Disqus - Latest Comments for Damon

Re: Google and the wires torpedo newspapers

Damon — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:36:34 -0000

I would like to hear some more details on this - but at first blush it seems like newspapers now have a strong disincentive to have AP pick up original and/or breaking news items published online first. The AP rewrite of our original story will now get preference in Google news or even cause our original to be un-indexed as a 'duplicate.' It seems that could not be true - but would like to hear from AP and Google on that.

Re: Google and the wires torpedo newspapers

Damon — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:09:26 -0000

Toby -

This has nothing to do with 'middlemen.' I say Kudos to Google for building whatever business model they want to.

My problem is - newspapers own the AP and in this case AP seems to be operating against their member's best interest.

If AP has some explanation or clarification on how this deal benefits the average paper - I look forward to hear from them.

Damon

Re: Google and the wires torpedo newspapers

Damon — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:46:16 -0000

Our first experience with the new AP/Google partnership:

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&am...

The yearbook story was an offbeat piece that was picked up by the national wire. So, instead of Google giving our version (NashuaTelegraph.com) top prominence - the AP/Google page gets the traffic.

Also at issue - even the regional publications that picked up the wire story (Boston.com, WCAX.com) had preference over our original report. Readership-wise we were the only publication with the photo at the time so ours was really the best report.

But - despite our angst at this - we have the last laugh as Fark.com ended up pointing at our version, driving 40 - 50k pageviews to that one story this morning.

Re: Google News to focus on local

Damon — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:48:01 -0000

Interesting to see how they balance the two initiatives mentioned - highlighting 'latest updates' and also highlighting 'original source.'

I look forward to seeing how this works over the next few weks leading up to the first presidential primary Jan 8 in New Hampshire. Probably the only 'national' news anyone will be reading about from this neck of the woods for a while.

Re: Lane Hartwell update: Still wrong

Damon — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 10:31:01 -0000

After watching the video - I would be hard pressed to argue fair use. This is a music video, promoting a band & web site that is selling CDs and booking gigs.

The video is a commercial for the band and the implicit satire does not argue for their right for wholesale copyright violations. I wonder if the RIAA is not also interested in the cover of the Bill Joel tune?

Weird Al has made his living from similar parody songs - but in every case he has needed to get permission of the rights holder. How is this different - for either the song or the images?

Re: Lane Hartwell update: Still wrong

Damon — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:54:51 -0000

And how is it different from the satire Weird Al does - which requires him to get clearances?

The video uses a substantial amount of the image, it did not use it for the purpose of commenting on the image itself, and it did it within a commercial context - as opposed to an academic/non-profit one.

That seems like three strikes out of four. The only criteria I see in favor of fair use is that the video probably does not significantly impact the economic viability of the photo in terms of future licensing.

The 'parody' argument is valid only if we agree that the photographer is part of the culture being parodied. That seems a stretch and the ad absurdum result of that would be to nullify a lot of copyright law.

I probably would not have bothered to pursue this if I was the photographer (there is no money to be had from it) but I would think she has a good chance to win if it went to court.

Re: Lane Hartwell update: Still wrong

Damon — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:01:40 -0000

Matt, thanks for the lecture. I might disagree with your conclusions but I certainly would not argue you arrive at them via ignorance.

Fair Use is a doctrine that can only be resolved in court. That is why most artists (like Weird Al) get permission or pay for clearances for any use that might be reasonably questioned. It is good to be right - it is also good to avoid being sued.

The link you provide above is actually a very good one: http://chillingeffects.org/fairuse/faq.cgi#QID817

I would say the bubble video would have a 60/40 chance of losing if it went to court. If you were to pick a number - what odds would you give it?

cheers

Re: Nashua Telegraph Blogs

Damon — Fri, 04 May 2007 09:26:05 -0000

I have had it installed for a few weeks - yet to be able to get it working. Maybe the firewall in the office...

Re: On Assignment

Damon — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:56:39 -0000

In response to the student commenters I can only say this: Apathy is quick and easy but taking a stand and taking action to back it up takes courage and dedication. You should be commended for your willingness to fight for what you believe.

However - several of the above comments do a grave disservice your idealism.

In short - I find it unfortunate that based on an obviously brief and incomplete experience with a Telegraph photojournalist you would find it appropriate to launch personal attacks that serve no purpose other than to detract from your message.

Bob Hammerstrom (and Al McKeon) attended the rally with a job to do on Friday morning. Bob's responsibility was to capture (in video and still pictures) whatever activity he observed. He did that to the best of his ability and left when requested by Principal Ryan. Any injury, real or imagined, caused by his effort to do his job is unfortunate, but definitely unintentional.

Bob is a consummate professional who has been covering news in this community for almost a decade. His character is not in question. After leaving Nashua North Bob went to Merrimack High to talk to a class there about community journalism and share his experiences as a photojournalist over the last 22 years. That is the true reflection of his personality.

Issues like the teacher's contract obviously inflame passion on both sides of the issue. I am sure Bob will accept the above, less than charitable comments, as a result of that idealism run a bit astray. That is the type of guy he is.

Damon Kiesow

Managing Editor / Online

Re: If you Twitter it they will (maybe not) come

Damon — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:15:58 -0000

Dave - I agree with your note of caution. That is one of the reasons we went only with 'breaking' news in the feed - and also why I posted this blog entry - so people are aware of what/who is behind the effort.

I hope we continue to stay on the correct side of helpful vs irritating - but as I said above, it is difficult for a company to find its way.

I trust if there are things the community thinks we are doing right or wrong they will let us know - and we will do our best to improve on that advice.

thanks for the note.

Re: Facebook doesn’t like us

Damon — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:35:57 -0000

Jack - I tried another appeal by email and when that is rejected - we will probably do a group. Unfortunately that does not provide the same visibility or functionality etc.

Re: Facebook doesn’t like us

Damon — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:42:45 -0000

FYI - FB sent another note last night that they are considering the issue. Not sure if that is positive or not, but it is something.

Damon

Re: Facebook says: we really mean no

Damon — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:23:02 -0000

A group would be fine = except it does not provide the same functionality as a real profile.

If need be - we would be better off creating an actual application that did what we wanted - but having a profil was a great solution for us.

thanks

Damon

Re: Google News Hosting Wire Service Stories Diminishes Value Of Duplicate Content

Damon — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:47:20 -0000

>>The biggest concern for newspapers will be what happens to local-story rewrites in GN — will the AP version trump the original local version? That is where the damage to referral traffic from GN could hit hard. But I suspect AP and Google have a plan for this. And that isn’t just a guess.

The AP pickup/rewrite has always been a major problem re: Google News - and this could definitely make it worse.

That being said - if AP/Google has a plan to make this work - how about letting us know about it? At this point the GN/AP deal looks like a bad one for newspapers and reinforces the impression AP is looking out for itself not the members. I would be happy to stand corrected if there is a plan that will make this somehow work for us...

Re: The Only Way For Journalists To Understand The Web Is To Use It

Damon — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:55:37 -0000

Scott -

Great post which I am going to share with the newsroom. I have adopted this metaphor when explaining the problem:

Our 'readers' have learned a new language - 'digital.' In order to stay relevant as journalist - you need to learn to speak it as well.

You can try and learn it from a book but as with any language, immersion and constant practice is the only path to success.

That could mean starting a blog, using Twitter, having Flickr or YouTube accounts, whatever. Just do something. You get a lot of credit for at least trying and learning - and NO credit at all for forcing your audience to speak analog when dealing with you.

Damon