Niche like a Weather Forecast

Eric Rice asks about the relationship between niche information and income levels.

At first glance, I don’t think there’s a relationship. Everything is niche. I trust people all along the income scale are looking for very relevant information. Though, it could be I live so far down the tail, that I doubt the existence of a head altogether. This is why I think a spatula is more accurate metaphor than a tail. The ‘head’ erodes.

Sure – interests in Second Life, golf, fine wine, yachting, NASCAR, or prices of milk at Wal-Mart may ebb and flow along the income scales, but I’m not sure how those topics aren’t niche. Just like the weather forecast in a given geographic location. Increased income may support greater levels of specialization of interest – and easier access to the specialized information.

From Eric’s later post makes me think the core of the issue he’s raising is one of media (perhaps specifically – internet) literacy. In that case, perhaps we could make a broad sweeping statement about a relationship between income and media literacy. Though my gut says that’s generational and temporary.

There’s huge value in learning to edit video, record audio, and publish it – in understanding how media can express an idea. Lots of us have been doing this for so long we can’t remember a time when we didn’t. ABCNews.com is introducing the participatory nature of this new world to a whole new group of folks. Newbies?

Stop the Presses – Save the Journalism

NickelNuts pointed me to an article by media lawyer, Steven P. Aggergaard article via instant messaging, I read it in my web browser, and then posted this to a weblog.

Aggergaard is arguing we need to keep paper in newspaper – because that equals journalism and full-time jobs. Despite all the costs and overhead he lists out. In addition, the quality of information delivered online for free (versus $0.50 for a daily paper – Huh?) is some how not as valuable.

Minneapolis and St. Paul have a huge need for a hyper-local citizen (not consumer) journalism form. Something closer to what the smaller papers (St. Anthony Bulletin, Northeaster, Downtown Journal) are doing – but without the paper.

NickelNuts and I have talked about this, and in fact, yesterday over lunch I blurted out: “What would it take to make this happen?”

One website – or news paper – or television channel – or radio station – does not a well informed citizen make. But, what about 350 blogs written by your neighbors?

LATER:
Dave has some great comments. I’m less concerned about an overarching editorial voice, and more interested in relevance delivered for and by local voices.

ELSEWHERE:
A great point and a wonderful tie back to Aggergaard’s original post.

“…readers don’t care. They just want the most complete, accurate and engaging coverage possible. They don’t how we make the sausage, or even who makes it. They just want to eat.” – Robert Niles

EVEN LATER
Aggergaard responds and corrects in the comments. I follow-up.

Undead End

After reading an article in my RSS reader, there are a number of actions I’d like to perform. All of these are about moving the ball forward. How many of these does your aggregator do easily?

  • Post a comment to the original article.
  • Email the author.
  • Post a reaction on your own public blog while quoting, crediting, and pinging the original article.
  • Email a article to someone that doesn’t read your blog.
  • Save the entire article to a private archive.

Starbucks – Community Building in Small Communities

I’ve talked about the value of places like Starbucks in places like…Wausau…before.

That was from a city-mouse in the smaller city perspective. Now that I’ve been in Wausau for a few days – popping to Starbucks for internet access – not coffee. I’m aghast.

The place is packed. Filled with an amazing cross-section of the community. Reading the paper, catching up, working. So packed, that friendly people are sitting on each other’s laps.

Here, I’m pleased to say, the Starbucks – just of the highway – is a functioning 3rd place.

On a related note – the locally-owned coffee/wine/martini bar in downtown Wausau is no longer.

Political News: Tomorrow Started Yesterday

The 2007 political races have already begun:

  1. John Edwards announces his candidacy for POTUS on YouTube.
  2. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of politics, my dad announced he’s running for 3rd Ward Alderman up northern Wisconsin over a phone call with me.

While the former was hinted at and could have been guessed. The latter came completely out of nowhere and showed me a whole new side of my dad. I’m excited for him.

Happy birthday to me – and good luck Dad.

Oh, and John Edwards too.