Media files of note for Wednesday, February 27, 2013:

For a clear take on what a reporter does, we can now turn to the entity that taught us all much over the years: Sesame Street, whose Word on the Street is "reporter." This clip compiles some historical references to reporting and puts it into the most basic language even a child could understand.

Peter Osnos, writing for The Atlantic Online, takes on the myth of the Internet as the purveyor of free information. He notes the expense of connectivity isn't accessible to all, by any means, and argues there is an important public policy challenge in narrowing the gap between those who can and cannot pay. He also notes that very little of the revenue attached to the Internet finds its way to creators of the content.

When Sir Martin Sorrell speaks, the advertising community listens. The head of the giant WPP agency has misgivings about Twitter as an effective advertising platform. He tells the Harvard Business Review that Twitter is a public relations medium and a good way to spread the word, but that it "reduces communication to superficialities and lacks depth." Sorrell also repeats his view that Facebook is a much better branding medium than an advertising medium. 

Twitter, meanwhile, is expected to unfurl its initial public offering soon, and today the Wall Street Journal corporate news director suggests it is hard to deny the platform is worth $10 billion. 

For a clear take on what a reporter does, we can now turn to the entity that taught us all much over the years: Sesame Street. This clip compiles some historical references to reporting and puts it into the most basic language even a child could understand.
 
 

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer prints its final edition Monday evening and starts the instant after as strictly seattlepi.com.

The Hearst-owned outlet employs about 180 people and will employ 40 in the morning, including 20 in the newsroom under executive producer Michelle Nicolosi, who promises a different way ahead with a revamped site.

The P-I becomes the largest newspaper to move to an online-only operation and its successes and struggles will be scrutinized likely more than any other outlet its size in the western world.

Nostalgia is deserved. Its 146 years of publishing is no small accomplishment. When any media perish, the loss applies to a committed community of contributors and consumers. In other words, journalists and other newspaper employees lose something, but so does the audience, in terms of a shared experience.

In its stead are promised a strong form of community engagement, a more flexible production team, and a theme of innovation. A successful seattlepi.com will be a model, and at this stage, most everyone is looking for a successful model. Who wouldn't wish them well, all the while regretting so many others can't make the trip?

Below is a newsroom video featuring the P-I publisher, Roger Oglesby, on the final edition.


 

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