New Online News Publication

If I were to create an online publication, my first step would be to hire a full batch of young people straight out of college. Some might find this to be a foolish move, considering these young adults would be bereft of solid news room experience, and lack a stockpile of journalistic lessons in the field. In turn, I would argue this lack of experience is actually wonderful thing. My staff would be filled with the type of students present in the assigned articles: Energetic journalists, eager for positive change, who are tired of overcooked news stories reeking of sensationalism, and ready to successfully splice 21st century technology with hard-hitting news.

The articles point fingers at social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace for distracting people from important news content. As David Mindich noted, these sites do little to inform users about anything other than severed relationships or what parties to attend on a Saturday night. Our site will reverse this negative trend. My website will be part news publication part social networking site. This will offer our readership the opportunity to befriend their favorite journalists, write posts regarding their latest articles, offer praise or criticism, present future story ideas, and overall, feel like they are part of a true community. It will also allow users to add their favorite photographs and news stories to their articles. Online journalism has never felt as permanent as print journalism. Stories are too quickly replaced by new articles, and photographs are lost in cyberspace. This will allow readers to save their favorite stories in a way that jells with the 21st century. Instead of clipping an article, or hanging a picture on one's fridge, readers can easily tag their favorite content and add it to their profile. Of course, this site will be easily accessible and compatible on all modern cellphones. We will not be satisfied to only offer this service on one style of phone, but strive to make it available on most cell phone models: (In the readings, one publication was criticized for being content with having limited access on a lone cell phone device). We will also follow in the wise footsteps of certain publications mentioned in the readings, by offering daily news oriented podcasts, which can be played on any Mp3 device.

The site will also possess a home-spun feel. As the articles noted, many people feel turned off by flashy gimmicks and expensive productions. These tactics remind the audience of big news corporations that they distrust. We will purposefully ignore production trends made popular by Fox News and other shows/big papers. It will have the feel of a local paper, where readers feel like they know the staff.

One way readers will get to know the staff is through video blogs. We will tear a page out of Gary Vaynerchuk's book and offer videos, informally aimed at our audience. These video recordings will not be limited to hard-hitting news. Vaynerchuk addressed his favorite wines. Our staff may discuss their favorite sports moments, culinary dishes, movies, political goofs, etc. The important thing here is that these staff members try to develop a relationship with our viewers. Once again, our aim is to emphasize the importance of community. The articles really stressed a reader's desire to feel connected and heard. To establish these relationships our video bloggers will return every email sent by readers, make themselves available in print and video chat rooms throughout the week, and allow comments to be posted below their video footage.

In the articles, readers said they adored the Daily Show for its willingness to expose shady politics. Our site will do the same. We will function first and foremost for the people. We will not solely aim for a high readership or try to appease our advertisers. Primarily, we will serve as media watchdogs, and look out for the well being of our users.

The authors also listed another reason for the popularity behind the Daily Show: honesty. (This goes back to the idea of serving as a media watch dog, and not just running stories that are sexy or become widely popular.) But, isn't it funny that one of the most trustworthy news sources available is primarily a comedy show, which doesn't preach objectivity? That show constantly takes sides and produces exceedingly biased material. Viewers eat it up, because the show never pretends to be what it isn't. Shows on CNN and Fox News are merely presented under the guise of objectivity. Some of the hosts on those networks are more biased and opinionated than Jon Stewart, a man who works for Comedy Central. Our site will always be honest with viewers. We will not limit ourselves to strictly fact-based, bland stories which are completely bereft of passion. We will offer our share of one-sided stories. We will present articles that point fingers or poke fun at world leaders. But we will allow readers to make up their own minds. We will always make it abundantly clear that a particular story contains opinionated statements.

My site will also offer a front page style format. Readers seem to miss the front page. It is truly maddening to have to sort through the hundreds of articles presented on the New York Times web page. This will allow a movement lost in the online world: serendipity. Our readers will be able to stumble upon interesting, bizarre, and heart-breaking they never knew they wanted to read. As the articles said, people are frustratingly focusing on news that fits nicely into their agenda. By adopting a front page format, we will be able to inspire just as many serendipitous moments as are offered in print formats. The front page will be a hodge podge of different. Readers may come to the site only hoping to read news that reaffirms their political affiliations. Instead, they may be confronted with human interest stories and cultural studies above or below their intended readings. This force people to step outside the narrow agendas discussed in the assigned articles. We will also appease the authors of these articles by not limiting ourselves to national US coverage. All too often international news gets buried or omitted. Our front page screen will be an even blend of foreign and domestic culture, national and world events, American football, and soccer.

If possible the site will also feature family oriented news activities. These activities will encourage youngsters to get involved in the news at an early age. Children are no longer witnessing their fathers reading the paper during breakfast, or watching news during dinner This feature will allow today's children to experience news with their family first hand, with a series of news related games, fun quizzes, and youth oriented podcasts and videos. All too often children are ignored in the news. So, my site will have a section that extensively covers news which affects young people in America today. We will be filling a niche that has remained empty for far too long.