Mario García: What’s cooking with mobile and tablets

Nearly 70 companies will be presenting mobile and/or tablet publishing solutions at the World Publishing Expo from 7 to 9 October in Berlin. The range on offer covers the gamut of news publishers’ mobile activities. Visitors will have ample opportunity to find out from experts about all the latest trends in mobile publishing, both at the exhibit and in the various side events.

Washington Post launches Topicly, a new visual news platform

The Washington Post yesterday launched new visual reading feature ‘Topicly’ for its website and mobile platforms. Grouping articles by theme and then linking these under an image in a grid, the homepage is like a chequer board of different news topics, each leading to a wealth of relevant stories, commentaries, graphics and multimedia surrounding the issue.

Update: Horror and confusion as al-Shalab militants attack Nairobi’s Westgate Centre

The ongoing occupation of the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi, which started when armed al-Shabab militants raided the building and held those inside it hostage, has reportedly taken the lives of 62 people (according to the Red Cross Kenya’s newly revised count), including Radio Africa presenter Ruhila Adatia Sood. The reports on the events have been unclear and uncertain; death tolls have been contested and there is still confusion surrounding the specific reasoning behind the violence – though al-Shabab have recently said they carried out the attack in response to Kenyan military activity in Somalia.

George Brock’s Out of Print: Newspapers, Journalism and the Business of News in the Digital Age

In his newly published book, Out of Print: Newspapers, Journalism and the Business of News in the Digital Age, George Brock, former Times executive and current head of journalism at City University London, provides an insightful and detailed analysis of journalism through history and reviews the effects of the digital age on journalism’s current state, as well as its potential future.

Quartz reaps the rewards of its forward-thinking strategies

Any avid observer of news trends will have noticed that in 2013 the biggest pieces of ‘news news’ have been mobile-first strategies and sponsored content. Quartz magazine, launched a year ago, foresaw the potential of both of these trends and now seems to be reaping the rewards of being one step ahead of the curve.

Towards newsroom convergence and content divergence at Le Figaro

Le Figaro’s digital journey and newsroom organisation were the focus of the first masterclass of the Journalism School at Sciences Po University in Paris this week. Jean-Michel Salvator, Deputy Managing Editor of Le Figaro, spoke about the difficult process of newsroom integration and online culture.

Can journalists be objective on social media?

Recent warnings in Kenya to journalists using social media sites highlight the power of these online forums, and the growing difficulties faced by journalists as the boundaries between personal and professional life are blurred online. As social media sites become increasingly influential and increasingly accessed, issues of objectivity and professional codes of conduct are called into question.

Press regulation update: Cameron calls for compromise

British Prime Minister David Cameron used an appearance in front of the Commons Liaison Committee to call on fellow party leaders to reach a compromise on press regulation. While Mr Cameron’s new glasses fascinated at least one news outlet reporting on the event, the PM’s address to members of parliament could have significant consequences for Britain’s press.

The Economist live debate highlights growing emphasis on reader/publication interaction

The Economist’s live debate and Facebook coverage on Friday about the upcoming German election raises interesting questions about the way in which journalists are trying to connect with their readers – and how developments in social and digital media are accentuating the differences between print and online journalism.