Long-form journalism:A comeback in digital form

Trends in Communication & Information TechnologyJOUR 4871-003

The ‘eSingle’: Is long-form journalism coming back?

Matter

What’s an ‘eSingle’?

Digital story, essay, or work of journalism that is

longer than a magazine article,but shorter than a book

(and is inexpensive to purchase)

Atavist: 1.) Storytelling site, 2.) Publishing platform

Byliner: Cheaper, shorter than a book

Byliner: Buy + directory of free

Launched June 2011

eSingles meant to be read in a single sitting

5,000 and 30,000 words

Purchased at online booksellers for Kindle, iPad/iPhone, NOOK, or Android device

26 Byliner Originals (Jon Krakauer, Nick Hornby, Margaret Atwood, Amy Tan, Ann Patchett, Buzz Bissinger,)

Pointers/links to other long-form stories (free)

Kindle Singles: Amazon’s shorter e-books “Compelling ideas expressed at their natural length. Explore journalism, essays, humor, and short fiction.”

3,000 to 50,000 wordsAuthor keeps 70%

Amazon editors select titles for Kindle StoreOriginal work

Kindle Singles: Reporting titles, $0.99-$4.99Kindle Singles include a large selection of long-form journalism

ProPublica and Kindle SinglesInvestigative reporting non-profit publishes its best long-form work as Kindle Singles

for tablet reading. Some free, some 99 cents.

More long-form storytelling start-ups ...

A digital publication devoted to original, true & in-depth

stories about New York, with plans to expand to other

cities. (Successfully funded by Kickstarter campaign.)

MatterDigital

publication dedicated to

revival of long-form journalism on wide variety of worldwide

topics.(Successfully funded by

Kickstarter campaign.)

A digital publication currently seeking

funding via Kickstarter campaign.

Its mission is to rescue long-form music

journalism, which the founders say is“on the ropes.”