07.09.13
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Content Development: Prss

Use:  Create compelling iPad “magazines” with easy-to-use tools

Prss is an app that allows non-technical users to create magazine-like publications that use the iPad’s native interactive capabilities.  The app, which is now in beta and is scheduled to be publicly released at the end of the summer, uses the iPad’s interface — swiping, tapping, pinching, etc. — instead of menus to create multimedia and shareable magazines.  The product also dramatically reduces file sizes for speedier streaming from the cloud.

The Netherlands-based company used the technology to create TRVL, the iPad’s most-downloaded travel publication.  Their current business model is to offer the app for free and charge a small fee per download.

Publishers who want to offer iPad users a more compelling, native experience with inexpensive and intuitive creation tools, should explore this application.

More:

Update 10/7/13: The Next Web: Prss is a powerful new way to create professional-quality iPad magazines in your browser

Gigaom: Prss is trying to design the iPad publishing app that Apple never built

Paidcontent: PRSS aims to be a low-cost iPad magazine factory in the cloud

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07.03.13
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Data Mining: Topsy

Use:  Increase engagement by surfacing relevant topics and conversations on Twitter; generate by helping ad customers target messages

Topsy is a tool that mines the full stream of Twitter tweets and, according to All Things D, “offers a set of professional analytics tools for sale, so that customers can find key data points like influential Twitter accounts, relevant content for specific time periods, even sentiment analysis around tweeted terms.”  There is also a free, limited tool at topsy.com.

News organizations can use the tool to identify topics and conversations that might suggest an interesting news story or possible story sources.  They can also use the tool to identify locally trending topics (e.g. “best lawn care tips”) that they can use to help local advertisers target promoted tweets.

Among the media organizations currently using Topsy are The New York Times, The Washington Post, ESPN, Gannett and ABC.

More:

All Things D: Data Analytics Startup Topsy Aims for the Local

 

07.03.13
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Content Aggregation: CrowdyNews

Use:  Increase engagement by aggregating relevant social media conversations

CrowdyNews is social media aggregation tool that uses proprietary technology to comb specified sites/accounts/news feeds and pulls in relevant conversations and content.  A widget scrolls the aggregated content on the home page and users can select “full screen” to display all of the content.

The Chicago Tribune uses the technology to power their news.chicago.com platform, which includes news, sports and entertainment categories.  Digital First Media is using the technology on their newspaper sites (and calling it SocialWire) to enhance local content.   The New Haven Register, for example, uses CrowdyNews to aggregate content from various Twitter accounts, RSS feeds and video from several media outlets.

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Update 8/23/2013: NetNewsCheck: Gatehouse Adds Social with CrowdyNews

Journalism.co.uk: Digital First Media gathers social content with CrowdyNews

07.02.13
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Video: Wibbitz

Use: Increase engagement and exposure through a video summary version of news stories on mobile devices

Wibbitz is a new iOS-based mobile app that automatically creates a video summary of a text news article or blog post, incorporating images, graphics and text.   Wibbitz app users can select stories from a variety of categories and hear a computer-generated voice read a summary of the story while watching related images and animated infographics.

Wibbitz has reportedly partnered with 50,000 sources including AP, CNN, Yahoo!, Reuters, Huffington Post and NBC  to provide with to the site.   PaidContent reports that Wibbitz will provide publishers with its technology “at some point in the future so that they can incorporate Wibbitz’s service  into their own apps,” with the London Telegraph the first to do so next month.

Publishers may want to consider partnering with Wibbitz to gain exposure for their own content and contact Wibbitz about incorporating their technology to easily provide mobile users with a more engaging news experience.

More:

Update 11/12/13: GigaOM: Wibbitz wants to be the “play button” for text media

paidContent: Why the startup Wibbitz could wipe out some publishers’ video businesses

Readwrite: Siri Will Now Read You The News, Courtesy of Wibbitz

06.21.13
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Social Media: Short Videos

Facebook is taking on Twitter/Vine with a video version of Instagram.  The app will allow users to create a 15-second video (compared to 6 seconds for Vine) and will support 13 custom filters.  Users will also be able to edit video frames and add a photo at he beginning.

Meanwhile, according to CNET, Vine may be reworking their app to add new features.  Based on videos posted by Vine’s founders, the new features may include a new design, curation capabilities, private messaging and, perhaps, the ability to build Vines from previous footage. (All based on CNET’s interpretation of the videos).

More:

Update 8/8/13: ReadWrite: Instagram Now Lets Users—and Marketers—Post Canned Video

Update: 7/16/13: MediaPost: Honda Does Personalized Vines For Summer

Update 7/11/13: AdWeek: Instagram Debuts Video Embeds, Could Alter Publishing Habits

Update 7/04/13: All Things D: In Wake of Vid-stagram, Vine’s Latest Update Could Spur Growth

Mashable: How to Create an Instagram Video in 7 Simple Steps, 6 Reasons Instagram Video Beats Vine

Forbes: Facebook’s Video On Instagram To Challenge Twitter’s Vine

CNET: Vine videos provide clues to new design, features

TechCrunch: Vine Goes On The Offensive, Teases New Features Ahead Of Instagram Video Launch

Poynter: Instagram gives news orgs tips on using its video feature

06.20.13
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Social Media: New Facebook Tags

Use:  Increase exposure and traffic to publisher’s or author’s Facebook page

Facebook has introduced two new Open Graph tags to help publishers and authors “generate better previews of their content when shared on Facebook” and, ideally, increase followers.

The new “publisher tag” will allow publishers to link an article directly to their Facebook page and insert a “Like” button when the article appears in users’ News Feed (if the user hasn’t already “liked” the publisher). The “author tag” will link an article to the author’s Facebook page and insert a “Follow” button when the article appears in the News Feed.

More:

TechCrunch: Facebook Now Allows Publishers To Highlight Their Pages And Authors’ Profiles In Shared Links

 

06.18.13
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Content Development: Socl Network Tools

Use:  Easily create content to increase user engagement or advertiser value

Socl is a social network from Microsoft’s Future Social Experiences (FUSE) Labs that offers a variety of tools that media companies can use to create compelling new content to share.  Tools include:

Collage, which allows users to drag and drop a collection of images and automatically create a stylish page that can be posted on social networks.  One obvious use is to gather a collection of photos from today’s newspaper, broadcast or Web site and use the page to promote the site.   You could also use the tool to gather a variety of images from an advertiser’s inventory to help them promote daily specials.

Video Party, provides a platform to tell a story with a series of video clips.  On the site, you create a title for your “party” (for example, “Turkey Rebellion”) and the service searches for relevant videos which are displayed in queue.  You click on the videos in the order you want to create a playlist which can be shared with friends.  You can modify the search to find additional relevant videos, as well.

Other tools include Blink, a “Vine-link” application for Windows’ OS that allow users to layer photos and video to create a short, shareable clip, and Picotale, a tool to create clever memes by typing in a headline and having the service search for interesting, matching images.

More:

YouTube: Socl Create Experiences

GeekWire: Microsoft updates ‘Socl’ network with new photo and video creation tools

PCWorld: Microsoft’s Socl network steps up its game with animated GIFs, meme generator

 

 

06.17.13
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Engagement: Askem

Use: Involve community in news process by getting feedback and interaction; increase engagement with advertising content

Askem is a new app that media companies can use to better engage their audience.  With the app, media companies create an image, ask a question and imbed up to five different answers.   After sharing the image on Facebook or Twitter, users can click on their preferred answer and Askem will tabulate responses.  Users registered with Askem can also comment on the question.

Here’s an example of how a news organization might use the app to get opinions about NSA whistleblower Edwin Snowden.   The sports department, as another example, could upload an image of a potential draft choice and get users’ opinions on whether not he/she would be a good fit for the team.  Or, the ad department could create an image for Macy’s showing three different dresses and ask which one women prefer most.

More examples of “Askems” are here.

More:

Mashable: Askem Gets You the Answers You Need, Fast

The Next Web: Meet three startups that participated in Microsoft’s Azure-focused Israeli accelerator

 

 

 

 

06.17.13
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Content Development: SoundCite

Use:  increase user engagement with in-line audio on content; provide quick audio bites to include in advertising

SoundCite, a product of Knight Lab, allows content developers to integrate easily and seamlessly short audio snippets — such as clips from speeches, songs, interviews, etc. —   directly into story text.  Users would simply click on text to play the clip rather than move to a separate audio player. SoundCite also could be used to imbed  short audio (jingle? sound effect?) in advertising content.

The tool, now in beta, is open-source and available on GitHub.

More:

Knight Lab: SoundCite beta, in-line audio tool, ready to use

06.13.13
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Content Development: Vizify

Use:  Increased engagement by making users feel more connected to staff; branding tool for advertisers

Vizify is a free tool that creates slide show biographies based on your social media activity.  The easy-to-use tool assembles tweets, LinkedIn profile data, Facebook activity and Foursquare activity to automatically create a video slide show.  You can also add “Vizcards” (sort of a personal infographic), quotes, factoids and photos. The presentation can be easily edited before making live.  Mine — created in about 90 seconds — is here.

A new feature creates an actual video based on your Twitter activity, including tweets, photos and video.  Mine was too boring to show here.

Media companies could use the tool to help better connect users to personalities (reporters, broadcasters, etc.) or as part of a backgrounder for people in the news (provided they have created a Vizify video).  Because the data assembled is all from publicly available sources, perhaps Vizify someday will allow media to build videos of third-parties.   I can also envision using the tool as an added branding vehicle for advertisers.

More:

The Next Web: Vizify joins forces with Twitter, now you can create an instant ‘movie trailer’ bio in no time at all

TechCrunch: Visual Identity Platform Vizify Launches Out Of Beta, Now Lets You Share Graphics Via Social Media Cards

GeekWire: Show your quirky side: Vizify unveils new bite-sized infographics just about you