Some Web 2.0 slash CitJ Thoughts

I've heard from some people in my community that Muncie Free Press is a little confusing. I think maybe some of them say this because they're accustomed to the phpBB software that runs the TSP's forum (which, btw, is an interesting place for me at the moment...) Anyway, here's the thought before I lose it - I've always said I don't want to 'dumb down' the functionality I have in Scoop (the CMS that runs Muncie Free Press.) However, what's to stop me from skinning (either via CSS or even something like GreaseMonkey) Muncie Free Press so that it 'appears' as if it's the same as a typical phpBB forum? Nothing really.

What do you think? Good idea? I don't even think it would be that hard to accomplish. (Another thing on my mind is whether I really want to introduce GreaseMonkey to my audience there. Heh. ;)

I'll try to get this done sometime soon and will report back here whether it allows some people to more easily adjust to moving from phpBB to a more complete CMS.

On a side note, sorta, any thoughts on the Topix.net software that's allowing comments to be attached to stories aggregated? I think it's kinda nifty. The thing is, afaik, most big media have recently invested lots of cash into fancy schmancy CMS systems - economies of scale rather than economies of creativity.

Finally, wrapping it up maybe - I've been thinking about my lack of any real 'business plan.' A lot of people have told me this is a really bad idea. And perhaps it is. But I was reading the other day it worked well for Craigslist.

The thing is - this citizen journalism thing needs to grow organically. Maybe that's why some of the big players are staying out of it for the moment in any real way. (not to mention the lack of people in the newsroom to do more, although with CitJ, you get extra help from the outside...)

Organic, though - truly grassroots. I'm learning lessons and one of them is that it's good to be adaptable - quickly moving directions. There's downsides too (lack of financiers and slow growth), but this new age of journalism we're going into is important. It's prudent, I think, to move slowly.

And I'm really beginning to think that there's no magic formula - that these microsites popping up across the country won't easily replicate in different geographic locations. I may be wrong about it (what happens when radio, television and newspapers all start working together to battle the pure online companies like Google, Yahoo, Amazon, etc.

Just some thoughts, world. I watched Good Night, Good Luck the other night. I'm still digesting it and may watch one or two more times before I write about it.

Slow is good. Nimble is good. Within the paradox, CitJ grows.

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