Tag Archives: Hyperlocal

WebProNews: NYTimes’ hyperlocal article – the follow-up

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An interesting debate over at WebProNews, following publication of the NYTimes’ article looking at new hyperlocal news models. Chris Crum asks: “‘What separates a blogger from a journalist? I’ve seen plenty of credible and non-credible bloggers, as well as credible and non-credible ‘journalists.'” A range of views follow his post.

Particularly interesting is a comment from Editor&Publisher columnist Steve Outing – claiming that he was quoted out of context in the original NYTimes’ article: “It appears to contradict what I believe, which is that for many niche-topic bloggers, they know far more than the journalist who’s parachuted in to cover a story without being an expert,” Outing writes, as part of a longer comment at this link.

[NB – Outing made a similar point via Twitter yesterday]

New York Times: Focus on hyperlocal US news sites

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Article rounding-up the state of several hyperlocal news start-ups in the US, including Everyblock, Outside.in, Placeblogger and Patch.

Such sites face an advertising paradox, suggests the article: they offer more targeted readers to advertisers, but fewer of them.

Full article at this link…

AdAge.com: Could these local start-ups replace newspapers?

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“We’re seeing the newspaper business collapse in slow motion, but what will replace it? That’s the question behind a wave of start-ups trying to find a new model for local journalism,” says an article on AdAge.com.

It takes a look at the new NYTimes’ ‘The Local’ sites, and the start-up ‘Patch,’ but makes the comment that ‘even the most successful, self-sustaining local websites and blogs find it hard to build advertising-based businesses.’

Full story at this link…

Nieman Journalism Lab: Analysis of the New York Times’ hyperlocal plans

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The Times’ new community sites aren’t going to make any money, Jim Schachter, editor for digital initiatives at the paper, concedes.

But Schachter does see potential in syndicating the platform out to community groups.

He’s not getting ahead of himself with the project though: “We don’t know if the placeblogosphere wants us or needs us.”

Full story at this link…

It’s Hyperlocal™, says HelloMetro.com

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As part of a release announcing the recruitment of 17 content editors across its network of local news and information site, HelloMetro.com has also declared that it has trademarked Hyperlocal™.

“With this new distinction, the company continues its quest to provide the most up-to-date local and Hyperlocal™ information for its users,” the release states.

In the UK a trademarked should not, according to the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), are not registrable if they:

  • describe your goods or services or any characteristics of them, for example, marks which show the quality, quantity, purpose, value or geographical origin of your goods or services;
  • have become customary in your line of trade;
  • are not distinctive

Things may be different in the US (am still looking for a definitive, easy-to-read guide of TMs), but surely the UK criteria of not being ‘customary in your line of trade’ should come in here? Hyperlocal has passed into common media parlance – see this morning’s news of the New York Times’ local project. Infrared Optics and Related Technologies for Advanced Applications

Plus – is the phrase already trademarked in the US? and what’s the point?