Where are Philly’s local news iPhone apps? July 13, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: iPhone, KOMO, Local News, Philadelphia, philly.com
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It’s no secret local TV news stations are still learning how to effectively use the Web — how to effectively incorporate unique stories, audio and video separate from their newscasts.
In Philadelphia, statistics show that most people visit philly.com, the site for the Inquirer and Daily News, for news online instead of TV news Web sites. The competition isn’t even close.
All four major network stations in Philadelphia have redesigned their Web sites within the last two years, but they still aren’t necessarily catering to their audiences’ needs.
It’s easy to find grammatical and spelling mistakes in local news stories. Copy editing does not seem to be a priority. Thankfully, the sites have begun rewriting broadcast copy for the Web instead of simply posting the scripts as stories. Navigability could use improvement on many sites, as stations attempt to wow the audience with the use of Flash instead of making it simple to find stories.
Side note: The fancy Flash sites also take longer to load, which is not fun for slower Internet connections.
One step in the right direction: an iPhone app. KOMO in Seattle (DMA No. 14) recently released an application that conveniently compacts all its news content in one easy-to-follow platform.
Philadelphia stations could greatly benefit from a similar application, as none of the stations’ Web sites are particularly iPhone (or Blackberry) friendly. All of the stations currently use Twitter, mostly to link to recently-posted stories, but an iPhone app could put these stations on the cutting edge of local news Web site success.
CNN.com is my personal favorite news Web site, and its mobile site is also easily navigable. At the very least, the stations (or the networks themselves) can work on more accessibility via mobile sites.
It’s important to note that KOMO is an affiliate of ABC, not owned-and-operated by the network. Therefore, KOMO has more flexibility in content management, whereas stations in cities like Philadelphia, New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago, for example, may not.
Swine flu may have entered Philly April 29, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Philadelphia.Tags: Philadelphia, Swine Flu
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A sick 2-year-old has health officials wondering if swine flu, the latest nationwide epidemic, could be in Philadelphia.
The boy was sick at the end of March, long before the flu was known to break out, but officials are waiting on test results to confirm it. As of now, the child is no longer ill.
There are approximately 90 cases of swine flu in 10 states.
One of those states is Delaware. Students at the University of Delaware wore masks today after news broke that as many as 10 students are infected with the virus.
Philly partnership with KFC? April 4, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Philadelphia, Random Rubbish.Tags: KFC, Philadelphia, Potholes
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I hope so.
As a promotional campaign, KFC is offering to fix the country’s potholes for free. Not a bad deal.
In exchange, KFC will simply put a logo over the patch — “Re-Freshed by KFC.”
From car drivers to SEPTA bus operators, I think many Philadelphians would be happy to see some more Colonel Sanders on the streets.
A bed for a buck March 12, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Philadelphia.Tags: Alexander Inn, Philadelphia
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This room could be yours at the low price of — $1.
It’s a seemingly twisted plan by the Alexander Inn in at 12th and Spruce streets. Management says it hopes to bring more revenue to the city by allowing guests to stay over for only a buck while they spend their money elsewhere.
After all, Philly’s more fun when you sleep over.
They need a month’s notice. Get your room by calling 215.923.3535 or 877.ALEX.INN. It only works for one night — extended stays will cost you the same amount.
I’m a Philadelphian, and I’m an anchorholic March 4, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: Journalism, Local News, News, Philadelphia
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I found this interesting article not too long ago about the obsession Philadelphia has with its newscasters.
Michael Schaffer, a former Inqy staff writer, says that local newscasters act as local celebrities, since many towns don’t have celebrities of their own.
It was a fun read until Page 3, where he gets into the future of local television news. Of course, we all know the situation. But it doesn’t make me feel any better when I keep reading it.
The best bad news? August 5, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Philadelphia.Tags: Murder, Philadelphia
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I remember vividly the day before Thanksgiving in 2003. A surgeon diagnosed me with Hodgkin’s lymphoma but said since it was caught in its early stages, this was the “best bad news” I could have gotten.
This memory came back to me after I read a headline from the Inquirer on Monday:
Man, 19, shot; 1st Phila. homicide in nearly a week.
And then I began thinking to myself — In all of my scouring of Philly.com in the past week, I didn’t read one “shooting” article. Amazing how it got by me — I would’ve assumed it’d be out of the ordinary had I not seen one.
But the headline also implies that something better is happening, I suppose. This death of William Wilson is the city’s 188th homicide this year. One year ago at this time, there were 248.
That drop of 24 percent should mean something, I guess. But it still comes with 188 prices to pay.
Take a hike. No, really. July 21, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Philadelphia, Random Rubbish.Tags: Philadelphia, Walking
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Philly has been named as the fifth most walkable city in the United States.
It’s so exciting that they made up the word “walkable” (at least, according to Microsoft Word). Nice, isn’t it? At least it gives us something good to brag about.
At one point, we were fat. And apparently still, we’re ugly, as The Temple News reported. And now, we can walk places.
Check out this link to see where your Philadelphia neighborhood ranks. Or, go here for the overall rankings, and see how San Francisco, New York, Boston and Chicago beat us.
Could you be a Philly tour guide? July 9, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Clips & Videos, Random Rubbish.Tags: Philadelphia, Tour Guides
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Philly.com showers us with gifts every day. And today is no different.
The Philly tour guides are suing the city because city officials believe they should be certified in order to spout out random trivia about the nation’s first capital (see, I could be a tour guide). Obviously, the tour guides are not happy.
I side with the city on this one, for reasons the Inquirer sums up, but that’s neither here nor there.
But, the quiz is here. Try it out. See if you could be a Philadelphia tour guide. It may not be as easy as you think.
PHOTO: Attorney, Robert McNamara, talks to members of the media, as tour guides Ann Boulais, far left, Michael Tait, far right, and Josh Silver, second right, watch on, during a news conference at the Independence Visitor Center’s lawn in Philadelphia, Wednesday, July 2, 2008. The three tour guides filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging a city law that will require them to pass a history test and get a license before speaking to groups about the history of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and other landmarks. (AP Photo/Justin Maxon)
All I ever ‘Wanted’ June 27, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase, Philadelphia.Tags: Movie Review, Philadelphia
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Two movies are coming out this weekend of interest to me. The first is WALL-E. I hear the first 30 minutes or so have absolutely no dialogue. That’s my kind of movie.
The second, as depicted above, is Wanted. I’d compare it to a father-son version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Angelina Jolie is in it, after all. So is Morgan Freeman. And if Morgan Freeman’s in it, you know you’ll at least smile when you see him.
Inquirer movie critic Steven Rea brought up a good point in his review today. He said the movie is like “gun porn” because of its violent nature — lots of assassinations, lots of gunfire, lots of overall violence. His thoughts:
The film’s fetishization of firearms should win it the NRA’s seal of approval. Maybe if the murder rate in Philadelphia wasn’t so sickeningly high, Wanted’s senseless adoration of assault weapons wouldn’t be so off-putting.
This is an extremely valid point. I never thought that living in a city with such a situation would have an effect on how I watch and enjoy a movie.
Perhaps that’s why I wasn’t to keen on M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening. The gratuitous violence — especially the scenes from Rittenhouse Square, just blocks from my apartment — didn’t make the movie for me. Shyamalan topped this off by a random newspaper with a headline that read, “Killadelphia.” He likely intended to have a double meaning, but as Philadelphians look at it in context, the double meaning isn’t necessarily understood immediately.
But something to think about. Does your living situation have an effect on how you watch movies? I was always interested in seeing Wanted based on the previews, and then I read Rea’s thoughts. Now I’m a bit skeptical.
Then again, there’s always WALL-E.
Crime on rise in Center City, Philadelphia May 29, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Philadelphia.Tags: Center City, Crime, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Police
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The Philadelphia Police are reporting an increase in robberies in Center City, Philadelphia.
In areas typically considered “safe” and “busy,” like Society Hill, Old City and even City Hall, robberies are on the rise. More than 300 have been reported in the past month. One suspect allegedly said to his victim, “I’ll blow your brains out” at Sixth and Spruce streets.
To keep citizens in the know, the Philadelphia Police have created a Web site that allows you to enter an address or intersection and see a list of crimes committed in that area within a certain time frame.
Click here to check out crime stats for your neighborhood, Center City or otherwise.
