Dan Blank: Publishing, Innovation & the Web

A Rebirth of Reading, Writing, Learning and Creating

Last week, The New Yorker has an article titled: “Twilight of Books: What will life be like if people stop reading?” The article rattles off statistics about how much less we read as a culture, and statements like this: “More alarming are indications that Americans are losing not just the will to read but even… Continue reading A Rebirth of Reading, Writing, Learning and Creating

What Rockstars Can Teach Journalists About Innovation

I constantly read about how newspapers, magazines, media companies and journalists are evolving to meet the changing needs of their audience by leveraging new tools on the web. Oftentimes, these changes happen with reduced resources, while learning new skills. There are more and more success stories that empower individual journalists, and move brands in exciting… Continue reading What Rockstars Can Teach Journalists About Innovation

Mercenary Media vs. Missionary Media

Robert Scoble profiles Federated Media, a community of 150 “passion driven” blogs. FM’s Founder and Chairman, John Battelle categorizes media in two ways: Mercenary media A company identifies a market opportunity, creates content around it, and then sells advertising against it. Missionary media Writing for the passion of the topic. A community builds around this… Continue reading Mercenary Media vs. Missionary Media

The Death of Apple’s Brand Promise

This is a story about what is standing between individual journalists who blog and work on the web, and crushing lawsuits from large companies… Last week, a blogger gave up his right to report on a certain company. The man is Nick Ciarelli, a student who has written the influential Think Secret blog, which speculates… Continue reading The Death of Apple’s Brand Promise

When the World Knows About Everything You Purchase

The New York Times looks at how Facebook’s Beacon system has raised questions not just of how we advertise on the web, but how societal norms are and behaviors are being challenged: “We used to live in a world where if someone secretly followed you from store to store, recording your purchases, it would be… Continue reading When the World Knows About Everything You Purchase

Is Print Dragging Down Publishers?

Scott Karp looks at some new research data, and makes the argument that print may be dragging down publishers who should be focusing more on their online revenue: “…pure-play online media is eating the once monopoly-protected lunch of local print media — these online players don’t have to worry about supporting, protecting, not competing with,… Continue reading Is Print Dragging Down Publishers?

Think Secret: Deadpool?!

I was surprised to read that Apple’s lawsuit with Apple rumor website Think Secret has resulted in the site shutting down. Think Secret has long been a reliable source of Apple information, and from what I understand, run by a college student with a knack for reporting. The website Techcrunch gives a “deadpool” designation to… Continue reading Think Secret: Deadpool?!

Tying Web Analytics to Business Strategy

Reid Carr talks about taking web analytics a step further, and tying them to business strategy. “The connection between the traffic and sales is often not monitored as specifically as it could be. Companies need to begin to measure more business-oriented metrics related to the overarching goals of the organization and begin to draw tight… Continue reading Tying Web Analytics to Business Strategy