True Convergence: Linking to the Competition!

Back in my days in TV news, the rule was not to acknowledge the competition, let alone direct viewers to them. But the Internet is changing that!

Al Tompkins of Poynteronline notes that the Web site of one of the TV stations in Madison, Wis., is actually linking to headlines from competing TV stations and newspapers in the region. WISC's site, Channel3000.com also features a cool map "Scanner" showing stories for each city in their viewing area.

In an interview, the managing editor of the station told Tompkins why they took this "bold step" to use their site as a news aggregator for the region. He said they wanted to make it an "easy place for people to get all the information they want to know about Madison." Users never leave WISC's site - the links open in pop-up windows.

As an evacuee last week, I would have loved this service! Even though I have my own RSS feeds set up of the San Diego media, this feature would have prevented a lot of hunting and pecking for local information.