On Fri, 12 Jan 1996, Val Cohen wrote:

[snipped]
> 
> Where's the added value from publishing the story in this medium? I get no
> more info than I would have from reading a print version of it. I have a
> feeling that there are lots of related Web pages, but I have to go find them
> myself. What this story, and site, needs is an *editor*. That editor needs to
> take the print-bound story and enhance it for the medium. 
> 
> There should be links to all the companies referenced (preferably to areas of
> their sites that deal with the subject at hand, not just their entry pages)
> and links to other studies available online. The Next and Previous stories
> should be to *related* stories; otherwise (as in this case), next/previous
> simply let you navigate through the arbitrary stack of unrelated stories at
> this site. Previous gets me a Springsteen story; Next gets me a Vancouver
> radio station story. What have these to do with the story I'm reading and
> interested in?
> 
> You folks need to understand that this is a NEW MEDIUM. What this site
> represents is somewhat similar to a radio announcer doing a TV spot -- as many
> did in the early days of that medium. This is not to say that every item on
> the Web needs to be cross-linked and that there's not loads of valuable infor
> presented in plain, flat formats. But how does a news organization
> differentiate itself, and put its editorial mark on information, if it's
> simply regurgitating wire feeds that were intended and written for print pubs?
> 
> Yes, it takes staff, and lots of it, and smart, interested, motivated staff at
> that. Staffs cost $$$, but Yahoo and Reuters at least can afford them, if the
> rest of us can't. That's what it takes to produce our print products; why
> should we expect it to be any different online? We already saved $millions by
> not having to buy presses for these pubs; y'all wanna do it without editorial
> staffs too? Sheesh!
> 
> OK, flame off...
> 
> Val Cohen
> Newsroom Technology
> The Orange County Register
> of course, the obligatory 

Val,
	Excellent points, and the new medium needs new approaches online. 
The one who will execute it will win Net-Share(c) :).

	I'd settle for a nice simple package, let's call it READ MORE 
ABOUT IT (salute to CBS), or perhaps LINK TO MORE ABOUT