Beat blogging with social networks.
The first New Assignment effort was kind of a dud -- it felt like a solution in search of a problem, and there were issues with the way it was engineered, too.
This project feels better, more organic: beat reporting is a great area for bloggers, and the social aspect could pay off.
One reason I think it will work: my blog does something similar in its coverage of Greensboro, which is informed by reader comments, emails, and other local blogs.
UPDATE: JR laments his paper's inability to get with the program.
Cousin Ed
I'm going to disagree a bit with the "dude." It didn't work perfectly, but 80 interviews and 10 feature length stories worked out okay by my book.
But - we wouldn't do anything like AZ again for a few reasons. One you noted - it wasn't organic. The main failing of the project was that it was a LOT of work. More than is economically feasible.
This project should grow in an organic way. I'm looking forward to being a part of it.
Posted by: Digidave | Nov 14, 2007 at 01:35 PM