I have to admit that until this assignment, I was not aware of Politico 44. After reading the site for the past couple of days, I think I get the gist and drew a few conclusions:
- More links in the Whiteboard – I get what happened, but where is the additional information?
- Great, I know Obama and Biden’s schedule – now what?
- Effective to link to other news content in the Speed Read – adds credibility
- Great place for up to the minute information – site is constantly updated
- Too much unnecessary scrolling
- Awkward archives – needs to be more visible to readers
I definitely think the site fulfills the needs of today’s on-the-go, two minute attention span news readers. While I do not necessarily agree with just reading a headline to stay attuned to current events, the majority of news seekers do not seem to have the attention span or time to read an entire article.
Whiteboard:
I think the Whiteboard is Politico’s answer to keep people informed with up to the minute news. My one peeve – where is the news in this? Right now for example I am reading the Whiteboard and see the following snippets of information:
GIBBS BRIEFING -- DEFENDING HEALTH CARE REFORM: Gibbs the "public option" in health care "is nothing more than the ability to provide more choice through competition." (2:59 p.m.)
Major Garrett asks if detainees are being read Miranda rights in Afghanistan. "I think I need a little more information," Gibbs says. (3:06 p.m.)
Asked what Obama is "inflexible" on in health care reform, Gibbs doesn't bite: "The president is going to watch what happens on Capitol Hill." (3:10 p.m.)
In the town hall tomorrow, Gibbs says Obama will talk about, "not just the case for reform...but how we improve the way health care is delivered."
Message on a public health care plan: "Increasing choice through competition is important." (3:16 p.m.)
More after the jump... GIBBS BRIEFING -- FROM THE TOP: Robert Gibbs opens his briefing with yet another special guest -- Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who's there to talk about the DTV switchover. (2:16 p.m.)
What if I want some more information? How can someone possibly know what happened – or form an opinion on it - by reading 20 words on an issue? I understand that the Whiteboard is a product of new trends, though I think it should have some links where readers can find more information or an article that delves further into these small bits of information. Also, I could probably get over this if the Whiteboard had more substance, but I’m not a huge fan of the amount of scrolling you have to do to read the page.
Calendar:
Maybe I am being too critical but I kind of wonder what the value is in having the calendar tool. If the intent of a blog is to provide a wealth of information – what is the point of knowing what they are doing at the time or adding the calendar tool to my own site (via the sharing tool) – especially when the monthly calendar does not have any information on it?
The Speed Read:
I like this – I think it is nice that Politico is streaming content from other news sites. And, it follows a format that makes sense for this kind of blog – include a small piece of the article and link it to all of the information.
Up to the minute information:
It is definitely a current blog – it’s kind of funny how current has a completely new definition these days. What used to mean every day, then meant every hour and now means every 30 seconds. Politico 44 is constantly updated with multimedia content – for example, shortly after the shooting at the Holocaust museum, Politico 44 had video from Gibbs’ press conference.
Lots of scrolling:
This seems so trivial but it gets so frustrating when you have to keep scrolling down a page. I like sites that include information at the top and lets the reader click for more information – I think Politico 44 could follow this same format and retain more readers. Realistically, I will not know they have a story on JP Morgan and TARP because unless I scroll to the bottom of the page (doubtful) I would never find it.
Awkward archives:
For a blog, access to archives is extremely important primarily because content is so constantly updated. On Politico 44, a visitor needs to scroll all the way to the bottom to access specific categories such as information on Biden, specific policies, etc. I think these categories need to be more easily accessible for site visitors.
Overall – it is not a bad site – I just question what the point of some of their tools are. It’s almost as if they are using multimedia just for the sake of using multimedia.
Some questions I have after analyzing the site:
Do you think other news sites will format their content similar to the Whiteboard or a Twitter feed? What value does this offer people – if we just include a small piece of information?
And, on a broader scale, is multimedia content – news in the form of video podcasts, etc. – more valuable in communicating information? Does this have the same or better effect on audiences?
I had never seen this site before either, and when I first reviewed it, I really liked it. But you bring up some good points. I hadn't really focused my analysis on the whiteboard, and you are right, without the complete story, it can be a bit confusing. I kind of like the calendar, though, because even though you read articles about what the President and Vice President are doing and the decision's they are making, the calendar makes it quick and easy.
ReplyDeleteHi Nisha,
ReplyDeleteLet me disagree with you. I think the Whiteboard is quite informative and newsworthy. I believe, the website is meant for news professionals, news junkies, who knows/lives the politics, who has four or five news websites open on a desktop and TV turned on 24/7.
I agree that the WHITEBOARD is a worthwhile tool. If you just want to know if the President has started speaking or the jist of his message. But Nisha, you raised some good points. The "i know his schedule - now what?" question is valid.
ReplyDeleteAnd the same news junkies who want the WHITEBOARD info would probably like having a widget that could put the President, VP, FLOTUS and cabinet members skeds at their fingertips. (the calendar can do this) Nice way of getting politico in front of people when they are on their own homepage.
Hi Nisha!
ReplyDeleteI agree that Politico44 does make you beg for more. I wrote in my blog as to my guess to how many people it takes to keep up the site.
Hi Nisha,
ReplyDeleteGreat review. You pose a good question, "It's almost like they are using multimedia just for the sake of using multimedia." I agree with this sentiment. Obama's calendar and the video footage of press conferences, etc. are examples of mutlimedia assets that are available elsewhere--it seems as though web-savvy users/news junkies would find them closer to their sources. If Politico 44 is going after general-audience users, then I think some of the multimedia might seem superfluous to them.
I agree with something you and others are getting at -- P44 does a lot of things, but does them shallowly. Where's the news and, especially, analysis? P44 seems mostly to be "on the record" with knowing where Obama and company are at any given moment, but for any think pieces on the actual policies they might be flogging at a press event "covered" by P44, you really need to go elsewhere.
ReplyDelete