4 Minute Roundup, or 4MR, is a weekly audio podcast with host Mark Glaser looking at the week's digital media news. There will be a rundown of the top stories of the week, along with regular features like "Quotable" and "Just One Question" with expert voices in the mix. Plus, weekly MediaShift survey results will be revealed. You can subscribe to the podcast on the site or via iTunes. If you have an idea for a new 4MR feature or want to be a guest or give us feedback, please let us know through the contact form.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: All Hail the Verizon iPhone!
The iPhone is coming, the iPhone is coming, the iPhone is coming... to Verizon. After an endless string of complaints from users about dropped calls on the AT&T iPhone, Verizon finally is offering relief with its own iPhone, due out next month. The downsides of the new Verizon iPhone include that it's on the CDMA network, and not a new...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Is Consumer Electronics Show a Big Waste?
In this week's 4MR podcast, I consider the gargantuan Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. It offers an orgy of gadgets and new technology, but how much of it is worth our time and will become influential and game-changing? I talked with CNET editor at large Rafe Needleman, who is at CES this week, to get his defense of...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Yahoo Prefers Delicious Sale to 'Sunset'
In this week's 4MR podcast, I look at the controversy surrounding Yahoo possibly closing down social bookmarking site Delicious, which it bought five years ago. An internal slide was leaked showing Delicious was on the "sunset" list (to be closed), but after an outcry on Twitter and other social networks, Yahoo said it would look for an outside home for Delicious, meaning it could open the way for a sale. I talked with ReadWriteWeb co-editor Marshall Kirkpatrick about the future of Delicious, and even photo-sharing site Flickr in the wake of chaos at Yahoo.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Minorities, Young People Lead in Twitter Use
In this week's 4MR podcast, I look at the recent survey results from Pew Internet on Americans' use of Twitter. The research group found that 8% of American use Twitter, with 2% using it daily. That use is even more pronounced among Americans aged 18 to 29, and among blacks and Hispanics. I spoke to Pew Internet senior research specialist Aaron Smith about the survey results and how Twitter use compares to social networking use.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: WikiLeaks Under Attack, Dropped by Amazon
In this week's 4MR podcast, I talk about the recent release of secret diplomatic cables by WikiLeaks, and how it is viewed by governments, journalists and free speech advocates. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is wanted in Sweden for possible sex crimes, Amazon dropped hosting the documents, and the site has had trouble staying online due to hacker attacks. I spoke with NYU professor Jay Rosen about his views on WikiLeaks, the networked nature of information sharing, and the potential for local WikiLeaks.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Newsweek-Daily Beast Merger; Slate Hurting?
In this week's 4MR podcast, I discuss the recent merger announcement between Newsweek magazine and online publication The Daily Beast. The deal becoming finalized was first reported by Nick Summers, a former Newsweek reporter now at the New York Observer. I talked with Summers about the challenges Newsweek has faced, and his back-and-forth online with Slate's Jacob Weisberg about the current state of Slate.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Sunlight Foundation Tracks Money in Politics
In this week's 4MR podcast I talk with Sunlight Foundation's Ellen Miller about their efforts to track down the biggest donors in this year's election races. On Election Night, they will run their Sunlight Live platform that will give details on who has donated to whom as live video shows the winners and losers. Miller also talks about Sunlight's recent $1.2 million grant from the Knight Foundation.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Hard News Pays More than Celeb Stories?
4MR is sponsored by Carnegie-Knight News21, an alliance of 12 journalism schools in which top students tell complex stories in inventive ways. See tips for spurring innovation and digital learning at Learn.News21.com. In this week's 4MR podcast I look at new research from Perfect Market that shows news sites earning more "revenues per thousand page views" (RPM) for serious...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: A $100 Million Expansion for Public Media?
In this week's 4MR podcast I look at the ambitious plan by American Public Media honcho Bill Kling to add more than 300 new reporters and editors to four local public radio newsrooms, at a funding cost of $100 million. These new reporters would be digital-first and focus on text and multimedia before radio. I spoke to Ken Doctor, who wrote a detailed article about Kling's plan recently.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: AOL Buys TechCrunch; Knight Updates News Challenge
4MR is sponsored by Carnegie-Knight News21, an alliance of 12 journalism schools in which top students tell complex stories in inventive ways. See tips for spurring innovation and digital learning at Learn.News21.com. In this week's 4MR podcast I look at the recent shopping spree by AOL, including buying tech news blog TechCrunch for more than $30 million. PaidContent founder...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: New Twitter Makes Room for Ads
In this week's 4MR podcast I look at the newly redesigned Twitter.com, now with a double-pane view, embedded photos and video, and infinite scroll. Some folks say this means Twitter is more of a media company, getting people to pay more attention to its website, where it could serve up more ads. I talked with tech pundit and blogger Robert Scoble, who said he likes the redesign and thinks third party Twitter app makers will need to innovate to survive.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: NYU's Jay Rosen on Rethinking J-Schools
In this week's 4MR podcast I do another special report for our "Beyond J-School" series, this time an in-depth discussion with NYU's Jay Rosen, who has been taking a new approach to journalism education. Rosen told me more about his Studio20 program, using an arts metaphor, and its work in helping to launch the new hyper-local site for the East Village in conjunction with the New York Times.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Helping Journalism Students Get Tech Skills
In this week's 4MR podcast I talk about MediaShift's "Beyond J-School" series so far, including the stories on teaching social media, the 5Across roundtable and Jen Lee Reeves' take on getting j-students over their fear of technology. I talked with Reeves more about how she is asking her students this semester to pay $36 each for Lynda.com courses on learning the basics of Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash. Reeves talked candidly about her students and their fears of failing with technology.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Google Offers Free Calls via Gmail
In this week's 4MR podcast I look at the recently launched free phone service from Google through Gmail. Undercutting Skype and other VoIP services (not to mention landlines), Google is letting people call from their computer to anywhere in the U.S. or Canada for free, and charging low international rates. What's in it for Google? I spoke to tech pundit and Computerworld contributor Mitch Wagner to learn more.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Facebook Places Wants to Be Turned Off
In this week's 4MR podcast I look at the recently launched Facebook Places location feature. While the social network touts it as a great way to tell your friends where you are in the physical world, others worry about the privacy implications. In fact, the most popular stories on the subject are telling people how to turn it off. I talked with Gawker staff writer Adrian Chen about his take on how Facebook could have made it easier to turn Places off.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Politicians Don't Want Wikileaks Protected
In this week's 4MR podcast I look at the recent move by U.S. senators to amend a Federal journalist shield bill to exclude Wikileaks. Many lawmakers are angry at the whistle-blower site for sharing thousands of classified documents about the Afghan war. But what does this mean for a possible shield law, which already passed the House and a Senate committee?
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Kindle Gives Amazon More Bang for Less Bucks
In this week's 4MR podcast I look at the surprising success of the Amazon Kindle e-reader in the wake of the hit Apple iPad tablet. While many people expected the iPad to impact the e-reader market, instead the major players cut prices and Kindle sales tripled in the past month. Plus, Amazon announced a new line of Kindles that will cost even less -- with no touch screen or color.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: The Problem with Content Farms
In this week's 4MR podcast I give an overview of "content farms," sites such as those from Demand Media, Yahoo's Associated Content and AOL Seed that produce massive amounts of content for low pay. While there have been issues with the quality of content from these sites, they often provide "good enough" how-to information for people searching for it online.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Apple Offers Free Bumpers as iPhone Fix
In this week's 4MR podcast I look at the problems Apple has been having with its iPhone 4. The infamous "death grip" issue meant you'd have dropped calls if your hand went over a certain part of the phone's antenna. Apple brought out Steve Jobs for a press conference today where they offered free bumpers to solve the issue, and would refund anyone for their iPhone if they weren't satisfied. I talked with Chicago Sun-Times tech guru Andy Ihnatko for his take on the press conference and Apple's non-apology apology.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Time.com Restricts Access to Print Stories
In this week's 4MR podcast I look at the move by Time.com to restrict access to its print stories online. Rather than set up a pay wall, Time shows abridged versions of print stories and asks you to subscribe to the print magazine or get its $5 iPad app edition instead. That has critics howling. I also talked with PaidContent co-editor Staci Kramer, who considers Time's strategy a "condom" between online visitors and the print magazine.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: YouTube Wins Court Case Against Viacom
In this week's 4MR podcast I consider the ruling in the YouTube vs. Viacom court case, with the judge essentially throwing out Viacom's $1 billion lawsuit. The judge believed that YouTube followed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's "safe harbor" provision, taking down videos that violated copyrights when the copyright holder gave it a take-down notice. Viacom said it would appeal the decision while YouTube called it a strike for content-sharing sites on the web.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: iPhone 4 vs. Android Phones
In this week's 4MR podcast I consider the new iPhone 4 announced by Apple, with a sleeker design, longer battery life, "retina display" and a front-facing camera for video calls. How will the iPhone stack up against popular Android phones such as the new 4G HTC Evo and the Motorola Droid? I talked with CNET associate editor Nicole Lee to...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Facebook Privacy Update; Bay Citizen Launch
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition I look at how Facebook tried to simplify its privacy settings in the face of widespread criticism and defections. Now the 50 settings have been streamlined down to 15, but still some critics decry the opt-out nature of sharing vs. opt-in. Plus, the new Bay Citizen non-profit news...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: A Primer on Facebook Privacy Issues
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition I focus on the recent privacy brouhaha at social networking giant Facebook. Why are prominent techies deleting their accounts and complaining? Mainly because Facebook keeps adding features that are "opt-out" instead of "opt-in" and its privacy policies are a complex mess. I talked with lawyer Michael McSunas to...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: FCC's 'Goldilocks' Approach to Regulating Net
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition I focus on the proposal by the FCC chairman Julius Genachowski to find a "third way" of regulating broadband providers. His "Goldilocks" approach tries to inforce fairness and Net neutrality rules, but not be too heavy-handed by avoiding setting prices for ISPs or forcing them to open up...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Legal Implications of Gizmodo iPhone Caper
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition I focus on the brouhaha surrounding Gizmodo obtaining a next-generation prototype of the Apple iPhone. The tech blog paid $5,000 for the prototype, took it apart, and then returned it to Apple. But police raided Gizmodo editor Jason Chen's house and took away computers, hard drives and cameras,...
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4MR
4-Minute Roundup: Apple's iAds; Journo-Programming Degree
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at Apple's plan to enter mobile advertising with its new iAd platform. Apple has been known for hardware and software but has never handled ad sales before, and now finds itself squarely in competition with Google and AdMob in that arena. Plus, Columbia University announced a...
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4MR
4-Minute Roundup: All Hail the iPad (Except Curmudgeons)
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's special edition, I look at the impending launch of the Apple iPad tablet. So far, reviews have been mainly positive, though there are some caveats about the missing features (Flash support, camera, USB, etc.). Media companies are falling over themselves to create apps, including paid apps, but no one...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Google Uncensored in China; iPad Mania for Mags
In this week's edition, I look at Google's recent move to stop censoring its site in China and instead redirect traffic to its uncensored Hong Kong site. Google is also running real-time search results and asking Congress to punish countries that filter the Net, but will the move backfire? Plus, magazine publishers are moving quickly developing iPad apps and even selling advertising on their apps before they even exist. Will people pay for those apps?
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4MR
4-Minute Roundup: Google TV Disrupts; Facebook Passes Google
I look at Google TV, the new alliance between Google, Intel, Sony and Logitech to create a new TV or set-top box that will finally connect the TV with the Net in a simple way. Plus, Facebook last week surpassed Google in traffic for the U.S., according to Experian Hitwise, and Facebook referrals to news sites were more loyal visitors than referrals from Google News or the Google search engine. And I asked Just One Question to Time magazine TV critic James Poniewozik, getting his take on Google TV.
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4MR
4-Minute Roundup: The Rising Buzz of Location Services at SXSW
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the growing interest in geo-location services such as Foursquare and Gowalla, especially as the South by Southwest conference begins in Austin, Texas. Now, Twitter and Facebook are both preparing to add geo-location to their services as well, and Google already has Latitude and Buzz that can show your location. But will this become a mainstream phenomenon or just a pastime for the tech-savvy in-crowd?
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Viacom Yanks Shows from Hulu; FT's Pay Model
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the recent move by Viacom to pull "The Daily Show" and "Colbert Report" from Hulu, and run them on their own sites. Plus, the Financial Times said it would start charging for day passes and weekly passes to augment its metered pay system online.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Google's Trouble in Europe; WAC vs. Apple
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the trouble Google is having in Europe, with its executives indicted in an Italian court; the European Commission investigating anti-competitive behavior; and recent privacy complaints against Street View. Plus, an alliance of rival cell phone companies wants to create a unified app store to take on Apple. Plus I ask Just One Question to Spot.us honcho David Cohn, who explains an innovative ad plan for the crowdfunding site.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Olympics Tape-Delay Backlash; PleaseRobMe's Geo-Scare
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the backlash against NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics, with people on the West Coast angry at the network for tape-delaying the best events until prime time. Plus, a new service called PleaseRobMe.com points out the vulnerability of people who use check-in geo-location services such as Foursquare along with Twitter. And I ask Just One Question to NewTeeVee's Liz Gannes.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Google's Mixed Buzz; Olympic Social Media
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the new Google Buzz, offering ways for people to use their Gmail contact list to send out status updates, videos, photos and more. Google has had to react to an array of concerns over privacy and the way Buzz automatically generates followers (and followees). Plus, the Olympics start on a somber note, but are being covered like never before over social media. And I ask Just One Question to NYU J-school grad and former MediaShift contributor Alana Taylor.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Facebook as News Reader; Engadget Comments
This episode of 4MR is brought to you by GoDaddy, helping you set up your own website in a snap with domain name registration, web hosting and 24/7 support. Visit GoDaddy to learn more. Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the rise of Facebook as a place to find news. Hitwise...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: iPad Mania; Yelp Scores $100 Million
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the hype and reality around the latest device from Apple, the iPad. While some have slammed it for what it's missing, it's too early to tell how media companies might use it to sell their content. Plus, Yelp gets up to $100 million from Elevation Partners, helping some employees cash out without an IPO. And I ask Just One Question to Google News' Josh Cohen about whether Google should have started working with publishers sooner.
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Text Donations to Haiti; Google.cn Uncensored
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the way social media and text-to-donate has helped to transform charitable giving in Haiti after the earthquake. Plus, Google announced it would stop censoring its search site in China after having Gmail accounts of dissidents and free speech proponents hacked there. And I ask Just...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: 3D TV Hype at CES; Nexus One Phone
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I consider the hype around 3D TV at the Consumer Electronics Show. While many companies and even cable channels are announcing 3D TV initiatives, it seems doubtful that huge numbers of people will be drawn to the technology this year. Plus, Google unveiled its Nexus One phone to...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Google Phone and Netbook; Kindle Under Attack
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at Google's various moves into consumer electronics. Rumors abound about a Google phone, code-named Nexus One, that could be out as early as the first week of January. And Google also might be coming out with its own branded netbook with Chrome OS by Christmas 2010....
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: The Death of E&P; AOL's Spin-Off
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the recent announcement that Nielsen will be shuttering Editor & Publisher magazine, which covered the newspaper business since 1884. E&P's Jennifer Saba says the loss of classified advertising was as much to blame as Romenesko. Plus, America Online was spun-off from Time Warner yesterday and...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Comcast-NBC Deal; AOL's Robot Army
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift (the Stuffy Head Cold Edition). In this week's edition, I look at the $30 billion mega-merger between Comcast and NBC Universal. Critics already believe the deal could lead to higher cable rates and less free content on Hulu. Plus, AOL's Tim Armstrong said he would use computer algorithms to help in the...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Media Company Layoffs; Omidyar Startup
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the deep layoffs that are planned at AOL, the AP and BusinessWeek. In the case of AOL, the company plans to shed one-third of its workforce, or 2,500 staffers. eBay founder Pierre Omidyar announced plans to launch a news startup in Hawaii that will combine...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Murdoch-Google Spat; Ft. Hood Shooting on Twitter
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at recent comments by News Corp. honcho Rupert Murdoch about taking his content out of Google searches, and how many people reacted to it. Plus, many news organizations made Twitter Lists to cover the Ft. Hood shooting, but the Austin American-Statesman had an excellent Twitter feed...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Scoble on Twitter Lists; Time, Newsweek Hurting
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at Twitter Lists and how they allow people to group the people they follow on Twitter. Some say they might replace RSS feed readers. Robert Scoble answers Just One Question about how Twitter Lists have changed his life. Plus, magazines are hurting once again, with Time...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Twitter's Real-Time Search Deals; Bloomberg Rising
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the deals Microsoft made recently with Twitter and Facebook to incorporate tweets and status updates into its Bing search engine. Google quickly announced a deal with Twitter too, but why should we care? Also, Bloomberg bought out BusinessWeek magazine, but the jewel might well be...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: FTC's Blogger Rules; Charging for iPhone Apps
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the new FTC rules for blogger disclosure, when they are reviewing a product or service. They are now required to disclose if they are being paid by the company or if they get a freebie. And what's up with all the new paid news apps...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Knight Commission Report; NPR's Local Venture
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's special edition, I look at the report that came out today from the Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy. The Commission called for strengthening public media, bringing broadcast access to all Americans, and having at least one strong online info hub for each community....
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Bay Area News Project; FCC and Net Neutrality
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the new Bay Area News Project, a non-profit startup with $5 million in funding from financier Warren Hellman, in association with KQED and UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism. Plus, the FCC's new chairman Julius Genachowski makes waves by supporting new rules for Net neutrality,...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Google Fast Flip; BusinessWeek Sale
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the latest moves by Google to make nice with online publishers. First came word the search giant was working on a micropayment solution. Then came the release of Fast Flip, a visual browsing service for news sites, with publishers splitting ad revenues with Google. Also,...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Examiner Buys NowPublic; CIMM Wants Better Metrics
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the recent buyout of NowPublic by Examiner.com for a reported $25 million. The citizen media site will combine with Examiner.com's low-pay "Examiners," who write about niche topics for the newspaper chain. Also, major TV networks, ad agencies and advertisers teamed up to form the Coalition...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Editorial Layer at Wikipedia; NYT-ProPublica Story
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the recent move by Wikipedia to add an editorial layer to some entries, the so-called "Flagged Revisions" that will only allow changes that are approved by certain editors. Plus, the New York Times Magazine will be running a story co-produced with ProPublica that cost $400,000...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: EveryBlock Sale to MSNBC.com; Report from Gnomedex
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the recent sale of micro-local data site EveryBlock to MSNBC.com and the issue of its open source code. Plus, Washington Post announced it would discontinue hyper-local site LoudonExtra.com. I also have a special report from tech conference Gnomedex, where UW teacher Kathy Gill is teaching...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Facebook Takes on Twitter; iPhone Backlash
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at all the recent moves Facebook has made to take on Twitter, including revamping its search, coming out with slimmed-down "Facebook Lite" and buying out FriendFeed. Plus, various high-profile tech pundits have come out against the iPhone after Apple rejected Google Voice from its App Store....
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Murdoch's Pay Gambit; WaPo/Gawker Tussle
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the recent comments by News Corp. mogul Rupert Murdoch, who says he wants to make people pay to see content on all his news sites. The comment split people into two camps: those who think news sites will have to charge something; and those who...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Microsoft-Yahoo Search Deal; Chris Anderson Goes 'News'-Free
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the recent complex search deal between Microsoft and Yahoo, with Microsoft's Bing search engine to run queries on Yahoo, and Yahoo getting 88% of revenues. Plus, Wired editor Chris Anderson recently got in trouble with an interview he gave to Der Spiegel, saying he no...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: TechCrunch's Twitter Docs; YouTube Profits?
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the controversy surrounding tech blog TechCrunch posting internal documents from Twitter that were obtained from a hacker stealing them. Some people defend TechCrunch as running newsworthy documents, while others think they are harming Twitter too much. I also look at possible profits coming from video...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: NYTimes.com Charging?; AP's Sotomayor Blog
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the latest move by the New York Times to survey print subscribers to see if they will pay for access to the website -- on top of what they're paying for the print edition. Plus, the Associated Press launched a Twitter feed and blog with...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Michael Jackson's Death Rocks Web; Guardian Crowdsources
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I look at the way Michael Jackson's death yesterday played out online, going from TMZ to Twitter to the LA Times blog. Yesterday was a record traffic day for Yahoo, and Google News reacted like it was under a hack attack from the huge jump in search queries...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Special Iran Election Edition
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's special edition, I look at the way that social media have played a vital role in the breaking news happening in Iran after their contested presidential election. Though the government has cracked down on the opposition, censored the media and blocked websites and even text messaging, the news has...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: WSJ's Social Media Guidelines; NYT's Pay Plans
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. This week I look at the Wall Street Journal's code of conduct for reporters and editors, with guidelines for using Twitter and social media sites. Plus, the New York Times is considering two different plans for charging for online content -- a metering system and subscription system -- according to a report...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Kindle DX; Google vs. Newspapers
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. This week I look at the unveiling of the new wide-screen Kindle DX aimed at newspaper, magazine and college textbook readers. Will people pay $489 for it? Plus, I look at the AP and News Corp.'s moves against Google, with the AP playing hardball for running content in Google News. Meanwhile, Google...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Swine Flu Online; Disney Joins Hulu
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. This week I look at the positive -- and negative -- way the Internet, blogs and Twitter have spread information about the swine flu. There are great resources, maps and tracking sites, but it's easy to get in a panic as well. Also, Disney joined up in the video site Hulu, putting...
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4MR
4 Minute Roundup: Pirate Bay Case; Oprah-geddon on Twitter
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. This week I look at the recent ruling in the Pirate Bay case, where four men at the file-sharing site were found guilty and sentenced to a year in prison -- but are asking for a retrial due to a conflict of interest by the judge. I also mention @Oprah's entry to...
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4MR
4-Minute Roundup: #AmazonFail; Journalism Online; Ashton Kutcher Speaks!
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. This week I look at the controversy surrounding #AmazonFail, a protest that formed on Twitter when the giant bookseller delisted thousands of gay-themed books from its bestseller lists. Amazon eventually said it was a mistake by an employee in France, but the PR damage was done. I also look at the unveiling...
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4MR
4-Minute Roundup: HuffPost Investigative Fund; AP on Mobile Apps
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. This week I look at the new Huffington Post Investigative Journalism Fund, which has $1.75 million to start a new non-partisan site that will do investigative work and then give it away to any news organization. I also look at the latest moves by Disney, distributing video on YouTube and possibly on...
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4MR
4-Minute Roundup: All Things Twitter!
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. This week is a special edition devoted almost entirely to Twitter. I talk about the huge popularity of Twitter now -- with 9.8 million unique visitors to its website alone in February, according to comScore -- and how the startup is now bringing in revenues thanks to a deal with Federated Media...
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4MR
4-Minute Roundup: State of the Media; Jurors' Itchy Twitter Finger
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I talk about the new gloomy State of the Media report from the Project for Excellence in Journalism (PEJ), and the positive side for online media. I ask "Just One Question" to PEJ director Tom Rosensteil, and cover the latest news about jurors going online, Twittering and Facebooking...
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4MR
4-Minute Roundup: Hearst E-Reader; Boxee vs. Hulu
Here's the latest 4MR audio report from MediaShift. In this week's edition, I talk about how the New York Times launches hyper-local sites right as Google's Tim Armstrong launches Patch.com hyper-local sites -- both in New Jersey. Plus, Hearst says it will develop a new e-reader device like a Kindle, but with a larger, flexible screen, likely coming from E-Ink,...
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4MR
4-Minute Roundup: Facebook Democracy; Newspaper Strife
This week, I'm soft-launching the new weekly 4-Minute Roundup -- or 4MR -- audio report from MediaShift. I will embed the audio here in a blog post, and will make it available via iTunes for you to subscribe. Each Friday, I'll look at the week's top stories, give an overview of what's been happening, answer one of your "burning questions"...
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