Aggregation is Creation – Adrian Holovaty

Posted on 21. Jan, 2009 by in News Organization, Politics, Revenue, Technology, Tools

Last week I had the unique pleasure of spending some time at the Poynter Institute to discuss the future of journalism.

I also had the chance to catch up with Adrian Holovaty who, for many, needs no introduction. He is most known for pioneering Django, a model/view/controller framework to deploy web applications and then using that framework to create EveryBlock.com – a news feed for your block.

I asked Adrian only two questions. First – to explain a little known aspect of EveryBlock whereby the editors help explain some of the obscure aspects of city infrastructure. My take away: If you still have any doubt that aggregation is creation or that filtering is an editorial service that journalists can hone and use to make money….. you are missing a VERY lucrative bus.

The second was Adrian’s advice to a young journalist/programmer. Scratch your own itch.

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