So Google is planning to roll out later this year a micropayment system for web content called Newspass. The concept is a single, standardized system for many publishers to put a “pay to read this story” button on their web pages.
Now, I’m on record as not a fan of paywalls online (they’re often considered for the wrong reasons and with a lack of economic understanding). As bad as that is, micropayments are worse.
People who have been paying attention have learned that valuable websites are created through building a loyal community …

Digital Capital Week kicks off with a big party tonight at and around Long View Gallery in NW. There are a ton of great events (including one hosted by TBD) over the following week for the DC area digital/tech community.

After a long time telling everyone the name of our new DC news site was to be determined, we announced today that the site will in fact be called “TBD.”
Now I’ve always felt that a brand name itself is not that important. All brands start at reputation zero. (Think back to how meaningless the brand “Google,” or the word “googol,” was to you in 1997.) It’s nice to have a catchy name. But the brand is defined over time by the value and experiences it provides. I’m happy to now …

I’m excited to announce today that I am joining the Washington, D.C., digital news startup led by Jim Brady and Allbritton Communications. I’ll be working as Senior Community Host on Steve Buttry‘s community engagement team, developing ways to work with bloggers and users to generate, share and discuss content.
Our goal is to build an online news site for the DC metro area, and do it taking full advantage of the how the web works — with partnership not competition, users not readers, …

The Pennsylvania Newspaper Association released today its Keystone Awards for the best journalism of 2009. My Times-Tribune news reporters cleaned up first place in our division for all the major reporting categories — investigative, spot news and series. The total newsroom haul is 12 awards, also for features, sports, photos and design. This comes shortly after we won a PNA award for “Best Application of Social Networking Tools.”
Great work by the following, and those who helped make it happen:

First place, Investigative Reporting, Borys Krawczeniuk, for his stories on Bob …

A friend who recently started working for a journalism institute e-mailed me for advice about how to grow the institute’s Twitter following. My response applies to both institutes and institutions, including newspapers, and somewhat to individuals as well. So I thought I should share it.
Here is a summary of my advice to him

I’m taking a moment to brag about a great accomplishment at our newspaper. The Times-Tribune won the Best Application of Social Networking Tools in the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association’s 2010 Newspaper Excellence in Cyberspace awards.
Here is the judges’ statement:
“Great to see that personal and conversation updates occur on the Facebook and Twitter accounts for the newspaper. Most newspapers overlook this opportunity and risk losing some of their followers because of it. Not here! We were also impressed that the staff goes to the “Tweet-Ups” in the area. Overall, the diversity and …