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USA Today Goes Web 2.0

usatoday my blog In case you've missed it, USA Today launched a complete redesign to their website. And it's not just cosmetic.

I few days ago, I saw a preview of the redesign in a screen grab. Initially I thought it might just be a graphic redesign. I've gotten used to that. But it's much more than that. It's a new vision. "Our website has a new look. But the real change is in the approach, not the appearance."

"Engage our site in a whole new way," the editors exclaimed. So, I did. And I saw something on a major news site that I've never seen before... the ability to have a conversation. Go to any major news website - CNN.com, New York Times, Los Angeles Times - and you can send a link to a story, you can bookmark it, you can print it, but what you can't do is comment directly on it. As of today, at USAToday.com you can.

In terms of enabling conversation, that would be huge all by itself, but there's more. You can also sign up for a blog (here's a link to mine), post photos and recommend articles. Is it revolutionary? No. But I'm sure you can imagine the possibilities. If a link from ActiveRain can help your Google Juice, imagine for a moment what becoming well read on a site like USA Today could do?

I won't go into all of the new features here. They do a good job of explaining them without my editorial. But I will tell you that it was simple to sign up for one of their blogs, edit my personal profile, set up my blogroll, and upload images. The focus has shifted to "you." Clearly their new "personal space" is a major advance.

"Personal Space: When you become a member, we automatically establish a personal profile page. As you interact with the USA TODAY community, your comments, recommendations and other contributions are automatically appended to your page. Your profile page includes a place for you to upload photos, write a blog, and the ability to send messages to other users. These pages allow readers to get a better sense of the site’s most active contributors."

I have a lot of opinions about newspapers, most of them not very good, but this change is a breath of fresh air. My opinion? Well, my opinion doesn't matter... you need to check it out for yourself.

Posted by Jeff Turner on 03/05/2007 07:18 PM

Comments (51)

jeff turner, blogging, social networks

Originally posted at: Turner's Perspective: USA Today Goes Web 2.0

Post is included in group: The Hubba Clubba...ROAR!

51 Comments on USA Today Goes Web 2.0

MAR

2007

{SVW Hubba}

I am pooped tonight. But I will come back tomorrow and check all this out. I may even set a Blog.

Hmmm. I wonder if the general public is ready for TLW antics :-)

TLW...ROAR!

Jeff, I can't believe this wasn't done before. It seems such a natural progression, now that you've mentioned it. The only negative to this is that you keep finding new ways for me to occupy my time. Stop that!

Very interesting Jeff...makes one wonder what the future holds. Bill Gates was recently quoted as saying (regarding technology) "You ain't seen nothing yet". The scary thing is that he is right.

Hey that is pretty exciting. I'm heading over there now.

Thanks

Monika

Thanks, Jeff. I saw a blurb about this but have not been to look. Appreciate the update.

Jeff

Thanks for the heads up. Now someone just needs to create a site so that I'll be able to manage all the sites I've joined - usatoday, mybloglog, ziki, squidoo....etc.

Is this the week in review?

Thanks Jeff, This should be fun.

Ben,

You are exactly right. It is hard enough with all the e-commerce sites, you have different passwords on several different places with different password requirements (minimum length, numeric plus alpha) Then there came Microsoft Passport to provide unified access to you different accounts. Even though it's a terrific service, the intention was there. But this is a bit more complicated. This is not only your online account info and your e-wallet, but posts, your online networks, your tags, your comments, your online relationships and lot of other bits of information

I strongly believe that this is the beginning of wide adaptation of the concept that information has to live on the edge. That is: you have posts, listings, identities etc. all over the web and it's an aggregated value mashed up, transformed during it's lifecycle. BUT it has to be done in a way which does not put the burden on the end-user. OpenID is a technology foundation to manage your identities across different social networks. But the overall technology is still infant. Bill is right: "You ain't seen nothing yet" Just in the simplest form, you have a blog here on AR and you may have your own personal blog and a business blog and a company blog you participate in authoring and now your own blog on a newspaper site. Information all over. There will be a lot of technology coming to support this.

Yak ! Wrong link in my comment.

The correct link to OpenID is http://openid.net/

Sorry !

That's pretty innovative, if you ask me.....I know the local paper here, The Miami Herald, has the ability to e-mail the reporter and authors directly from the website, but I have NEVER received a response from one single one. I am on my way over there Jeff.....thanks for the heads up.

I thought my week started today?

Thanks for the Information, I will check it out... How do you fine the time ?

Great share Jeff. We're there - thanks for letting us know about this.

Interesting, I don't understand WEB2.0, I was just out in Las Vegas and agents were getting ready for Web 2.0 ...more things to study!!

Sounds good. i hope it isn't another social network. just incase it is I am going to go out and find your profile. :)

Jeff, You are 100% Correct ....

http://www.usatoday.com/community/profile.htm?UID=46a84ee2bf585696&plckPersonaPage=PersonaBlog&plckUserId=46a84ee2bf585696

Wow, now that's a link! Juice it!

Jeff Turner..... WOW.... can I saw wow again. I agree with Ben and I don't belong to half the stuff that he mentioned.

Jeff T..... so, when do you find the time. All of this is very interesting and fascinating to me....but when does someone find the time, unless this is your job to read, read, and read.... are you making up programs to read information for you? I got burnt out last month. Now I am just going at a much slower speed.... just too much out there on the net.... My first 3 months on AR, I was spending at least 30 hours a week minimum. lol For 3 months in a row....

Overall, As Ines, I think one of my local papers allows for blogs and comments. I need to check this out. Something that I am working on, is establishing my name here in my town that I moved too 2 years ago this May.

Great heads up... thanks. Going to check it out now.

Jeff,

Thanks for the post. This is exciting news, as the potential is phenomenal.

Jeff

Another example of how the internet is decentralizing communication and creating an open playing field of communication. My concern like Jeff B says, is how do you find the time to effectively manage it all. My 2nd post on AR was about this very topic. How do you manage your blogging time so that it doesn't consume your every waking minute.

Not only will we see other media outlets create their own blog platforms. I think any organization with a website will incorporate this open mic approach to communicating on the web. News media, sports, corporations.

The wave has begun and its a tsunami.

Martin

Jeff,

I've enjoyed reading your blog comments, and once again, you hit the nail on the head. I had noticed the USATODAY update myself, but didn't spend the time to investigate the new blog features.

Keep them coming!

Jason Bennett - Nashville Virtual Tours & Photography - http://www.nashvtp.com

MAR

2007

Jeff...Interesting information. I am going to go check it out. Thanks.

Hey JT, Im glad USA Today jumped on board! I've been reading the Washington Post for decades and for what seems like a year, they have added the 'comment' feature to many of their posts. And of course I have been commenting because as you know, well, I am yappy! Seriously, it amazes me that the other papers, like the NYTs are not doing it. That surprises me. Thanks, and I will have to check out USA Today :-)

I view all of these things as a grand experiment. I've written a couple of short posts, nothing that would be a distraction for me at this point. I'll spend some time cruising through their news stories, set a coupe of feed reader items to alert me and work a bit of USA Today into my mix. If nothing else, it provides one more vehicle for thought provocation. I'm obviously hoping it's a sign of more good things to come from other newspapers.

Julie Beall... for a good explanation of Web 2.0, check out Matt Heaton's post.

Thanks Jeff. I'm sure others will follow very soon.

Thanks for the heads-up Jeff.

-Meg

Jeff - Thanks again for this post. Is there any easy way to navigate to build your blog once you register? I managed to do it - but only after trying http://www.usatoday.com/community/profile.htm in my address bar. I must be blind - what process did you follow?

Tony the same thing happened to me. I registered and could not find where to build the blog. I thought it was a "duh" moment.

login If you log in an click on your avatar in the upper right hand corner, it will take you to your profile page directly. (See the image to the right)

There you can click on Blog and the blog contros will reveal themselves.

blog select

The blog controls reveal themselves when you clidk on the blog link.

blog controls

Thanks for the information

MAR

2007

Great Blog, very interested. Keep me updated

Ben

Hey Jeff,

Please excuse my ignorance, but....

What is Web 2.0??

I've been hearing alot about it, but really do not know what it is or about.

{SVW Hubba}

I would also like a synopsis of Web 2.0 in layman's terms. Pretty please?

I think I understand it, but just to be sure I get it I'd like you to tell me about it. You could even do that in a post and send us all there.

So, when was the last time I gave you a Wink. Wink? OH! I just did. SVVW....

TLW...ROAR!

Marcus and TLW [SVW]... let me know if this Web 2.0 Post By Heaton is simplified enough.

The Chef... i forgot to thank you for the Open ID link!

MAR

2007

{SVW Hubba}

That was perfect. I missed that post. It was posted before I became a member of AR...

Thanks for locating it.

I do get it. That's a good thing. SVW.

TLW...ROAR!

Jeff, this is HUUUUGE! thanks for the clue. i signed up. can't wait... i think i need more hours in the day or to stop sleeping. give me a holler some day when you're bored and want a laugh. I can't thank you enough for this. HUUUUUGE i tell you. HUUUGE!!! i'm gonna start losing sleep now. Ps. 'just s guy'.. come on Mr.Humility!!! ;)

Oh, alright, I'm just a man. Is that better?

Hey Jeff. sorry, i should have quoted the entire thing "Just a guy with a voice." much more than that IMHO, but we can't go back and forth about how great people like you are.. and you claiming to be just a man, etc. with the humility factor, it's a catch 22. and infinite circle. so let's just say 'you win'.. but that is so multi dimensional that it can't be expressed via this keyboard. i'm registered now so count me in.

Send us all a link to your profie, Nick. In fact, any of you still hanging on to this string, if you signed up, put your profile here in the comments.

Here's my link Jeff:

http://www.usatoday.com/community/profile.htm?plckPersonaPage=PersonaBlog&plckUserId=a26ff4b48a8681a8&UID=a26ff4b48a8681a8&plckScript=personaScript&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckElementId=personaDest

BTW - I was having trouble doing the blog through IE - I had to go through Firefox (I know you're a MAC user, but this may help others that were having the same problem)

Funny thing Ines,.. I tried FireFox because of post talking about how great it is.. and i had trouble with it. had to switch back over to IE to get it done. haha!!

Jeff.. here is mine. i think i got carried away with the bio! haha and for fun, I linked it via www.NicktheAppraiser.net also hee hee! geeks rule! (right Ines?)

Ines, thank you. Firefox, on both the Mac and the PC is usually the best to work in.

Nick, I was able to get to Ines' link, but the link you have takes me to my profile. So, unless you have become some kind of doppelganger, it's probably not the right link. :)

Jeff - Nick's link takes me to my profile, must be a glitch...we probably need to log off, clear our cache and log back in.

Nick - who are you calling a geek?

Hey Jeff, I had to look that word up!! uhm.. it takes me to mine... are you messing with me? ask Ines to try. willya Ines? pleesase

this is you Jeff.. b73d997605b449d0
this is me.. 717ac45b769da0d9
and Ines.. a26ff4b48a8681a8

Ines you snuck in there while i was commenting.. and it was me. a little 'less bad' than nerd :)

I think you may both be on FireFox!! it works in IE. not kidding here. its a FF glitch.
i had issues today with firefox on that site today, like i mentioned before.

at least i learned a new word!! doppelganger -at first i thought dopehead gangbanger! :)

Nick - I tried it from IE and it doesn't work! Thanks for not calling me a NERD.

Nick, it's not a cache problem. Here is the problem. The URL you linked to "this is mine," is missing the second UID= param.

Here is what that links to:

http://www.usatoday.com/community/profile.htm?plckPersonaPage=PersonaBlog&plckUserId=717ac45b769da0d9

Here is the correct link:

http://www.usatoday.com/community/profile.htm?plckPersonaPage=PersonaBlog&plckUserId=717ac45b769da0d9&UID=717ac45b769da0d9

THERE IT IS!! I'm glad Jeff figured it out! I thought I was crazy there for a second.

Yes I noticed that when i copy and pasted the letters,. but the one I provided works in IE (no comment ;)

but cool. glad you can find me now. so let me ask you.. the second link doesn't work either eh? I guess i have to update that also?

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