The New York Times Research and Development Lab, a pioneering unit that explored the future of news, has been disbanded. The Lab was launched in 2006 to investigate how technology could change the way news is produced and consumed. It created a series of innovative projects, including Cascade, a tool that visualises how information spreads on social media. The Lab was also known for its Mirror API, an open-source platform for creating interactive stories. The closure of the Lab is a significant loss for the media industry, as it was one of the few places where journalists and technologists could collaborate on future-focused projects. It is not yet clear what will happen to the Lab’s projects or its staff. The decision to shut down the Lab was made as part of a broader restructuring at the New York Times, which is working to adapt to the digital age. Despite this setback, the spirit of innovation in journalism continues, with many other organisations exploring new ways of telling stories and engaging audiences.
Go to source article: https://medium.com/@riordan/eulogy-for-the-new-york-times-r-d-lab-c8d6301450ab#.nl2ller50