This is today's Des Moines Register. Every four years, the paper has its big moment in the spotlight: during the U.S. presidential race. The Register made news earlier this week when its famous Iowa Poll found that Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois had moved ahead of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton among Iowa Democrats casting votes next month in the state's caucuses.
This year, the Register is hooking up with search-engine giant Google and its YouTube subsidiary in a partnership designed to extend the paper's political coverage well beyond Iowa. According to a Register memo obtained by Gannett Blog, the Google deal calls for:
- Producing Google Gadgets that allow users to put the paper's headlines on their web pages, driving traffic back to the Register's site.
- Creating maps centered around caucus sites, user-generated content and anything else related to the caucus.
- Creating a YouTube Channel to showcase Register videos and give readers a place to add their own caucus-relate videos.
- Using Google's "debate commentary tool," which allows users to watch video of and comment on the Register debates. It also will tie the debate video into past videos the paper has produced.
Google, started just nine years ago, is a growing force in U.S. politics through YouTube, which with CNN has been hosting presidential debates during this year's campaigns. The most recent: last Wednesday's Republican debate. Google's Silicon Valley headquarters also has become a must-stop-there location for presidential candidates who want to meet employees and capture some of the cachet-by-association that comes with a visit to the "Googleplex."
The Register at a glance:
- Publisher: Laura Hollingsworth
- Vice President/Editor: Carolyn Washburn
- Founded: 1849
- Joined Gannett: 1985
- Employees: 1,000
[Image: Newseum]
What I love about your blog is that you hold Gannett management and newspapers accountable but you also share good work. You are obviously a pro who cares not a disgruntled Gannettoid. I work for Gannett and I'm proud of much of what we do.....hey it's better than working for Knight Ridder these days :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you, thank you! That's exactly what I'm trying to do. I don't hate Gannett; I want the company to prosper -- so long as it upholds its First Amendment responsibilities. Any criticism I offer is meant to be constructive. (Of course, I do occasionally wake up on the wrong side of the bed...)
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