FerroGate » Newspaper 2.0, finally?

Newspaper 2.0, finally?

February 28th, 2008 by Martin

Tags: BBC, Kindle, newspaper, NYT, web 2.0

After a very quick look at BBC’s new homepage, I’d say they just made a bold move in the right direction, compared to NYT, who everyone else seems to think are the cutting edge of newspaper 2.0. NYT does have a members-only MyTimes page, tugged away safely here, but BBC goes all-in transforming their entire landing page and main domain to an iGoogle-like page, where you don’t even have to log in to get started.

The new BBC page is also much like iGoogle: Customize a number of constantly updated boxes and move them around the page. Since the days where print ruled supreme, the websites of newspapers have evolved slowly but significantly. From mere contact-sheet websites, to copy-paste versions of the printed edition.

Later came dedicated online editions, not least increasingly motivated by declining print sales. But up until now, the online newspaper haven’t been able to answer the most essential question: How can I add true value to the online user experience, instead of simply offering a poor version of the offline reading experience (hint: user vs. reader).

The printed page have proven to be one of the most durable technologies, and as we have seen with most other technologies, the culture integrates new media on a cumulative basis; I listen to both FM radio and Internet radio. However, by truly leaving the one-for-all model and escaping the ’straight-jacket’ of the printed page (an equivalent to the music industry’s album), we might see the beginning of tailor-made mainstream media in the newspaper industry too.

Two important questions arise:

1. Will this make us more stupid as a race (e.g. I only read what I want to)? Probably not, as the wealth of information combined with a higher degree of relevancy will create more interested (and thus interesting) readers. And anyone who ever worked in an editorial office knows it was always all about pleasing the readers anyway.

2. How do I make my personalized newspaper compatible with the morning coffee table? I’m sure someone eventually will take flexible monitors and readers like the Kindle to the next level, perhaps within five years or so.

BBC and their competitors still have a long way to go, especially when it comes to figuring out what the individual reader really wants, but this is definitely a significant gesture towards newspaper 2.0. It should be interesting watching NYT’s next move, knowing there are already many more players in this space struggling with similar solutions.