Be Prepared

A friend of mine points out that the Anchorage Daily News Web site didn't have anything about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's choice as John McCain's running mate as late as 11:15 am, Eastern time (7:15 Alaska time). Most of the rest of the media had the story confirmed a half-hour or so before, and it was a strong rumor for an hour or two before that. Want to bet the paper's Web-editor shift didn't start until later in the morning?

The newspaper's site did post a wire story on the Palin choice shortly after 8 a.m., but there's not a lot of excuse for being so far behind on such an important local story. Every newspaper Web site should have a plan in place for moving quickly on breaking local news no matter when it happened–including the ability for site managers to post from home or even from a cell phone, if need be.

PS: Steve Yelvington has a related take.

Comments

[edward]

As an armchair observer, what fascinates me about the Palin nomination is frenzy over Bristol's pregnancy. Here is the first story I know of that was developed on the blogs, which then blew it into tropical storm strength before the MSM turned into a full-scale hurricane that swept through the convention. I have never seen anything quite like this before, and I think the whole process is really subject to manipulation and spin. It is fascinating how the McCain media spinners have been trying to dampen it down, snapping back at the MSM for what athe bloggers started and are trying to continue. See the WPO's Howie Kurtz piece today about the on-the-record tongue-lashing he got from McCain's spokesman. It all shows how uncontrolled and uncontrollable is this new media. I suspect, we will hear much more about controlling and regulating blogs in the months to come. This is a country that historically does not like uncontrolled media.