Comments on: Mobile news alerts: An underused tool http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2009/04/mobile-news-alerts-an-underused-tool/ a group discussion about the future of student media Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:51:33 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Joey Baker http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2009/04/mobile-news-alerts-an-underused-tool/comment-page-1/#comment-422206 Joey Baker Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:51:55 +0000 http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2009/04/21/mobile-news-alerts-an-underused-tool/#comment-422206 Really like your point here Lauren. IMHO mobile is the best platform for delivering this 'new media' content that we're producing, and anything to help with that is huge. Really like your point here Lauren. IMHO mobile is the best platform for delivering this 'new media' content that we're producing, and anything to help with that is huge.

]]> By: Lauren Rabaino http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2009/04/mobile-news-alerts-an-underused-tool/comment-page-1/#comment-422174 Lauren Rabaino Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:04:23 +0000 http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2009/04/21/mobile-news-alerts-an-underused-tool/#comment-422174 I considered Twitter when writing this. The problem with it is that readers don't want your @replies and conversation with *others* appearing in their text alerts (or at least I wouldn't). You also single out a big portion of your readers who aren't familiar with Twitter . As you mentioned: how do you get them to sign up in a user-friendly fashion?<br><br>You also bring up a good point about unsubscribing-- I use the WP plugin and I'm fairly certain the unsubscribe option isn't clear either. I'll have to look into it. I considered Twitter when writing this. The problem with it is that readers don't want your @replies and conversation with *others* appearing in their text alerts (or at least I wouldn't). You also single out a big portion of your readers who aren't familiar with Twitter . As you mentioned: how do you get them to sign up in a user-friendly fashion?

You also bring up a good point about unsubscribing– I use the WP plugin and I'm fairly certain the unsubscribe option isn't clear either. I'll have to look into it.

]]> By: AramZS http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2009/04/mobile-news-alerts-an-underused-tool/comment-page-1/#comment-422173 AramZS Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:57:10 +0000 http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2009/04/21/mobile-news-alerts-an-underused-tool/#comment-422173 Yahoo includes ads at the bottom of their text alerts. <br><br>George Mason has an alert system that you can sign up for that our news source has a channel on, among many other channels.<br><br>We didn't have a good reaction, because it was difficult for users to unsubscribe to that service. Perhaps Tatango will prove a better option.<br><br>We've also tried to set up an SMS "listserv" type system, using a now defunct site, to help cover breaking news within the office, but no one was interested.<br><br>What do you think about promoting a Twitter account as a SMS service? Do you think the option to sign up is too complex or that being off-site creates a disconnect? Yahoo includes ads at the bottom of their text alerts.

George Mason has an alert system that you can sign up for that our news source has a channel on, among many other channels.

We didn't have a good reaction, because it was difficult for users to unsubscribe to that service. Perhaps Tatango will prove a better option.

We've also tried to set up an SMS “listserv” type system, using a now defunct site, to help cover breaking news within the office, but no one was interested.

What do you think about promoting a Twitter account as a SMS service? Do you think the option to sign up is too complex or that being off-site creates a disconnect?

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