Monday, November 05, 2007 6:34 AM
US News &World Report publishes various college and university rankings each year. In what seems like a really good idea, the magazine also produces a weblog called Morse Code: Inside the College Rankings, which serves as sort of an accompaniment to the print ranking articles.
The weblog's own words about itself and its author:
Robert Morse is director of data research for U.S. News & World Report and has worked at the magazine since 1976. He develops the methodologies and surveys for the America's Best Colleges and America's Best Graduate Schools annual rankings, keeping an eye on higher-education trends to make sure the rankings offer prospective students the best analysis available. Morse Code provides deeper insights into the methodologies and is a forum for commentary and analysis of college, grad and other rankings.
Late last month, Morse Code posted Measuring Diversity, which serves as a good example as to how weblogs can enhance information produced in a flagship print publication. In particular, it allows Mr. Morse to dive as deeply as he wishes into a specific topic, such as ranking methodologies, etcetera, with little worry as to word count.
It also provides an avenue for US News to offer readers links to additional resources, as it does in the diversity posting.
We are already seeing such topical weblogs at many magazines and newspapers websites. I expect they will be standard issue in time.