Financial Times to set up new 'live news' operation

Media correspondent Ben Fenton to lead new initiative aimed at responding faster to major breaking news stories

Posted: 2 March 2012 By:
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/financial-times-to-set-up-new-live-news-desk-/s2/a548144/

Financial Times FT

FT.com live desk will cover 'world events and business news from around the world'

The Financial Times is to create a new "live news desk" at the heart of the FT.com operation, tasked with providing a rapid response to breaking news stories including on live blogs and Twitter.

The project, which has been in the pipeline for some time, will be led by Ben Fenton who until now has been the title's media correspondent.

He will lead a team of reporters on the breaking news operation, the size of which has yet to be confirmed.

The initiative aims to provide a "more live response" to developing stories and get a well-written first version online quicker, while freeing up specialised reporters to develop a longer take on the story.

FT.com editor Robert Shrimsley told Journalism.co.uk: "We think it's a natural evolution in the development of our digital offering.

"I was really pleased that Ben could come and do this. It's really important to have experienced and well-regarded journalists doing this."

Fenton wrote on his blog: "I am finally moving on to a new role that the FT has been keeping warm for me for several months.

"I am going to be overseeing the creation of a new live news desk, with live-blogging, Tweeting and rolling news stories about world events and business news from around the world."

Fenton said he was meant to start the job last year, but the "extraordinary events" surrounding the phone-hacking story and the Leveson inquiry caused the launch to be postponed.

He added: "Now, it's been decided that if we wait, it could be years before this story slowed down, so I'm pressing on in this new role.

"I am very, very eager to get on with a new project that will test every sinew of my poor old reporter's body."

In other FT news, the publisher has been awarded the best mobile innovation award for for its web app at the Global Mobile Awards in Barcelona.

The HTML5 app, which launched last June, includes automatic content downloads and the ability to read offline and has attracted more than 1.7 million visitors, according to the group.

FT.com managing director Rob Grimshaw said in a release: "We are delighted with the success of the FT Web App, which has been embraced equally enthusiastically by both our readers and the global mobile community.

"This award recognises the FT’s mobile leadership and groundbreaking strategy and will be a catalyst for more exciting FT mobile innovation. Mobile is an increasingly important channel for the FT, driving 15 per cent of subscriptions and 20 per cent of traffic to FT.com."

Los periódicos pequeños se fijan en el móvil

Por Manuela Cruz
Última actualización 02/03/2012
http://www.media-tics.com/noticia/1573/Medios/periódicos-pequeños-fijan-móvil.html

Las oportunidades son muchas, y no se limitan a la información. La geolocalización, clave en muchas aplicaciones móviles, ofrece la oportunidad de combinar noticias con anuncios publicitarios y servicios cercanos al usuario. No hay que desestimar, sin embargo, su coste.

Advocate-Messenger es un ejemplo de aplicación que va más allá de las noticias. Como explicó Sandy Martin, responsable de móviles en una división de Schurz Communications, su producto es un agregador de tuits relacionados con el baloncesto y la Universidad de Kentucky. La aplicación, desarrollada para un periódico local, reúne mensajes de los entrenadores, los jugadores, la cantera del equipo y hasta sus rivales en el día del partido.

Según explicó en la Key Executives Mega Conference, celebrada esta semana en San Antonio (EE UU), sobre la que informa NetNewsCheck, en seis semanas desde su lanzamiento ya han sumado más de 5.000 descargas, lo que les permite rentabilizar el desarrollo y mantenimiento a través de anuncios.

‘The Spokesman Review’ es un ejemplo de sitio desarrollado para el móvil que utiliza la geolocalización de usuarios para ofrecerles noticias y ofertas comerciales cercanas, que son actualizadas en tiempo real. Según su responsable, Steve McDonald, ya cuentan con el apoyo (y los ingresos) de 99 anunciantes.

Antes de lanzarse a desarrollar o comprar aplicaciones, un periódico pequeño debe preguntarse si sus lectores la necesitan, si la pagarán y la usarán, y si podrán mantenerla. Ray Marcano, de Cox Media Grupo, en Ohio, recomendó a los asistentes a la conferencia hacerse antes esas preguntas y recordó que, aunque algunas para tabletas pueden llegar a costar hasta 50.000 dólares, hay compañías que las ofrecen más baratas, como NewspaperDirect y Olive. Y para mantenerlas y darles vida, recomendó contratar becarios.