The D.C. newspaper novel, the media, the Washington area, tech and other surrealism: David Rothman at large
What counts more for Web-era writers of news or opinion? Coming up with snappy, credible, well-researched articles? Or improving dialogues with readers, in the best tradition of the Internet’s interactivity? Short of cloning themselves or pulling off a Philip K. Dick android act, writers for many of the most popular news sites lack enough time for […]
Read MoreWith so many local libraries facing cutbacks, the case for a well-stocked national digital library system grows stronger each day. At TheAtlantic.com I’ve written of the possibility of a decentralized public library system existing within the Library of Congress but run by librarians in many cities, so that Washington does not dictate to America what […]
Read MoreDRMed library e-books—at least ePub and PDF ones from the OverDrive service for public libraries—are now readable on the iPad, iPod and iPhone via the free Bluefire app. Psst! The secret is here, shared by Mobiputing. Screen shot, from Mobiputing, is of Bluefire on an iPod.
Read MoreRoy Tennant, a digital library maven, Library Journal columnist and OCLC program officer, has just posted Dueling National Digital Library Visions on the LJ site. It’s my plan on the Atlantic site vs. Harvard Library Director Robert Darnton’s proposal in the New York Review of Books. If this is new to you, go to the […]
Read MoreOn the Atlantic site this morning, you’ll see my call for a well-stocked national digital library system, along with comments from James Fallows, once a speechwriter for Jimmy Carter. But who says the proposal is just for Democrats and liberals? In fact, my own interest in such a system arose originally from a comment by […]
Read MoreMore and more localities are turning to the iPad as a paperwork-reducer, says USA Today. And that’s new ammo for the Information Stimulus Plan that I’ve proposed here and in Jim Fallows’ blog on the Atlantic Monthly site. Encompassing areas ranging from healthcare to education, the plan in effect would redirect resources from paperwork to […]
Read MoreMy thoughts on hyperlocal news—prompted by the forthcoming launch of TBD, the Web and TV combo for the D.C. area—have drawn visits from some powerful news organizations. While they’re at it, perhaps they can check out A national information stimulus plan: How iPad-style tablets could help educate millions and trim bureaucracy—not just be techno toys […]
Read MoreRelated: Media critic James Fallows and Google News’ Josh Cohen will discuss digital-era journalism tomorrow, Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., in D.C. What if reporters didn’t take over from newspaper publishers, the tease I posted earlier? Suppose someone else did, Google. One old newspaper alum, Jeff Jarvis, has even written a book called What Would Google […]
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