Category Archives: In Class Activity

The New York Times: Web vs. Online

James Johnson, Damla Bek, Maricia Newton, William Wong

The content published uniquely in this (obviously daily) newspaper is what’s submitted by the deadline. Some articles—especially time-sensitive ones—are available online before they can actually be put in print for the next day’s edition. The website is updated in real time, as reflected by the Times‘ coverage of the Olympics. There are also videos available on the Times website, though this is obviously not feasible in print.

There’s no search bar in the print edition, so you have to leaf through the pages carefully. Since the print edition is actually tangible, you can use it for other things after you have no use for it anymore. You have easy access to old articles/editions through the website, and the online articles also have hyperlinks. Contractions must be printed in the next day’s edition, but online the articles can easily be updated to reflect false reporting.

In terms of aesthetics, the website, is more user-friendly. There are blogs as well as a New York Times store. The print paper is kind of impenetrable and unwieldy, whereas the website is far easier to manage and navigate. More than that, advertisements are the glue of the print edition. Lastly, when stories from the front page are continued on other pages, more often than not, you have to go searching for it.

The Times website has comments sections open on each article, allowing users to share their input. There also buttons so you can conveniently share whatever article you please via email, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, or Reddit. This makes the website a little more interactive for readers.

Given that subscription to the daily delivery of the Times is more expensive than solely digital access, we would imagine that wealthier people tend to read the paper in print. Environmentalists and people who use smart technology might favor the online edition.

 

 

Team 2

  • Content & Design
    • What content is uniquely in the paper? on the web edition?
      In the paper, there’s full page ads and general ads. On the web edition, each of the ads are personalized to your interest. For the weather and sports section, the print version will only focus on the local New York area. However if there is an individual from outside the New York area that view the New York Times online, they can get personalized weather and sports.
    • What features and functionality are uniquely in the paper? on the web edition?
      In the paper, you have the original content and it cannot be updated or changed. The paper edition can be kept and stored as an antique. On the web edition, it can be updated on a real time basis. It can also be emailed and shared in the web edition. In the web edition, you can access U.S., international, or Chinese versions. Paper version is access to what you just purchased.
    • What can you do with the print edition that you can’t do with the web edition? what can you do the the web edition that you can’t do with the print one?
      In the print edition, you own the physical copy which you can feel and smell. Also it’s more visual and you can flip through the pages to continue the story. On the web, the story is already continued for you so you don’t need to flip through pages to continue reading. Also you can access the archive of the newspaper when you own the physical copy but sometimes you’re limited for the web edition.
    • How would you compare overall the design aesthetic of the two?
      The front page photo is a photo is always an attention grabber or exaggerated. On the print edition, stories are cut off so therefore to continue you would have to reference to another page. Web stories are continuous reads.
  • Relationship between the NY Times and readers
    • What evidence can you find about ways that the web edition is received/responded to by readers online (both on the NY Times website and elsewhere on the web)?
      On the web edition, you can comment on the article to share your own opinions. If the opinion is valid, then there will be a whole discussion about it. They can easily share the article through Facebook, Twitter, email and you can save it for future reference. On the web edition, there’s an email list of contributors to the article, so you can directly contact those contributors.
    • What if any evidence can you find that the readership of the print edition is not the same as the web edition?
      Readers may contact the contributor through email and written mail. However, it requires additional time and effort to do so. For readers of the print edition, readers might feel more inclined to absorb the information whereas online readers would skim it quickly just to find the specific information they need.

Newspaper vs. Webpaper

The newspaper is unique in that news is first organized by order of importance, and then news is filtered and divided into different sections, whereas on the website, the news is scattered, making it for difficult for one to tell the prominence of the story. The website is easier to access, allowing one to go from topic to topic with just one click of the mouse. The videos make news more interesting, and interactive, which is very different from the newspaper. With the newspaper, one can save newspaper clippings as memorabilia or ephemera.

In terms of aesthetic appeal, the website is more convenient, and is in a layout that we are used to using: sections lead to categories which lead to other sections. The newspaper is bulkier, and may leave brown residue on your fingers. The advertising online is more appealing, and it is easier to shop for what you would like as the website is only one click away.

The relationship between NYT and its readers is shown more on the website than it is on the newspaper. The physical newspaper is a one way communication, while the website allows people to comment on news articles, write, share and submit blogs. (http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/) The blogs even feature a twitter account, which is constantly updated, which makes the reader feel like they are interacting with the blog poster themselves.

Evidence thatshows web news is more popular: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/press_box/2011/08/print_vs_online.html

 

paper:
more local ads
coupons
mainly black
2nd page provides short summaries of different news/table of contents
has an edition number so it can be archived
Not as many distractions in the paper than in online
web:
videos
blogs
comments
more convenient to find categories
provide suggestions/recent posts
several different listings for jobs, topics written by readers

slate.com print vs.online

Team 1, NY Times class activity

Content & Design

  • What content is uniquely in the paper? on the web edition?
    >The comic strips and crossword puzzles are only available in the print edition of the paper. In addition to that, on the print edition the headline is on the front page. But on the web edition, the homepage provides excerpts of the different news stories available. That way you can see which story appeals to you more.
  • What features and functionality are uniquely in the paper? on the web edition?
    >The web edition has the search bar and has additional photos related to a story that’s may not be shown on the print edition due to the limited space. Also, in the print edition  only selected stories have colored photos.
  • What can you do with the print edition that you can’t do with the web edition? what can you do the the web edition that you can’t do with the print one?
    >With the print edition, you can physically hold it and fold it accordingly to whichever story you want to read. In the web edition, as mentioned before you can easily search with key words for articles, it’s easier and more convenient for those who prefers to read on their tablets and laptops. In addition to that, the web addition provides access to older editions of the newspapers you might’ve missed. You can also share the link to the article that you are reading through other sorts of social media plugs such as Facebook by liking the page. You can also comment on the article on the web edition.
  • How would you compare overall the design aesthetic of the two?
    >The overall design for the web is more aesthetically pleasing since you can refine your searches through the tabs. Also you don’t have to constantly flip through multiple pages to finish the article, in most cases it’s about 2-3 pages.

 

Relationship between the NY Times and readers

  • What evidence can you find about ways that the web edition is received/responded to by readers online (both on the NY Times website and elsewhere on the web)?
    >You can find out about the ways that the web edition is responded to through the comments that may be left on the website. Not only through the comments on the actual webpage itself, but also when the readers share the story on social media such as Facebook. On Facebook you can see who has shared the link and who has liked or disliked the article. You can also tell by how many people shared the link to the article.
  • What if any evidence can you find that the readership of the print edition is not the same as the web edition?
    > There was an article that talked about the differences between the print edition and the web edition of The New York Times. You can read it here. One of the differences that the article highlights is how much content is available on the print edition vs. the web edition (specific content vs. everything that the paper reports on). There is also a page in the print edition that features a selected reader’s, submitted comment that is published.

Group 5

Only on the web:

1. There’s a search bar to look up articles that you want to read about.

2. There are ads on the front page.

3. There are two versions, the New York Times and the International

4. The NY Times page updates immediately.

5. You have the ability to comment on the articles.

6. There are videos on the site.

7. There’s a section that tells you the articles that are most viewed and a recommended for you option.

8. The weather section is updated.

9. Sometimes, you have to subscribe to see the full article.

Only in the newspaper:

1. There’s a full page of ads.

2. The newspaper is separated in specific sections – like separate newspapers combined into one.

3. They have long preview of the article on the front page followed by a “continued on page…”

4. Newspapers are heavy, bulky, and dirty.

5. Articles are next to each other, when for online, you have to click on the article to read it.

The online website is more organized compared to the physical newspaper. The physical newspaper is trying to fill up space by placing full size ads and not utilizing the space. The online version is easier on the eyes, the print is bigger than the print in the newspaper. You can highlight or comment on the physical newspaper but you cannot do that on the online version. People can share their thoughts through the comment section and interact. It’s more like a forum and can make you engaged into your reading. You can share the web article but not the physical article. When you subscribe to the newspaper online, you can get the updates immediately on your phone (live updates).

Prof. Clifford Nass

Robles, Erica, Clifford Nass, and Adam Kahn. “The Social Life Of Information Displays: How Screens Shape Psychological Responses In Social Contexts.” Human-Computer Interaction 24.1/2 (2009): 48-78. Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.

I found this article by Clifford Nass who is a professor at Stanford University on Academic Search Complete Database. The article argues how people’s behaviors change under social influence.

Clifford Nass

Nass, Clifford.  “Media Use, Face-to-Face Communication, Media Multitasking, and Social Well-Being Among 8 to 12-year old Girls.” Developmental Psychology. Mar. 2012, Vol. 48 Issue 2, p. 327-336. Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.

Author activity 2/25

I found an article written by the MIT expert and professor: Dr. Sherry Turkle

Turkle S. The secret power of things we hold dear. New Scientist [serial online]. June 9, 2007;194(2607):50-52. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed February 25, 2014.

I utilized the database: Academic Search Complete to find the article. Within the article, Dr. Turkle explains the connection humans have with objects, and how the connection to an object can symbolize a humans’ life.

clifford nass

Nass, Clifford, and Youngme Moon. “Machines And Mindlessness: Social Responses To Computers.” Journal Of Social Issues 56.1 (2000): 81. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.

Database: SocINDEX with Full Text (via EBSCOhost)

Turkle, Sherry

Turkle, Sherry. “Looking Toward Cyberspace: Beyond Grounded Sociology.” Contemporary Sociology 28.6 (1999): 643-648. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.

I used Ebsco Host to find the article.

Professor Clifford Nass

Pea, Roy, et al. “Media Use, Face-To-Face Communication, Media Multitasking, And Social Well-Being Among 8- To 12-Year-Old Girls.” Developmental Psychology 48.2 (2012): 327-336. Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.

Database: Academic Search Complete

Author Activity in Class

Prensky, Marc. “Students As Designers And Creators Of Educational Computer Games: Who Else?.” British Journal Of Educational Technology 39.6 (2008): 1004-1019. Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.

I found it in  Academic Search Complete.