elsagold: the WUMBLOG

Despite its lame title, this article is fascinating: detailing how a rogue eye wear merchandiser slipped through the “consumer safeguards” of Citibank, Ebay, and most compellingly, Google. I would be outraged, but I’m struck by the genius of search engine optimization through negative, not positive, buzz. This glasses site snags first page ranking for several keyword searches because it’s linked to reputable customer review sites - even though the reviews are negative. Which surfaces this question: should Google have consumer safeguards? Or should is just show you whoever is being talked about? Reporter David Segal and the commentators in the piece seem to take it as given that Google should only be lifting up shopping sites with positive reviews. But shouldn’t consumers be more vigilant in the first place about what and where they buy? 

You still can’t trust anything on the Internet, and that’s part of what makes it such an interesting place.

[via 2arrs2ells]

Or Narrative Journalism? Then take a peek at my Twitter. And at the Twitter Search for #NNC. I’m at the Nieman Narrative Journalism Conference, and twittering all the way. Turns out it’s the best way for a somewhat ADHD kid like me to keep focused, and to take notes. It’s a great ‘journalism 101’ for any of you aspiring journos. I’ve already been to panels on journalism in turbulent times, blogging featuring Sewell Chan ‘98, and finding voice in different formats (print, audio, video). The highlight was certainly Jennifer Crandall’s onBeing, a video interview series with ordinary people. I plan to go to the “Conversations on Craft: Magazines” with Amy Davidson (New Yorker) and “Broadcast, Podcast, and any Other Audio” with Amy O’Leary (NYTimes and This American LIfe), today and “The Memoir Mystique” and “Freeing Your Inner Entrepreneur” (on freelancing) tomorrow. Let me know if you have any questions about digital media and journalism that I can find the answer for, while I’m here.