Here's the feedback from the multimedia guy at the Free Press addressing first, whether this is classified as an Intranet or not and second, the possiblity of Locker Talker being a browser:
Your second question first: I'm inclined to agree with you that classifying the project as an intranet would be too insular/limiting. A primary strength of Locker Talker, as I see it, is the way it interfaces between the vastness of the web (which no one can navigate alone) and an individual's interests and tastes. Also, I think there's a pragmatic reason to avoid conceptualizing the project as such: most newsrooms have intranet systems that store photos and stories...generally speaking, those systems are slow and outdated. As for the suggestion about locker talker as a browser: Social networking sites typically cater to niche audiences. The Free Press has a social networking site for moms , for example. The idea there is to bring a particular demographic together for a particular reason. Locker Talker, on the other hand, seems to have a larger potential to be an environment through which people navigate the web. For example, I go to YouTube to see videos but YouTube does not become my web navigation system. It's merely a stop along the way. Facebook, as you mentioned in the presentation, comes closest to being an environment that helps people navigate the web via groups, hobbies, taste, etc. And it's major drawback is definitely privacy concerns. (This: "We may share your information with third parties, including responsible companies with which we have a relationship" is fom Facebook's "privacy" policy). Locker Talker offers the privacy -- it respects individuals sense of space -- without shutting out the really fantastic elements of social networking. Why a browser? Browsers are the tools that currently structure our web environment. It is always with you, no matter where you go on the web. Explorer is the most popular...but it doesn't offer much in the way of personalized space. Check out Flock, which does a lot more by giving accessing to feeds, ability to upload photos, blogging capabilities, etc... Locker Talker, I think, would work very nicely like this.
Andrea, et al, the more I think about this browser comment by Matt Powers (from the Burlington Free Press), the more I think it's a future possibility if this LT really takes off. I like the concept, but it reminds me of earlier Incubator ideas (with national focuses) that were reaching too wide and far.
ReplyDeleteI'd stick with the mission of LockerTalker as a hyper-local platform enabling community newspapers to reach the untapped market of middle school students; connecting a younger audience to news and information tailored to their interests; allowing them to create secure, personalized news and education environments that resemble social networking sites without the dangers of such; also, encouraging youth to connect with other like-minded young citizens through project sharing features.
I've regurgitated some of the lingo here (verbatim) from the mock presentation surveys given to the group at SMC!
instead of a browser - it seems like a special just for me destination. I agree with marybeth - we can't go too big here, but should stick to hyper local news and organizations.
ReplyDeleteI worked in the Journalism dept. here over the summer - and there were consistently people doing work on various projects. There was one woman who would bring her daughter with her to the lab and the 8 or 9 year old would hang out on the computer while her mom did work.
ReplyDeleteIt seemed like she was always playing a game (i.e. a Barbie dressup game on the Mattel site) or complaining to her mother about not having anything to do. When Kim calls LT a "special just for me destination," I recalled this because it seemed like this girl was looking for something like LT - a site that younger generations want to spend time on.
From what I've seen and talked to the girls about, I think we've got a winner here so far.
Also, I checked out Flock and it's pretty cool:
ReplyDeleteI think that some of the elements of that site could be incorporated into LT more prominently - photos, ease-of use, more multimedia. At the same time, I don't think that kids are drawn to such a complex browser idea - the way that LT has been developed is perfectly aimed at this demographic visually and in terms of content accessibility.