Joe Paterno and the Future
Posted: October 27th, 2009 | Filed under: Media | 23 Comments »
Should have a couple posts up later today … but I did want to mention that if you would like to see something pretty cool, you can go to FlyPMedia where they have just put up a multi-media version of the Joe Paterno story I wrote this week for Sports Illustrated.
You probably know that I’m utterly fascinated by the possibilities of the Internet. So far, it seems, we are barely scratching the potential … most of us we throw in a few links, mix in a little video, add a quiz or two and that’s about it. But it does seem true to me that the Internet can help make stories come alive in a way that seems refreshing and cool. I think it’s so important for new organizations to explore this … I don’t think people will want to stop reading, but I do think people will want to have their stories burst to life in new ways … using photos and video and audio and charts and interactive capabilities and so on.
In any case, the people at FlyPMedia — led by Jim Gaines — put together a multimedia version of Paterno that seems to do a lot of these things right now. It’s pretty cool. Would love to hear what you think of it and the future of such things.*
*And I should say that I really had nothing at all to do with it … I wrote the story, and that was all. I don’t know the actor who reads the story.
Editor’s add: For those who would like to have this discussion from a journalism perspective, I have posted something on the old Future of Newspapers blog, which has been dormant for so long it had long been pronounced dead.
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Circle me inspired…to read that is.
OK, I don’t want to derail, but can someone explain to me the whole ‘circle me’ thing? I know where it comes from, I know the history of its use on this blog, and yet I still have no idea why people write it. Or ‘first,’ for that matter. What’s the deal? Genuinely curious here.
the old Future of Newspapers…has been dormant for so long it had long been pronounced dead.
Sad but true. Oh wait…you meant a blog.
@ #2 check glossary, just a dumb way to say i was first. Circle me immature
I think journalism programs should require every writer to take basic web design, graphic arts, and video courses. The ability to write well does not necessarily mean as much as it should – you need to be able to maximize the production a newspaper/magazine/what-have-you is going to get out of your hire.
That being said, this is really cool.
Here in Minnesota, Bert Blyleven does Twins broadcasts. He decided at some point to try to find a use for the telestrator in baseball; a sport where it really does not have much use. So, he circles people who bring “Circle Me, Bert!” signs. There seems to be prizes (usually lottery scratch off’s) associated with it at times. That’s the first place I saw it.
You mean newspapers have been so effectively killed by the Internet that even a blog about their future is now dead?
Man, that’s really dead.
The “circle me” clowns are the same idiots who ask the convienience store clerk for a WINNING lottery ticket. Wow, that’s funny.
Here ya go bret.
http://graphjam.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/first1.gif
The “circle me” clowns may be acting dumb, but c’mon, they’re enjoying life and a baseball game. Give ‘em a break.
Great Venn diagram
(Rant Warning, skip on ahead)
I dunno. Yeah, it’s ‘cool’. But it also distracts and detracts from the writing. It felt a bit like I was assumed to be a 3 year old who needs a DVD to keep still. Is it progress? Or dumbing down?
From someone who loves(d) newspapers I say it’s all right to let good writing be good writing. Whether its on the pages of a book or on the screen of my electronic device. Why assume I need more than that? There’s a billion apps to give me my media buzz, but between twitter, texting and a zillion other strains on education – I fear the fine art of reading is being lost.
Take this blog. No fancy lay-outs, no multiple media choices, no click, click, click, no fancy sounds or voice overs.
Still the best.
Great story Joe. Like with Buck and others, you have a way of making me wish I knew the guy and could talk with him. I personally don’t need all the bells and whistles, and the reader is distracting. Much rather have (what I imagine is) your voice in my head. The photos are nice, though, and I could see where the videos could be a cool addition, if they were better videos.
Different strokes and all that…
I like it. A lot.
A picture is worth a thousand words, and the internet makes them work together like never before.
Be the very best at making them work together, Joe.
Joe — You are a tremendous writer. I can’t think of one thing you have written that I haven’t liked. The FlyP Media application really brings your writing to life. If the writing was bad, I’m not sure that the multimedia treatment would make it good, but it does a great job of taking really good writing and making it better…or at least different (in a good way).
Here’s what I compare it too. Shakespeare is a brilliant playwright and his written word can be well enjoyed by just reading it. But when his plays are put into production on a stage with talented actors, Shakespeare’s writing comes to life. The plays don’t detract from the writing. Instead, they reinforce the writing, even strengthen it. The FlyP Media piece did the same thing.
Trying to read this article was the equivalent of watching a FOX baseball telecast.
Joe Paterno … hey, shiny objects!
FlyP media is going to bring back the term “gilding the lily”.
Joe, is that your mug on the front page of the NY Times sports section today? Part of that horde of jackals trying to get to Pedro?
I think the presentation is very slick but I’m not sure what the business model is. In a world where we want our content for free, can a company successfully charge readers enough of a fee to make the numbers work? Could they insert advertising into the article to cover costs?
If it costs say $500 to have the story written, what does it cost for the overlaying production? Another $1,000 – $1,500?
All of that said, I really enjoyed it and hope someone figures out a way to bring it to the mainstream.
Excellent writing about a awesome person. Thanks
I’m a dinosaur. I just read the story (well done by the way). I’m worse than JoePa with the Facemask or whatever it is.
Normally I despise it when Web sites take a story and try to make it “magazine”like. But this case is the rare exception. The clips they added, as well as the recording of that older SI article on JoePa, plus the quotes from the players actually added depth to what was already a great article.
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