Media Industries Project - Carsey Wolf Center

Helium is simultaneously an online community for writers and a directory for user-generated articles. Writers can submit articles to 24 different channels (business, entertainment, travel, etc.), write for the side of a heated debate, try to capture publisher writing assignments bounties or win user-voted Helium writing contests. Users get to rate submitted articles so the best writing rises to the top.

Local musicians in countries like Spain, which does not regulate the downloading of music and movies, are really hurting. Such countries run the risk of becoming "cultural deserts," because the only reason people make music is the money.

AOL is developing a website that compiles user-generated news stories on important, hot-button issues like "The Best Twitter Backgrounds" and "The Top 6 Things Snuck into Space."

Exclusive output deals between HBO and three major Hollywood studios stand as major obstacles to a robust movie-dowload business, holding back a potentially lucrative distribution channel and creating conflict between the powerhouse divisions of TimeWarner -- HBO and Warner Bros. -- who for once find their interests at odds.

Here's John Kerry's take on the China/Google debate.

Network television and cable networks have a bright future, despite the inroads of TiVo and the threat of free video on the Web. And book publishers may also see growth in the years ahead, if they can learn to relax and love the e-reader. Newspapers, however, can pretty much pack it in.

"Topics under consideration for the report include the state of TV, radio, newspaper and Internet news and information services; the effectiveness and nature of public interest obligations in a digital era; and the role of public media and private sector foundations, among others. As part of the broad initiative, the FCC launched a Web site for public discussion."

On the same day that the Federal Communications Commission launched its Future of Media initiative, FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker said in a Washington D.C. speech that government needs to stay out of the media business mess.

The FCC is launching an inquiry into the future of media and its role in providing news and civic information. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said that rapid technological change has caused financial turmoil that calls into question whether traditional media will continue to be the go-to provider of essential news and information. The commission issued a public notice teeing up some of the questions it wants answered and launched a web site to collect some of that input

Youtube is entering the business of online movie rentals with a few catches.

Apple is looking to renovate old media and content distribution in the home and classroom

Michael Roston think the New York Times is onto something with the new model they introduced yesterday, but believes that articles written to protect the public interest musn't charge if it to achieve it's goal. "Presumably, the New York Times still produces reported news that looks out to protect the public interest. If that news is being produced, it should be available to the public, regardless of whether or not they pay for it. It's difficult to educate members of the public about really important things they need to be aware of when you're hitting them up for a $3 day pass or something"

In this age, we are constantly being flooded information, so we simply don't have time to commit to reading newspapers. This piece focuses on the future of newspapers, considering time as the ultimate enemy, rather than the Internet or other media outlets. Nice angle.

Can the media really be watchdogs for us when the government is unwilling to provide the media with information?

Lawrence Journal-World is offering unemployed people in the area a 13-week subscription for just $1. "We want to ensure that residents experiencing difficult times are able to stay connected to the news and be aware of job opportunities and advertising specials published in the paper each day," said Chris Bell, Journal-World circulation director. Is this sincere?

The NY Times breaks ranks and announces a new plan to charge frequent users of their online site. Will this new economic model work?

Consumer groups urge action on the cable industry's TV Everywhere, which the groups claim will limit online television development and access to protect traditional cable business models.