Gannett's new high school sports sites -- and robotic story writing?

In a move that could signal Gannett's first publicly-known use of "robotic" story writing with Narrative Science software, the company announced yesterday that it's launching a new network of more than 100 microsites devoted to high school sports across its existing U.S. newspaper and TV websites.

Here's my new post: http://tinyurl.com/35psrjr

 

If they're not calling us now, they're sure as hell not gonna sit in front of a computer and click on little boxes.

 

There is a Gannett paper in my state where this would be an improvement over the work submitted by one non-prep sports writer if only for the reason the software cares more about preps than the non-prep sports writer does.

 

So long as somebody programs a few lines in there that takes "it was a tale of two halves" out of the bank of possible ledes ...

 

Don't forget, "What a difference a year makes."

;D

 

http://www.communitysportsdesk.com/

This company tried to sell our newspaper on the service. It looks similar to what Gannett is trying. Corporate said no and still wants to push blogs for community groups.

Getting a group to sign up for a blog is one thing. Having that blog have more than five posts is another.

 

"Robotic" story writing ... those three words make me want to puke.

 

I don't know ... they might be more willing to do that putting in their own information than trusting it to the godless media, and on their own time.

 

Post of the year!
I laughed til I cried!

 

Robotic is a term the management team knows well.

1. Respond to declining profit by cutting staff.
2. As staff cuts result in continuing declining circ and profit - see No. 1.

 

Remember these words: Garbage in, garbage out.

How long before someone hijacks the system and the paper pubs a story (online and/or in print) chock full of kids hitting six-run home runs or scoring on a 135-meter kickoff return.

 

It won't take long.