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We’ve just come across a really nice article, explaining how the web has impacted  journalism. The article, written by independent journalist, Bill Thompson, outlines some of the key changes relating to news online, and how they have affected journalism. These include:

• Blogging turning from a ‘curious habit of the self-obsessed into a defining use of the internet for all forms of communication’
• News feeds, aggregators and personal recommendations on social network sites replacing the front pages of major news providers, as the way that people find out about breaking news
• The Guardian moving from a newspaper with a nice website, to an online information source that also publishes a dead tree edition
• New services like Twitter offering alternative ways of getting the news, in the form of short updates about breaking news or links to longer pieces

In terms of the future of journalism, a key thinking point from the article came from a comment made by Solana Larsen, one of the managing editors of Global Voices (a site that offers easy access to many of the world’s bloggers and tries to “aggregate, curate, and amplify the global conversation online”). She believes that in 5 years time, the “foreign correspondent” - sent off to a strange land to report on the activities of the “natives” - will no longer be needed. The main reason being that there are becoming more and more places online where we can simply ask those who are living through the events what they think of them, and seek insights and analysis from those who know the people and the places involved.

Whether you agree with this or not, the full article is definitely worth a look: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7338238.stm

The BBC redesign seems to be pushing ahead, and extending to other areas of the site (other than just the homepage which has been running the new version for a couple of weeks now).

Today I was pleasantly surprised when viewing a sports article; partly because it’s amusing to see how optimistic Kevin Keegan can be having finally won a game (or two), and partly because I liked the new-look article pages.

My first impression is how little has been changed from the old version – and I mean that in a positive way. I always found the old BBC site very easy to use, with the actual content being the centre of attention. The only exception perhaps being the left-hand navigation which I always found a little confusing. The new-look pages use very minor stylistic changes to make the navigation easier to use, without drastically changing how the site works.

This approach seems markedly different from the new-look homepage.

The general idea behind the homepage seems sound enough – let the user choose what should take precedence. Some of the features, however, seem to stray into the realm of the completely pointless (analogue clock top-right – I already have a clock on my PC thanks, and on my wrist, and on my phone; in fact I’m usually fairly aware of the time). In addition, some of the execution grates; the fact that clicking the Sport sub-heading momentarily makes the entire block float and then defloat before you are taken to the Sport page*.

*Update: They seem to have fixed this now – all credit to the guys at BBC! I reported this via the online feedback form (and I’m guessing so did quite a few others) and now it doesn’t try to drag the block by clicking on the headline.)

Interestingly having re-vistited the homepage I’m now at a loss to remember some of my previous issues with it!

I think overall the redesign is a success. The fact that it is not too far away from the old BBC website will keep a level of familiarity for regular users, and probably prevent alienating them (most people generally don’t like change!) The differences are generally well though-out and do seem to be an improvement on the previous site. And thankfully the BBC are moving away from the old embedded Real Player / Windows Media Player approach to the much more straightforward inline flash player for video playback.

It’s not all smooth-running though. I guess we all have teething problems with new projects occasionally - except at Neoco.

Microsoft Chief Executive, Eric Schmidt,  has stated that any deal between Microsoft and Yahoo! could be “bad for the Internet”.  Google have already made it clear that they believe that such a deal could have implications for the openness of the Internet, and exert an “inappropriate…influence” over the Internet.

When Microsoft proposed a buyout of Yahoo for $44.6bn last month (which was rejected by Yahoo’s board), experts said that the buyout was an attempt by Microsoft to challenge Google’s dominance. And Eric Schmidt admitted that he would be concerned by any kind of acquisition of Yahoo by Microsoft.

However, earlier this month, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer has said that they will gain market share against Google in search and advertising, even if led to his “last breath” at the firm.

As we told you last week, Yahoo have put back their decision to at least April, and now Microsoft have threatened to oust Yahoo’s 10 directors if it can’t broker an amicable takeover.

An anonymous source has told CNET that Microsoft and Yahoo! are at least talking about a merger on friendly terms. According to the report:

“Microsoft and Yahoo! are holding informal merger discussions, marking a shift from the “radio silence” that previously existed between the two companies, according to a source familiar with the talks.”

This follows the news last week that Yahoo! would be extending the deadline for nominating new members to its board of directors, which we thought might be a signal that they were at least willing to consider negotiating with Microsoft . Microsoft has made it fairly clear that they will initiate a hostile takeover of Yahoo! if they can’t reach an amicable deal. Yahoo currently sits at more than 10 percent below Microsoft’s initital offer price of $31 per share, first announced back on February 1st.

Does anyone else think that this story is just dragging on like an Eastenders crappy plotline involving a ‘will they? won’t they?’ scenario… just get together already!