Web Development Live

The Newspaper Association of America (NAA) has released a report about the increase of online video (11.5 billion videos viewed in March, according Comscore). Its title is “Zooming In on Online Video: A Development & Growth Guide for Newspaper Web Sites.” Here is the download link.

Main conclusion: everyone needs to jump on online video. “While still a small percentage of total and local online advertising, online video represents an enormous opportunity for newspapers to grow revenue and audience,” says the report.

“As competition heats up for online video mindshare, newspapers have an excellent opportunity to leverage their skills and content and capture an even larger share of online advertising spending.”

Local online video advertising was a $400 million business in 2007, according to Borrell Associates.

The survey shows that online video is not solely the domain of the Web department. Although online editors and producers are involved in shooting, editing and publishing video for the newspaper’s Web site, reporters and photographers are also heavily involved.

NUCLEAR ENERGYSupport clean solution
With oil prices skyrocketing, we citizens need to support a solution to this dilemma. More dams are not the answer, nor more polluting coal-fired plants with the heavy toll of miners’ lives. We in Idaho should be supporting, wholeheartedly, nuclear energy. Facts about this maligned industry have been distorted with untrue rumors and fear tactics by idle talk and much of the news media. The oil and coal promoters nourish these falsehoods with their ads and stories.It is time for anti-nuclear thinkers and doubtful environmentalists to learn how safe and clean are the nuclear power plants in existence. A book, published in 2007, titled “Power to Save the World, the Truth About Nuclear Energy” by Gwyneth Cravens, contains facts needed to form a true analysis of the value of this available source. This book also answers questions about Yucca Mountain, WIPP and radioactive waste disposal. Please take time to read this well-documented book to form a new opinion on the necessity for nuclear power plants.CATHERINE NELSON, Idaho FallsWhat really made Buffett retreat?
What really made billionaire Warren Buffett retreat in defeat from his plans to build a nuclear power plant in Payette?Do you really believe Warren formed a whole nuclear division, studied 14 sites, picked Payette, hired ex-Sen. McClure and ex-Gov. Andrus as lobbyists, and only then looked at the timetable for making money, and then decided nuclear “made no economic sense?”Our initiative group was the only unwelcoming committee that passed out vital information on safety problems at the Payette town meeting. Downwinders from Gem County and across Idaho roared at their state representatives. When Idaho native Republican County Commissioner Colonel Diana Obenauer, R.N., joined our efforts, Buffett had to realize he was in for a losing fight.But those already deeply invested, like Gillispie’s new big money backers for Bruneau, will keep coming strong. The Idaho National Laboratory has at least one merchant nuclear power plant planned. We absolutely need to set up Idaho’s legal defense adopting law that Oregon uses. Our group will continue to fight for Idaho families while celebrating this victory.We need our legislators to make our initiative law this session. Please help! Our Web site is www.MyIdahoEnergy.com. Please call your legislators toll- free at 1-800-626-0471.DR. PETER RICKARDS, DPM, Twin FallsEXXON Consumers have no choice but to buy
Recently Exxon posted a record “eye-popping” profit of $40.6 billion for 2007. Now, I have a hard time comprehending how much money that really is, unless I break it down into something my small mind can comprehend. So I did some math. If a $1 bill weighs one gram, and 453 grams equals one pound, a normal sized trucking pallet would hold approximately $1 million, or 2,200 pounds of bills. That means it would take 40,600 pallets to hold $40.6 billion.If Exxon decided to drive that money to the bank using a standard semi-trailer it would take (a normal trailer holds 22 pallets) 1,845 semis. (By the way the semis would be overweight for DOT standards.) If each semi trailer and tractor was 65 feet long and Exxon decided to go to the bank in one day, the semis would stretch, touching end to end with no gaps, 22 miles. And they did this without as much as a thank you. This is wrong, because they did it with a product I have no choice but to use, they spent very little of this profit for research and development, and they did it with the blessing and help of our Congress and president, and that is what I call a monopoly.STEVE BERTSCH, MeridianMERCURY Making observational opinion seems obvious
I had to laugh out loud when I saw the image from Mercury on your Main page 15 of the Feb. 1 paper.The caption says that “scientists” don’t know how the crater was formed, when anyone with an open mind can plainly see that it is the site of an electrical discharge. I can only conclude that these poor scientists are not allowed to come to an observational opinion that does not meet with approval.However, there is finally a feature on an electrical planet with a strong magnetic field in an electrical solar system overseen by an electrical star that is so obvious to the layman that “scientists” are going to be unable to explain the feature any other way. Maybe it will lead them to see other craters on other planets in a new light.For more information on the Electrical Universe, see the web site www.thunderbolts.info.LARRY WHITE, BoiseOMBUDSMANWriter put forth incorrect information
No one in the public arena expects to be free from criticism. Pierce Murphy, community ombudsman, is no exception. Such criticism should be based on correct information. Not so with Guy Bourgeau’s attack on Murphy in the matter of Sen. Burkett and his sons.Bourgeau of Local 486 of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, wrote, among other things, that Murphy “… has no practical experience to draw upon … .” He further suggested that the ombudsman operates without accountability and that “he has made mistakes before as he does not have appropriate investigative experience ….”Murphy was a police officer from 1972 to 1979 in Atherton and Menlo Park, Calif. He is responsible and accountable to the mayor and Boise City Council and to the community.Since becoming ombudsman in 1999, he has engaged in ongoing education in apropos areas like 300 hours in the Boise Police Advanced Academy and on subjects encompassing internal affairs, use of force, scientific content analysis, officer-involved shooting investigations, and behavioral assessment screening systems.He is a man of integrity with a wide reputation for his skills and even-handedness. His efforts contribute to the safety of the community and to the integrity of the Police Department.MIKE SILVA, BoiseColumn was accurate
At the time Pierce Murphy was hired, I questioned the expense. Having far less experience than trained police officers, he would have to come up with something to justify his job.As you may recall, soon after he was hired he requested a secretary as he was receiving so many phone calls. Do you know anyone in the private sector who hires a secretary to answer the phone? I happen to be “older than dirt,” and this morning I had several telephone calls. Two friends called, my son, an accountant, all within the space of an hour. You know what? I dealt with that, handled it all by myself.The column in the Feb. 6 Statesman by Guy Bourgeau was right on target. It should make Mike Burkett think about what his sons did. The police chief is right, too.LORRAINE SCHIMMELS, NampaSCHOOL BONDTax dollars benefit other students only
I am an angry parent that voted for the new school bond. I thought a new school was in my children’s best interest. I live only two blocks from Franklin Elementary and the Just For Kids program. I live only 500 yards off Orchard. “The boundary.” My oldest child attends Borah, who provides transportation for my children. The new school, Grace Jordan, will be built right next to Borah and have a JFK facility (child care) built in. However, I am told my kids must go a mile east of my home out of my daughter’s way to an old school with no JFK. I think this is wrong!They close my school to send my children farther away with no resources. No bus and no child care. Get this. No other schools in our area have a JFK program, either,, or have transportation. Sure glad I voted and am going to pay for that new school my children will never benefit from. Thanks! I will be sure to help out with the next great idea! So glad my husband and I could put our tax dollars to use for everyone else’s kids.SHALLAN COLE, BoiseLIBRARY BOOKSBe grateful for choices
I hope the reader who found the content of the children’s book “And Tango Makes Three” objectionable can take a moment to celebrate living in a country where he has the choice to select what to read to his granddaughter. We should all thank our lucky stars that this is still our personal choice rather than some government entity deciding what books are fit to read.Parents have every right to choose what their own children read. Their right to object to the content of books is also protected under the Constitution, but so is the right of any citizen to read the books others may find objectionable.A democracy’s survival depends on the availability of all ideas. Freedom to read is at the heart of a democratic society, and a well-informed, involved citizenry is the foundation of an open democratic system.Children will grow to make up the future citizenry of this country; we can only hope to nurture our children to become independent thinkers rather than followers.AZAM HOULE, BoiseSUPREME COURTWe deserve guarantees
What guarantee is there for us, the people, that the U.S. Supreme Court is not making new laws when it adjudicates issues brought before it?Hamilton stated: “The courts must declare the sense of the law. Should they be disposed to exercising will instead of judgment, the consequences would equally be the substitution of their pleasure to that of the legislative body.”Again, what guarantee is there for us, the people, that they are subjected to constitutional rather than unconstitutional laws? Do we not have the right to know?What is the pleasure of the Statesman, its readers and subscribers?KENNETH R. FREITAS, SalmonACTS OF KINDNESSThanks for helping during scary time
I am the mother of the 6-year-old girl who was hit by a car while sledding on Simplot Hill. We were fortunate that she only received a few bruises as a result of the accident. I would like to thank several people who really came through for me and my family during a very scary time.The young man who called 911. While I was rushing frantically to my daughter, a young man called the police and directed them to the exact spot where I was.The police, paramedics, and Fire Department. To describe them, please go to your thesaurus and look up the word “awesome” and “kind” and apply all the words you find.The lady that stayed with my other two children and friends. She comforted them during a very frightening time and helped pack up sleds and equipment.The driver of the car. Her quick reaction to a child sledding into her path is the main reason I can talk about bruises and not something worse. My two other children. My daughter, son, and their friends proved they can stand tall and help out during a crisis. Way to go, kids! Thank you!KARI LUKAS, BoiseCOVERAGEThanks Statesman for highlight of hero’s life
Thank you for the extensive coverage of the discovery of the death photo of the most famous World War II correspondent, Ernie Pyle. Most newspapers in the country probably ran the picture of Pyle’s death, but the Statesman went further and ran a picture of the memorial service for Pyle, and a touching photo of Pyle standing amidst Marines in their bunks as they sailed to the Okinawa invasion. Also, two articles from Pyle were run. This kind of coverage gives a younger generation the chance to learn who Ernie Pyle was, and why his writing helped shape American opinion about WWII during the war.I especially appreciated the article about the death of Army Capt. Henry Waskow. Soldiers usually fight for each other and their commanding officer. The touching scene Pyle described was repeated thousands of times throughout the war as men said goodbye to their comrades in gentle and heartbreaking ways. As the living memory of the war fades from the world, we need to strive to keep the memory of the sacrifices and lessons of the big one, because they apply more to our day than most people realize. Those who fought the war made great sacrifices in order to free the world from tyranny. That’s an inspiring example none of us should ever allow future generations to forget. Thanks again Statesman.ANDREW MONTZ, NampaDOLLAR VALUEOverspending makes things expensive
Do cars, homes and gasoline seem overpriced to you? They do to me. Know why? Greenspan put his finger on it and for years did his best to try to contain it. It’s the inflation created by government overspending. Trying to police the world on borrowed money is covertly costing us our dollar’s purchasing power.In Europe now, it takes $1.50 in U.S. money to buy what could have been purchased a couple of years ago for under $1. Here at home, it now costs $3 to buy what cost only $1 in the 1980s. If you had saved your old silver coins from pre-1965 you would find that $1 worth of those today would amazingly buy you about $11 worth of goods. An even more startling gauge of our dollar’s lost value is the old pre-1934 $20 gold piece which today will buy $1,000 worth of goods. About 250 of those (originally $5,000) would buy you a $250,000 home today, with no mortgage.You don’t believe it? Check the Internet for “Silver Coin Prices” and “Gold Coin Prices.” Our dollar is suffering and it’s costing every one of us.DON ADAIR, BoiseDEMOCRATSGOP fractured?
So the Democrats think the GOP is fractured and their party has all the answers. Well, if a non-experienced black and the wife of an ex-president who lied through his teeth in public on TV to the entire American public are the best that party can offer, we are in trouble.STAN OGSBURY, Boise

NUCLEAR ENERGYSupport clean solution
With oil prices skyrocketing, we citizens need to support a solution to this dilemma. More dams are not the answer, nor more polluting coal-fired plants with the heavy toll of miners’ lives. We in Idaho should be supporting, wholeheartedly, nuclear energy. Facts about this maligned industry have been distorted with untrue rumors and fear tactics by idle talk and much of the news media. The oil and coal promoters nourish these falsehoods with their ads and stories.It is time for anti-nuclear thinkers and doubtful environmentalists to learn how safe and clean are the nuclear power plants in existence. A book, published in 2007, titled “Power to Save the World, the Truth About Nuclear Energy” by Gwyneth Cravens, contains facts needed to form a true analysis of the value of this available source. This book also answers questions about Yucca Mountain, WIPP and radioactive waste disposal. Please take time to read this well-documented book to form a new opinion on the necessity for nuclear power plants.CATHERINE NELSON, Idaho FallsWhat really made Buffett retreat?
What really made billionaire Warren Buffett retreat in defeat from his plans to build a nuclear power plant in Payette?Do you really believe Warren formed a whole nuclear division, studied 14 sites, picked Payette, hired ex-Sen. McClure and ex-Gov. Andrus as lobbyists, and only then looked at the timetable for making money, and then decided nuclear “made no economic sense?”Our initiative group was the only unwelcoming committee that passed out vital information on safety problems at the Payette town meeting. Downwinders from Gem County and across Idaho roared at their state representatives. When Idaho native Republican County Commissioner Colonel Diana Obenauer, R.N., joined our efforts, Buffett had to realize he was in for a losing fight.But those already deeply invested, like Gillispie’s new big money backers for Bruneau, will keep coming strong. The Idaho National Laboratory has at least one merchant nuclear power plant planned. We absolutely need to set up Idaho’s legal defense adopting law that Oregon uses. Our group will continue to fight for Idaho families while celebrating this victory.We need our legislators to make our initiative law this session. Please help! Our Web site is www.MyIdahoEnergy.com. Please call your legislators toll- free at 1-800-626-0471.DR. PETER RICKARDS, DPM, Twin FallsEXXON Consumers have no choice but to buy
Recently Exxon posted a record “eye-popping” profit of $40.6 billion for 2007. Now, I have a hard time comprehending how much money that really is, unless I break it down into something my small mind can comprehend. So I did some math. If a $1 bill weighs one gram, and 453 grams equals one pound, a normal sized trucking pallet would hold approximately $1 million, or 2,200 pounds of bills. That means it would take 40,600 pallets to hold $40.6 billion.If Exxon decided to drive that money to the bank using a standard semi-trailer it would take (a normal trailer holds 22 pallets) 1,845 semis. (By the way the semis would be overweight for DOT standards.) If each semi trailer and tractor was 65 feet long and Exxon decided to go to the bank in one day, the semis would stretch, touching end to end with no gaps, 22 miles. And they did this without as much as a thank you. This is wrong, because they did it with a product I have no choice but to use, they spent very little of this profit for research and development, and they did it with the blessing and help of our Congress and president, and that is what I call a monopoly.STEVE BERTSCH, MeridianMERCURY Making observational opinion seems obvious
I had to laugh out loud when I saw the image from Mercury on your Main page 15 of the Feb. 1 paper.The caption says that “scientists” don’t know how the crater was formed, when anyone with an open mind can plainly see that it is the site of an electrical discharge. I can only conclude that these poor scientists are not allowed to come to an observational opinion that does not meet with approval.However, there is finally a feature on an electrical planet with a strong magnetic field in an electrical solar system overseen by an electrical star that is so obvious to the layman that “scientists” are going to be unable to explain the feature any other way. Maybe it will lead them to see other craters on other planets in a new light.For more information on the Electrical Universe, see the web site www.thunderbolts.info.LARRY WHITE, BoiseOMBUDSMANWriter put forth incorrect information
No one in the public arena expects to be free from criticism. Pierce Murphy, community ombudsman, is no exception. Such criticism should be based on correct information. Not so with Guy Bourgeau’s attack on Murphy in the matter of Sen. Burkett and his sons.Bourgeau of Local 486 of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, wrote, among other things, that Murphy “… has no practical experience to draw upon … .” He further suggested that the ombudsman operates without accountability and that “he has made mistakes before as he does not have appropriate investigative experience ….”Murphy was a police officer from 1972 to 1979 in Atherton and Menlo Park, Calif. He is responsible and accountable to the mayor and Boise City Council and to the community.Since becoming ombudsman in 1999, he has engaged in ongoing education in apropos areas like 300 hours in the Boise Police Advanced Academy and on subjects encompassing internal affairs, use of force, scientific content analysis, officer-involved shooting investigations, and behavioral assessment screening systems.He is a man of integrity with a wide reputation for his skills and even-handedness. His efforts contribute to the safety of the community and to the integrity of the Police Department.MIKE SILVA, BoiseColumn was accurate
At the time Pierce Murphy was hired, I questioned the expense. Having far less experience than trained police officers, he would have to come up with something to justify his job.As you may recall, soon after he was hired he requested a secretary as he was receiving so many phone calls. Do you know anyone in the private sector who hires a secretary to answer the phone? I happen to be “older than dirt,” and this morning I had several telephone calls. Two friends called, my son, an accountant, all within the space of an hour. You know what? I dealt with that, handled it all by myself.The column in the Feb. 6 Statesman by Guy Bourgeau was right on target. It should make Mike Burkett think about what his sons did. The police chief is right, too.LORRAINE SCHIMMELS, NampaSCHOOL BONDTax dollars benefit other students only
I am an angry parent that voted for the new school bond. I thought a new school was in my children’s best interest. I live only two blocks from Franklin Elementary and the Just For Kids program. I live only 500 yards off Orchard. “The boundary.” My oldest child attends Borah, who provides transportation for my children. The new school, Grace Jordan, will be built right next to Borah and have a JFK facility (child care) built in. However, I am told my kids must go a mile east of my home out of my daughter’s way to an old school with no JFK. I think this is wrong!They close my school to send my children farther away with no resources. No bus and no child care. Get this. No other schools in our area have a JFK program, either,, or have transportation. Sure glad I voted and am going to pay for that new school my children will never benefit from. Thanks! I will be sure to help out with the next great idea! So glad my husband and I could put our tax dollars to use for everyone else’s kids.SHALLAN COLE, BoiseLIBRARY BOOKSBe grateful for choices
I hope the reader who found the content of the children’s book “And Tango Makes Three” objectionable can take a moment to celebrate living in a country where he has the choice to select what to read to his granddaughter. We should all thank our lucky stars that this is still our personal choice rather than some government entity deciding what books are fit to read.Parents have every right to choose what their own children read. Their right to object to the content of books is also protected under the Constitution, but so is the right of any citizen to read the books others may find objectionable.A democracy’s survival depends on the availability of all ideas. Freedom to read is at the heart of a democratic society, and a well-informed, involved citizenry is the foundation of an open democratic system.Children will grow to make up the future citizenry of this country; we can only hope to nurture our children to become independent thinkers rather than followers.AZAM HOULE, BoiseSUPREME COURTWe deserve guarantees
What guarantee is there for us, the people, that the U.S. Supreme Court is not making new laws when it adjudicates issues brought before it?Hamilton stated: “The courts must declare the sense of the law. Should they be disposed to exercising will instead of judgment, the consequences would equally be the substitution of their pleasure to that of the legislative body.”Again, what guarantee is there for us, the people, that they are subjected to constitutional rather than unconstitutional laws? Do we not have the right to know?What is the pleasure of the Statesman, its readers and subscribers?KENNETH R. FREITAS, SalmonACTS OF KINDNESSThanks for helping during scary time
I am the mother of the 6-year-old girl who was hit by a car while sledding on Simplot Hill. We were fortunate that she only received a few bruises as a result of the accident. I would like to thank several people who really came through for me and my family during a very scary time.The young man who called 911. While I was rushing frantically to my daughter, a young man called the police and directed them to the exact spot where I was.The police, paramedics, and Fire Department. To describe them, please go to your thesaurus and look up the word “awesome” and “kind” and apply all the words you find.The lady that stayed with my other two children and friends. She comforted them during a very frightening time and helped pack up sleds and equipment.The driver of the car. Her quick reaction to a child sledding into her path is the main reason I can talk about bruises and not something worse. My two other children. My daughter, son, and their friends proved they can stand tall and help out during a crisis. Way to go, kids! Thank you!KARI LUKAS, BoiseCOVERAGEThanks Statesman for highlight of hero’s life
Thank you for the extensive coverage of the discovery of the death photo of the most famous World War II correspondent, Ernie Pyle. Most newspapers in the country probably ran the picture of Pyle’s death, but the Statesman went further and ran a picture of the memorial service for Pyle, and a touching photo of Pyle standing amidst Marines in their bunks as they sailed to the Okinawa invasion. Also, two articles from Pyle were run. This kind of coverage gives a younger generation the chance to learn who Ernie Pyle was, and why his writing helped shape American opinion about WWII during the war.I especially appreciated the article about the death of Army Capt. Henry Waskow. Soldiers usually fight for each other and their commanding officer. The touching scene Pyle described was repeated thousands of times throughout the war as men said goodbye to their comrades in gentle and heartbreaking ways. As the living memory of the war fades from the world, we need to strive to keep the memory of the sacrifices and lessons of the big one, because they apply more to our day than most people realize. Those who fought the war made great sacrifices in order to free the world from tyranny. That’s an inspiring example none of us should ever allow future generations to forget. Thanks again Statesman.ANDREW MONTZ, NampaDOLLAR VALUEOverspending makes things expensive
Do cars, homes and gasoline seem overpriced to you? They do to me. Know why? Greenspan put his finger on it and for years did his best to try to contain it. It’s the inflation created by government overspending. Trying to police the world on borrowed money is covertly costing us our dollar’s purchasing power.In Europe now, it takes $1.50 in U.S. money to buy what could have been purchased a couple of years ago for under $1. Here at home, it now costs $3 to buy what cost only $1 in the 1980s. If you had saved your old silver coins from pre-1965 you would find that $1 worth of those today would amazingly buy you about $11 worth of goods. An even more startling gauge of our dollar’s lost value is the old pre-1934 $20 gold piece which today will buy $1,000 worth of goods. About 250 of those (originally $5,000) would buy you a $250,000 home today, with no mortgage.You don’t believe it? Check the Internet for “Silver Coin Prices” and “Gold Coin Prices.” Our dollar is suffering and it’s costing every one of us.DON ADAIR, BoiseDEMOCRATSGOP fractured?
So the Democrats think the GOP is fractured and their party has all the answers. Well, if a non-experienced black and the wife of an ex-president who lied through his teeth in public on TV to the entire American public are the best that party can offer, we are in trouble.STAN OGSBURY, Boise

The Wall Street Journal has just accepted Facebook’s request to be online friends.
Hoping to tap into the growing buzz of online social networks, the Journal is adding a feature to its Web site that will allow readers to see which Journal stories are popular among that user’s Facebook friends.
The feature, which goes live early Wednesday morning, is called “SeenThis?” and is powered by a company called Loomia Inc. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
Loomia already provides WSJ.com with another feature called “People who read this … also read these stories” which appears on the right-hand side of the text of a story.
News Web sites will commonly feature lists of the most popular stories on the site, as measured by the most views, most e-mailed or most recommended or blogged about.
But by showing articles that were read by viewers who apparently had similar interests, the Journal is hoping to harness some of the magic of successful shopping sites like Amazon.com Inc., which will make recommendations to shoppers based on what other buyers also bought.
Adding the link with Facebook takes the idea a step further, by letting viewers see what stories their own friends are interested in, not only those of the general WSJ.com readership.
Daniel Bernard, general manager for Wall Street Journal Online, said the “SeenThis?” feature will be opt-in only, meaning it won’t start up unless the viewer expressly asks it to, and users can opt out any time.
The application also won’t collect personally identifiable information on which people are reading which articles, just aggregated information on which articles are being read most by those in a readers’ group of Facebook friends or networks.
Loomia’s chief executive, Dave McMurtry, said the Journal was the first media company to fully implement the “SeenThis?” application. General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal and CNET have also signed up to use it.
The module that will be visible on the Journal Web site is something called a “widget” in Internet lingo _ a small, self-contained application that does a specific task.
The user can also add that application on to his or her Facebook page, where it would show users not only which Journal articles are most popular among that users’ friends and networks, but also video and other material from CNET or other providers.
Bernard said the Journal’s goal in adding the fixture was not only to help make the Web page more functional for its existing users but also to try and lure in new users from outside sources such as Facebook.
Other newspapers have also been developing widgets that people can post to their Web sites or pages on online social networks like Facebook in hopes of bringing in more online traffic and spreading awareness of their brand name.
The New York Times offers an online crossword puzzle through Google Inc.’s personalized Web pages as well as a news quiz application on Facebook. Gannett Co.’s USA Today also offers users widgets for various uses, as does The Washington Post Co.

The Wall Street Journal has just accepted Facebook’s request to be online friends.
Hoping to tap into the growing buzz of online social networks, the Journal is adding a feature to its Web site that will allow readers to see which Journal stories are popular among that user’s Facebook friends.
The feature, which goes live early Wednesday morning, is called “SeenThis?” and is powered by a company called Loomia Inc. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
Loomia already provides WSJ.com with another feature called “People who read this … also read these stories” which appears on the right-hand side of the text of a story.
News Web sites will commonly feature lists of the most popular stories on the site, as measured by the most views, most e-mailed or most recommended or blogged about.
But by showing articles that were read by viewers who apparently had similar interests, the Journal is hoping to harness some of the magic of successful shopping sites like Amazon.com Inc., which will make recommendations to shoppers based on what other buyers also bought.
Adding the link with Facebook takes the idea a step further, by letting viewers see what stories their own friends are interested in, not only those of the general WSJ.com readership.
Daniel Bernard, general manager for Wall Street Journal Online, said the “SeenThis?” feature will be opt-in only, meaning it won’t start up unless the viewer expressly asks it to, and users can opt out any time.
The application also won’t collect personally identifiable information on which people are reading which articles, just aggregated information on which articles are being read most by those in a readers’ group of Facebook friends or networks.
Loomia’s chief executive, Dave McMurtry, said the Journal was the first media company to fully implement the “SeenThis?” application. General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal and CNET have also signed up to use it.
The module that will be visible on the Journal Web site is something called a “widget” in Internet lingo _ a small, self-contained application that does a specific task.
The user can also add that application on to his or her Facebook page, where it would show users not only which Journal articles are most popular among that users’ friends and networks, but also video and other material from CNET or other providers.
Bernard said the Journal’s goal in adding the fixture was not only to help make the Web page more functional for its existing users but also to try and lure in new users from outside sources such as Facebook.
Other newspapers have also been developing widgets that people can post to their Web sites or pages on online social networks like Facebook in hopes of bringing in more online traffic and spreading awareness of their brand name.
The New York Times offers an online crossword puzzle through Google Inc.’s personalized Web pages as well as a news quiz application on Facebook. Gannett Co.’s USA Today also offers users widgets for various uses, as does The Washington Post Co.

The Wall Street Journal has just accepted Facebook’s request to be online friends.
Hoping to tap into the growing buzz of online social networks, the Journal is adding a feature to its Web site that will allow readers to see which Journal stories are popular among that user’s Facebook friends.
The feature, which goes live early Wednesday morning, is called “SeenThis?” and is powered by a company called Loomia Inc. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
Loomia already provides WSJ.com with another feature called “People who read this … also read these stories” which appears on the right-hand side of the text of a story.
News Web sites will commonly feature lists of the most popular stories on the site, as measured by the most views, most e-mailed or most recommended or blogged about.
But by showing articles that were read by viewers who apparently had similar interests, the Journal is hoping to harness some of the magic of successful shopping sites like Amazon.com Inc., which will make recommendations to shoppers based on what other buyers also bought.
Adding the link with Facebook takes the idea a step further, by letting viewers see what stories their own friends are interested in, not only those of the general WSJ.com readership.
Daniel Bernard, general manager for Wall Street Journal Online, said the “SeenThis?” feature will be opt-in only, meaning it won’t start up unless the viewer expressly asks it to, and users can opt out any time.
The application also won’t collect personally identifiable information on which people are reading which articles, just aggregated information on which articles are being read most by those in a readers’ group of Facebook friends or networks.
Loomia’s chief executive, Dave McMurtry, said the Journal was the first media company to fully implement the “SeenThis?” application. General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal and CNET have also signed up to use it.
The module that will be visible on the Journal Web site is something called a “widget” in Internet lingo _ a small, self-contained application that does a specific task.
The user can also add that application on to his or her Facebook page, where it would show users not only which Journal articles are most popular among that users’ friends and networks, but also video and other material from CNET or other providers.
Bernard said the Journal’s goal in adding the fixture was not only to help make the Web page more functional for its existing users but also to try and lure in new users from outside sources such as Facebook.
Other newspapers have also been developing widgets that people can post to their Web sites or pages on online social networks like Facebook in hopes of bringing in more online traffic and spreading awareness of their brand name.
The New York Times offers an online crossword puzzle through Google Inc.’s personalized Web pages as well as a news quiz application on Facebook. Gannett Co.’s USA Today also offers users widgets for various uses, as does The Washington Post Co.

The Wall Street Journal has just accepted Facebook’s request to be online friends.
Hoping to tap into the growing buzz of online social networks, the Journal is adding a feature to its Web site that will allow readers to see which Journal stories are popular among that user’s Facebook friends.
The feature, which goes live early Wednesday morning, is called “SeenThis?” and is powered by a company called Loomia Inc. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
Loomia already provides WSJ.com with another feature called “People who read this … also read these stories” which appears on the right-hand side of the text of a story.
News Web sites will commonly feature lists of the most popular stories on the site, as measured by the most views, most e-mailed or most recommended or blogged about.
But by showing articles that were read by viewers who apparently had similar interests, the Journal is hoping to harness some of the magic of successful shopping sites like Amazon.com Inc., which will make recommendations to shoppers based on what other buyers also bought.
Adding the link with Facebook takes the idea a step further, by letting viewers see what stories their own friends are interested in, not only those of the general WSJ.com readership.
Daniel Bernard, general manager for Wall Street Journal Online, said the “SeenThis?” feature will be opt-in only, meaning it won’t start up unless the viewer expressly asks it to, and users can opt out any time.
The application also won’t collect personally identifiable information on which people are reading which articles, just aggregated information on which articles are being read most by those in a readers’ group of Facebook friends or networks.
Loomia’s chief executive, Dave McMurtry, said the Journal was the first media company to fully implement the “SeenThis?” application. General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal and CNET have also signed up to use it.
The module that will be visible on the Journal Web site is something called a “widget” in Internet lingo _ a small, self-contained application that does a specific task.
The user can also add that application on to his or her Facebook page, where it would show users not only which Journal articles are most popular among that users’ friends and networks, but also video and other material from CNET or other providers.
Bernard said the Journal’s goal in adding the fixture was not only to help make the Web page more functional for its existing users but also to try and lure in new users from outside sources such as Facebook.
Other newspapers have also been developing widgets that people can post to their Web sites or pages on online social networks like Facebook in hopes of bringing in more online traffic and spreading awareness of their brand name.
The New York Times offers an online crossword puzzle through Google Inc.’s personalized Web pages as well as a news quiz application on Facebook. Gannett Co.’s USA Today also offers users widgets for various uses, as does The Washington Post Co.

Crystal and Eddie Walsh of Mountain Home have seven horses, two dogs, six cats, two pigs, one cow, 18 chickens - and nine children. Seven of the Walsh children are adopted, two from Wednesday’s Child. One is a foster child and one - the most recent addition - is Crystal and Eddie’s biological child. They all live in a five-bedroom, three-bath farmhouse. “We could never have children of our own - then came William,” Crystal said, laughing.The Walshes are an anomaly. Few people want to adopt so many children. Today, more than 500,000 U.S. children wait in foster care for a “forever home.” In Idaho, the number of children placed in foster care increased from 747 in 1993 to 3,335 in 2006. To help those kids find families, and vice versa, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare works with Special Needs Adoptive Parent Services Inc., a charitable nonprofit corporation that sponsors the Wednesday’s Child program, which attempts to find parents and permanent homes for the children in the program. The mostly adopted Walsh kids are like stairsteps: Tia, 17, Natosha, 16, Morgan, 15, Tyler, 11, Chantelle, 10, Jenny, 9, Nicole, 8, Alexis, 6, and William, 16 months. Their family began to grow after Eddie joined the Air Force and was stationed in Great Britain. “We went to world-renowned fertility doctors in England and they said ‘no,’ ” Crystal said.They looked into adoption.”I thought, I’ll just be a mom for other people’s children,” Crystal said. “Eddie only wanted two. I wanted six because I grew up with the Brady Bunch and the Waltons - now I get to live it,” Crystal said. “I keep thinking we’ll go for a baker’s dozen.”They adopted siblings Tyler and Chantelle in England. After moving back to the States, they added the others. Three of the children are developmentally disabled. Two are biological siblings who were featured in the Wednesday’s Child program: fiercely loyal but shy Natosha and outgoing Morgan came as a package deal, like many of the children adopted through Wednesday’s Child. WHAT IS WEDNESDAY’S CHILD?Wednesday’s Child uses television and newspapers to help find families for special needs children who have been removed from their birth parents. Special needs can mean anything from siblings who need to stay together to kids who have shaken baby syndrome, ADHD or fetal alcohol syndrome.The birth parents’ rights may have been terminated for reasons including mental illness, physical or sexual abuse, substance abuse or neglect, or the child may have been in imminent danger. Substance abuse is the biggest contributor to the termination of parental rights, according to Kathy McCarroll, the program specialist for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, who oversees the contract with the Wednesday’s Child program.While there are no hard statistics, methamphetamine probably results in termination of parental rights more than anything, said Marti Wiser, director of Idaho Wednesday’s Child. It’s hard finding a new family for any child, Wiser said. For children with special needs, finding a forever home can be even more difficult. That’s where Wednesday’s Child helps. The program can give a child more exposure and more of a chance at getting a new home. The program works with the child, his or her adoption team, the media - and sometimes possible parents.Wednesday’s Child programs sprouted up across the country in the early 1990s. In Idaho, television station KIFI Channel 8 in Idaho Falls started airing Wednesday’s Child segments hosted by news anchor Jay Hildebrandt in 1985. It launched locally in 1998 on KTVB Channel 7, with segments hosted by news anchor Dee Sarton. Since then, several newspapers, including the Idaho Statesman, have been running it as a weekly feature.And it works. From June 2006 to June 2007, about 40 children from the program were placed in pre-adoptive homes. The adoption rate for children in the Wednesday’s Child program is 75 percent, Wiser said. Wiser writes the children’s profiles you can see on the Web site, keeping them candid without breaching privacy. She doesn’t like to present a sad story.”We need to see them not as victims but as resilient young people who, given the right environment, patience and understanding will be able to overcome those challenges,” she said. How long does it take to find a match? For most, from 14 weeks to over a year. For one boy, it took two years.”It amazes me some of the families who come forward. I used to catch myself thinking, ‘I don’t think I’m going to be able to find a family for this child.’ But I never think that anymore,” Wiser said. “It renews my faith in the human race.”Even so, Wiser said, older children, especially boys between 14 and 17, have a harder time finding an adoptive home. “They always want to know how long it’s going to take,” Wiser said. “It’s not their fault. They didn’t do anything wrong. There’s just that perception out there, that teenage girls are easier to raise.” Heartstring tugs are her main job hazard, Wiser said. “My husband and I have an empty nest. We’ve been married 36 years, and every time I approach my husband about adopting one of the children, he says, ‘Are you going to quit your job? Marti, you can help one child or you can help many.’ “MEET VINCENTVincent is a shy, soft-spoken 8-year-old with dark hair, freckles and a Dennis the Menace smile. He loves football and chocolate waffles. He has a little hearing loss, but not much, and he speaks with a slight - and adorable - lisp. Vincent is a Wednesday’s Child. He will be featured on Channel 7’s weekly segment, in newspaper profiles and on the Web. On the day of his big interview with Channel 7 news anchor Dee Sarton, Vincent gets the day off from school to go first to Boondocks, then the park to play flag football.Confusion and excitement dance across his face. “We like to take the kids somewhere fun,” Wiser says, “so they can relax before the interview. We ask them what they would like to do, where they would like to go.”At Boondocks, Vincent is finger-tapping nervous. Sheila Knezevich, Vincent’s caseworker, says he thought this was his last morning with his foster family. He’s fond of them and was worried he would never see them again.After she tells him he can return to them later that day, Vincent relaxes a bit and plays video games, spending his winning tickets on gifts for his two foster sisters. But he hardly touches his pizza. “I’m not really that hungry,” he says. “Are we ready to go, can we go now?”At the park, Vincent takes our pictures with his camera. He’s interested in photography. “I collect cameras.” He says he likes Spiderman movies, riding his bike (but not right now, it has two flat tires), roller-skating (but he doesn’t have skates) and math - sometimes.He meets Sarton, who has been the interviewer since KTVB started airing Wednesday’s Child. With the camera rolling, she sits in the grass and talks to Vincent about football and the family he’s hoping for. He shouts the name of his favorite football team - “Go Broncos!” and says he would like to live with a football-loving family. One with pets - cats and dogs - and a brother and sister.”We call her the child whisperer,” Wiser says. “She’s always so good with the kids.”Afterward, Vincent asks us all to play flag football with him. Wiser brought flags in his favorite colors, Bronco blue and orange. How can we resist? We divide up into teams, the boys against the girls.The boys win. Vincent grins.As of press time, Vincent was without a new family, although 24 people or families have expressed an interest and several home studies are in the works, Knezevich says. “I just haven’t seen the perfect match yet.”THE WALSHES MAKE IT WORKWednesday’s Child adoptees Natosha and Morgan have settled into life with the Walshes. They do their chores and help care for their brothers and sisters. They like to ride horses. Morgan’s work with King, a retired racehorse, won her a fancy belt buckle from the Optimist Ag group for showmanship. During the summer, she was a lifeguard. “I saved four people this year,” she said.Their lives have changed dramatically in the span of a few years. “We lived in seven foster homes before we were adopted,” Morgan said. Their profiles were featured on the Wednesday’s Child Web site and, before coming to the Walsh family, they had been in another adoptive home, but the adoption fell through.”Morgan and ‘Tosha came in the middle of the night,” said Crystal Walsh. The girls were 13 and 12, and they brought all of their belongings with them in a black trash bag.”I hate it when foster kids have to move and they use a black trash bag. I hate it. It’s just degrading. I wouldn’t move my dog like that,” Crystal said.She works as a parent training volunteer for Pride (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education) and helps raise money to buy high chairs, cribs, strollers, car seats - and luggage - for foster families. She keeps the items in a warehouse and ready for emergency calls in the middle of the night. And she and Eddie take in foster children when needed.”When we first started fostering, my husband wasn’t sure he could adopt other people’s children,” she said. “But when we had to pass our first foster child on, my husband bawled like a baby.”What our job is, is parents sometimes lose their way. We’re there to help the kids manage their way while their parents try to find their way back. That’s our privilege,” she said. “It’s not what you leave this world with, it’s what you leave behind.”Unlike many Wednesday’s Child adoptions, Tosha and Morgan have kept in touch with their biological family, including their grandparents and their mom. Crystal said the girls had a hard time calling her “mom” when they first arrived.”Not that I am their mom, but I am the mom of the house,” Crystal said. “And I have a piece of paper that says I am their mother.”She said right after the adoption, the girls called their biological grandparents. “We asked them, ‘Why did you feel the need?’” Crystal said, “They said, ‘We just wanted to tell them we’re OK now.’ They had finally reached their destination and just wanted to tell them.” Morgan said at first she was embarrassed to tell friends she was adopted. “Now I tell everybody,” she said. “Everybody at school knows. When you’re adopted, you’re chosen. You’re special. “In foster homes, they just take care of you. When you’re adopted, it’s your permanent home.”"Your forever home,” Crystal said.”People love you and they’re there for you,” Morgan said, smiling across the room at her family. Jeanne Huff: 377-6483

Government agencies have hired more new communications staff in five years than all the journalists working at Television New Zealand, Radio New Zealand, the Sunday Star-Times and the Dominion Post newspapers put together.
In the five years to July 2007, government agencies employed 210 additional communications staff and contractors, taking the total communications workforce to 448. That included 37 staffers in ministers offices.
The total bill was $47 million, according to answers to parliamentary questions put by National.
National state services spokesman Gerry Brownlee said Labour was gearing up to use the government publicity machine as part of its re-election campaign.
This is an extraordinary expansion of the governments ability to deliver its message. This must make Labour the most spun government in history, he said.
With the passing of the Electoral Finance Bill, the government had loaded the deck in its own favour. The bill limits advertising by political parties for the whole of 2008, and puts a cap of $120,000 on spending by outside groups. However, government communications and advertising campaigns are not constrained.
The big spend is now going to be with the government, and they have made sure they have the infrastructure to deliver on that. Here we have a small army employed at a cost of nearly $50 million, all pushing positive government messages, he said.
Government Duty Minister Rick Barker refused to be interviewed directly. He issued a brief comment through a spokesman.
This is more huff and puff from Gerry Brownlee and the National Party and it is simply posturing. The State Services Act makes it clear that departments are required to act in a politically neutral way, he said.
The Ministry of Social Development topped the list with 54 communications staff and contractors, making it bigger than Radio New Zealands entire workforce of journalists.
Ministry spokeswoman Bronwyn Saunders said many of those staff were not media staff, but were meeting a growing public demand for web-based services through the ministrys 18 websites. The ministry had also taken on new functions such as Working for Families and the campaign against family violence and youth gangs.
It is worth remembering that in its work, the ministry will at some stage touch the life of every New Zealander, said Saunders.
Only 15 of the 54 communications staffers dealt with media or public relations issues.
Another 20 were web and publications staff responsible for brochures, corporate documents, staff communications and management of events. She said the high number of communications staff also reflected that the Ministry of Social Development was the biggest government department, with 10,000 staff.
The biggest spender on communication contractors and staff was the Ministry of Education, with 70% of the $6.6m it spent going on contractors.
Canterbury University journalism school head Jim Tully said government and corporate public relations staff were growing as newsrooms were shrinking.
The growth is indicative of a much greater determination to put the best possible spin and to influence the media generally, he said.
There are 10 times as many government communications staff as there were 25 years ago, despite a smaller public service.
Until 1984, communications staff for all government departments and ministers were provided by New Zealand Tourism and Publicity.
Former PSA representative at NZTP Bethany McLennan said in the early 1980s there were fewer than 50 press officers in total.

But some media veterans worry that expectations for online advertising may be getting out-sized.

Increasingly, they say, too much media depends on advertising as the only source of revenue. With new players from software makers to cable operators also

trying to cash in, the dollars simply may not stretch far enough.

“I’m getting to the point where I feel like every answer to every business development pitch is ‘We’re going to be advertiser supported’,” said Beth

Comstock, president of Integrated Media at NBC Universal, which this year set up a fund to invest in media and digital companies.

“It’s just not going to be possible,” she said at a recent advertising conference. “There are not going to be enough advertising dollars in the

marketplace. No matter how clever we are, no matter what the format is.”

NBC Universal’s television networks, cable channels and Web sites compete for advertising dollars with everything from niche blogs to big media peers like

Time Warner Inc and Walt Disney.

In addition fast-growing Internet companies like Google Inc are snatching up advertising budgets.

But new rivals are entering the market. Comcast, the largest U.S. cable operator, expects at least $US1 billion in online advertising in the next five

to

six years.

Verizon Communications and AT%26T are looking at advertising opportunities on their video and wireless services, while startups like social network

Facebook

are seen as a new frontier for Web marketing.

Even Microsoft has made a bold move into advertising with its purchase of Web marketing firm aQuantive.

THE MONEY FLOW

Until recently, the focus was squarely on how much money is moving into online advertising, rather than whether too many companies are making a grab for it.

There is little doubt today that a hefty portion of advertising dollars will shift to the Internet from TV, radio, print and elsewhere in the coming years.

ZenithOptimedia forecasts that online ads worldwide will rise 28 per cent in 2007, while the rest of the market grows at 3.7 per cent.

Next year, ZenithOptimedia forecasts it to rise by 21 per cent, and climb another 13 per cent to $US43 billion in 2009.

At that point, Web advertising would represent almost 10 percent of the $495 billion spent on advertising worldwide - yet would trail spending on

newspapers, magazines, and TV.

“There are billion of dollars that can still move,” said Craig Lambert, Chief Digital Director of Colangelo, an integrated marketing agency.

“Is there enough money flowing to support the businesses out there? I’d guess there is, just because there’s so much money that has always been spent on TV

and print,” he added.

BIG SITES GET BIG DOLLARS

Others also take the position that there should be sufficient advertising money to spread around.

Jeff Brooks, Chief Executive of digital and direct marketing agency Euro RSCG 4D, sees a “huge gap” between the amount of time people spend on digital

media and the amount of advertising money it attracts.

“The thrust of ad spending online, while dramatic in its growth quarter over quarter, still represents a disproportionately small percentage of total

advertising dollars,” he said.

The catch, according to some, is that much of the money flowing toward the Internet is concentrated on a few dozen of the most popular sites.

That has left smaller, less well-known sites at a severe disadvantage when it comes to attracting advertising money and surviving.

In the United States, the top 50 Web sites accounted for more than 90 percent of the revenue from online ads in the first half of 2007, according to the

Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The top 10 sites accounted for 70 percent of the revenue.

All the while, the number of Web sites continues to grow, creating more competition for audiences - and advertisers - who can also choose among video games,

movies, TV, portable music and every other type of media entertainment.

“It’s not like the old days, when it was ‘if you build it, they will come,’” said Jonathan Sackett, Chief Digital Officer at Arnold Worldwide, a

Boston-based advertising agency. “Now if you build it, they probably won’t.”

One alternative for Web sites would be to bank on subscriptions rather than advertising revenue, but few existing outlets have been successful with that

model.

The reason is that unless the site offers extraordinary content, people simply refuse to pay for it, said Mark Miller, president of RMG Connect, an

advertising and marketing agency.

“If Warren Buffett wanted to put out his own subscription newsletter online, well, I’m sure he’d get a bucketful of people to subscribe to it,” Miller

said.