Did the XXI Century Even Happen?

This article deals with the issues a publication has to face when it decides to create a website. I argue that nowadays it is not enough to simply post online the same articles which were printed in the paper version.

Web 2.0 provides editors and journalists with tools which they can use to involve the readers in the whole process and to interact better with them. The options available are countless and don’t have to be very expensive. One interesting example comes from the Guardian which enabled its staff members to create own weblogs in order to improve the relations between them and the readers.

Other examples discussed in the article include creating well-functioning archives, using share tools, enabling downloads and collaborating with others to increase coverage. For the dessert I left a very interesting suggestion made by Adrian Holovaty: using smart XML tags in order to simplify the experience of reading the online news. It’s all about functionality but also about the experience of reading: both need to be maximized in order to improve our satisfaction from accessing the publications.

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Blast from the Past

This article deals with the historical developments in the field of Online News. While most people think that online news only started with the Internet boom, I show the rather unknown beginnings – going all the way back to teletext and videotex. The developments related to the World Wide Web (Web 1.0 and 2.0) will also be discussed. I will also try to envision the possible future of online news. You are of course very welcome to share your ideas about how the field might develop at the next stage.

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Interview with an Online Editor

Sueli Brodin, the editor of Crossroads, shares some very interesting experiences of being involved with a magazine which started as a print publication but due to financial constrains was forced to move fully to the virtual world. Interestingly, it seems that this shift has increased the magazine’s publicity and enabled the creator to monitor it easily. We talk about challenges, benefits, Web 2.0 and the possibility of disappearance of the print format all-together.

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