Hi other group people again. Here's the rest of our 5 ideas--feedback welcome. And if you didn't catch the first idea, check that one out below.
1. A website that highlights positive and feel-good news stories. We
were talking about either making this a site on its own that pulls
together positive stories or a site that gives journalists ideas of
positive stories to cover.
2. A site that covers local and state election candidates, listing who
they are and what they stand for. We found that more people aren't
involved in local politics because of a lack of knowledge on the
issues, so a website with candidate profiles for local elections could
serve to get more people involved.
3. A site targeted at senior citizens that focuses in on technology
stories. There was a study that said that a large number of seniors
are online now, but they don't know as much about technology and are
more susceptible to spyware, viruses, etc. This website would help
seniors get information and resources to help them stay prepared.
4. A website that covers Division II and III college athletics,
supplied by correspondents at each school, who would write/film/edit
their own pieces and upload them. Other publications (college or
otherwise) could use the stories/videos with permission as well, to
gain a bigger audience.
11 comments:
1) I lik this idea. It woudl draw new people in to the news who feel the news is too graphic or violent. However, is it better to have them have smome fluff news over no news?
2). This idea is very interesting as well. It's true, that people do not often get involved with local politics. If this is the case, what would make people want to log on and check it out? Also, ould it just become a PR war? Would the richest candidae just get the most help then win?
3). Also intersting. It is true that older people are becoming wired, however, I'm not sure that they would frequent a site about it. I feel that they would be more prone to talk with family and check e-mail. This posting could be doen through e-mail, perhaps. Interstingly, though, there is lots of room for growth in that market, its relativily untouched. Explore that further, perhaps.
4). While interestng, I do see this idea just falling into the hands or parents and grandparents of athletes. Students get the student paper so would not be intersted. Content might also be an issue.
1.) The thought of having people only know the fluff news scares me. I like how it's encouraging a new reading demographic (perhaps) but I think there's something to say for the whole picture. Would this include enterainment (Too many people in this world already know too much about Paris Hilton and not enough about Darfur, etc..) I think you have two seperate ideas here, and I like the second one more (ideas to cover, rather than pulling already covered stories).
2.) I like this idea, but I don't see it as having an extended shelf life. And I think it's information that's easily accessible elswhere already. Maybe if the information goes beyond their "profile" -- we're already bombarded with TV commercials about themselves, their family, their history more than a year in advance.
3.) I like where you went with this: the idea of educating. I think you would continue to see an increase in use at this age with more sites likes this. Although it would be hard to make it anything beyond basic, because you don't want to overwhelm them. I'm just thinking with this as your final idea you wouldn't be able to tap into some of the great things out their for our project. Simple's good, too, though.
4.) This reminds me of the www.palestra.com site from the KSU group. Pretty similar. And I agree with Kate's comment. Although it would be interesting to divide into Conferences and witness rivalries
(from group A, Awesome)
1. I kind of disagree with this on principle, simply because it's a journalist's job to present news, not what he thinks is necessarily a positive story. I'm not sure of the integration abilities with news sites, either. A lot of their stories would be cut. Wait. Who gets to decide what is a good story?
2. This is what CitizenTube does, only for presidents. Get to the locals before YouTube does? But I believe that this kind of thing is necessary for people to be better formed, so I'm neutral on this. What would draw people to the site in the first place if they're not following politics anyway?
3. I'm not sure how many senior citizens would spend a lot of time researching something that probably isn't a part of their lives anyway. And this site wouldn't live for too many years as older folks get younger, that is, we're running out of people who don't know how to use technology.
4. This sounds like a site called "The Palestra". It is essentially college news, but covers more than Div II and III sports.
Idea one
The idea of having a web site that focuses primarily on positive stories is great. The only problem with that is as a journalist that can't just write about feel good stories. I like the concept but do you think more people will come to the web site because there are more positive stories there?
Idea two
If this is put together well I think it could be a useful tool to the average citizen. It would also hold candidates accountable for what they say they stand for. I would be very impressed by A candidate that voluntarily listed what he stood for. I'm tired of being lied to I think a lot of people are great idea.
Idea three
This would be very tricky website. It's a catch 22 months seniors don't go online. If they do it's very limited. I also think a lot of senior citizens think that we depend too much on technology. But it might be useful to dedicate a site that help seniors learn technology kind of like a free video professor that make them comfortable with the upcoming technology.
Idea four
I think that it's a possibility for division two and three college athletics to gain a bigger audience. But most people like to watch competition at its finest. Division one has established itself as that hence the following it has accumulated. I think this could be a great tool for alumnae that has vested interest in a school.
Hepi from the All Knighters (the UNLV team) here. Here is my feedback to your ideas:
1) Good idea, but would this site be like a news aggregate? Or would the content all be original? I’m also suspicious that similar news services may already exist.
2) This idea really appeals to me. I don’t have American citizenship, although I am a resident, so the only politics I can become actively involved in is at the local level. However, the level of apathy people have for local politics may also impact your service.
3) This is a really good idea. The senior citizen demographic is actually increasing, and in some countries (such as japan) it is the largest age bracket. You may have to treat this issue delicately, however, as not to compromise the pride of your users.
4) I follow UNLV athletics, but I don’t believe any of our teams are div 2. I can see the appeal in this idea, but it is something I don’t see myself using.
1) I have a certain problem with only reporting “positive” news stories. Truth is, most news stories aren’t positive. Creating a site devoted to merely reporting 50th wedding anniversaries, Fido the baby-saving dog or the benefits of getting a college tutor would be superfluous. For positive news reporting, a journalistic shift should be made in mainstream media – highlighting both the good AND the bad. Encouraging reporters to report positive stories is definitely a good idea, though. If nothing else, it generates more story ideas.
2) If you were to create a site where you could do side-by-side comparisons, I would use it. Not because I’m not politically interested, but because it would be interesting to see candidates’ views next to each other. Have you found any sites similar to this thus far? I think it’s a good idea, and a simple way for careless citizens to get interested in politicians (though they don’t really deserve much interest, do they? I kid, I kid). This would make a good Facebook tool – the people are already there, all they need is an application.
3) My guess is that many senior citizens don’t give two hoots about technology. It’s simply a cultural divide. Also, think of this – in 30 years, the majority of seniors will probably be techno-savvy. This Web site would probably have a limited lifespan. ‘Course, there are some seniors that do care about technology right now – and for them, concepts like spyware and viruses typically are way over their heads. So this is a great idea for a limited amount consumer base. Limited is the key word, though.
4) So, this is a sports Web site? I would think that the local publications would cover their sports if the consumer base cared enough. This seems like an extension of media convergence to the college sport level. I’m pretty ambivalent about this one.
-Brian, KU team
Hello, this is Katie Rausch from team awesome. Sorry for the lateness of the comments but here they are:
1. Okay, positive. Who defines positive? Who makes that call? This idea makes me uneasy because as journalists our role as gatekeepers is gone, but we have an obligation to report on not only what people want to know, but what they NEED to know. Rather than being a site of just feel-good stories, I would suggest designing some sort of filtration system that would be hosted through a news site that would allow the reader to search for articles based on a topic or content issue, like positive. But again, who makes the call as to what is positive?
2. This is a cool idea. You're totally right, people don't know much, especially about local issues and elections. My question is how would this be done? Would it be hosted through a local news source? Who would contribute to it, or report on it? Who would analyze it? How would you keep bias out? Would readers be allowed to add content or comments? How would you launch it? I think you need to figure out a few more logistics.
3. This is another good idea with a good demographic. Again, how would you get people onto this site? Elderly people don't know how to use the internet that well, and in my experience find things on it, so how would you inform them that this is out there? Who would update this? Who would make sure that opportunists didn't use this site as a way to dupe senior citizen's?
4. This is another cool idea, but again I am concerned about plagiarism and accuracy. If people are writing and editing their own work and then sending it out there how could other publications make sure what was written was accurate? Who is quality control on this? To be honest I don't really have a good answer for those questions, considering Reuters is already doing what you're proposing, just in more broad terms.
1. I think mainstream media does a good enough job pacifying the masses; this would only exacerbate the problem.
2. I like this idea only if users can create content about the candidates. Give the site's host a bit of editorial control if you must, but I think the user-created comments would actually be a forum for debate about the candidates and get people involved in politics before (and, gasp, after?) election days.
3. Although this idea could be helpful now, I see it growing less and less relevant as even aging audiences become tech-savvy.
4. I think this site already exists. And Chomsky hates it.
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