Tech
The Star and CityNews Show Us Some Link Love
Traditional and incumbent media in Canada have long had a reputation for taking a very closed approach to web publishing. Specifically, they've been reluctant to link to other sites; likely the result of a misguided philosophy that letting their readers know about related content from around the web is bad for business.
But as any web surfer knows, sharing and hyper-linking is what makes the web what it is; and sites that don't get with the program risk losing their audience's respect and ultimately might see their traffic migrate elsewhere.
So after years of watching The Toronto Star and CityNews approach the web with their old school rules, it was refreshing this past week when both of these media heavyweights seemed to change their tune.
In the case of CityNews, we weren't the only ones shocked when they updated their post on the plight of video arcades in Toronto with a link prompting their readers to discuss the article on blogTO. blogTO reader Joe Howell commented:
Is this a regular thing? I find it absolutely amazing that a major outlet would link to a blog for comment. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing - just a surprising sign of the times.
The same week, the Toronto Star linked to us not once but twice. First there was the Rats in Dumpling House post (The National Post also linked to us for this but they've been doing this for a bit of time now) and today The Star linked to both blogTO and Torontoist's coverage of the fire on Queen Street.
Could this be a new, more open Toronto Star and CityNews? Only time will tell. In fact, in a surprising turn of events since I started writing this post I've noticed that the links to blogTO in the Toronto Star's "Rats" article have now been removed.
Discussion
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Moreover, they led the viewers to believe that it was just being reported at that very moment.
It took careful listening and re-hearing to learn the truth that it was from last week.
This pretty much proves that somebody went out of their way to UNLINK the story.
So the burning question is.... did the reporter do this on his/her own volition, and if so, why? Were they ordered to remove the hyperlink from someone above?
Was the original linking in violation of their archaic internal policies?
I'm am specifically impressed in the direction CityNews is looking to go. With the 5pm news and shiny new graphics, the upcoming Blue Jays game, and their CityNews website, I look forward to them stepping up their game to challenge CTV's Americanized broadcasts (& ratings). Blah blah I know about the Amber MacArthur story, but I'm sure it was a business decision. CityNews right now is bringing up the standard of Toronto News (and Toronto handsome Reporters).
To add, the CityTV Breakfast Television live coverage of that Queen West was pretty phenomenal. That was some good morning TV. CBC was still sleeping, CTV was doing something with Canada, and Global was a joke.
So yes to CityNews! I gotta give thanks to Mr.Rogers for not letting CTV bastardize my cable.
Although we do have to support the TV side, we are becoming more independent and doing original stories and videos (such as our series on indie video stores this week). Rogers is very supportive of what we're doing and does get the importance of the web (I don't say this lightly - Amber Mac is one of my best friends and we came to City together).
Hopefully we can do more with blogTO in the future. There is no reason why we can't share resources or materials (and of course link to you when we can).