ABC goes live with commentary and analysis site, The Drum
The ABC has unveiled its new commentary and analysis website, The Drum, which for the first time brings together the public broadcaster’s staff of journalists and writers.
The site, which covers topics including politics, finance, sport, media, science and social issues, is being headed by Jonathan Green who left his role as editor of Crikey to take on the same position at the ABC.
The new site will directly compete with Crikey, as well as News Limited’s The Punch and Fairfax’s National Times, both of which launched this year.
On first look the proposed volume and quality of opinion will put this site ahead of punch and national times for me, particularly as it appears unlike NT the talent will be writing directly for the site and hopefully engaged in the ongoing conversations that are formed.
On the look and feel, it always seems as if ABC sites are designed by the person who looks after the content management system, rather than anyone from the editorial and content delivery side. Always functional but largely carbon copy for ease of production rather than shaping the environment to the content. On that note, why has fairfax abandoned brands on its sport sites and rolled them back into the mastheads? Another victory for technical maintenance over the best environment?
Will Leigh Sales continue to contribute to the supposed ‘competition’ at the Punch? Once wonders?
I agree with the comments about the design and some feeds (global, per author & per section) would be great, but on the whole this is very welcome. Quality journalism without intrusive ads – who’d have thunk it?
JohnnyF – the Fairfax realfooty, leagueHQ & rugbyheaven sites were not making money as standalone sites and were rolled back in to boost traffic figures for the main SMH and Age mastheads — same reason Nat Times was never launched as a standalone — the strategy is to push all traffic to the main mastheads in the fight against ninemsn and news.com.au
Is anyone else concerned with all these news commentary sites? I want less commentary and more unbiased reporting and real journalism…surely I’m not alone on this?
It must be really nice to get paid to voice your opinions about ‘breaking news’ but seriously where is the skill in that? Any of us could do that…
Seriously how many opinion pieces flew around yesterday after Mal’s blog rant? Was that necessary? I would rather have those journalists use their time breaking other news than sitting around commenting on old news…