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March 31, 2001 — 6 PM

Good gravy, I actually managed

Good gravy, I actually managed to finish another page on the site. Take a peek at essays and writings at attaboy.

I know, I know, it's essayS and writingS, but there's only one link. Soon, my friend, soon.

This comes about partially because on Monday last I was asked by a former professor to speak to his Communication Ethics class about the final paper I wrote for the same class a year ago. I had a great time; my words seemed well-received, and sparked an engaging class discussion.

Why, it almost made want to...go...back...to...school!

Not quite. But almost. One of the things we talked about was the idea of how best to use this medium we call the Web (doubtless it is not by publishing long, academic tomes online, but you won't tell anyone, will you?). I brought along an article I saw mentioned that suggests "Amazoning the News." No, not adding pictures of swamp lizards or really tall people, but rather using some of the principles behind Amazon.com. Reader ratings and comments, "ClickPoints," "readers also wanted to know," and of course polls and tie-in marketing.

Considering the confluence of commerce and marketing over journalism already, "selling" news is hardly a new idea. But as we discussed in the class, such a style of presentation marks a serious shift in power, from Overlord-Journalist to Curious Reader. Never mind what some expert thinks is good for you, now you will decide what's good for yourself by throwing it in your shopping cart. Similar-minded readers will get similar-minded news, perhaps completely unrelated to the news your aunt in Jersey will see.

Think about it, because I think we'll see this model of news sooner than later.

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Previously: This is not where I

Subsequently: Searching for songs on Napster

March 2001
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