JUNE 22- “It’s hard to think of a more important source of information in the world than quality journalism. At its best, news communicates truth to power, keeps societies free and open, and leads to more informed decision-making by people and leaders.” This credo warms the heart of journalists everywhere, although they wish it had come from the mouth of their executives and owners. Instead, it is the start of a Google press release announcing the launch of Google News Lab.
Modestly Google trumpets:
“That’s why we’ve created the News Lab, a new effort at Google to empower innovation at the intersection of technology and media. Our mission is to collaborate with journalists and entrepreneurs to help build the future of media. And we’re tackling this in three ways: though ensuring our tools are made available to journalists around the world (and that newsrooms know how to use them); by getting helpful Google data sets in the hands of journalists everywhere; and through programs designed to build on some of the biggest opportunities that exist in the media industry today.”
The intersection of technology and media is where old media owners wish their companies were. And it’s the crossroads where new media investors hope to drive their companies. Meanwhile, Google is already there, directing traffic for citizen journalists, teasing technology competitors, and potentially trumping the best efforts of new media competitors and old media owners.
Perhaps that is because Google’s leadership understands that real news and really useful information are the essential ingredients. Without news, tomorrow's technologies are just the worry beads of a weary public, like a smart phone or watch today, not a path to social progress or simply sustained economic profit.
Modestly Google trumpets:
“That’s why we’ve created the News Lab, a new effort at Google to empower innovation at the intersection of technology and media. Our mission is to collaborate with journalists and entrepreneurs to help build the future of media. And we’re tackling this in three ways: though ensuring our tools are made available to journalists around the world (and that newsrooms know how to use them); by getting helpful Google data sets in the hands of journalists everywhere; and through programs designed to build on some of the biggest opportunities that exist in the media industry today.”
The intersection of technology and media is where old media owners wish their companies were. And it’s the crossroads where new media investors hope to drive their companies. Meanwhile, Google is already there, directing traffic for citizen journalists, teasing technology competitors, and potentially trumping the best efforts of new media competitors and old media owners.
Perhaps that is because Google’s leadership understands that real news and really useful information are the essential ingredients. Without news, tomorrow's technologies are just the worry beads of a weary public, like a smart phone or watch today, not a path to social progress or simply sustained economic profit.
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