Via corybe:
Most newsrooms know that mobile is growing fast. Everyone can see mobile usage (phones and tablets) creeping up on their desktop numbers. For example, The Guardian recently said mobile visits hit 35%, outpacing desktop at certain hours of the day. A growing handful of media brands — including where I work at Breaking News — have watched mobile soar over desktop in audience. And we’ve all seen the stories about the unprecedented growth of tablets, the fastest-growing product in the history of consumer electronics.
Soon, mobile will be the primary way people get their news.
If that’s really the case, then why isn’t mobile dominating journalists’ discussions on Twitter? Packing sessions at journalism conferences? Sitting at the top of “most popular” story lists on journalism blogs?
I have a few theories:
Cory Bergman is the general manager of NBC News’ Breaking News and points to social media’s ease of use; the overall newness of mobile as a form factor for delivering news; and the potential threat mobile poses for advertising dependent organizations among other factors that many news organization have been slow to enter mobile.
Read through for his explanations of each.
See also Jason Pontin’s great article from last year in Technology Review about why publishers don’t like apps. This isn’t to say they don’t like mobile. Instead, Pontin explains why TR ditched their native app in favor of HTML5.
Will we reach a point where journalists start designing for mobile-first instead of mobile-option?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) has fired the manager responsible for its troubled mapping software, seeking to win back the trust of users disappointed after the program debuted in September, according to people familiar with the move.
Richard Williamson, who oversaw the mapping team, was pushed out by Senior Vice President Eddy Cue, said the people, who asked not to be named because the information wasn’t yet public. Cue, who took over last month as part of a management shakeup, is seeking advice from outside mapping-technology experts and prodding digital maps providerTomTom NV (TOM2) to fix landmark and navigation data it shares with Apple.
Given the public reaction to Apple’s in-house Maps app, we can’t say we’re entirely surprised by this announcement, though we sort of expected Williamson to be shown the door weeks ago if it was going to happen. The decision was apparently made by new Senior Vice President Eddy Cue following last month’s Apple executive shuffle. Of course, many people probably think the entire situation is being blown out of proportion. What say you, dear reader?E
One of the papers that’s shrinking, the Mobile, Alabama Press-Register, had an, um, unusual take on the paper losing four of its daily editions. Our pal Charles Apple took a little time to poke fun at the crazy amount of spin happening in this headline.
The bloodshed gets worse: On the heels of news that the New Orleans Times-Picayune would be moving away from a daily edition is news that three metro papers in Alabama would be getting the same treatment. Each of these newspapers is owned by Newhouse, a chain with newspapers across the country. Not a very good day for newspapers in general, folks. (thanks @MegsLeigh)
So, how does the news industry think you read the news? That’s a question it tries to answer answer each year, when the Pew Research Center releases its yearly “State of the News Media” report, which has long been seen as a bit of a bellwether as far as where trends are going. You can read the full report over this-a-way, but we wanted to pull out a few highlights, below:
(Photo by NS Newsflash)
I didn’t sit on a couch with anybody.Rick Santorum • Speaking at a campaign event at the USS Alabama Battleship Park, during which he also proudly declared that global warming “is not climate science, it was political science.” The couch line was a reference to a 2008 video that his opponent, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, did with the then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi on climate change. Gingrich was not the only target of Santorum’s speech, the candidate quickly reminded those in attendance that Mitt Romney imposed the nation’s first CO2 cap during his time as governor. “We don’t need somebody who changes when the climate changes,” Santorum said, “We need somebody who looks at science with a clear head and a level eye.” source (via • follow)
Following up on yesterday’s news, Verizon has decided not to charge their ridiculous $2 fee to those wanting to pay their bills online or via phone.
Good save. But I’m with Harry McCracken:
When Verizon says it won’t charge $2 for online payments, it’s saying it’ll get $2 out of you in some less obvious manner. Some victory.
— Harry McCracken (@harrymccracken) December 30, 2011
With them. This is less a parting shot and more a “we’ll have to find another way” realization. Remember, Verizon IS the company that once relied on income from forced accidental button-presses. They know how to make $2 off you and make it seem like an accident.
According to data from Nielsen, 40% of mobile users over 18 in the United States now carry a smartphone. Android carries a 40% share of those smartphone owners, follwed by Apple at 28% and RIM falling to 19%. Windows Mobile users still far exceed Windows Phone 7 users at a 7:1 ratio.
Under the fold is perhaps the more interesting bit: Amongst those who plan on getting a smartphone in the future, more intend to purchase Android phones than iPhones.
Copyright 2009-2013 Ernie Smith • Ask us stuff! • E-mail us • Follow us on Twitter • Follow us on Facebook
