New New Media

Ross and I embarked on this exciting new adventure in web video punditry mostly to try to make sure it would actually work from a technical standpoint. I'm not sure the ideas we're expressing are really all that coherent, but the good news is that it's short and should lay the groundwork for a bold new world of timely, reasonably brief web video punditry. But here goes:

Jenny, who does the hard work of putting The Atlantic multimedia stuff together, says "Way better than either 'Hey Jealousy' or 'I Found Out About You'" thus setting a new standard for faint praise throughout the galaxy.

Comments

The kiddie table. Clearly Ross and MY are in need of Ambinder's adult supervision. Eat your vegetables.

Posted by Bragan | February 26, 2008 2:18 PM

Unfortuately, this is really badly produced and projects unprofessionalism.

Please do yourself a favor and improve the quality with better lighting, microphones and camera work. People still expect quality that reflects the brand of the overall site. Even if it is just a 'blog video'.

Specifically:

Microphones- you can get lavalier microphones cheaply.

Framing - Too much headroom and weird crotch inclusion.

Lighting - Bring in a lamp. Overhead lighting creates dark eye sockets.

Not trying to bash. Just honest feedback.

Hope to see improvements next time. Feel free to contact me for more specific tips.

Posted by Michael | February 26, 2008 2:28 PM

Why does ever political blogger now want to be on video? I'm here reading your stuff because I can read and want to read well-written commentary. You guys should stick to what you know: writing. Stop screwing around with video and focus on what you're good at.

Posted by Helter | February 26, 2008 2:33 PM

Hey, when can we get more of that awesome Blogging Chefs?

Posted by blah | February 26, 2008 2:34 PM

I nominated Jenny for a cameo appearance on the next edition of The Table.

Posted by joejoejoe | February 26, 2008 2:35 PM

I don't mean to poo-poo Matt's venture into wide world of new media, but this looked like how my old college radio show sounded -- amateurish.

Posted by pat | February 26, 2008 2:36 PM

Cellphone going off was just the right touch. Awful ringer though, get on that. And no more hi-fives.

Posted by Jake | February 26, 2008 2:40 PM

I beg to differ. The high five was my favorite part.

I loved the experiment, and expect you to convert to an all-video blogging format soon (especially given your regrettable self-proofreading disability.)

Maybe you should invite Bob Wright on next.

Posted by Adam | February 26, 2008 2:46 PM

Bragan: "The kiddie table. Clearly Ross and MY are in need of Ambinder's adult supervision. Eat your vegetables.

I agree with this comment 100%.

Posted by Korha | February 26, 2008 2:47 PM

Sorry, guys, but the Gin Blossoms have nothing to worry about.

Posted by abrxas | February 26, 2008 2:51 PM

Well, I liked it. I thought the mild rubbishness of the set-up was whimsical and endearing.

But then I'm British and we think things are morally superior for having been make in a garden shed.

Posted by Anthony | February 26, 2008 2:51 PM

Just to offset the haters, I found it pretty entertaining. I also find the unpolished, un-talking heads style a refreshing reprieve. I like that the Atlantic is not so much about spending time, energy and money on knicknacks, gadgets, and polish but about experimenting with new ways of delivering interesting opinions and discussion to its readers.

And on that count, while you guys are both very good and clear writers, I for one get something out of the real-time back and forth and unscripted turns in the conversation that I don't necessarily get just by reading the blogs. I say, keep it up.

Posted by Elliot | February 26, 2008 2:56 PM

What a treat. No zombified intro!

Posted by M | February 26, 2008 3:01 PM

Matt's chirpy here: who thinks he got laid last night?

He's also much cleverer than Douthat (that's why he's a liberal) and runs rings around him, somewhat (because he's a liberal).

Posted by burning flock | February 26, 2008 3:06 PM

Whoa, whoa, whoa Yglesias! What's with the totally unnecessary Gin Blossoms bashing? "New Miserable Experience" is a classic album that that perfectly captures the mid-90's alt rock sound.

Posted by Andrew | February 26, 2008 3:06 PM

Can you guys do "My Dinner with Andre" next time? Matt can be Andre.

Posted by jim | February 26, 2008 3:07 PM

Please don't do this. We don't need more bad TV. Your ideas are your wealth and your words are your currency. We readers invest our time because you're worth it. Don't join the myriad media circus performers who, lacking ideas and words, resort to seeking attention through performing for the bored and easily distracted.

Posted by Jeff | February 26, 2008 3:10 PM

Matt is my political apostle.

Posted by B | February 26, 2008 3:14 PM

The Atlantic appears to be beard heaven.

Posted by Adam | February 26, 2008 3:25 PM

I like the informal setting, but I agree with Michael on a few of his technical points. If I had to pick a single change, I think the low hanging fruit would be improved acoustics, either with better mic'ing, or using limited quantities of sound insulation.

Also, I wouldn't call 11 minutes "reasonably brief." Keep in mind that most of us would probably be viewing this at work. For me, a general weakness with the genre is the difficulty skimming the material in search of whichever topic I wanted to focus on.

Posted by cmholm | February 26, 2008 3:41 PM

I watched to the end and enjoyed the high five. Keep up the good work!

Posted by joejoejoe | February 26, 2008 3:43 PM

Um, those of you who prefer text incur no obligation to watch vlogs simply because they’ve been posted. Whining much?

As for me, I think a casual format as on display here has its virtues, not least offering a change of pace both from blog posts and from more structured vlogging. It’s not a zero sum game here; so far, I’d say the formats complement each other.

Posted by jason | February 26, 2008 3:44 PM

I like the off-the-cuff conversational style. Although I would agree that 11 minutes isn't especially brief. Unfortunately, it would be pretty difficult to make it shorter without overplanning, therefore losing the off-the-cuff charm. Also, a hi-five can make anything better. Someday there should a be an Atlantic ultimate vlog-off. Loser has his beard ritually shorn (I guess beardless Ambinder would have to be the judge).

Posted by Ricky B | February 26, 2008 3:52 PM

I like you all better at 1.4 speed.

Posted by Boring Commenter | February 26, 2008 3:52 PM

Excellent. Look, the eschewing of a "professional"-seeming environment is an admirable statement in itself. And it speaks to the jaunty freshness that the blogosphere prides itself on. It's good to see that we're leaving the era of substance tacitly taking second fiddle to style (the slight lack of substance of this episode notwithstanding). On a different aesthetic note, though, Matt really, really needs to tone his pitch down sometimes when he gets excited. I look forward to seeing more of these nonetheless, even though Ross's standoffishness is condescending and irritating.

Posted by fumphis | February 26, 2008 3:55 PM

Can
"I'm F**king Ross Douthat" be far behind? or did you want to make it with Sullivan?

Posted by BonghitForJesus | February 26, 2008 3:57 PM

Coupla fuck'n geeks. I wouldn't use either of ya for chum. Fish wouldn't bite.

Posted by Mr Damage | February 26, 2008 5:04 PM

I like it a lot (to leave aside the merits of the MY or RD's arguments). It delivers the payload -- the conversation -- without undue distraction. Matt, you come across very well in this kind of informal discussion.

Perhaps I'm exactly the kind of target audience for this kind of thing ('mid-20s grad student who doesn't own a TV') but I think you should do more of it.

Posted by CG | February 26, 2008 5:06 PM

"Um, those of you who prefer text incur no obligation to watch vlogs simply because they’ve been posted. "

In fact, I won't even click on it. Why should I spend 11 minutes of my times for listen to something I would need maybe 1'30" to read, the quantity of information interesting to me being equal?
Hint: matt's beard appearance is not an information I am interested in.

I hate those internet news outlets where I click on a section because of the title and find a video of the journalist, it is soooo slow (the listening. The upload would do barely, I have a 16MB connection, thank you very much...)

Posted by miam | February 26, 2008 5:15 PM

Rambling bad ad-lib chatter at the beginning made me turn this off before anything of content was said. This isn't "new media." It's amatuer home movies w/ political content, if you can stand the chatter along the way. One writer "interviewing" another writer doesn't make for good video.

Get a script and/or a gifted interviewer.

Posted by David | February 26, 2008 5:41 PM

You boys need to miss the high five at the end of every segment. Awesome.

Posted by Led | February 26, 2008 6:42 PM

Jon Stewart has nothing to worry about, let's just say that right at first.

"Matt's chirpy here: who thinks he got laid last night?"

You're kidding, right? Matt's ALWAYS chirpy in these things. Ross would like him to SHUT UP for a minute, so he can get a word in edge ways.

But this one was mostly a total loss if you haven't read Frum's book - which of course is probably virtually everyone who might watch this video. Even though it was mostly merely a means to takeoff from that start, it bogged down in an aimless discussion of what can conservatives do to revitalize their dead and moribund party?

Like anyone cares...

Anyway, the answer of course is known to McCain and most of the former Republican candidates: start another war.

The technical complaints of the video are noted and agreed with.

I'd rather watch a video of Summer Glau discussing the finer points of ballet and using ballet moves to kick somebody's ass.

Posted by Richard Steven Hack | February 26, 2008 7:43 PM

11 minutes is not brief by web video standards. I liked this, but I'd much rather watch it in 3-minute chunks.

Also, I'll second the "too much crotch" remark re: the framing here.

Posted by too many steves | February 26, 2008 8:50 PM

Love it! I wish we could see little conversations like this in different Atlantic blogger combos.

Crook/MacArdle on econ policy!

Posted by Steve C | February 27, 2008 12:01 AM

Loved the sort of Rosencranz-&-Guildenstern-are-Dead moment at the end where Ross suddenly worries if you've said anything.
But perhaps even more hilarious is the way you both react to the cell phone going off. On Bloggingheads, of course, it's always just one participant's solitary shame when his cell goes off in the middle of a diavlog.
Unintended comedy is always the best comedy, so please keep this up -- low production values and all! (Sounds sarcastic, but I mean it.)

Posted by Bloggin' Noggin | February 27, 2008 12:09 AM

Mr. Y is clearly nervous at the beginning. Try a shot of Jameson beforehand. Seriously.

(Although this only confirms my crush on you. Hot wonk! Hot wonk!)

Posted by Matthew not-Y | February 27, 2008 4:41 AM

that was pretty bad. you had me...never. i stopped at 30 seconds!

Posted by sophia | February 27, 2008 11:53 AM

The good:
-a refreshingly informal and off the cuff dissemination of politics du jour. The bit with the cellphone was charming, and the high five at the end was great. A stark contrast to cable TV's political punditry. Dare to be different.

The Bad:
-lacked focus. Perhaps have something of a topic (only 1 topic to keep it focused) planned ahead. Here's a though: have Ambinder create the topic and seal it with an envelope, so you two don't see it ahead of time. Just a thought. Also the bad lighting was a bit distracting. The shadows under Ross's eyes made him look like a villain in a western. And when he shifted in his seat, it threw off the auto-white balance. So next time put in some flattering side lighting and set the white balance to something other than auto (maybe tungsten).

Keep doing it, it will get better with practice.

Posted by freddiemac | February 27, 2008 8:16 PM