]

]]> By: Lorin http://smithlt.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/the-%e2%80%98public-beta%e2%80%99-without-the-%e2%80%98right-spirits%e2%80%99/#comment-18 Lorin Thu, 01 May 2008 03:01:33 +0000 http://smithlt.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-18 Thanks for the posts everyone. Samantha, loved the word "wikitorialize!" That makes me think that the dictionary will soon be making a change as well, as words like "wiki", "wikitorialize," etc. start to become much more prevalent in daily dialogue. I agree with you all about strengthening the news reporting - introducing more writers into the writing and editorial process does allow better content with more "truth", whatever that really is. But again, the LA Times editors took a positive human nature approach here, thinking that people wouldn't listen to their lesser angels and write offensive or racial remarks, or post porn. I think that the wikitorial is a wonderful idea, but more controls needed to be added. For example, if they allowed a subscription model for the wikitorial, and anyone who paid to write would get the chance to write and have their name published on the Web site and in the newspaper. That way, aspiring journalists would have a clip. Jason, I graduate in June so I'll have plenty of time coming up to look into the Enders series - thanks! Thanks for the posts everyone. Samantha, loved the word “wikitorialize!” That makes me think that the dictionary will soon be making a change as well, as words like “wiki”, “wikitorialize,” etc. start to become much more prevalent in daily dialogue.

I agree with you all about strengthening the news reporting – introducing more writers into the writing and editorial process does allow better content with more “truth”, whatever that really is. But again, the LA Times editors took a positive human nature approach here, thinking that people wouldn’t listen to their lesser angels and write offensive or racial remarks, or post porn. I think that the wikitorial is a wonderful idea, but more controls needed to be added. For example, if they allowed a subscription model for the wikitorial, and anyone who paid to write would get the chance to write and have their name published on the Web site and in the newspaper. That way, aspiring journalists would have a clip.

Jason, I graduate in June so I’ll have plenty of time coming up to look into the Enders series – thanks!

]]> By: KC Cowen http://smithlt.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/the-%e2%80%98public-beta%e2%80%99-without-the-%e2%80%98right-spirits%e2%80%99/#comment-17 KC Cowen Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:17:53 +0000 http://smithlt.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-17 I think that bringing everyday readers into the news process will strengthen news reporting. In terms of local newspapers, it could add ownership or a greater sense of community to the paper and eliminate the elitist or exclusivity of traditional one-way communication through print journalism. But will this be efficient? Will it "dumb-down" the journalism profession? Will it provide a platform, like the LA Times experiment, for inappropriate material? I think that bringing everyday readers into the news process will strengthen news reporting. In terms of local newspapers, it could add ownership or a greater sense of community to the paper and eliminate the elitist or exclusivity of traditional one-way communication through print journalism. But will this be efficient? Will it “dumb-down” the journalism profession? Will it provide a platform, like the LA Times experiment, for inappropriate material?

]]> By: paks2008 http://smithlt.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/the-%e2%80%98public-beta%e2%80%99-without-the-%e2%80%98right-spirits%e2%80%99/#comment-16 paks2008 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:57:46 +0000 http://smithlt.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-16 I think that you make a good point in comparing wikitorials to Skynet from the Terminator 2 movie. I personally haven't seen the movie, but from how you describe it as becoming so smart that it comes to have a mind of its own to start the human vs. robot war and compare it to the news wars you predict, I also think it's a bit extreme, but it is possible. With wikitorials, the publication/reader interaction becomes that much closer and I can see why publications would want to create them. It draws in readers as well as encourages them to participate. But I think that they do have to be careful with what they wikitorialize and how they present them because, well, look at what happened to the LA Times. I think that it would strengthen traditional news reporting just in the fact that we as journalists can often miss things due to the way our minds are focused on the topic. It allows us to view the world as our readers see it and open our minds in a way that will better help us in our future reporting. I think that you make a good point in comparing wikitorials to Skynet from the Terminator 2 movie. I personally haven’t seen the movie, but from how you describe it as becoming so smart that it comes to have a mind of its own to start the human vs. robot war and compare it to the news wars you predict, I also think it’s a bit extreme, but it is possible. With wikitorials, the publication/reader interaction becomes that much closer and I can see why publications would want to create them. It draws in readers as well as encourages them to participate. But I think that they do have to be careful with what they wikitorialize and how they present them because, well, look at what happened to the LA Times. I think that it would strengthen traditional news reporting just in the fact that we as journalists can often miss things due to the way our minds are focused on the topic. It allows us to view the world as our readers see it and open our minds in a way that will better help us in our future reporting.

]]> By: Jason http://smithlt.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/the-%e2%80%98public-beta%e2%80%99-without-the-%e2%80%98right-spirits%e2%80%99/#comment-15 Jason Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:56:35 +0000 http://smithlt.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-15 If you like this notion being taken up in Sci-fi fiction you might want to check out the Ender series by Orson Scott Card. One of the story lines is how a couple of children essentially change the political scheme of the world by "acting" as adult political commentators through a system similar to the internet, basically blogs. This kinda speaks to your question about who is society going to be paying attention to when the news gate keeper dies. Another interesting idea to think about is how will amateurization of mass media be used by highly ambitious people using it only to achieve a means rather than act in the interest of the people? If you like this notion being taken up in Sci-fi fiction you might want to check out the Ender series by Orson Scott Card. One of the story lines is how a couple of children essentially change the political scheme of the world by “acting” as adult political commentators through a system similar to the internet, basically blogs. This kinda speaks to your question about who is society going to be paying attention to when the news gate keeper dies. Another interesting idea to think about is how will amateurization of mass media be used by highly ambitious people using it only to achieve a means rather than act in the interest of the people?

]]> By: whitneyt http://smithlt.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/the-%e2%80%98public-beta%e2%80%99-without-the-%e2%80%98right-spirits%e2%80%99/#comment-14 whitneyt Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:52:26 +0000 http://smithlt.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-14 The LA Times introduction to blogging was certainly less than desirable. In retrospect, do you think the LA Times should have handled the situation differently? As an outsider, do you view the LA Times action as irresponsible or simply a beginners mistake? The LA Times introduction to blogging was certainly less than desirable. In retrospect, do you think the LA Times should have handled the situation differently? As an outsider, do you view the LA Times action as irresponsible or simply a beginners mistake?

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