Paying for Online News

This week came with the announcement from Rupert Murdoch that they will soon begin charging for some online content on News Corporation websites, saying that “Quality journalism is not cheap and an industry that gives away its content is simply cannibalising its ability to produce good reporting”. Now, the question on many peoples’ lips is: Will it work? Will people really pay for news? I believe that the answer is no.

There are many who believe that, in fact, it will work. Steve Brill of Journalism Online, believes that “publishers, by offering a mix of paid and free content, can wring subscription revenue out of 5-10 percent of their existing monthly visitors while maintaining 88 percent of page views and 91 percent of ad revenue”.

Why older people should care about climate change action

It is in older peoples’ best interests to insist on a target of 100% renewable energy by 2020. Here are three major ways inaction on climate change will adversely affect us if we don’t.

Older people are aware of the worsening problem of man-made global warming, otherwise known as anthropogenic global warming (AGW) due to greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution. However due to deficiencies in public ethics, societal risk management and public reportage from academics, politicians and journalists, most older people are probably unaware of the acute seriousness of the worsening climate emergency.

#City2Surf: Sydney’s Biggest Tweetup

I’m a Pommie import (now proudly Australian) and the Sydney City2Surf has become one of my hat-trick days in Australia, along with Australia Day and New Year’s Eve.

Carbon Emission Trading Schemes

The entire prospect of trading carbon atmospheres on the pretext of reducing or rationalising of any particular industry carbon outflow, is a flawed concept.

For example: how can each trade be quantified?

How can each trade be packaged?

What controls are in place, or will be in place, when there is dispute as to consumed credits or quantities traded?

Will there be created by some opportunistic scoundrel, a market for part-used or slightly contaminated used carbon units – or credits?

How can despatch and delivery be confirmed when nothing has been packaged and sent to the respective industry?

It is my personal view that this but a another snake-oil product.

Imagine trying to trade our excessive daylight hours during high summer, to an overseas country that is experiencing shortened daylight hours?

Where is this matter different to the trading of atmospheres?

Geography Matters: Spatial Data Key to Innovation Policy

Spatial data is key to innovation where we live.

This understanding is crucial to our outlook at 2thinknow, where it has been integral to the development of the innovation cities index and program.

Google, as a smart global business, also knows this.

In the mid-20th century Geography departments of Universities were gutted, and many branches of the social science made less prominent. Perhaps this was due to a new base of theory, and Modernist confidence that we could build solutions to city and regional problems.

Managing the Supply Chain for Reliable Spatial Information

PSMA Australia Limited is an unlisted public company, limited by shares. It was established under Australia’s corporation’s law and is wholly owned by the State and Territory governments, and the Australian Government (collectively called Jurisdictions) each with a single share. PSMA Australia’s primary goal is to coordinate the development and maintenance of fundamental national datasets using the information resources of government and increasingly, non-government entities. 

Spatial Infrastructure for a Competitive Economy

Although a few blogs have highlighted the value of spatial information to our economy, it’s worth commenting about an aspect of spatial information that contributes to our economic competitiveness. 

Three significant Australian industries are major contributors to Australia’s GDP: agriculture, mining and construction. Mining and agriculture are the most significant contributors to export revenue and are also taking significant steps to improve sustainability practices. Looking into the spatial industry’s efforts to leverage these industries, in particular, with better spatial infrastructure would be an indicator of the spatial industry’s contribution to Australia’s economic competitiveness. 

GAP Forum calls for a more competitive urban water market

As Project Manager for the GAP Forum on Urban Water Reform, in partnership with the Allen Consulting Group, I am very pleased with the final report of recommendations, officially launched on Tuesday, 4 August 2009, in Parliament House, Canberra by the Hon. Dr Mike Kelly AM MP.

Politics & Spatial Information

Almost 20 years ago, as a surveyor in private practice, and as someone who had a passing interest in politics, I presented a paper at a surveying conference, titled “Surveying the Political Landscape”.