Inside MSN is a community dedicated to openness and frank and spirited conversation about the relevancy, tone, clarity, approach and value of content across MSN.
It's a forum for you, and here's who we think you are:
• Sometimes puzzled about content choices you see across MSN
• Interested in learning more about why stories appear where and in which manner
• Concerned that some content choices seemingly reveal a pattern, perhaps more “red or blue state,” or too East Coast or …
• Sometimes of the mind that too much fluff makes it onto the MSN homepage and desire more serious discussions of serious topics
• Appreciative of the inventive approaches to packaging content that still could still use a few adjustments, and you have some ideas to share
• An objective observer offering frank yet earnest feedback, sometimes praise, sometimes criticism, when earned or warranted
• Willing to help shape this arena with your participation
Editor Jody Brannon is your guide -- an internal ombudsman of sorts. She watches for trends that might help the MSN editors and producers sharpen execution and invent approaches to improve your online experience. She periodically poses questions to encourage discussion ranging from fun to critical.
When you provide your authorization, your perspective is shared. That’s easy to do. When you have an observation or a question, visit the Inside MSN page to ship off a letter to the editor.
As the arena that encourages an exchange of ideas and opinion, Inside MSN differs from the general feedback link found on the bottom right of each page on the network. From that hyperlink you can rate content and access support, various FAQs and the directory for each individual MSN section. That “Feedback” link is the one to use to alert editors to bad links or typos and such.
The day we asked for feedback from you, seeking to garner enough comments to kick off this section, one user -- Mike from Las Vegas -- wrote “Whom at MSN reviews these inquiries?” Well, that’s me.
I have been enthralled with online media since my first day working in cyberspace in April 1995, after previous experience in newspapers and magazines, including The Seattle Times and U.S. News & World Report. Before joining MSN.com, I worked at washingtonpost.com from 1995 to 2001 and at usatoday.com for nearly five years, serving as executive producer for both.
I’m active in the industry, serving on the board of J-Lab, the Institute for Interactive Journalism, and with the Online News Association. I teach in the American University graduate program in interactive journalism and serve as an adviser to the University of Washington’s MA program in digital media.
Beyond my background as an online journalist, my dedication to journalism education and my service to the profession -- here are the two main things to know about me:
• My 1999 dissertation, titled “Maximizing the Medium,” hints at my allegiance to excellence in execution and my expectations for the online experience.
• The quotation that best encapsulates my professional philosophy is from Thomas Jefferson, paraphrased: “When you assume a public trust, you should consider yourself as public property.”
I believe a journalist’s responsibility is to serve the public fairly and comprehensively, which is why I’m here for you, striving to loop you into the conversation and community.
Mike, our Nevada user, welcomed the idea of a robust forum, I think. He wrote,
“Step 1 is to gather information. Congrats!
”Step 2 is to review and then select the key issues/topics.
”Step 3 is to develop a plan of attack and then implement the plan.
”All looks good.
”However, whom at MSN is responsible for placing our inquiries in the "yes or no" piles ?
”Please tell us. Legitimacy means everything.”
I direct this section, but certainly not alone. The MSN Home Page team, working out of offices in New York and Redmond, Wash., comprises editors and producers who bolster this effort, among their myriad duties. Our backgrounds are expansive and varied, from network TV to small-town papers to magazines of all sizes, plus, of course, considerable online media experience.
To a one, we set out to do a better job today than we did yesterday, and we look forward to tomorrow.