Tuesday, December 14, 2004



Dan Gillmor’s announcement that he is leaving the San Jose Mercury News for a news citizens journalism venture (hey, Dan, I’m looking for work!) is yet another indication of how newspapers cannot retain their most adventurous, risk-taking people. Dan says he is “leaving one of the best gigs in journalism” not with any ill will toward the newspaper – “the Merc has been incredibly good to me” – but because the something powerful is happening in grassroots journalism and he has the opportunity to pursue it elsewhere
[Dan GillMor Exploiting New Ventures ]

The Blog, The Press, The Media: Hard-line Digital Proustians
About 100 Sydney Morning Herald readers and shareholders turned up Clayton Utz to hear Mark Scott, Fairfax's editor-in-chief of metropolitan newspapers and former chief of staff of Terry Metherell, the Minister for Education and Skinny Dipping:

Whilst some readers may turn up their noses when they see Australian Idol on the front page of the Herald – twice – in one week – at the paper, we simply have to understand that Australian Idol proved to be an important part of the lives of very many of our readers. Of the 3.3 million who watched the final episode, very many were the affluent and influential core of Herald readership. It is important that we cover stories like Australian Idol – but we need to cover them in a way that appeals to our readers – hopefully with wit, insight and wonderful pictures.


Webdiary: Great journalism is a great business, with a great future. [Transcripts of speeches at the Fairfax website ]
• · Watchdog Electronic Frontiers Australia Police State and Beyond; [Audit Trail of Democracy ]
• · · A delight for the ears. A feast for the eyes. Though it’s no bigger than a pack of playing cards and weighs in at just over 6 ounces, iPod photo delivers a one-two sensory punch. The Apple iPod mini and iPod photo is my choice as 2004’s hottest high-tech gadget: Sweet
• · · · Internet blogs are providing a new and unregulated medium for politically motivated attacks. With the same First Amendment protections as newspapers, blogs are increasingly gaining influence. First Draft
• · · · · What an incredible piece of journalism. The stories of deadly patient abuse, endemic worker fraud and haughty institutional arrogance, all woven into a pastiche of inflammatory and intimidating racial politics, demonstrate the capacity newspapers hold To serve their communities when journalists are allowed to follow their passions
• · · · · · More on What Google Suggests