Notes on Content

Theory & Practice

A running report on must-read news, analysis and resources from the content industry. Updated constantly. »


 

To push for quick word choices by playing down their consequences, I’ve watched more than one web professional shrug and say “We’re not saving lives here.” Sometimes, I even nodded in agreement. Not anymore.

Colleen Jones, A List Apart: Articles: Words that Zing.

03.09.10 | Content Strategy, Theory & Practice

Today I want to share the story of what one business media brand is doing to get closer to their audience, and how they are leveraging social media to drive editorial strategy.

Dan Blank: Publishing, Innovation & the Web » Blog Archive » How to Use LinkedIn to Drive Editorial Strategy.

03.05.10 | Editorial & Programming, Products & Services, Theory & Practice

via Stephanie Clifford, Survey Finds Slack Standards at Magazine Web Sites – NYTimes.com.

Slack Standards in Web Editorial

03.05.10 | Editorial & Programming, Organizational Effectiveness, Resources, Theory & Practice

As you might’ve seen, our friends at Engadget have shut down their comments, which had become overrun by troll hordes. Trolls lurk everywhere, but our system—often mystifying to newcomers—is designed to keep them out. Here’s why it’s better.

via Ryan Sholin, Gizmodo’s Comment System: How It Works and Why It’s Better.

03.04.10 | Theory & Practice, User-Generated Content

via Randall Snare, iA » The Value of Information.

Diagramming the Value of Content

02.23.10 | Business Strategy, Editorial & Programming, Theory & Practice

 

But I actu­ally think stock and flow is the mas­ter metaphor for media today. Here’s what I mean:

  • Flow is the feed. It’s the posts and the tweets. It’s the stream of daily and sub-daily updates that remind peo­ple that you exist.
  • Stock is the durable stuff. It’s the con­tent you pro­duce that’s as inter­est­ing in two months (or two years) as it is today. It’s what peo­ple dis­cover via search. It’s what spreads slowly but surely, build­ing fans over time.

I feel like flow is ascen­dant these days, for obvi­ous reasons—but we neglect stock at our own peril.

via Robin Sloan, Stock and flow « Snarkmarket.

02.04.10 | Editorial & Programming, Organizational Effectiveness, Theory & Practice

via Luke Hayman, Five Ways the iPad Will Change Magazine Design | New at Pentagram | Pentagram.

5 Ways the iPad Will Change Magazine Design

02.01.10 | Emerging Media, Industry Shift, Platforms & Channels, Theory & Practice

There are 3 key factors that are crucial to empowering authors:

  • the big picture — authors need a clear understanding of where their content fits within the intranet
  • technical skills — authors must be confident they know how to write and / or publish content
  • sense of ownership — the motivation to contribute, including clearly defined responsibilities

How to empower authors » Step Two Designs, Catherine Grenfell.

01.13.10 | Content Strategy, Organizational Effectiveness, Theory & Practice

That’s right folks. Drudge beats every original content news site by a two to one margin.

Drudge is also one of the largest news sites that isn’t built on an offline brand or a communications portal.

Still thinks sending people away with links is not a good strategy online?

News Site That Sends Readers Away With Links Has Highest Engagement (via Publishing 2.0)

01.12.10 | Editorial & Programming, Theory & Practice

 

To most people, editors are wordsmiths [....] but it is a very limited understanding of the role.

Prasanna Lal Das, An editor is not just a wordsmith.

01.11.10 | Content Strategy, Editorial & Programming, Theory & Practice

A Call to Action for Web Managers: Blow the Whistle | WelchmanPierpoint.

12.14.09 | Content Management, Organizational Effectiveness, Theory & Practice

Just what is metadata, anyway?.

12.14.09 | Technical Architecture, Theory & Practice

Theory & Practice

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