The Future of Newsvine and What it Means to You

News Type: Event — Sun Oct 7, 2007 6:25 PM EDT

msnbc, newsvine, newsvine-community, future-of-newsvine

I personally would like to thank all Newsvine users who have helped make Newsvine what it is - the most vibrant and active community of users on the digital news media landscape. In addition to being one of the most powerful and unique publishing platforms on the web - the open dialogues, the free and creative expression of ideas and the genuine manner in which all of you participate on the site are some of the foremost reasons that msnbc.com found Newsvine to be an attractive company to partner with. As Newsvine.com has developed and grown, so too have you users gelled into a community that can (and does) stand alongside professional journalists and the mainstream media. This has been the objective all along, to give citizens a platform to share their ideas, experiences and access to events - by delivering their stories to the greatest number of people - all the while allowing readers to decide what makes it to the Top of the Vine.

I know that there are many Newsvine members who have questions relating to the future of Newsvine, so I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and respond to your concerns. Of course, I won't be able to answer every single question, since we ourselves may not yet have the answers. But, I will do my best to address each person's concerns to the best of my ability.

In anticipation of your collective concerns, here are a few things I'd like to make clear, right off the bat:

- You (still) own your own content. Copyright to the articles you write and publish to Newsvine will remain yours. This is the way it's been, and will continue to be.

- The revenue sharing arrangement we have with users will continue in its present form for the time being. Though, and completely unrelated to the acquisition by msnbc.com, we have been considering making an adjustment to the way contributors are compensated based on suggestions from users.

- Newsvine's editorial functions will continue to be carried out by a blend of collective, democratic user behavior (voting, comments, etc.) and automation.

- One of the first things I plan to do once the dust has settled is to begin working with the bright minds over at msnbc.com to develop ways in which Newsvine's best content can make its way to a significantly larger audience. There are many factors to consider in this regard, but one of the primary incentives for doing this deal was that the outcome would result in more readership and opportunity for our best contributors - thus making the Newsvine brand something the average news consumer will be familiar with and eventually even come to depend on.

- The Newsvine Team you're familiar with will continue to be here. While we'll expand the staff a bit, we don't plan to change the formula that allows us to improve the site at breakneck speed. The relationship with msnbc.com will allow us to be freed up of some responsibilities that are inherent in running a startup company, which will allow us to focus on projects that are of greater significance to all of you.

I have met with the top executives at msnbc.com, and my biggest takeaway from those conversations is that everyone over there is extremely sensitive to altering the very properties that make Newsvine what it is. They have conveyed to the staff, emphatically, that things are to continue running as they have been. Of course, the potential synergy is tremendous, but we will proceed with integrating Newsvine's best attributes with those of msnbc.com and vice versa, with great care and thoughtful consideration. The first (and probably only) thing you'll notice right away is more people coming to Newsvine!

Please feel free to ask me questions relating to the future of Newsvine, and to air any concerns you may have at this time.

Calvin Tang
Co-founder, Newsvine

139 Votes
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What's this?

Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

4.1

Jump to discussion page: 1 2 3

{"commentId":1083826,"authorDomain":"madmilker60"}

madmilker

like always........money talks!

{"commentId":1083826,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"madmilker60"}

#51 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 9:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":1084013,"authorDomain":"kyleb"}

Kyle Baxter

Well, yeah. Of course it does. But that doesn't make it a bad move by any stretch of the imagination.

{"commentId":1084013,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"kyleb"}

5 votes

#51.1 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 11:49 PM EDT

{"commentId":1086836,"authorDomain":"madmilker60"}

madmilker

RCA said the same thing!

{"commentId":1086836,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"madmilker60"}

1 vote

#51.2 - Tue Oct 9, 2007 10:26 PM EDT

{"commentId":1084112,"authorDomain":"stevencwatts"}

Steve Watts

I feel a little gipped, actually, as I've been saving up to acquire Newsvine and I feel like another month or two and I would've had it. How much could it be - 20, 30 bucks? I was like halfway there.

{"commentId":1084112,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"stevencwatts"}

10 votes

#52 - Tue Oct 9, 2007 12:43 AM EDT

{"commentId":1084196,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

Adam Hobson

The Newsvine Team you're familiar with will continue to be here. While we'll expand the staff a bit

Where should I send a résumé? ;-)

But yea, I don't think anyone should be worried. Relatively speaking, newsvine doesn't exactly offer MSNBC.com a quantity of traffic, so if they just wanted to gobble up a social news site they could have easily pulled an AOL and created a ~~Netscape~~ propeller social news site. Instead, they are obviously interested in the quality of newsvine and that would mean keeping things more or less as they are now.

Though I do think it would be rather cool if MSNBC.com's relationship with newsvine followed the SI.com/fannation.com strategy and gave their top columnists newsvine blogs ;-)

And if this acquisition does turn out for the worst, you can always leave then. I say that probably won't happen so everyone might as well stick around and vine as normal.

{"commentId":1084196,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

8 votes

#53 - Tue Oct 9, 2007 1:53 AM EDT

{"commentId":1084245,"authorDomain":"larahoward"}

Lara HowardDeleted

{"commentId":1084566,"authorDomain":"jarandhel"}

Jarandhel

Calvin: to you and the other Newsvine Staff, I would like to offer both my heartfelt thanks for the work you have done, and a congratulation on this latest milestone. I would also like to offer an observation. People for the most part aren't really scared about this merger because of their experience with the newsvine team, nor with MSNBC itself, nor even the looming spectre of Microsoft. What's really scaring them is experience. Anyone who has spent much time on the Internet, and I'd venture to say that covers most of the more experienced Viners, has been part of a successful forum or website that has been bought up by one of the giants. And our experience tells us that 99.99% of the time, either sooner or later, that leads to a drastic change in the forum. Both in tone and, frequently, basic design. That's what is terrifying us. That said, I'm holding onto hope in the face of that fear. Because unlike other mergers and buyouts I've seen in the past, you guys seem to be actively trying to maintain communication with your users and address our questions and concerns before we even have the chance to voice them. As long as you stick to that practice, I think we're in good hands. And while the acquisition of Newsvine still scares the hell out of me, I'll trust your judgement for now.

{"commentId":1084566,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"jarandhel"}

12 votes

#55 - Tue Oct 9, 2007 8:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":1084574,"authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}

Viki Babbles Gonia

Jarandhel, you've made some very good points here, and I'm holding onto the same hopes. I'm going to continue to remain optimistic until I actually see something that gives me pause, rather than jumping ship before giving it a chance.

{"commentId":1084574,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}

9 votes

#55.1 - Tue Oct 9, 2007 8:58 AM EDT

{"commentId":1086524,"authorDomain":"tang"}

Calvin Tang

Wise comments from both of you. Viki's right, we haven't asked you to trust us blindly. The purpose of this article is to show you that we're willing to hear your concerns and to address them, to the best of our ability.

You can either stick around for as long as you like the Vine. Or, you can leave and come back if the universe hasn't imploded in a few days/weeks/months. Either way, I'll be here and so will your column.

{"commentId":1086524,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"tang"}

9 votes

#55.2 - Tue Oct 9, 2007 7:52 PM EDT

{"commentId":1086612,"authorDomain":"jarandhel"}

Jarandhel

I know you haven't, and that's one of the things that has really impressed me when comparing this buyout to other ones I have seen. Don't worry, I intend to stick around. I might even start getting a bit more active again in my own column, rather than just commenting.

{"commentId":1086612,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"jarandhel"}

5 votes

#55.3 - Tue Oct 9, 2007 8:32 PM EDT

{"commentId":1085050,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Who is going to select what gets posted on MSNBC sites? Newsvine staff? MSNBC staff? Some collaboration of both?

What about groups like my Newsviners Picks and Top Class Articles? Will those be able to help in that - at least in theory - we're helping out point out some of the best of the best.

{"commentId":1085050,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

5 votes

#56 - Tue Oct 9, 2007 11:31 AM EDT

{"commentId":1086533,"authorDomain":"tang"}

Calvin Tang

I can't answer this with certainty, but I imagine that it will be a combination of the Community bubbling the best content up for NV Staff to pass along to msnbc.com for review (check facts, etc.) and approval.

Also, though our first attempt was a rough start, the idea of a Newsvine Assignment Desk isn't off the radar.

{"commentId":1086533,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"tang"}

8 votes

#56.1 - Tue Oct 9, 2007 7:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":1099128,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

I'd love to help with that and/or help you find some of the best stuff to pass on MSNBC, either as head of the Top of The Class Project or the Newsviners Picks.

email me if you want.

{"commentId":1099128,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#56.2 - Sun Oct 14, 2007 10:19 PM EDT

{"commentId":1087421,"authorDomain":"DesmondUK"}

DesmondUK

Dear Calvin, I have never spoken to you directly before, but I raised a point earlier in this column 45.13 which I would like to repeat for your comment.

I have seen a number of real life groups, and online groups, and they all face the same difficulty. About 90 percent of the members cause no problems at all. About seven or eight percent do have problems but can be reasoned with and are willing to discipline themselves. And there is always about 2 or 3 percent who if not sanctioned with extreme force will destroy the whole system.

With existing numbers of Newviners growing to maybe Millions of visitors this would be a logistical nightmare. But there might already be the workforce there to help in the numbers of longstanding Newsviners of all different political persuasions. Newsvine does have the benefit of a large number, maybe 100, of totally unpaid, but totally dedicated commentators, who have only got the interests of Newsvine sincerely at heart.

So, might it be practical to grace these long standing Newviners with some kind of status, have them as a kind of a "Senate", and make use them to monitor the input?

{"commentId":1087421,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"DesmondUK"}

3 votes

#57 - Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:28 AM EDT

{"commentId":1089917,"authorDomain":"tang"}

Calvin Tang

Desmond,

The community policing itself is the best type of moderation we can have. We are going to be developing better tools for this to happen in a more efficient manner. And yes, I agree with you that we do have some great people around here that we can lean on for help. It's just a matter of designing a system that is fair and effective.

I hope this addresses your concern for the time being. I'll be drawing upon users for input on how they think they can be of help to us regarding moderation, once we have internally agreed upon the set of options available to us. I'm hoping to take a serious look at this within the next couple weeks.

{"commentId":1089917,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"tang"}

4 votes

#57.1 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:35 AM EDT

{"commentId":1090640,"authorDomain":"acidreflux"}

AdipicAcid

Calvin, one thing I'd love to see, but might not be feasible in any efficient manner, would be for up votes from people on my friends list count for more and for up votes from people on my ignore list not count at all. On the other hand, I'd take the same for down votes, so that people on my ignore list can't contribute to collapsing comments that I view. On the other hand, I can see this being very computationally intensive.

{"commentId":1090640,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"acidreflux"}

1 vote

#57.2 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:25 AM EDT

{"commentId":1091218,"authorDomain":"tang"}

Calvin Tang

AdipicAcid,

I don't think that your proposal would be computationally intensive, but I do think that it would confuse people who didn't know specifically how the system worked. Even now, I think our system is pretty straightforward, but new users have difficulty at times understanding how votes and abuse reports affect content.

{"commentId":1091218,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"tang"}

4 votes

#57.3 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 1:18 PM EDT

{"commentId":1106383,"authorDomain":"acidreflux"}

AdipicAcid

Point taken. Plus there's no way to skim only comments that have a certain ranking so it would be of limited utility anyway. I need to stop confusing this place with Slashdot, but old habits die hard, don't you know.

{"commentId":1106383,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"acidreflux"}

2 votes

#57.4 - Wed Oct 17, 2007 11:17 AM EDT

{"commentId":1108107,"authorDomain":"tang"}

Calvin Tang

Right now, you can click the green stars to read only the comments that have 5 or more votes ;)

{"commentId":1108107,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"tang"}

5 votes

#57.5 - Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:14 PM EDT

{"commentId":1108190,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

Calvin,
Is there a list someplace of the "expert mode" or cheat sheet of all these little things like what you just mentioned on right clicking the green star ? Kind of a Newsvine "Easter Egg" chart if there is such a thing would be very handy for faster navigation as we are getting more and more articles on here.
Thanks.

{"commentId":1108190,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

3 votes

#57.6 - Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:47 PM EDT

{"commentId":1108227,"authorDomain":"spiffie"}

spiffie

That sounds like cheating to me, boy I tell you what.

{"commentId":1108227,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"spiffie"}

2 votes

#57.7 - Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:01 PM EDT

{"commentId":1108234,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

Just tell tell Tom OK ?

{"commentId":1108234,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

2 votes

#57.8 - Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:05 PM EDT

{"commentId":1108727,"authorDomain":"tang"}

Calvin Tang

No, there isn't a comprehensive cheat sheet, but the FAQ is useful and so is the Newsvine Help group.

{"commentId":1108727,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"tang"}

2 votes

#57.9 - Thu Oct 18, 2007 1:56 AM EDT

{"commentId":1109080,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

OK, well from those two I can make my cheat sheet. Thanks !

{"commentId":1109080,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

2 votes

#57.10 - Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:24 AM EDT

{"commentId":1109202,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

Adam Hobson

I tried making a cheat sheet once. But then they took away things on the cheat sheet. Damn the man!

{"commentId":1109202,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

2 votes

#57.11 - Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:14 AM EDT

{"commentId":1109440,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

I'm not worried about it too much Adam, nobody reads what I write anyway, so its a secret that I have a cheat sheet. Kinda like those stores that have the "Private Sales",,,

{"commentId":1109440,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

2 votes

#57.12 - Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:21 AM EDT

{"commentId":1090689,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

Calvin,
When (If ?) life gets back to normal again at Newsvine and your not headed up to Alaska to go diving on the Torrent shipwreck they recently found.
http://lostshipwrecks.com/shipwreck_projects/torrent_project/torrent_project.htm

Have you kept count on the general feeling of Newsviners on the MSNBC purchase ? I have tried to go and keep a rough count, but these threads get so long making it hard to keep track. Seems most are generally for it, a very few totally against it, some scared at first, but then OK after some time with the concept.
Just a curious question and if you don't have the time to answer, thats fine as I'm sure you have tons to do these days !

{"commentId":1090689,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

3 votes

#58 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:41 AM EDT

{"commentId":1091222,"authorDomain":"tang"}

Calvin Tang

Seems most are generally for it, a very few totally against it, some scared at first, but then OK after some time with the concept.

I'd say that this is an accurate view. And, I think that even more people will be comfortable with the new relationship once our first initiatives start to emerge from the pipeline. We're just now scratching the surface of what is possible, and the future looks very bright from where I sit ;)

{"commentId":1091222,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"tang"}

7 votes

#58.1 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 1:20 PM EDT

{"commentId":1091535,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

Thanks Calvin, Looks bright to me also and fun.

{"commentId":1091535,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

2 votes

#58.2 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 2:51 PM EDT

{"commentId":1091704,"authorDomain":"aine"}

Aine MacDermot

Count me in the "scared at first" column. I'm not scared now, though. :)

{"commentId":1091704,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"aine"}

4 votes

#58.3 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 3:35 PM EDT

{"commentId":1091719,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

Aine ! You got to be kidding, I did not think you were scared of anything ! :-)

{"commentId":1091719,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

3 votes

#58.4 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 3:39 PM EDT

{"commentId":1091804,"authorDomain":"aine"}

Aine MacDermot

I do an okay job of hiding it, most of the time. Here's a summation of my reaction...

What?!?
OMG! OMG! OMFG!
Wait... What?!? What does this really mean?!?
What if...? What if...? What if...?
29 million more?!? *eyes bug out* OMG! OMG! OMFG!!!!
Calvin says (calmly): Everything's going to be alright...
You're not worried?!? Hmmm....
*read, read, read, read, read*
Phew! Ok... I can deal with this.

*grin*

{"commentId":1091804,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"aine"}

8 votes

#58.5 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:03 PM EDT

{"commentId":1091908,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

But Aine, Those are kinda normal for you right ? :-)

{"commentId":1091908,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

2 votes

#58.6 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:34 PM EDT

{"commentId":1091950,"authorDomain":"aine"}

Aine MacDermot

Uh-huh, although it scales with magnitude of change.
Little things don't elicit much reaction at all. :)

{"commentId":1091950,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"aine"}

2 votes

#58.7 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:47 PM EDT

{"commentId":1092182,"authorDomain":"ririaroo"}

Ben Josephs

News of the acquisition drew mixed reactions from Newsvine writers who discussed it online at the site. One, Áine MacDermot, questioned whether she wanted to "spend time working for an MSNBC-owned site" which, she suggested, would be "like giving them free labor."

MacDermot said she doesn't earn much in ad revenue from Newsvine. During 21 months of work, the income still doesn't even cover her ISP bill.

http://clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3627246

{"commentId":1092182,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"ririaroo"}

4 votes

#58.8 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 6:27 PM EDT

{"commentId":1092205,"authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

Raat ki Raani

Good find Ben. Hope someone has posted that article to Digg.

{"commentId":1092205,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

2 votes

#58.9 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 6:44 PM EDT

{"commentId":1092295,"authorDomain":"aine"}

Aine MacDermot

Yes, and Marilyn already seeded that, and I responded to it in her thread.

{"commentId":1092295,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"aine"}

4 votes

#58.10 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 7:44 PM EDT

{"commentId":1092530,"authorDomain":"ririaroo"}

Ben Josephs

I just thought it was cool that they mentioned you. No motives. :P

{"commentId":1092530,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"ririaroo"}

3 votes

#58.11 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":1092592,"authorDomain":"aine"}

Aine MacDermot

I get the feeling things like that may happen a lot more often (to everyone here).

{"commentId":1092592,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"aine"}

3 votes

#58.12 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:25 PM EDT

{"commentId":1092636,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

MinnieApolis

Aine, You're our first NV/MSNBC celeb. Your first 15 minutes of fame, anyway.

{"commentId":1092636,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

4 votes

#58.13 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:40 PM EDT

{"commentId":1092667,"authorDomain":"aine"}

Aine MacDermot

No, I think Killfile was mentioned first (although I don't have the chronology of stories straight in my mind since it all seemed to hit the online news at once). I'd rather not be a celeb, anyway, they fade pretty fast and I'm planning on being around for the long haul. *grin*

{"commentId":1092667,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"aine"}

6 votes

#58.14 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":1101543,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

MinnieApolis

300+ comments, and who's getting the money? Calvin! Aarrgghhh!

{"commentId":1101543,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

5 votes

#59 - Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:39 PM EDT

{"commentId":1109640,"authorDomain":"kevets"}

Steven King

GG Newsvine!

{"commentId":1109640,"threadId":"159048","contentId":"1008988","authorDomain":"kevets"}

#60 - Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:09 AM EDT

Jump to discussion page: 1 2 3

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"159048","isPrivate":false}

Msnbc.com Acquires Newsvine	Newsvine Blog	Sun Oct 7	551
MSNBC.com buys startup that lets users decide what's news	The Seattle Times	Mon Oct 8	1
MSNBC buys social news site Newsvine	webware.com	Mon Oct 8	3
Citizen News Site Becomes MSNBC.com's First Purchase	clickz.com	Tue Oct 9	3
MSNBC.com Buys Newsvine	Lost Remote TV Blog	Sun Oct 7	0

CALVIN TANG

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The Future of Newsvine and What it Means to You

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