Next Steps for Schleuss

I just wanted to quickly point out that I’m moving (only slightly) to jonschleuss.com. There, you’ll find a blog, portfolio, and some other tidbits on me. This blog will continue to exist, but my focus will move to my own site.

I’ve decided to focus my blogging to the student, education, web, and journalism communities. This blog was only meant to temporarily house my thoughts and work.

The limitations of hosting with wordpress (and not paying for it) have become too much and I’ll have more control with Blogger at jonschleuss.com/blog

Check out the site and give me your feedback.

Also, I’ve started writing for the Fayetteville Flyer, Fayetteville’s online news outlet. This is something I’m very excited about, along with much, much more.

I’d recommend RSS-subscribing to this blog so you won’t be bothered with checking back every-so-often. With RSS you’ll get the new posts when they happen.

Citizen Journalism Gets Me Thinking

I need to follow twitter more during the day.
I was slow catching on to the events on Jan 15; the plane crash into the Hudson. I’m happy that everyone made it out safely and injuries were minimal. The response of the NY/NJ ferry system was phenomenal.

Then I read a post on my Twitter homepage:

Wow. In the first hour, @jkrums’s photo got over 5200 views. In the past hour, it’s jumped to 14,760 views: http://twitpic.com/135xa

"There's a plane in the Hudson. I'm on the ferry going to pick up the people. Crazy."

So, I followed the link and the picture blew my mind. Janis Krums took a picture with his phone, uploaded it to Twitter/Twitpic, and broke the first up-close picture from the event. Whether knowingly or not, he became a citizen journalist and trending topics spotlighted the re-tweets linking his picture.

So, it was likely that one of your friends on Twitter mentioned it and this process repeated with interest creating a viral break.

While traditional news was dreadfully behind on information, this citizen’s picture had a thousand words.

 

Stealing isn’t cool.
Then there were reports that MSNBC had stolen Krums’s picture without proper attribution. Twitpic’s terms state:

By uploading your photos to Twitpic you give us permission to use or distribute your photos on Twitpic.com or affiliated sites.

So, conceivably MSNBC “could pay” Twitpic “to become” an affiliate and everything would be out of the user’s control.

 

Broadcast journalists are at a severe disadvantage when covering live, unexpected events.
As this CNN clip confirms (mentioned above), broadcast journalists are definitely at a disadvantage when reporting live, unexpected events. They’re obligated to continue talking, even when they don’t know what’s happening. Comments like this really take away from from the information of the event (2′51″):

And the FAA is now telling us that there may have been something that caused the plane to go down.

 

Citizen journalism is close, but not quite there.
There’s a lot of work yet to be done, combining traditional structures with new citizen journalists. Obviously, a paper like the NYTimes can provide more depth than a 140-character posts, but the NYTimes may not be on scene for several minutes.

There’s progress on the horizon, services like Tweetnews and Twopular are correlating news and trending topics. iReport is CNN’s standalone service, and I think that these applications would be more powerful together. If a company like the NYTimes could incorporate “citizen journalists” as members to the site, maybe these members could sign over their rights and the NYTimes could follow their Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr updates. But we must remember:

iReport.com (Twitter.com, Flickr.com, Facebook.com) is a user-generated site. That means the stories submitted by users are not edited, fact-checked or screened before they post. Only stories marked “On CNN” have been vetted for use in CNN news coverage. 

Ira Glass: Radio Stories and Other Stories at Walton Art Center, Fayetteville

The Walton Arts Center will present “Radio Stories and Other Stories” with Ira Glass, the host of This American Life from WBEZ in Chicago. The event will start at 8pm on Saturday, Jan 31.

Tickets range from $20 to $38, depending on how close you want to sit. I’ll be close to the front, trying to figure out what aftershave he uses.

JPG Magazine Folds

JPG Magazine with the words "Brave New Photography" and "America, 30 perspectives on a complex nation" in the upper corners

Several of us awoke this morning to find an email from JPG Magazine. The subject: JPG Magazine says goodbye. The long-story-short is that the innovative publishing group is shutting its doors on January 5th, just four years after it’s first issue in January 2005.

The community-supported magazine ran photos submitted by its audience. It was a intriguing experiment on the bottom-up approach to journalism we’ve seen recently. But the main culprit remains the expensive print publication. Of which Techcrunch says:

“the print magazine was nothing but an artifact of the Website and the community that created it.”

The future of these products will depend on solid revenue streams, not the backing of investors, and not selling adverts in 2009. What’s needed is a similar idea on revenue generating that corresponds to the way in which these new products obtain content. A system of hierarchical subsets of an audience judging more important decisions and investing themselves could propel the future of bottom-up zines such as the late JPG.

Obviously, multiple ideas exist.

More cheap tech by 4029tv

4029tv is using free services Twitter and WordPress (proudly hosting this blog) more frequently, and with dull results.

As I’ve mentioned recently, the Northwest Arkansas news group is pushing news through RSS, then catching the headlines with Twitterfeed. There are some problems with this approach. For one, Twitterfeed only checks the RSS every thirty minutes. This creates a lag in the timeliness of news, especially considering Twitter’s power with quick updates.

Also, the service only publishes the first few lines from the stories, so sometimes the updates don’t quite make sense. This degrades their whole service; pushing sometimes confusing updates slowly.

Finally, Twitterfeed pushes these news headlines all at once, so sometimes there are five updates simultaneously crowding a user’s account page with sports, weather, local, and national news. There aren’t multiple Twitter accounts to solve this problem.

4029 uses Twitter poorly, creating tangled, delayed, superfluous updates that mirror their news feeds. I give them a big thumbs down.

In Other News

Twitter is using WordPress more and more. Check out they’re very in-depth Weather Blog and the TV Hog Blog.

Sunny Idea

I’ve created a 4029tv Weather Twitter account that pulls from their Weather Blog. They’re the only links worth clicking.

4029tv on Twitter

QUICK ——

So, I really missed this one. It seems that 4029tv has been on Twitter since August, but only recently have they started posting regularly.

4029tv, a Northwest Arkansas news outlet, has started using Twitterfeed to push their news RSS through Twitter. However, they’re also jumping in and posting quick updates on Twitter’s web interface.

It’s really great to see a local media outlet use Twitter, but I’m not convinced 4029 has it down pat yet. They’ve only got 20 followers, compared to KATV in Little Rock which has 278 followers as of post time. Also, new media shouldn’t be a place where one sporadically relays the same information as their website. C’mon guys!

[4029tv on Twitter]

My Experience: Calling in Gay

So, if you’re behind today has been “Call in Gay Day.” Gay rights activists (not just the homosexuals) took the day off from work to show just how much impact the gay community has. Alright, I called in gay, at least sortof.

Sadly, I’m one of those few Americans that needs to be at work to get paid. Ergo, I need to work to purchase groceries or pay the rent. So, I went to work and I contributed my part by doing something else for the entire day.

I originally approached this “Call in Gay” business with discontent. I’m not an advocate for hurting an already hurt economy by not doing my part for my school, job, whatever. So, I pulled myself off the grid, but went to work and took a history test.

I turned my phone’s Airplane mode into the “on” position. I didn’t take calls. I didn’t make calls. And I avoided Twitter, Facebook, Google Reader, and the rest of the internet for 22 hours. 

I also avoided answering e-mails and all internet-related activities on my work computer and my one at home.

Everything was very silent.

I spent my day reading the New York Times and the Advocate. Halfway through the day I started to have “cravings” (or something like withdrawal) for the internet, the information super highway.

And I immediately though, “I should Twitter this. I should write about this strange sensation that I’m feeling.”

But Twitter, being part of the internet, was off limits. So, the idea occurred to me to write down what I’d normally Twitter on little strips of paper. Yes, I actually tore up pieces of paper. But what would I do with them after I wrote my thoughts? Yeah, I realized leaving the strips around campus might be too odd, even for me, so I scrapped the idea altogether.

BUT I was off the grid for 22 hours and I’m proud I lasted that long. However, I realized that I spend way too much time on the internet.

I really need a vacation.

[Funny Video on Calling in Gay]

Energy Conservation at the University

photo by Glass Curtain

UA will soon undertake a mammoth project of re-fitting it’s older buildings with energy-saving features. Maybe they’ll finally install those motion-detection light switches in classrooms, to keep professors from remaining too stationary.

From the press release:

“The University of Arkansas board of trustees approved a $22.9 million contract Friday, Nov. 21, to make energy conservation improvements to 56 buildings on the Fayetteville campus. The energy performance agreement with Energy Systems Group, an award-winning energy services provider, guarantees that energy savings over a 13-year period will cover the cost of the building improvements.”

This is happening because the university “is committed to sustainability” expects to pay $1.2 million more for electricity this year. This is also $1.2 million more than the university budgeted. 

When questioned on UA’s energy use, Scott Turley, director for utility operations, responded that conservation was key. ”Each of us can have an impact by being smart energy consumers. Most of it is common sense, like turning off lights and keeping space temperatures at reasonable levels.”

Well Chancellor and Mr. Turley, what about those lights pointed directly at Old Main each night? Could we turn those off? Maybe we should start with every other night? But now I guess that’s out of the question because of the Christmas lights strung all over the building. And I’ll guess they aren’t energy-saving LED lights either.

Tall bikes, kids are goofy

Man, New Orleans style is rather too viral. Look at these tall bikes. There’s one for sale in Fayetteville for 300 big ones. And you’ll have to jump off and on.

“As seen on the internets!”

Here’s a video on how to get on and off:

Preparing to Protest

Four days was all three students had, but we ended up with 200 people at Saturday’s protest. I’ll be quite honest: I have no idea how three students got that many people organized.

But I do have some conjectures. And I’ll lay out the days leading to Saturday, November 15th’s protest.

MONDAY: While I’m registering for classes Anna texts me, “Hey u wanna do something fun with me?” With apathy I respond, “Eh?” Then, “You want to organize a protest for prop. 8 this Friday? They r doing a united states wide protest!” Now I’m interested. After about twenty minutes of planning via texts and Facebook we decide we need to sit down together.

We meet at Arsaga’s with Terra and (eventually) Megan. All four of us think of who to call and what do next. We decide to call Dead Swanky’s Hair Salon and figure out if we can protest in their parking lot. We have to make flyers. We must check on permits and stuff. Joey Ryan’s song “California” gives me inspiration and drive.

Later Monday night I’m on JointheImpact’s website and find information about an already-planned Fayetteville protest. We contact the NWA-GLBT group. They contact others. Eventually, I’m given the name of the other protest planner (aka Katie).

TUESDAY: I meet with Katie and Anna briefly in the bitter cold outside Mullins Library. We decide to keep both of our event pages separate, but agree on the same information. There will be a march from UA campus leaving at noon. We will head to City Hall to join the nation in protests at 12:30pm.

I desperately try to get ahold of the UA Pride group. No response.

Within two days the digital roof blows off. We’re getting emails, text messages, facebook messages, and phone calls. Everyone is very positive and up-beat. Everyone wants to be involved.

Tuesday night Katie calls me with a list of concerns. How will we keep people under control? Who will speak at the event? We still need speakers. How are those non-Facebookers going to get the information? Our flyers have incorrect/confusing information. Can we fix this? I give myself one hour to create a website and make a new flyer.

Almost two hours later we have a website with correct information, google maps showing the protest, and links to download flyers. This protest badly needed to be viral, and we needed everyone to pick up the slack that we just couldn’t undertake (putting up posters, inviting people to the Facebook event, etc.).

WEDNESDAY: I’m still trying to register for classes.

I get an email from UA Pride. The email doesn’t address the protest, just the UA Pride meeting. I’m infuriated. So, I respond.

I figure out that we don’t need a permit unless we plan to exceed the city’s sound limit. I also see our Facebook event growing, with over 50 people telling us they’re going to come to Saturday’s protest.

One of my classes has “jointheimpact.com” written on the wall. I have no clue who’s done this. It excites me that our efforts appear to be working.

THURSDAY: Katie thinks we need a press release to pass to local media. In the wee hours of Thursday, I’m drawing up a press release [.doc]. The Fayetteville Flyer is the first to carry news of Saturday’s protest.

After finding some rather vulgar comments about obtaining permits and the law I’m really concerned about my gay brothers and sisters. I keep thinking, “Please don’t be fools!”

I get in contact with local media and several have already heard about the event. This really excites me and I leave my contact information for interviews.

We get a beautiful poster from Craig Duttweiler, who’s affiliated with Join the Impact. The poster is amazing. The email that came with the poster spells out how we must get the word out and not to limit ourselves to just posting information on Facebook. We’re two days ahead of you, babe.

FRIDAY: One final message to all the Facebook members. I remind everyone to remain calm and not to get in the street. By this point I’m only concerned with people losing control and jumping in the street and attacking people in their cars. I even have a nightmare about the incident.

I have a flat tire. I run to yearbook and clock some hours. I am freaking out and shaking with excitement for Saturday’s protest. We’re only one day away and everything seems rather crazy. We continue to get emails from AR residents in different parts of the country. People keep thanking us for all the hard work we’re doing. Somehow I managed to keep all my homework in order.

By Friday evening our traffic to nwaequality.wordpress.com peaks. We had over 500 page views. These stats and our Facebook numbers blow my mind. More and more people are invited to the Facebook event. I find the posters we’ve designed crop up around campus. I have no clue how these things came to be. 

Friday night we have a poster-making party. My sign reads, “Freedom is mine, by force or peace, you decide.” It’s a tribute to Nina Simone and her song “Feeling Good” [iTunes].

SATURDAY: Anna, Katie, and I meet at the Farmer’s Market to set up a table for poster making. My face goes numb from the cold within five minutes. Some people come up. We chat with the baristas at the Arsaga’s tent. They’re going to leave us coffee and hot chocolate for the protest.

11:00 AM – Anna and I head to campus. There are three people sitting in the Union when we arrive. We decide to smoke outside of RZ’s. We’re nervous about the number of people that will show up. We’re worried that things could get out of hand. We’re worried no one will show up.

11:30 AM – Once back inside I walk around and talk to people. A lot more people have showed up by now. There are two girls from Fort Smith with wild grins on their faces. They tell me that nothing like this would ever happen in Ft. Smith. They’re excited to join Fayetteville. Reporters from UATV and KNWA show up and ask for interviews and the plan. Our plan was still hatching in our minds.

12:00 PM – Anna and I stand up on chairs and go over the march, down Dickson Street, right on Block Street. We’re heading to the Town Center. DON’T GET IN THE STREET!

image credit The Morning News

The march is amazing. My voice is fading as I yell “WHAT DO WE WANT?!” Anna and I are both on the verge of tears. There is a ridiculous smile on my face.

12:30 PM – Snow flakes fall from the sky. People are really happy. We make it to the Town Center and there are some great speakers.

1:15 PM – We begin the final march to Dickson and College and protest for an hour. An amazing drag queen “rallies some bitches” and everyone has so much energy for the 36-degree, windy day. People honk their car horns as they pass. We scream with excitement.

 

And that’s the story. I hope I didn’t bore you to death. Somehow, the people in Northwest Arkansas were enthusiastic and pumped to participate. We stomped with the nation on November 15th. It was quite grand!