Author: Alison Gow

I'm a journalist, particularly interested in story-telling, networks and digital innovation.

Learning social media on YouTube

This is one of the most amazing videos I've found on YouTube, created by Professor Mike Wesch, assistant professor of Cultural Anthropology and Kansas State University, I stumbled across it a while ago, saved it to Del.icio.us and then, well, it filed it away in the back of my brain. But happily I rediscovered it... Continue Reading →

0

Just why are Flickr’s online communities so good?

I've been agonising over how newspapers can build successful online communities in a couple recent posts, notably here. And while I don't want to drone on, I'm returning to the subject as I forgot about one flourishing website/newspaper/audience collaboration that's doing just fine, thanks very much. The Liverpool Daily Post's Flickr 08 group was set... Continue Reading →

2

Fair comment

Finding intelligent, reasoned reader comments on newspapers' online sites can sometimes feel like a Snark hunt. I've noted my thoughts on why newspapers can fail to encourage a flourishing online forum community before, and had some interesting feedback both here and via Twitter and Plurk.Personally I don't believe newspapers forums will ever succeed unless time... Continue Reading →

1

What now for newspaper journalists?

I grew up with hot metal; visiting my mother's workplace as a youngster was a cue for ink-stained men to start shouting at me to 'mind yer fingers' and to keep away from the hot wax. Of the eight papers I've worked for, six had presses rumbling away deep in the heart of their buildings.... Continue Reading →

3

Testing TimeTube

This is a great tool! It's Dipity's TimeTube, which basically lets you search for keyword tags on YouTube and displays the findings on a timeline, a la Plurk (but left to right this time).The Liverpool FC one works particularly well (lots of great goals for fan bloggers, for example) but I've plumped for Mathew Street... Continue Reading →

2

Bookmarking with Mento

A while ago I got an invite to a social bookmarking site called Mento by egrommet, who gives new meaning to the phrase 'early adopter'. It's still in beta (isn't everything nowadays?) but I've been using it for just over a month and I have to say, it's taken over from Digg and Del.icio.us as... Continue Reading →

2

What makes a good newspaper forum?

Are forums the best way of interacting with online users? A quick glance at most newspaper websites would indicate the answer is... no.Frits van Exter, former editor-in-chief of Trouw newspaper, in the Netherlands, told the World Editor's Forum earlier this year that such interactivity was an 'open sewer' on a newspaper's website. I wouldn't go... Continue Reading →

10

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑