Media in The Media

Corus Entertainment is proposing to launch what it describes as a "hyper-local" news channel serving communities in Western Canada.   

Rabble's latest entry on MakerCulture describes socially concious, sustainable and environmentally friendly production. The article explores sustainable DIY housing and furniture and includes an interview with Dean Reeds who built a 3 bedroom straw bale cottage which he currently rents out weekly. The article also details the creations of Maker's in Nunavut, as well as politically aware 'craftivism' in which artists use their crafts to raise awareness for pressing social issues.

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A recent report compiled by the BBC World Service has revealed that "79% of Internet and non-Internet users said that they felt that internet access should be 'the fundamental right of all people'". The results from this poll taken across several countries reiterates yet again the significance of the Internet in people's lives as well as the need to increase internet access in currently unconnected areas.

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Since its release the Public Radio Player for the iPhone has reached 2.5 million downloads. This app was developed by the Public Radio Exchange (PRX) who also introduced an app for "This American Life", a popular public radio show. This recontextualization of local radio has introduced some problems since the ability to stream a favourite program from multiple channels may errode listener loyalty to local stations.

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The U.S. military, with the tacit approval of the highest levels of governments, is conducting an intensive bombing campaign in areas purported to be under Taliban control. The large number of civilian casualties from these attacks have deeply angered large segments of the population of Pakistan.

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Facebook’s move into location has seemed inevitable for some time, and it now appears that the company will officially reveal its plans at next month’s Facebook developer conference –- f8.

According to The New York Times, the social network will incorporate location in two ways: (1) its own features for sharing location and (2) APIs to let other apps — like Foursquare and Gowalla –- offer location services to Facebook users.

Presumably, Facebook will make sure to address privacy issues with its location features — for example, perhaps with settings that allow you to share your location only with a select group of friends. The Times’ report doesn’t detail the specifics of such features, though it notes that the social network updated its privacy policy late last year in preparation for a location launch.

Facebook will be rolling out its location features to an enormous user base — there are now more than 400 million users of the social network in total, 100 million of which access the site via mobile regularly. The company also has its own native apps for all of the major mobile platforms. All of this gives Facebook’s location features an enormous edge over the competition.

The Times’ report suggests that the competition isn’t the likes of Foursquare and Gowalla, however, but rather Google and its huge base of local small business advertisers. Of course, the startups aren’t ignoring this opportunity either — earlier today, Foursquare shared details of upcoming features it plans to release to help local businesses utilize checkin data.

With Facebook entering the space, though, the other players will need to look to create value in ways beyond checkins and knowing where your friends are located at any given point in time. That’s why Foursquare seems to be so focused on partnerships and gaming, while Gowalla is making moves (as recently as last night) in virtual goods.

In any event, location remains the huge trend so far in 2010, and literally each day seems to bring new indications of which way it will all play out.

Tags: facebook, foursquare, social networking, trending

Mashable and the Google Wave team are proud to announce the Google Wave API Challenge, a month-long competition to create exciting new Google Wave extensions.

Google Wave’s latest updated clean API and new extension abilities allow for faster development, more opportunities for integrations and lots of exciting potential for many new Google Wave use cases. We invite developers from around the world to showcase their latest extensions.

Over the next several weeks, Mashable and the Google Wave team will be showcasing and discussing the most interesting submissions.

There will be 3 voting categories: Most Fun, Most Useful and Best Use of the Embed API. We’ll then pick a Judge’s Choice as the overall winner.

The winning developer/development team will receive 2 unlocked Nexus Ones, see their extension featured on Mashable AND receive free passes to the Google I/O conference.

4 Step Submission Process
Step 1: Developers install the “Mashable submitty extension” from the public read-only wave
Step 2: After installing this, you’ll get a “New Mashable Submission” in your new wave menu
Step 3: Just use our “Mashable Submitty” Google Extension and fill out the form.
Step 4: After approving valid entries, we’ll create a public discussion wave with entries including a voting gadget.

Timeline:
Submissions Open: March 8th, 2010
Submissions Close: April 9th, 2010 11:59 PM EST
Public Voting on Top 20 submissions: April 12th, 2010 – April 19th, 2010
Winner Announced: April 21st, 2010

Rules:
• Developer or Developer Team (Preferred max of 4 names submitted)
• Existing Extensions are eligible only if they use the new API (ports to the new API are fine)
• Full Credit for any work due must be entered in April 9th, 2010
• Over 18 to receive prize
• Final winning submission will be judged exclusively by Mashable and Google Wave team

Tags: contest, Google, Google Wave, google wave api challenge

This post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.

Name: ShiftPlanning

Quick Pitch: ShiftPlanning Provides free employee scheduling tools to businesses of all sizes.

Genius Idea: ShiftPlanning is a web-based tool for companies that want a way to easily and efficiently manage work schedules and availability.

Schedule management, especially for companies or individuals who work remotely, can be difficult. Sure, you can use stuff like Google Docs and Basecamp for setting company-wide events, but once you have more than a handful of employees, keeping track of all that information can be tough.

ShiftPlanning is a suite of shift and scheduling tools that both employers and employees can use. You can use the system to set up multiple schedules, trade shifts, handle vacation days and requests, and to create a record of availability.

We like that ShiftPlanning doesn’t keep your data behind its walled garden; you can print or export files, access the site from your mobile phone and even integrate the system into your own website.

ShiftPlanning is free and worth checking out if you have problems managing schedules and employee shifts in your business or organization. What tools do you use to manage schedules? Let us know!

Sponsored by Microsoft BizSpark

BizSpark is a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.

Entrepreneurs can take advantage of the Azure Services platform for their website hosting and storage needs. Microsoft recently announced the “new CloudApp()” contest – use the Azure Services Platform for hosting your .NET or PHP app, and you could be the lucky winner of a USD 5000* (please see website for official rules and guidelines).”

Tags: business, scheduling, shiftplanning, web apps

Just when the Democrats need to be tougher than ever on financial reform, Senate Banking Committee Chair Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), seems to have given up completely and put the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) at risk.

Last fall, Dodd called the Federal Reserve’s regulatory efforts an “abysmal failure.” And yet, on March 1, he proposed housing a consumer protection agency within the Fed instead of establishing the CFPA as its own independent entity. This drastic change in strategy has left many Democrats shaking their heads. WTF, Senator Dodd?

A change in focus

As Andy Kroll reports for Mother Jones:

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WASHINGTON -- Today, just as the Federal Communications Commission is rolling out parts of the National Broadband Plan to bring broadband to more low-income Americans, cable giant Comcast is reportedly raising its rates for Internet service -- including its most basic, lowest priced service.

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Last month the mayor of Halifax apologized to the former residents of a black community razed to the ground in the 1960s. Denise Allen says the apology was totally inadequate. Allen is spokeswoman for a group of people with family ties to Africville. She says the compensation settlement reached with Halifax Regional Municipality is illegal.

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A freedom of information request by Canadian Press revealed that the office of Immigration Minister Jason Kenney deleted references to the civil rights of queer Canadians from a guide for immigrants. We speak with NDP MP for Burnaby, Bill Siksay.

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Canada's Conservative government, that does not believe in government, has a plan to reduce public services. As announced in the budget it intends to cut public service jobs, and reduce the rate of increase in our already reduced public spending. The projected deficit (aka the all purpose excuse) of over $50 billion was invoked as the rationale.

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WASHINGTON -- A coalition of media justice and public interest organizations sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski yesterday, calling on the agency to make increased diversity in the media and broadband communications landscape a top priority.

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