Comments for Newstogram http://www.newstogram.com The platform for news personalization and recommendation Fri, 21 May 2010 09:20:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Facebook recommendations still far from personalized by Jay http://www.newstogram.com/facebook-recommendations-still-far-from-personalized#comment-6 Jay Fri, 21 May 2010 09:20:48 +0000 http://www.newstogram.com/?p=240#comment-6 Of course I prefer personalized content that is generated without any action on my part but I suspect publishers are seeking viral traffic via exposure from personal endorsements rather than incremental page views per visit via these FB efforts. Perhaps it’s just being termed the wrong thing… Not personalization In fact but actually a glorified referral program. Of course I prefer personalized content that is generated without any action on my part but I suspect publishers are seeking viral traffic via exposure from personal endorsements rather than incremental page views per visit via these FB efforts. Perhaps it’s just being termed the wrong thing… Not personalization In fact but actually a glorified referral program.

]]> Comment on Of Pew’s three P’s, “personalize” got least notice by neilbudde http://www.newstogram.com/of-pews-three-ps-personalize-got-least-notice#comment-5 neilbudde Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:02:29 +0000 http://www.newstogram.com/?p=81#comment-5 Jeff Jarvis just posted an item on serendipity, and I think it nicely complements my comments above. He writes in <a href="http://www.buzzmachine.com/2010/03/30/serendipity-is-unexpected-relevance/" rel="nofollow">“Serendipity is unexpected relevance”</a> the following: “Can an algorithm serve us serendipity? Maybe, if it has enough signals of what we and people we trust like, what interests us, what we need, our context. It can calculate and predict and try to serve our relevance and serendipity. I think serendipity comes not from one-size-fits-all editing but from better targeting across a larger pool of possibilities.” Jeff Jarvis just posted an item on serendipity, and I think it nicely complements my comments above. He writes in “Serendipity is unexpected relevance” the following:

“Can an algorithm serve us serendipity? Maybe, if it has enough signals of what we and people we trust like, what interests us, what we need, our context. It can calculate and predict and try to serve our relevance and serendipity. I think serendipity comes not from one-size-fits-all editing but from better targeting across a larger pool of possibilities.”

]]> Comment on Of Pew’s three P’s, “personalize” got least notice by neilbudde http://www.newstogram.com/of-pews-three-ps-personalize-got-least-notice#comment-4 neilbudde Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:09:39 +0000 http://www.newstogram.com/?p=81#comment-4 We share your belief that serendipity is an important part of the news experience, which is why we believe personalization technology should complement editorial functions not replace them. We also believe that Newstogram can lead to serendipitous discovery, because people often are unaware of the subjects that interest them, yet Newstogram understands and suggests articles that will be a fit. Newstogram is never going to suggest a story about “American Idol” to me, but it might well suggest — as it just did — that I might want to read “Study: Genetic mutations transformed red jungle fowl to domesticated chickens.” I think that is serendipity. We share your belief that serendipity is an important part of the news experience, which is why we believe personalization technology should complement editorial functions not replace them. We also believe that Newstogram can lead to serendipitous discovery, because people often are unaware of the subjects that interest them, yet Newstogram understands and suggests articles that will be a fit. Newstogram is never going to suggest a story about “American Idol” to me, but it might well suggest — as it just did — that I might want to read “Study: Genetic mutations transformed red jungle fowl to domesticated chickens.” I think that is serendipity.

]]> Comment on Of Pew’s three P’s, “personalize” got least notice by Mike Murtha http://www.newstogram.com/of-pews-three-ps-personalize-got-least-notice#comment-3 Mike Murtha Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:57:29 +0000 http://www.newstogram.com/?p=81#comment-3 Hi Neil – While I agree that personalization based on what I’ve read previously will help bring me more of what I like, there is something to be said about the ’serendipity’ of the Web. It is great to encounter information and viewpoints that you did not seek out, which diverge from your standard way of thinking. It’s difficult to be swayed by a different opinion if you are never exposed to it! Hi Neil – While I agree that personalization based on what I’ve read previously will help bring me more of what I like, there is something to be said about the ’serendipity’ of the Web. It is great to encounter information and viewpoints that you did not seek out, which diverge from your standard way of thinking. It’s difficult to be swayed by a different opinion if you are never exposed to it!

]]>