Category: media

“The new version of Britannica Online, set to debut this summer, will emulate the Wikipedia concept by letting subscribers make changes to any article, ranging from minor edits to near-total rewrites. But Britannica president Jorge Cauz scoffs at the idea that he’s merely imitating his giant online rival. … While Wikipedia is written and edited by amateurs who often work anonymously, Britannica Online articles will be overseen by professional editors.”

“Microsoft delivered the coup de grâce Monday to its dying Encarta encyclopedia, acknowledging what everyone else realized long ago: it just couldn’t compete with Wikipedia, a free, collaborative project that has become the leading encyclopedia on the Web.”

“Baltimore’s highest-rated public radio station announced Monday that it would be offering free airtime to local arts and cultural institutions over the next six months. Beginning with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on April 6, WYPR-FM (88.1) will broadcast spots that highlight the work of 12 Baltimore-area museums, performance groups and cultural institutions.” The station will produce the spots for free.

“Video games are not inherently good or bad,” concludes the team of 12 researchers led by psychologist Douglas Gentile of Iowa State University. Their findings suggest this popular form of entertainment “can have both positive and negative effects.”

“It’s a good news, bad news scenario: Theater admissions are way up during the biggest economic downturn in decades, but while filmgoers are enthusiastically buying movie tickets, they’re saving money by buying fewer snacks and drinks.”

“By all measures, full-length television shows on the Web have tremendous appeal, as millions of Americans log on to catch up on episodes they miss on TV and to discover new shows. The ratings for some programs, like “Lost” on ABC, would rise as much as 25 percent if online views were included, according to the ratings service Nielsen.”

“Unlike the networks, the specialties don’t only rely on increasingly scarce advertising revenues, but also benefit from subscription fees. It’s not hard to see why the formula works. The overheads are low (no newscasts); the shows are cheap to make (one cook and a couple of pots); and the visibility of the Canadian material keeps the specialties real.”

“The first two months of 2009 made more money at the box office than any other January and February in the history of the movies. While higher ticket prices were a factor, attendance was also up 10 percent from the same time last year. If this weekend’s much-anticipated release of “Monsters vs. Aliens” does well, March could be another month for the record books.”

“One legacy in particular will endure: The show inspired countless doctors, nurses and other health-care providers to find a passion for emergency medicine.”

“Sex Over The Phone,” the Village People’s 1985 anthem to pay-per-minute phone sex lines (remember those?), “has become, through filesharing sites, somewhat of a sensation.” Why? Because, as Anna Pickard demonstrates, “it’s eight shades of awesome.”