RE: Death knell for quality content?

["Gordon McLean" <Gordon -dot- McLean -at- GrahamTechnology -dot- com>]

Aside from someone 'monetising' this, how is this different from what we
have at the moment? I can search for [name of application] and find all
manner of opinions, some written well, some not. 

I'd want a definition of 'quality' here I think. If quality is taken to mean
"written in strict accordance to a Style Guide, obeying the grammatical laws
stated, and reviewed and edited before publishing" then yes, these articles
will be "low quality".

Does that make the information held within any less pertinent?

I understand, and agree, with your concerns but "the times they are a
changin'" perhaps?

"Users" (again, definition!) ultimately don't care WHERE they get the
information as they will learn (to their cost on occasion) who to trust.
It's our job to make sure they trust us and come to our information, first!

Gordon

 

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+gordon -dot- mclean=grahamtechnology -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+gordon -dot- mclean=grahamtechnology -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- c
om] On Behalf Of john -at- garisons -dot- com
Sent: 25 March 2008 15:20
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Death knell for quality content?

I saw this article today about Helium.com and the fact that they are paying
just about anyone who submits articles.

Article: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20080324/D8VJU81G0.html

And when I came across this, I was incredulous:

<snippet>
The truth is, however, that the material doesn't always have to be all that
good.

Mike Bell, CEO of Software.com, an online buyers guide, has purchased more
than 80 pieces about software from Helium writers. Most of these items are
less than 200 words. While some have iffy grammar or stylistic limitations,
Bell finds that these low-priced nuggets are better for Software.com's
purposes (his site, too, needs lots and lots of content that generates ad
revenue) than polished 1,000-word articles from experienced freelancers.

"Our view is that consumers are not that particular," Bell said. "They would
rather hear firsthand accounts from a (software) user, even if the quality
is not that high."
</snippet>

Is this really what we are going to start getting? Content is king ... but
if people really believe that crappy content is just as good as quality
content, we are in a heap of trouble.


My 2¢,

John G



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