Thursday squibs

With the unofficial end of summer, the web is filling up with interesting bits and pieces of journalism-related news and opinion. Some of the recent bits worth reading:

• Economist to charge readers for its online news content. The “how” and “how much” haven’t been decided yet, but it’s coming. The Economist, like the WSJ, probably has a strong enough rep for its unique content to make this work.
• Proposals For Newspaper Publishers Include Google Micropay. Most definitely related to the above is the news that Google is setting about to develop a micropayment system that would be available to newspapers. A workable micropayment system could be a boon for newspapers, given that very few of them can count on being a unique enough destination to make great hay with a full subscription model.
• SYLLABUS: Social Media Skills. Wonder what grad school students are learning about using social media for journalism? Columbia’s course syllabus for a one-credit course is on-line and worth perusing.
• More models for online reporting. The On Sports blog has nice things to say about a very well done piece of multimedia sports coverage from the Roanoke Times, as well as links to a number of other instructive pieces of journalism at other newspaper sites. Worth clicking the links and spending some time with.
• Top 10 Lies Newspaper Execs are Telling Themselves. No punches are pulled as Judy Sims takes on some of the ought-repeated statements of newspaper publishers. Thankfully, some of made it passed such thing as “Lie #4: We can re-create scarcity by putting up pay walls” and “Lie #7: No one will ever cover crime/health/city hall the way we do.” Good reading. (Via Martin Stabe.)
• Journalism needs a down and dirty revolution. A long, worthwhile post from Pat Thornton that tackles the need to make the best use of scarce resources in creating journalism that matters. I highly recommend reading and pondering this piece.