Silicon Alley Insider: Yes, newspapers are screwed. But that isn’t stopping some of them from coming up with some really interesting digital projects. So far we’ve seen the New York Times release a slew of cool gizmos and gadgets. But the Wall Street Journal’s Mobile Reader is easily our favorite to date.
The software, available today, is one of those tools that makes instant sense the first time you get your hands on it: It delivers all of the Journal’s content, updated constantly, in whatever form makes the most sense to you.
If you want to just scan headlines, you can do that. Click once and you’ll instantly get a one-paragraph summary; click again and it will download the entire article, which takes about 10 seconds, max. The reader also passes our subway/airplane test with flying colors — it lets you save stories you’ve downloaded so you can read them when you’re underground or in the air.
Yet Another Cool Digital Newspaper Product: Get The Wall Street Journal, For Free, On Your BlackBerry [Silicon Alley Insider]

What is WEbook.com All About? from WEbook.com on Vimeo.
WEbook.com is an online publishing platform that allows writers, editors, reviewers, illustrators and others to work together and create great works of fiction and non-fiction, thrillers and essays, short stories, children’s books and more.
The WEbook.com website gives writers a great interactive platform on which to write and through which to share their works with friends and readers around the world. Users’ projects, submissions, reviews, groups, and friends list are collected and updated on a personalised WEbook profile and homepage. Whenever your project has a new submission or your work gets new feedback, you’ll get notified via a live feed. There are more: on WEbook you’ll find live forum and research tools available to use within all projects to help you interact with other writers, contributors and readers.
WEbook.com

Guardian: If you fancy being a journalist, there has never been a better time – provided you don’t mind giving your services for free.
Dozens of websites now want you to report for them, especially if you have been involved in an earthquake or flood, or been on site during a campus massacre. Train and helicopter crashes, forest fires, robberies and countless other events can at least make local news.
Among these websites is CNN’s iReport. All you have to do is upload your story, photo or video. Last month, CNN featured 915 user reports drawn from more than 10,000 submissions. Both numbers are expected to grow. What’s often called “user-generated news” is mainly the result of the mobile phone revolution. People have always been around newsworthy events, but only now do they have the means to report them to hand – literally.
iReport: Now anyone can be a journalist [Guardian]

While the trades rank who’s who in discovering ways around the norm, Boston takes time to pay homage to pranksters disobeying the status-quo completely.
In true copycat behavior, city artists replicated events that had once shut down the city. An act in remembrance of trouble-making comrades, Sean Stevens and Peter Berdovsky. One year ago, the two twenty-somethings riled up city law enforcement by placing LED light boxes in public arenas. What turned out to be an ad campaign for Aqua Teen Hunger Force was, at first, a bomb scare.
This year, supporters scoured the city for eye-catching spots to position throwback LED panels. Instead of the ATHF ‘moonite’ character, this ’08 edition uses George Bush, Osama Bin Laden, Jesus and others to give life to the irreverent art. Bringing back the homeland security controversy between media shock value and uncouth terrorism.
And the controversy isn’t contained to the States. Czech rabble-rouser, Ztohoven’s, is currently pending trial on ‘attempted scaremongering’ charges. 6 members face up to 3 years in jail and/or a fine for streaming video of a fake nuclear blast on the morning weather channel. Surprisingly, residents didn’t seem to react. Nonetheless, the deed re-evoked the question; is media-manipulation art or tampering?

Katie Sherman is a NY-based freelance writer. After years of multi-tasking at downtown ad agencies, she’s recently returned from a European backpacking sabbatical. During the day she works as a Copywriter in Soho. In the off-hours she concentrates on analyzing social/ cultural trends, business innovation and local entertainment. Her work has been published on PSFK.com, CoolBusinessIdeas.com, EatDrinkSleepny.com, and Glamourite.com. Email her at katie_sherman@hotmail.com

Iconoculture: Recently debuted Organize Magazine gives consumers a guide to regaining control of their lives by eliminating clutter. Covering an array of topics, from neat-freak products to the question of letting go (knowing when to say “when” when it comes to orderliness), the rag doesn’t shy away from any issue. The mission? “Organization projects for real people with real lives.” Think Real Simple meets Container Store.
Read your way to a more organized life [Iconoculture]

Springwise: Think consumers can predict the next big book, CD, television show or movie better than top producers and publishing houses can? Media Predict challenges users to put their virtual money where their mouths are with an online prediction market game, where players buy and sell shares based on how well they think new entertainment ventures might do in the real marketplace.
Here’s how it works: when users register, they get 5,000 virtual dollars to begin investing. They can scan the markets for book proposals, up-and-coming musical acts, script treatments and TV pilots. Each is valued in virtual dollars per share based on perceived potential. If shares of a particular book proposal are going for 55 dollars, for instance, the book has about a 55% chance of being published. If a project seems like it might take off, a wise investor can put his or her money behind it. Or, conversely, he or she can sell if stock seems like it might plummet. In doing so, players drive the market value—and those who have a keen eye for the next big blockbuster get rewarded for it. When a deal goes through—for instance, if a book proposal gets signed to a publisher—shares pay off at USD 100 each. And on the flipside, when a venture doesn’t succeed, share value bottoms out at USD 0.
Crowdfinding The Next Blockbuster [Springwise]

Springwise: Coca-Cola Belgium will be the first soft drink company to use the Magazine on a Bottle concept. On Product Publishing, which created the innovative labelling technology, worked closely with Coca-Cola Belgium to adapt the labels to Coke’s iconic curvy bottle.
The first bottles of Coca-Cola Light (chilled 500 ml PET) with GLAM*IT mini-mag attached will be on the shelves in April 2007. Published by Sanoma, GLAM*IT is a Belgian fashion and beauty magazine targeted to a young, female audience. Which makes for a good fit with Light/Diet Coke buyers. As stated by Mie Van der Auwera, editor of GLAM*IT: “Adapting editorial content for another brand is only credible if brand values mutually match. In the case of Coca-Cola Light and GLAM*IT that was no problem. That’s why it results in a powerful communication tool for both brands.” The removable 24-page magazine is a ‘light’ version of GLAM*IT, featuring typical content for the mag, but reduced to fit the bottle.
Magazine On A Bottle [Springwise]

Marketer Media: The Eupinion (EUrope oPINION) is the innovated and unique newspaper (digital media concept software), based on real citizen journalism concept. The main goal is to build a community of top columnists, writing on any global issue (politics, business, fashion and trends, sports etc). We are based in Slovenia — EU, but our services are available to news publishers and writers worldwide. As a business, Marketer Media generates revenue by providing advertisers with the opportunity to deliver measurable, cost-effective advertising that is based on new D2D or D2C concepts. Advertisers use our advertising program to promote their products and services with direct targeted advertising.
Eupinion [Marketer Media]

TrendCentral: Commuters and road trippers already know that satellite radio makes gridlock more tolerable, and Sirius is still continuing to spread their innovation wings. Their latest development, D.I.Y. Radio invites listeners to create and host their own customized national radio show — uncensored and commercial-free. A different listener will take the reins every week. If you’re still bummed that the local radio station failed to play your request for the Top 5 at 9 back in 5th grade (not that we’re bitter or anything), this is way better.
D.I.Y Radio [TrendCentral]

IHT: In Japan, cellphones have become a tool for writing and reading e-mail messages. Now, publishers in Japan want mobile subscribers to read more than simple text messages.
Publishers like Shinchosha and Kodansha and their distribution partner have been bolstering readership for novels and comics on cellphones. According to Shinchosha, cellphone users are gravitating to authors like Mika Naito, who writes romantic novels popular with women in their 20s and 30s. Naito’s 2004 novel “Love Link” recorded 1.5 million paid accesses over a six- month period in which it was serially distributed. Another of her novels, “Love*,” posted free on a mobile Web site, received 14 million accesses over six months.
Wireless: Some text messages read like page turners [IHT]

Iconoculture: Step into liquid. Imbibe magazine covers everything from cocktails to wine to beer to juice to coffee to tea. The motto: All that’s fit to drink.
The premiere issue of the bimonthly publication features hot chocolate and mezcal in Oaxaca, great hotel bars around the country, Trappist ales and organic wines.
A handy guide to every imbibing opportunity will whet whistles through inspiration and empowerment.
Imbibe magazine toasts beverage culture [Iconoculture]