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Tober's article



Some of you guys may be on the jomctech list or may know about the thing
below about Paul Gilster, but I thought I'd pass it on for what it's worth
(unless Paul J. beats me to it).

Also, I found that Bruce Tober's article raised some interesting issues
about the status of news on the web, both with respect to the question of
whether it has "arrived" and the prediction that it will eventually derive
from online or virtual communities.

First, one of the British journalists quoted discussed how the ITV and BBC
both offered the same amount of coverage about Di's death b/c, he said,
they each felt they had to match the other or lose ratings. In terms of
news
on the Web, such motivations for what and how much of an event is covered
can be both beneficial and discouraging. On one hand, the Web might be a
better alternative than traditional media if this type of
matching-each-other mentality is going to prevail (and as long as news
means money for whoever owns the medium, it probably will). At least if
the coverage goes on ad nauseum, people who want to know more can get that
information, but people who have had their fill and want to know what else
is going on in the world can do so too, ostensibly still via their
preferred
news provider. On the other hand, do we really want this ratings-driven
mentality for news dissimination to carry over to yet another medium?

The article raised other interesting issues for online news sources,
especially concerning the fact that
most of the journalists didn't want Tober to quote them, at least not
w/o seeing what quotes he was going to use (something they as journalists
would probably not tolerate from their sources). If, as the "10 Trends"
piece stated earlier, virtual communities will serve as news sources
themselves, will quote gathering from "virtual sources" pose as much of a
problem as it did for Tomer? 

And the majority of the sources he quoted were freelance. Wonder why no
one with an individual news organization signing their paychecks was
doing much talking?

JV

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 14:29:19 -0400 (EDT)
From: Bob Stepno <rbstepno@email.unc.edu>
To: jomctech@listserv.oit.unc.edu
Subject: (fwd) Paul Gilster; "Digital Literacy"; Sept. 10 at 8 pm (fwd)

This looks interesting for folks interested in quality of information
online who have a free Wednesday night... Note that registration is
required. This event is free, but I suspect the Chapel Hill Group folks
will be more than willing to talk about their more technical, for-money
seminars, too. Web links below give some background.

Bob Stepno
PS I like Gilster's "title" of "Internet Specialist." Is there a
certificate for this, or can I right now start calling myself, "Systems
Humanist, Media Futurist, Internet Specialist and Hack Writer, a.b.d."?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 03 Sep 1997 03:02:54 -0400
From: Kat McDivitt <kmcdivitt@chgrp.com>
To: event@chgrp.com
Subject: Emerging Technologies Lecture

Paul Gilster to speak on his new book "Digital Literacy" at the emerging
technologies seminar at The Chapel Hill Group the evening of September
10, 1997

"In a world where anyone can publish, are all publications suspect? On a
network where the basic tools of publishing are in many cases free, is
it too easy to produce deceptively sophisticated content? Are there
dangers in misleading people into thinking they're dealing with experts
when they might be dealing with cranks?"  

The Chapel Hill Group is pleased to present Paul Gilster, Internet
Specialist and Author to discuss his new book "Digital Literacy".  Mr.
Gilster will be examining the ways we evaluate the content on the
Internet. He will introduce the "core competencies" he feels should be
mastered by those trying to extract the needle of truth from the on-line
haystack, including tips for using search engines, personal news
filters, and evaluating the veracity of material found on-line.   For
more information on the book, see http://208.4.153.2/diglit.htm. 

The Seminar will be on Wednesday September 10, with hors d'ourves at
7:30 and speaker at 8:00.  Call Kathleen at 932-6260 to reregister, or
register at www.chgrp.com/other/evenings.

CHG's Emerging Technologies Series is a free monthly event developed to
unite people with an interest in the Internet.  The program features
cutting edge technology lectures promoting an exchange of ideas between
technical and business professionals. 

About CHG:  Located in Chapel Hill, NC, The Chapel Hill Group
specializes in providing Internet strategy and Internet training
services in the area of  Java programming and Internet commerce. The
company's web site can be accessed at www.chgrp.com.