Opening day at Target Field
Minneapolis, MN – Denard Span goes deep with the first home run at Target Field.
WCCO moves into the future with “The Wire”
WCCO-TV started building a local news network on Thursday with its launch of The Wire, an interactive Web application that allows users to follow news stories as they develop throughout the day.
The Wire includes a linear timeline of local news that tracks breaking news in real time. The timeline drives traffic to wcco.com using posts from WCCO reporters and aggregates content from social networks. Users can sort the timeline by news, buzz (the “fun” stuff) and events. Most importantly, the application also aggregates the best local news coverage and allows users to submit their own content as well.
Here’s an introduction to the application by WCCO Web producer Karna Bergstrom:
Also, check out Jason DeRusha’s video on the site’s launch. Pretty funny stuff.
By developing the site, WCCO has created a local news network that provides fresh coverage throughout the day. The site uses existing WCCO content and aggregates feeds from other organizations, including MinnPost, Minnesota Public Radio, Kare 11, Fox 9, WCCO Radio and the Pioneer Press. The Star Tribune and KSTP didn’t make the cut because their feeds are run by robots.
The Wire includes some impressive multimedia integration. The video player is embedded within the individual posts and can pull feeds from YouTube or wcco.com (users still cannot share or embed the video). The multimedia content is connected to each post and does a nice job highlighting the station’s strong video content.
The linear timeline seems like a weird way to access local news. There’s a lot of information condensed into a small space and most developing stories require some previous understanding to make them work. This problem is not unique to The Wire and it will be interesting to see how this tool will be used in the future. It does include a search function to follow specific topics and that could be a great tool to follow stories over time. For example, a search of “health care” could help follow the health care debate, even though stories are currently limited to a three-day window.
The most promising part of the project comes from the “list view.” Does it look familiar? It’s pretty much a mini Twitter feed. By doing this, WCCO becomes a much more attractive source for local news because of its willingness filter local content and link to outside sources. In addition, the live feed allows users to access information in real time, but without the human filter of Bring Me The News to recommend related content or the strongest stories.
Please note: Any users who would like to view the Flash site on their iPad can contact Steve Jobs at sjobs@apple.com. And this is why he isn’t going to budge.
The Wire is not currently sending updates through Twitter or RSS. WCCO’s digital media director, John Daenzer, said those updates will be coming soon. In addition, WCCO also plans to roll out a mobile site (sometime next week) that will include a layout similar to the “list view.”
The most promising part of the application is its development of a local news network. WCCO is the first news organization to start aggregating coverage in real time and this could have some very interesting implications. Right now, the list view is pretty much a fire hose of local content. However, if The Wire could become a filter of local content and update users based on their individual interests, then I think it could become a very powerful tool. For example, I could use the application to request information about local politics, Gophers basketball and health care, and receive those updates through a Facebook application or RSS feed. In addition, I could use an advanced search to track a local story, such as R.T. Rybak’s run for governor, to provide context for an on-going event.
The first local news organization who can find a way to aggregate and filter local coverage based on user preferences is going to be very successful. After WCCO’s development of The Wire, it’s only a matter of time.
Learning innovation from the “Easy Raise”
In fourth grade, I had a brilliant idea that would completely revolutionize the future of elementary education. Okay, maybe not, but it was awesome! I decided to reinvent the “hand raise” using an ice-fishing flag and some suction cups.
This invention would solve a serious problem. Teachers wanted to encourage class participation, but young students struggled to withstand the dreaded wait required to ask their questions. Thousands of critical questions would remain unasked because of a simple, physical limitation.
My solution… the “Easy Raise.”
That’s right, the Easy Raise was an attention-getting device that could rise for hours without wavering. More importantly, this brilliant piece of innovation was going to win me the fourth grade inventor’s fair.
The revolutionary "Easy Raise" in action
Long story short… I lost! To what? The most ridiculous invention of all time.
I lost to a doggie backpack that allowed every dog to wear its poop. Not only that, but the same invention had won the previous year. How can you win an inventor’s fair using last year’s invention!? The future of education had lost to a poop pack.
It took me a few months to get over the loss. Then, three years later, I watched the Tonight Show with Jay Leno as five elementary students presented their winning inventions from the national inventors fair. Care to guess the winner?! It was the Easy Raise! Some dude, three years later, came up with the exact same concept and won it all.
I discovered something important as a young inventor. I was in the process of building something great, but I failed to understand its significance and find a way to make it work. I continued using the Easy Raise for the rest of the school year and quickly became my teacher’s new favorite student to answer questions. However, one more year of fine-tuning and my purple “participant” ribbon would have been gold.
What’s the point?
I feel like I’m performing at the fourth grade inventor’s fair once again. I recently started a company, Ewen Media, and have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. The panel, which is pretty much everyone, would rightfully assume that I am crazy and consider it time to move on. However, just like the Easy Raise, I think there’s something to it, which means this is no time to quit and join team “poop pack” before next year’s fair.
The most innovative ideas are usually met with the most resistance. Think about it. It’s hard to be inventive when there is another trusted alternative that has shown promise in the past. In today’s environment, re-inventing the “poop pack” isn’t going to cut it and it’s time to start moving toward true innovation. Most importantly, it’s time for the entrepreneurs to believe in their ideas strongly enough to carry them through.
I firmly believe that passion is the single greatest asset for any young journalist.
My generation is going to redefine the future of journalism. We are all applicants at the fourth grade inventor’s fair and presenting ideas to a panel of experienced professionals. Many of the ideas sound pretty terrible, but some of them will work and someone will succeed. So, the question is, will it be you or the poop pack?
Twinkie sales at the fair
State Fair salesman Sean Leake stirs up interest in his deep-fried Twinkies.
