Comments on: Deconstructing the press release: how tagging will change journalistic workflow

By: Ross Dawson

Ross Dawson — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 14:07:46 +0000

Chris, there are some elements that are already established in existing initiatives such as XBRL, RiXML, and NewsML. You’re absolutely right on tags for the rest – there’s no way that a standard will be developed for these tags. But now that we have a well-established world of free-form tagging, anyone can tag elements in the way that make sense for them, and the users of the information can very likely interpret that in ways that are useful for them. No-one has set up and agreed on tags for photos on Flickr, but it’s still useful when people tag them all the way they see fit. Tagging information makes it far more useful, even when it’s not within a defined schema. That’s a core foundation to the future of the web. The concept of the semantic web as it’s usually purveyed is flawed because it is almost impossible to create a universal tagging structure that will work. But out of free-form tagged data much value will flow, at a micro level in specific information flows such as press releases, and at the macro level of the web.
Shel, thanks for the pointer – I had a brief look at it when it was launched but will go back to check it out in more detail.

By: Shel Holtz

Shel Holtz — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:34:44 +0000

Are you familiar with the Social Media News Release effort (www.socialmediarelease.org)? Tags are part of the scheme and a working group has been working on this — Chris Heuer has even met with the XPRL people to coordinate efforts. There are several examples of Social Media News Releases from companies like Hewlett Packard and Cisco Systems, and a video over at WebitPR.com introduces the concept to UK businesses.

By: Corporate Engagement

Corporate Engagement — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 03:10:20 +0000

Journalism and PR are not just about media releases

Trends in the Living Networks: Deconstructing the press release: how tagging will change journalistic workflow. The promise of an environment in which all information released from organizations is tagged is that this information can be used and applie…

By: Silicon Valley Watcher - the business of disruption

Silicon Valley Watcher - the business of disruption — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:30:11 +0000

The Trajectory of Ideas or Why My Older Posts Show Up Fresh on TechMeme

Todd Defren from Shift Communications dropped me a note to point out that my Die! Press Release! Die! Die! Die! post is on the front page of TechMeme. That was written in February 2006. But the date doesn’t really matter. I’ve noticed that happen with…

By: Chris Mellor

Chris Mellor — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:04:22 +0000

Nah, never work. Who defines the tags? Do we get dsome bleedin’ committee to dream up the standard tag press release catalofgue? Do we as hacks have to refer to that catalogue and tell press release sender X we want tags 1, 2, 356, 512-A and 666-1 on story Y? Does supplier Z have to construct a new and deconstructed press release with 2,000 tagged sections, all co-ordinated, and all read by lawyers to prevent things like trademaerk infringement, adherence to corporate comms syandards, etc, and then alerts sent to 10,056 hacks who then hit the website or e-mail a reply back saying what tages they want? Will some industry-syandard story-writing SW go get the tags it wants and build the story for proff-reading?
It’s all utter bollocks, unrealistic, un-workable and testimpny that design by rant is fantasy. The press release may be bad but the alternatives, dear Winston, are excrement.