The future of media

Here's a true ocean of possibilities that I am now alive to. This external flip keyboard is making a MoJo – Mobile Journalist - out of me. I am filing this using the Nokia N95 and popping it into my gmail account.

That’s what I sent a moment ago as an mms, after a couple of false starts. Then I prettied it up a little on LiveWriter, using the block quote and my editing eye. And of course inserting hyperlinks. (At the end of this, I can also add new elements or pizzazz with blogger.)

These are the gems: Nokia N95 phone and Nokia super-portable keyboard.

And here’s where I filed from: Tanjong Pagar.

What’s cool too is that GPS can be embedded in our online stories!

Source: Google Earth

So why MoJo?

Is it going to keep print journalists and other msm in our jobs? Does it add value, speed and new life to journalism?

There is industry interest in MoJo, for a start. Reuters and Nokia started a Mobile Journalism Project in 2007.

Besides journalists covering hot spots and doing hyper-local journalism, I think the regular journalist can also serve readers by being fleet-footed with news, pictures and opinions. Trying for the next level is a worthwhile challenge.

Of course, stay mindful of pitfalls. Inaccuracies, bias and other pitfalls. These also beset msm, but they can be magnified when a MoJo is competing on speed with little time to confirm facts. Dedicated editors or checkers can be one line of defence. Credibility is a journalistic core asset.

Connecting

We can keep thinking about the advent of mobile journalism and related trends. Here’s an RSS Feed from John Strauss, who has a blog on Mobile Journalism.

Indeed, print journalists from reputable newspapers have transitioned to mobile journalism.

My verdict so far

Online journalism is an adventurous ride, powered by gadgets, software and the purest journalistic instincts combining news sense - and a perpetual quest for what’s new and meaningful. Old values given a lively new twist. What’s not to like?

RSS Hunger

1. Relish sharp political commentary? The Online Citizen is a good place to start. It will comment copiously, whether on Temasek’s stratospheric losses or media failtures.

 

2. You’ll enjoy Catherine Lim too.  The social critic and literary diva who boldly analysed the Great Affective Divide between the Singapore government and citizens is still opining, her words coolly barbed and humorous.

 

 

3 & 4. Of course, for the staples, get The Straits Times and Channel News Asia.

 

5. Google News is a buffet for news junkies.

 

 

6. BBC News and Reuters are capable for world news.

 

7. In the US, Slate is lots of irreverent fun whether it comments on Washington foibles, books or technology. No end of quirky stuff with a political bite. Did you know that the federal government funded cookbook writers during the Depression? Slate, if you didn’t already know it, was born on the Microsoft campus.

 

8 & 9. Also in the US, click your way around New York Times, which has plunked down millions to fire up its Web presence. I like The Washington Post, the local and sort-of-global paper of the US superpower capital and my hometown of 10.5 years.

 

10. For comment-y websites that pull us into the world of ideas, start with New America Foundation and Brookings Institution.

 

11. ConvergedMedia – My lessons on RSS Feeds, Twitter, Mashups and more!

What is a good search engine?

I tested this search string: real estate investments.

Google:

My default search engine Google presented 546,000 results in 0.35 seconds.
Narrowing down to Singapore targeted local stories.

It was helpful in suggesting three related searches, including real estate investment portfolio and Malaysian property investments.

I like the extra features, like videos embedded in the search results, and links to Google News, etc.

 

Wolfram Alpha:
The search engine wasn't sure what to do with my input. But it let me know that it's better with specific rather than general queries.
Next, I tried Capitaland Singapore Profits and Capitaland Profits, but no results showed up either.
So, back to Google. I found xxx results, including this Reuters news article posted on April 23: Singapore's CapitaLand Q1 net profit falls 83 pct

As for Rednano:

Pretty useful, with results like research from investment houses like Pacific Star.

 

And what about this? It’s Newsmap, a mashup that colour-codes Google News by popularity.

Connecting in Vain

 

By Lee Siew Hua

Tanjong Pagar Correspondent

EQUIPPED with laptop and lots of notes, service manager Loke Mun Wah is trying to do some work at Spinelli. “I can see the network but I can’t log on,’’ he grouses.

That’s him on the left side of the photo, snapped on the ground floor of Amara Shopping Centre. My photograph, sadly, is as fuzzy as Spinelli’s wireless connection.

For a more reliable connection, Mr Loke recommends Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at the CPF Building.

But not all is lost. His double espresso is good. “My trusty afternoon fix,’’ he says, emptying the cup and, finally, managing a smile.

Afterthought:

If wireless fails, turn to coffee and a bit of reflection... And then we'll get a hyper-local story on LiveWriter - GUARANTEED!!

It's Your Turn:

Tell us your own story of being in a wireless funk, and share your best tips.

Pix

 

The heart illusion…

And Wherever.

- Picasa

        

         - Bing

Amy in LiveWriter

I sent a Sakura pix, but Blue Hills turned up instead!

Source: Nasa

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