(R)evolution

We're Not in Kansas Anymore

The biggest difference between the US and South African markets: here Internet penetration is low (10-15%) and broadband even lower, but mobile penetration is practically universal (70-90%), and mobile technology is generally more advanced. There's a distinct chance that media will leapfrog the computer display and go straight from paper or TV to cell phone, for the majority of users. That doesn't mean news organizations don't need good websites, but they have to be database-driven and platform neutral. As for multimedia, think file compression and light weights. Finally, assume the primary way the people formerly known as the audience will be interacting is by phone. Several papers already provide SMS codes for people to send messages to the editor, or download the full text of job ads, so SA could end up leading in this area.

Another difference: The newspaper market here is still vibrant and healthy.

Catching the Structured Content Wave

Adrian Holovaty does a nice job articulating why publishers should use multiple content types and otherwise use structure to unlock the full value of their content. One site that never needed to be told is Surfline, which mashes up wave, wind and weather data from multiple sources into strikingly reliable surf forecasts. Combine that with an embrace of video and photos that are part of surfing, plus the obvious utility of webcams and mobile, and you can say those dudes on the left coast are some of the best publishers on the Web.

Or You Can Just Watch the Movie

If you don't want to bother reading through all this stuff about the transformation of the news business, you can take a chance and just watch this video, made a few years ago but still prescient: EPIC 2014

And if you want to understand the broader context of what's happening on the web, there's a great video link on the "What the Heck is Web 2.0" page.

About the Blogger

My name is Andrew Sherry, and I'm in South Africa for 2 1/2 weeks to talk about online journalism with newspapers, magazines, TV stations and journalism students in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg. My background is 15 years in print journalism, most of it international, followed by eight years in online business development, news, and communications.

Many of the publications I'm meeting are quite advanced, with integrated newsrooms, multimedia teams, and  interactive websites. But this business is moving so quickly that we all value the chance to exchange information and get new context for decisions.

The trip is being paid for by the U.S. State Department, a no-strings-attached exercise in economic exchange and public diplomacy.

This website, being built during my trip, is meant to serve as a resource for online journalists in South Africa and elsewhere.

Thanks

Several former USA TODAY colleagues offered resources, ideas and experience to help prepare for this trip: Kinsey Wilson, Juan Thomassie, Patrick Cooper, Jody Brannon, Alissa Swango (who is committed to supporting journalism in Africa), and Melissa Worden.

Also thanks to Bill Densmore, who squeezed me in to his Journalism that Matters conference just before I left, and my very talented colleagues on the editorial and design teams at the Center for American Progress, who teach me things every week.

The Message

The main message I'm bringing from the U.S. to South Africa: Media companies need to see past shattered business models and use technology to connect to the communities who can sustain them.

I know the situation will be somewhat different in SA; hopefully that will mean the chance to get a head start.