NY Times Columnist Sums Up the Year in Media

What kind of year was it for the media? Well, not all bad, according to "After a Year of Ruin, Some Hope," a media column by David Carr in the New York Times.

Some highlights:

• Bloggers are getting serious, breaking stories and showing that good journalism isn't the sole domain of "old media"
• Technology-fueled media start-ups are showing the way to "media next"
• TV is far from dead when you consider breakthrough hits such as "Mad Men" and "Glee"
• Dave Eggers and his friends print ... a Newspaper!

Adds Carr:

... The constellation of local news sites put together by ex-newspaper folks include the big and well-financed like Texas Tribune (www.texastribune.org), the small and charming like Baltimore Brew (baltimorebrew.com) and some experiments that seem less tentative all the time, like MinnPost (www.minnpost.com) and Voice of San Diego (www.voiceofsandiego.org).

It’s a reminder that journalists will do anything to avoid getting real jobs, including conjuring a new kind of workplace that doesn’t include any of the legacy costs of trucks and printing presses.

Bring on 2010.

Updated ... See also:

• Jason Linkins on "Ten Things That Did Not Suck About the Media in 2009"
• JL on "Ten Things That Totally Sucked About the Media in 2009"

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Photo credit: "Cover of the Last Edition of the Rocky Mountain News" by Scorpions and Centaurs, courtesy of Flickr.com/Creative Commons

On Newspapers: Looking Back and Ahead

In his final column for Editor & Publisher, Steve Outing takes a trip into newspapers' recent past and offers some predictions for the industry's future. As he notes, hindsight is always 20/20. Nevertheless, it's interesting to explore what newspapers might have done to head off the calamity they face today and the future that some still may achieve.

As much as I have loved newspapers, since the Web came along in late 1993, it hasn't been the paper, per se, that I loved -- but rather the type of journalism that newspaper companies were able to produce. While far from perfect, newspapers were able to afford the big editorial staffs, which other media forms could not, to cover their communities well and (often) uncover mistakes, corruption and wrongdoing by government and business.

Unfortunately, he notes, newspaper executives failed to see the transition to digital technology and early on could have explored Internet businesses to complement their news-gathering operations, including developing mobile and other platforms for delivering news content. Lord knows they had the money to spend, and spend they did -- on other "old" media properties instead of looking ahead.

"Ahh, that sounds so simple," he concludes. "If only someone had created a time machine in the mid-1990s, then comic-strip artists and late-night comics wouldn't be making fun of newspapers as today's buggy-whip makers."

Outing sees a variety of scenarios for the future of newspapers, ranging from small independently owned operations that can succeed in print (for a little while) to larger operations collaborating with independent journalists, bloggers and news aggregators.

Newspaper companies that do survive and prosper do so by devoting significant resources (at executive and technical levels) to mobile as the next platform of opportunity. They don't repeat the mistakes of a decade earlier made with the Web, but instead raise mobile to a top priority. ... Newspapers that do well adapt quickly to the instant nature of crowd-sourced news (e.g., aggregating and filtering eyewitness reports from Twitter), rather than fight it.

The newspapers that will succeed are those that go on the offensive, innovating and experimenting with new platforms and news-gathering models.

It's an interesting read.

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Photo credit: "Jumbo Multi-wheat Krispies + New York Times on the Kindle" by inju, courtesy of Flickr.com/Creative Commons

Ode to Newspaper Press Crews One and All

It's hard not to reminisce about the "good old days" when you worked at a newspaper for more than 20 years. Many of the memories and feelings I fondly retain from my "newspapering" career came flooding back in reading Ken Steinhoff's ode to The Palm Beach Post.

A former photographer at The Post, Steinhoff recalls the "glory days" and uses his camera to chronicle the last days of the newspaper's production department, which it has since farmed out to another publication as a cost-cutting move.

It's sad to think how often this process has been repeated recently in newspapers across the nation. I'm glad that Steinhoff took the time to preserve in pictures the work of the dedicated backshop crew members who always made our work in the newsroom stand out for our customers.

My eternal gratitude goes to the folks of the press and production departments of the Corvallis Gazette-Times and Albany Democrat-Herald, including Dale J., Dave P., Don S., Mike V., Wally J., Ken W., Bob J. ...

See also:

• Videos on the demise of the Seattle P-I and Rocky Mountain News.
• Veneta, Junction City papers shut down

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Bankrupt Newspapers Get Golden Opportunity

New media guy Jeff Jarvis puts forth an interesting proposition: Bankrupt newspaper companies should use their bleak financial condition as an opportunity to take a bold step into the future. Ditch the presses and all the rest of their "old media" overhead and become entrepreneurial, going all-in online and better serving readers:

Bankruptcy enables a newspaper company to shed its past. It can get out of contracts and leases for paper, printing plants, delivery, trucks. ... It offers a one-time chance to rethink, reinvent, and rebuild the company for the future. Is it better to stretch out the pain and never get anywhere? And if tough decisions and actions are not made, the likelihood that the company will die and all will be lost only increases.

It's like they say about insanity: Why should bankrupt newspapers reorganize a broken media business model and expect different results?

Part of their new strategy has to be a streamlined staff and a focus on "hyperlocal" journalism that gets down to the neighborhood level. They need to partner with readers, encouraging content contributions and collaboration.

Hyperlocal also means dropping national and international news that readers already get elsewhere. A good example of this local focus is The Daily Record in Dunn, N.C., which has been the subject of various stories touting its intense commitment to "getting names into the paper."

For more on this topic, see:

• Jarvis on "The Opportunity of Bankruptcy"
• Corvallis businessman Chris Nordyke on the "hyperlocal" newspaper
• Jarvis video on hyperlocal journalism
  
• The Daily Record in Dunn, N.C.

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Photo credit: "Slush Paper" by Pete ツ, courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons

Is It Time for WordPress 2.9?

Thinking of changing over to WordPress? Maybe now is the time, with the upgrade to WordPress 2.9. The photo editing feature alone makes it worth a second look...

Here's what Mashable had to say: "This release is called 'Carmen' and includes a number of notable additions, including the beginnings of a WordPress image editing tool (cropping, scaling, and rotating), simpler video embeds, and batch plugin updating that should save you a bunch of time."

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How Many Media References Can You Name?

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

This week I joined many of my LBCC colleagues in hosting the Youth Job Fair on campus. I talked about media and journalism. And I gave the high schoolers this challenge: How many media references can you name from the College Humor parody "Web Site Story"?

Well? How many can you name?

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Mr. Splashy Pants Becomes Social Media Hit

You never know what's going to go viral. Take, for instance, Mister Splashy Pants, a humpback whale that Greenpeace made its poster beast to head off whaling in Japan.

Alexis Ohanian shares the fun -- and effective -- tale of the swimming social media sensation in a new TED video, "How to Make a Splash in Social Media." In four minutes, Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, shows how groups can leverage social media to make social change.

As he notes, an effective social media campaign can level the playing field when you don't have a budget -- because it often costs nothing. To make that happen, however, he reminds us that you have to be genuine and you have to be open to losing control of the message.

"It's OK to lose control," he notes. At the same time, "It's OK to take ourselves a little less seriously." That's for sure...

And if you like this video, here's a few other posts to check out:

• Seth Godin on standing out, being remarkable
• LBCC makes multimedia fun

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Websites You Need to Know About

What's hot online? Or at the least, what should you be in the know about, especially if you're in the media? Here to help with its annual checklist of online must-knows is The Guardian's "100 Essential Websites."

The creators note plenty of familiar players here -- Facebook, Twitter, Flickr -- as well as some we may be hearing more about in 2010, such as Tumblr, Posterous, Listorious, Spotify and Pitchfork.

As the article notes: "... The smash hit of 2009 has been (apologies: I know this will cause pain) Twitter, where 1,000-word stories are reduced to 140-character tweets. Short attention spans R us.

"Twitter's rapid growth and open programming interface have given the site a wide impact. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of ancillary sites and services have been launched to help Twitter users post pictures, track followers, or – more usefully, from a commercial point of view – find out what the "hive mind" is thinking."

And what about music?

"Music has been a significant player in the growth of the web since Napster, and its influence continues to grow. Spotify has made the biggest impact this year, gaining mindshare lost by Last.fm and Pandora. Meanwhile, Pitchfork has expanded its role as the web's authoritative music magazine, and The Hype Machine came to prominence as a source of instant erudition by tracking the music blogs."

The list has something for everyone, with categories ranging from microblogging, search and the link economy to gaming, film and celebrity gossip.

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More Advice from a Master Blogger

When you're looking to rejuvenate your blogging routine, a good place to start is one of several tip sheets by social media expert Chris Brogan. "Write Better Blog Posts Today" is his latest post on the subject.

Granted, his blog is geared primarily for those most interested in blogging as a marketing tool. However, would-be journalists and others in the media also will find plenty to get them thinking. Today, for instance, he writes about selecting subjects, titles, style and language:

"Above all else, when choosing your preferred subject, consider writing about something that will be useful to others. Equipping other people to succeed (like I attempt with this blog) is a great way to build your prominence within the space. If you’re really into knitting, don’t just write that you love knitting; show people how you created that amazing iPhone cozy, and explain why you prefer wood to aluminum needles (hint: airport security)."

and

"I try to write in a conversational tone, and yet informative. This is my choice of style. You might choose a more formal tone. You might choose a more conversational tone. Blogging, overall, is a bit more conversational than traditional journalistic style, written as if you and I are conversing. This suits most people just fine."

or

"And finally, if no one’s reading your stuff, you’ve gotta consider why. Is it bad writing? Is it too long? Is it not visually broken up for people’s eyes to scan? Is the topic too minor for people to consider? Or are you posting at the wrong times? There are lots of things to troubleshoot. Just don’t leave it be. Try something. Try something with each new post."

Brogan ends by linking to many of his previous posts on blogging, including his "best" advice, how to blog every day and brainstorming.

For more on blogging, see:

• Luckie's 7 Rules of Blogging - D'oh!
• Godin Talks Blogging with Groundswell
• Just Blog It! Tips for Blog Writers

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"Googled" -- A Good Read on an Icy Day

Now that Fall term is officially completed at LBCC, I'm doing some "research" over the break, beginning with reading Ken Auletta's new book, "Googled: The End of the World as We Know It." (I already have my students read Jeff Jarvis' book, "What Would Google Do?" for Media & Society.)

Twenty-four pages into "Googled" and I can see I might blast through it in a few days (especially if the ice outside continues to hold the family hostage...). As other reviewers have noted, it's a fast read that covers a lot of ground that's already appeared in a lot of stories about the fabled company.

While many readers already know the story behind the company's beginnings and its geeky founders, the strength of the book so far is Auletta's insider access to Google as well as key media and advertising industry players. So he can observe: "Google engineers don't make gut decisions. They have no way to quantify relationships or judgment. They value efficiency more than experience. They require facts, beta testing, mathematical logic. Google fervently believes it is shaping a new and better media world..."

Auletta discusses some of the issues highlighted in his book and more up-to-date information (e.g. Chrome and the Google Phone) in Friday's online Q&A in the Washington Post. Asked about his access to Google execs, including the founders, while writing the book, he says: "(Larry) Page and (Sergey) Brin are not garrulous executives, like many corporate types. They are not consumed by their wealth, which now hovers around $15 billion each. But they each have a jet airplane, and new families, and at 36 are spending a bit more time smelling the roses."

Other links:

• Auletta talks to Terry Gross on NPR's "Fresh Air."
• Auletta on C-SPAN's "Q&A."

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How to Make a Worm Composting Bin -- Really!

And now for something completely different...

This past term, while wrapping up my MBA at Willamette University, I worked with a group that examined the possibilities for composting in the university's food service. It was an interesting project in which we ultimately recommended the university contract with a local company in order to reuse 100 percent of Willamette's food waste, which the company would haul away and use as "fuel" for its large-scale worm composting operation.

Anyway, my daughter Alison just arrived home from college and shared this FUN video of a couple of guys -- the Enviro-Mentals -- and their quest to build a handy worm composting bin. So if you're into sustainability or just gardening and finding a use for all those daily food scraps, enjoy this humorous and helpful video.

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p.s. One of these guys -- Hal Brindley -- also has a very cool website that shows off his wildlife photography!

Luckie's 7 Rules of Blogging - D'oh!

I can always count on 10,000 Words by Mark Luckie to reinforce the blogging lessons my students are learning this term in News Reporting and Photojournalism -- post often, check your spelling, add links...

So today Luckie has seven reminders for those new to blogging, or those who've been at it awhile but may be getting lazy. Here's his take on frequent posting: "If your posts are months apart and your last few posts apologize for not blogging enough, do your readers and yourself a favor and just close up shop." Ouch!

Other no-no's: Talking down to readers, going off topic, turning off comments, not supplying an RSS feed.

"A blog isn't just about writing," Luckie reminds us, "it's about stimulating conversation and discussion. If your readers have no way of responding to a post then you look like a jerk. Even worse: turning off comments on a particular post because someone disagrees with you." D'oh!

If you don't have Luckie's 10,000 Words on your blog list, you should.

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Get a Free Copy of Seth Godin's New Book

Those of you who follow my blog, know that I'm of huge fan of marketing guy Seth Godin.

If you'd like to find out why, I'm guessing you will find the answer in his new book, "Linchpin." The best part is if you act NOW you can get a free copy of the book. Really. I just did.

So don't delay.

rob

Seth, you're welcome for this free plug...

Hyperlocal Journalism: Jarvis Explains It All

Jeff Jarvis on New Business Models for News 2009 from CUNY Grad School of Journalism on Vimeo.

Not sure what media types are talking about when they discuss "hyperlocal"?

In this video talk by Jeff Jarvis, the author of "What Would Google Do?" shares new business models that journalists are launching around the country.

As you'll see, journalism will survive but possibly in a form that isn't here yet. For example, it may take the form of individual bloggers, one- or two-person media shops, and non-profit organizations. It's going to be a whole new "ecosystem," Jarvis notes.

There's some interesting ideas to consider here. Let me know what you think...

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Real-life Journalists? I Don't Think So

You can always count on Mark Luckie's "10,000 Words" to make you think or provide a touch of humor. Today it's the latter.

I laughed out loud at his roundup of stock photos of journalists and the question, "Do Journalists Actually Look Like This?" Ah, no...

I've known plenty of guys who were just as dorky as some of these (and I'm not ruling myself out!) ... Thankfully most of the news women I've known and worked with over the years have been nothing like these "news babes." In real life, the female journalists I've had the good fortune to work with are best described as smart, attractive and professional, in no particular order.

Luckie's also compiled a fun montage of fictional journalists.

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The Moth Radio Hour: You've Gotta Hear This!

So I'm driving home from Salem tonight, and as I frequently do I turn on NPR to fill the next 50 minutes to an hour before I get home. And I catch the last minute of some guy describing how he became the bat boy for Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees. Bummer, I missed most of that...

That's OK, next up is a woman telling about her summer vacation with the Kennedys. Only it's more like spying on the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport. And I nearly have to pull over to the side of I-5 because I'm laughing so hard at this woman recalling what it was like to be 9-year-old on summer vacation -- with her aunts and their binoculars and the Kennedys a few doors down...

But nothing could prepare me for what came next. The nice lady on The Moth Radio Hour introduced the next storyteller with a warning that what I was about to hear might be too much for me to take. Oh please...

She wasn't kidding. A few minutes earlier I thought I might have to pull over to laugh. Now I thought I might have to pull over to cry at the tale of "Tonight Show" comedian Anthony Griffith sharing the ultimate heartbreak. I won't spoil it, you can let me know what you think after you take a listen.

"I think it's the next big huge hit in public radio," Garrison Keillor notes in a little teaser at the top of The Moth Radio Hour homepage. After hearing Radio Hour 1, I couldn't agree more. As usual, this is something that's been around for a while and it's only now that I'm catching on. Better late than never, as they say...

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Amazing Veterans Day Parade Photo

Every day when I turn on my computer I'm often greeted by a phenomenal photo taken by one of the fine photographers at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the daily newspaper from my hometown of Milwaukee, Wis. Today was no exception.

The homepage photo on JSOnline today was a re-enacted Iwo Jima flag-raising on a float in the annual downtown Veterans Day Parade. I think I was so moved by the photo in part because we are just about to celebrate Veterans Day on Wednesday, but also the tragedy that happened last Thursday at Fort Hood in Texas. At last count, two of those who were killed and four of the injured were from the state where I grew up, Wisconsin.

The parade photo from Milwaukee was a reminder to honor all those women and who have or are serving our nation, whether here or overseas. We will get an opportunity to honor those closer to home this Wednesday at the annual Veterans Day parade in Albany, just up the road from LBCC.

I'm hopeful one of my students will come back from that event with a photo that similarly depicts the fine folks who wear the uniform of the USA.

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Nature Photo Show at LBCC

"Action" in nature is the theme for the 30th annual Bob Ross Open Invitational Nature Photography Show on Friday, Nov. 13, at Linn-Benton Community College.

Nature photographers from throughout the Willamette Valley gather each year at LBCC to "celebrate nature and share their experiences, techniques, favorite places and things to see," according to a news release from the LBCC News Service. The show begins at 7 p.m. in the Forum building, Room F-104.

Those who plan to show photos are asked to limit their submission to 20 digital images. They should be sent to Ross several days before the event. His e-mail is rosspix@comcast.net. For more information, call him at 541-928-3711.

This non-juried show is free, and visitors don't have to show photographs to attend.

LBCC is at 6500 Pacific Blvd. S.W. in Albany.

(Photo credit: "Common Barn Owl" by Adventures in Librarianship, courtesy of Flickr.com/Creative Commons)

Another Take on Time Management

In my continuing quest to aid all those who are trying to cram 36 hours of life into a 24-hour day, I encourage you to read a new post by Amber Nasland on her social media blog called Altitude. Her focus: "Social Media Time Management: Nine Guiding Principles."

When it comes to managing your time, she notes at the outset, "It’s a balancing act. And ultimately, you’re in the driver’s seat."

Her first gear is managing disruptions: "Pick three things that you have to get done today, and focus relentlessly on those. (Hint: they should always be tied into your bigger picture goals, or you’re wasting time)."

Control information overoad, she continues, and make use of those tools that can save you a lot of time, such as WordPress for blogging or Google Reader to streamline your reading.

If you're in a situation at work or some other circumstance in which you find yourself answering the same e-mail question over and over, Nasland suggests creating a "template" that you can use to cut and paste common responses. Or set up a link to answers for a set of frequently asked questions. I like that one.

And when you don't have the answer, she says "communicate expectations." If you can't get to something for a day or two, say so, or refer people to somebody else who may be able to help.

But my two favorites are the last on her list: 8. Establish routines; and 9. Unplug:

If you set aside specific hours in your day, turn off other distractions. (Yes, it’s okay to close your e-mail program). Put your phone on Do Not Disturb or let it go to voicemail. Even 30 minutes of focused time on a single task, on a regular basis can ramp up your productivity.

and

Get offline. Go outside. Take a bath. Play with your kid. Go to the movies. Or go to an in-person event or Tweetup. There is nothing that will derail your social media efforts more than never walking away from them.

We all need to break from time to time ...

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(Photo credit: "Time Flies..." by kamera.obskura, courtesy of Flickr.com/Creative Commons)

Class Assignment: Seth Godin and Standing Out

Recently students in my News Reporting class practiced taking notes and writing a speech story. Their speaker was marketing maven Seth Godin, and the speech was a talk he gave way back in 2003 at a conference sponsored by TED - Technology, Education, Design.

The talk is about standing out, being remarkable, and the topic is every bit as relevant today as it was when he first delivered this talk.

It's worth 18 minutes of your time if you've never seen it before. I learn something new every time I watch it.

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Critical Literacies for the Information Age

How does somebody become a "savvy media consumer," wading through all the media muck to determine "the truth"? Or is the truth unattainable?

I'll explore these questions when I join three other speakers -- Richenda Hawkins, Callie Palmer and and Gary Westford -- in addressing "Critical Literacies for the Information Age" at 12:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, in the Diversity Achievement Center at LBCC.

While I try to tackle media literacy, my colleagues will examine:

• Information Literacy (Richenda Hawkins)
• The Fine Arts (Gary Westford)
• Cultural Competency (Callie Palmer)

The event, organized by Bryan Miyagishima, is part of recognizing "National Information Literacy Month." The brown bag panel discussion is hosted by the LBCC Library.

Brief opening remarks will be followed by a Q&A session for the entire panel. It runs until about 1:15 p.m.

All LBCC faculty, staff, students and others are invited to attend.

"Who should come?" Miyagishima asks, "anyone interested in how technology, society, and culture are shaping the lives and education of the LBCC community. This is meant to be an informative, engaging, and thought-provoking hour..."

And if the discussion doesn't sound inviting enough, "We're providing desserts!" Miyagishima promises.

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(Photo credit: "Information Overload" by DeaPeaJay, courtesy of Flickr.com/Creative Commons)

Harrower Leads Writing, Editing, Design Workshop

Design guy and journalism textbook author Tim Harrower is leading a workshop on newswriting, editing and news design Saturday, Nov. 14, in Wilsonville, Ore. The deadline to sign up is Friday, Oct. 30.

The daylong workshop, "Futurizing Your Newspaper," will feature sessions focusing on writing "tighter and smarter," thinking like a digital journalist, upgrading your Web site, planning bigger and better packages, and crafting stronger headlines.

Advance registration is $50 for the day, $30 for a half day (and $10 off for students). It runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Best Western Willamette Inn, 30800 S.W. Parkway Blvd., in Wilsonville, just south of Portland off of Interstate 5.

For more information or to sign up, go to http://timharrower.com/oregonworkshop.html.

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SPJ Offers Training for Journalists, Students

Journalists, both the professional and the student variety, have an outstanding opportunity to learn from other experts this Saturday, Oct. 24, at the University of Oregon.

The Oregon and Southwest Washington chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists will host the third annual "Building at Better Journalist" conference in UO's School of Journalism and Communication (Allen Hall). Registration opens at 8 a.m., with the keynote talk at 9 a.m.

On the agenda are sessions on writing, mobile reporting, producing video for the Web, covering business before and after a crisis, and career-building. Speakers include reporters, editors and photojournalists from the Oregonian, Investigate West, Willamette Week, KGW Media Group, ReadWriteWeb and the New York Times.

Click here for more details...

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Facebook "Fan" Sites Drive News Views

Ben McConnell put it this way: "Facebook fan pages are the future."

He was talking specifically about marketing, networking, serving customers. I'm thinking, "Facebook fan pages are the future ... of media?"

What gets me thinking about this is the fact that the college newspaper I advise, The Commuter, attracted more than a hundred fans in less than a week. The students were surprised, having no idea that many people might care what the newspaper says or does online. What's most surprising is how fast the number of fans can expand. Naturally, you'd assume that it's because you're giving them something interesting and engaging to read and interactive with.

And that's the key. They can interact. Facebook makes it easy to "like" what you see, comment or interact with others who share your interests.

As McConnell notes:

Facebook fan pages are the future for three reasons: They're free, easy to create and build a nearly instantaneous pathway to evangelists, prospects or the curious.

When fans interact with a fan page on Facebook, that interaction is sent through the fan's news feed, which goes to all their friends, practically daring a chunk of them to see what the page is about.

Compared to Twitter, Facebook fan pages rule. You're not limited by Twitter's 140-character posts, plus it's far easier for fan page members to preview a photo, video or weblink than what Twitter offers.

The Commuter staff made a renewed commitment this summer to more fully integrate social networking into their news delivery mix, along with "thinking Web-first" in covering news and making it available ASAP to their readers and "fans."

It seems to be paying off.

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How to Blog Every Day - Tips From a Pro

One of the biggest challenges that young writers face is simply getting into the habit of writing. In my classes at Linn-Benton Community College, I require my students to start a blog (to see some of the results, look to the right). Why do I do this? Because it forces them to come up with new stories and photos each week. It forces them into the writing or creativity habit.

In "How to Blog Almost Every Day," Chris Brogan describes some of the tools he uses to maintain the habit. These include:

• Read something new every day.
• Talk with people every day.
• Find 20-40 minutes in every day to sit still and type.
• Find useful and interesting pictures.

And my favorite: "Get the post up fast, not perfect. You can edit if you have to, later. Perfectionism kills good habits."

I couldn't agree more.

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p.s. I'm about halfway through Brogan's new book, "Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust," and recommend it highly.

VentureBeat Explores Changes at Facebook

A new story in VentureBeat looks behind the scenes at Facebook and recent decisions by its chief, Mark Zuckerberg. The article by Matt Marshall considers whether all the leadership changes at Facebook reflect chaos or a maturing enterprise (and a maturing 25-year-old billionaire CEO).

Among the juicier nuggets:

If you look closely enough at Facebook, for all the chaos that still reigns at the company amid the frantic product launches, there is emerging a paradoxical appreciation for order and process. The company’s new digs exemplify this: Zuckerberg has placed his desk at the geometric center of the new building — located at the shortest walking distance form any point in the building.

and

Despite the signs of Zuckerberg’s personal development, insiders say he has always displayed qualities that make him a leader. He is relentlessly competitive. Last month, he and other engineers challenged each other to do 5,000 pushups in a week. Zuckerberg vowed he could do it, but others doubted him, placing 30-to-1 odds against it. ... Zuckerberg insisted the goal was easily attainable. He took regular breaks throughout the day to do 10-15 pushups, even if he was in the middle of a meeting with visitors. He completed the 5,000.

Recently I had a chance to read "The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook - A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal" by Ben Mezrich. It echoes many of the observations in the VentureBeat article, especially Zuckerberg's unpredictable yet mercurial nature. Although less insightful than I had hoped (lack of access to Zuckerberg being the primary shortcoming) it's a fast read and interesting enough to recommend to students in my Media & Society class.

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New Online: Did You Know 4.0

Fans of the Karl Fisch video "Did You Know" get treated to a new-and-improved, media-centric upgrade in the just released "Did You Know 4.0." This is terrific. I plan to show it Tuesday when my Fall term Media & Society class meets for the first time.

The "Did You Know" videos have been a great way to start the term, mostly because students are surprised, no, shocked, by some of the rapid changes happening in our world and the clever way they are presented: Can you name the country that will soon have the most English speakers?

That would be China. Or how many Google searches are conducted each month? (See Version 3.0 below).

The new version focuses more on media, but it's eye-opening nonetheless. I can hardly wait to see students' reaction.

Commenting on Version 4.0, Fisch, a Colorado educator, wrote:

The various versions have been viewed well over 20 millions times. ... It’s been shown to audiences large and small, educational and corporate and everything in between. It's been shown to the leaders of our national defense and to incoming congressmen. It’s been shown by university presidents and kindergarten teachers, televangelists and politicians, folks just trying to make a buck and those trying to save the world. ...

What does it all mean? (Well, besides the self-referential and now self-serving answer of “Shift Happens.”) I think the fact that a simple little PowerPoint (some folks would say simplistic and they would be right – it was meant to be the start of a conversation, not the entire conversation) can be viewed by so many folks and start so many conversations means that we live in a fundamentally different world than the one I (and most of you reading this) grew up in.

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Facebook, Twitter Revolution? NOT!

In this interesting TED talk, journalist Evgeny Morozov goes against the grain, suggesting that social networks don't necessary promote freedom and democracy, but in fact are a tool used by dictators and repressive regimes to solidify their power.

Morozov points to the Twitter "revolution" in Iran, for example, and notes that social networks made it easier for the government to keep tabs on the opposition rather than empowering Iranians to overthrow the ruling party.

"The KGB used to torture to get this information," he says at one point, "now it's all online."

It's an interesting point of view that deserves some consideration amid all the hoopla over social networking and it's role in social change.

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p.s. If you read this blog, you already know how much a fan I am of TED - Technology, Education, Design. See why by checking out the new list of video topics at TED.com.

In Search of the Credible News Source

The editor of the Commuter, Ryan Henson, is working on a story about media credibility and trust, and how news consumers can find what they need, namely, reliable news and information.

In his quest, he sent me a couple questions for comment. Here's how I responded:

1. What are some responsible ways that we, as citizens, can stay informed?

The best way to stay informed is to be open to a diversity of news and information sources, from NPR to newspapers, both print and online; from cable TV to network newscasts; from local TV news to area radio; as well as magazines and the advertising all around us.

Too often we get locked into the same sources of information, which can restrict the points of view we read, see and hear. It's immensely beneficial to be aware of what all sides are saying, especially on controversial issues, such as health care, the bailout and spending on higher education.

2. How do you feel about the current handling of news events by the media? If anything, what should they do differently?

Different media appeal to different people. While I may not agree with opinions expressed on CNN, or NPR or Fox, there are many other information consumers who do. Media is a business, after all, and one of its chief concerns is building and maintaining an audience.

In the end, each media outlet establishes its own level of credibility. It's up to consumers to decide how much they are willing to believe. That's why it's so important for people to be savvy information processers. Don't believe everything you see, hear or read. Get the whole story before making up your mind.

How would you answer Ryan's query?

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(Photo credit: "Trust" by SeenyaRita courtesy of Flickr.com)

Stories Soar Through Personal Connections

As I work with young reporters in the journalism program at Linn-Benton Community College, one of the things I stress is honing the ability to tell a good story. I find among the best news and feature stories are ones that not only focus on a compelling person or topic, but also engage us because the writer has a personal connection to the subject.

From the first words of "How a Professor Taught Me to Consult My Stomach," I was captivated by Barbara Bradley Hagarty's admiration for her college professor, Dr. Stocking:

I remember sitting in Shakespeare class, basking in my good luck. The wait list was nearly 100 people, but here I was, a new student at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., watching the legendary Fred Stocking in action. In 1979, Dr. Stocking was a year shy of retirement, an icon to four decades of students in this small college in the Berkshires. He was lean and meticulous, with a bow tie and thick white hair, and he lived Shakespeare — doting on Puck, thundering through Hamlet, and lifting our gaze from the crass pursuit of A's to the beauty of weathered truths.

He encouraged me to make writing my career, and then unwittingly shaped that career. ...

What a wonderful picture Hagarty creates. Of course, this being the age of new media, this NPR story online is accompanied by a portrait of the professor and the audio version features him speaking as well as singing.

Yes, I'm a softy for features like this one, and the ending doesn't disappoint. You might want to grab a Kleenex.

Some of my students have achieved similar success weaving their personal connections to their subject into their writing. One student wrote about an experience at a drug rehab center for teens, while another regular writes about family, faith, politics and other topics on his blog.

Their writing succeeds because they didn't settle for sharing "just the facts." Instead we get to spend a few moments in their shoes, experiencing life through somebody else's senses.

As a new term approaches, I'm looking forward to working among another group of students with a lifetime of stories to begin sharing.

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McAdams Shares Multimedia Toolbox for Journalists

It's the next best thing to a great journalism textbook. Wait, I think it may be better in so many ways...

Mindy McAdams has compiled her 15 terrific posts that make up the "Reporter's Guide to Multimedia Proficiency" into an elegant one-stop PDF. She goes from reading and creating blogs to editing audio and delivering multimedia presentations.

Every "chapter" begins with a note of encouragement, such as this one on taking photos:

Every journalist should be able to capture a decent photo in a breaking news situation. You might be the only journalist on the scene. Sure, today it’s likely that 100 people with cell-phone cameras will be on the scene too—but why shouldn’t YOU be the one who captures the Page One image that gets picked up by Reuters or AFP and zapped around the world?

Best of all, Mindy doesn't get bogged down in technical jargon or debates over which software is better than the next -- just the tools to set you sailing. The guide is loaded with links to excellent examples and other resources.

As one of her many "fans" (Jack Zibluk) commented: "It’s all here. it’s succinct and comprehensive. The guide provides a solid foundation for anybody interested in multi-media storytelling. It’s great for beginners, and has useful tips for advanced practitioners."

I too am looking forward to sharing Mindy's excellent guide with my media students this fall.

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Make "Web-first" Your News-gathering Mantra

Having trouble building that "Web-first" mindset into your news-gathering operation? This CoPress slide show may be just what you and your staff need to get rolling ... finally ...

It lays out a week-by-week to-do list and inspires at the same time. Here's an example:

Week 6-9: Really take control of live and breaking coverage. This can be as simple as posting event recaps (e.g. sports games, debates, concerts) online within a few hours after they’re over, because that’s when people will be looking. During those same events, post pictures and tweets that your readers will be interested in, and make sure to keep an eye on feedback from your users too.

It's got a variety of good reminders, items that will make you say "duh" but wonder why you're not doing them, and a simple game plan for getting the job done.

So what are you waiting for?

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Am I an Annoying Facebooker?

I post useful, interesting information on Facebook and should keep doing what I'm doing, according to a CNN.com quiz on using the social networking site. Yea for me.

Brandon Griggs has some fun identifying "The 12 Most Annoying Types of Facebookers" in his CNN report, which includes a somewhat interesting video discussion of social networking and the aforementioned quiz.

Sadly, I think I have some "Town Crier" tendencies and occasionally become the "Self-Promoter." At least I'm not the "Sympathy-Baiter," and my friend count disqualifies me as a "Friend-Padder."

As Griggs notes:

Sure, Facebook can be a great tool for keeping up with folks who are important to you. Take the status update, the 160-character message that users post in response to the question, "What's on your mind?" An artful, witty or newsy status update is a pleasure -- a real-time, tiny window into a friend's life. But far more posts read like navel-gazing diary entries, or worse, spam.

Now that I have a name for the "Maddening Obscurist" and can effectively avoid the "Chronic Inviter," I vow to be better in not so harshly judging the "Bad Grammarian."

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p.s. Thanks, Lydia, for alerting me to this CNN item by way of Facebook, and providing fodder for a long-overdue blog update.

(Photo credit: "Facebook" by Scott Beale/Laughing Squid courtesy of Flickr.com)

What's Your Brand? Tips for the Job Search

Journalists, especially those looking for their first job or a new one, need to know a thing or two about marketing. Specifically, how to market themselves. What's your brand?

Journalism educator Mindy McAdams offers 10 tips for journalists on building their personal brand. Here's the first four on the list:

1. People in your field should know who you are.
2. Someone who Googles your first and last name should be able to find out who you are.
3. Your online self-representation should demonstrate that you are a serious, ethical journalist.
4. Samples of your best work should be linked to your home page or online (HTML) resume.

Some of the tips may seem like, well, duh ... but I'm always surprised how many folks overlook the obvious, and it costs them when it comes to moving on or moving up.

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(Photo credit: "shhhhhh ... i'm huntin jobs" by Aaron Edwards, courtesy of Flickr.com)

When You've Only Got Time to Scan...

This week the Media & Society class is examining newspapers, their storied history and their uncertain future. One of the students' assignments is to discuss ideas for transforming newspapers so they can survive and grow.

Obviously, this is going to take some innovation. So speaking of innovation, 10,000 Words alerted followers to a unique headline service that USA Today is trying out.

Called "NewsDeck," it features scrolling headlines in eight categories that correspond to the newspaper's regular sections: News, Sports, Money, Life... When you find a headline that interests you, click and it takes you to the story on USA Today's Web site.

It's kind of funky. Who knows whether it will catch on, or if other newspapers can do something similar.

NewsDeck is one of several headline-service innovations highlighted by 10,000 Words. The others are from the New York Times, Google and DoodleBuzz.

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Facebook Alert: When Social Networking Becomes Criminal

We're all well aware that employers use Facebook to screen job applicants and that divorce lawyers love what they can dig up on the social networking site. But what about more evil uses of this routine -- though powerful -- medium.

An opinion piece on NPR.org described how Iranian agents are using Facebook to track those who may disagree with the government, along with all their friends. It's pretty frightening.

As Evgeny Morozov notes:

"... It means that the Iranian authorities are paying very close attention to what's going on Facebook and Twitter (which, in my opinion, also explains why they decided not to take those web-sites down entirely - they are useful tools of intelligence gathering).

Second, it means, as far as authorities are concerned, our online and offline identities are closely tied and we have to be fully prepared to be quizzed about any online trace that we have left."

It's unsettling to think that forwarding messages or supporting others involved in causes may land somebody in the gulag -- or worse!

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(Photo credit: "tyranny" by rachaelvoorhees, courtesy of Flickr.com)

Godin Talks Blogging with Groundswell

Most who read this column already know that I'm a fan of Seth Godin.

So here's a unique opportunity to pick up a few tips from one of the masters of marketing and media -- an interview on Groundswell by Josh Bernoff.

Asked about his daily blogging routine, Godin responded:

One reason I encourage people to blog is that the act of doing it stretches your available vocabulary and hones a new voice. You won’t get it for a while, but you’ll get it. To one person who wrote in and said he didn’t think he had anything interesting to say, I asked him whether he was boring in person too? Boring at breakfast? Boring on a date? That boring?! Probably not.

And on inspiration:

How come some people can visit a place like New York and see a thousand amazing things, take hundreds of great photos (like Thomas Hawk) or even write a novel... and other people visit, eat at Applebee’s and send home a John Lennon postcard? It's not where you go, it’s what you look for.

As a daily Godin reader, I find value in most of what Seth shares. (I have to disagree on "not eating bacon," however.) And my classes have enjoyed watching several of his speeches on TED.com. I think you will too.

Finally, as Seth urged on his own blog yesterday: "Go ahead, do something impossible."

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Making Multimedia Fun

Amid all the serious talk about journalism and its role in our democracy, it's always good to keep watch on the media landscape for all the fun stuff that many journalists and others are doing out there.

Here's a few examples, beginning with the LBCC production of the the "pop-up" roadrunner, the school's mascot. It's now getting some run on the Commuter Web site. It was put together by some of the creative types at LBCC's Student Life and Leadership office.

The second is a piece from the New York Times called "The Water Dance." Though dated and maybe better titled "The Slush Dance," it's still fun to watch, especially for those of us from not-so-mild home states. (Thanks to 10,000 Words for bringing this to my attention.)

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New Commuter Crew on Board for Summer

Summer may be a slow time on campus, but several LBCC journalism students are putting their reporting, writing, photography and other talents to work this summer at the Commuter.

The online campus information and entertainment resource is marking its first anniversary this summer. The new staff is looking to add a variety of new features this year and regular readers can expect to begin seeing some changes later this summer.

The core group includes new Editor-in-chief Ryan Henson, Managing Editor Max Brown and Photo Editor Eve Bruntlett.

If there's something you'd like to see in the Commuter or have other comments to share with the staff, drop them a line at commuter@linnbenton.edu or call 541-917-4451.

The editors also are looking to fill out the staff heading into the 2009-10 school year, so be sure to let them know if you'd like to contribute this summer and fall.

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A Checklist for Modern Journalists

Feeling ambitious this summer? Now is as good a time as any to develop the skills you will need to be a better journalist. Or to break into the business if you're just out of college or soon to be looking for a job in the media.

10,000 Words has compiled a list of 30 things a new journalism grad should do this summer to make her/himself more marketable. Actually, this is a great list for any journalist who wants to thrive in the new media. Some of the more interesting and challenging tasks on the list include:

5. Become a part of a crowdsourcing project

6. Improve at least 5 Wikipedia entries

10. Create and maintain a Delicious account with at least 50 links that you find interesting

16. Learn another programming language besides HTML (e.g. XML, PHP, MySQL)

17. Create an avatar and use it on all your social networking profiles

22. Interview 10 people using a video camera

23. Create a map mashup using a CSV file

If this seems daunting, then write up No. 30 and tape it to your computer: Remind yourself why you want to be a journalist.

For more, see "The New Visual Journalist" on Mindy McAdams' blog, Teaching Online Journalism. Among those she interviews is Colin Mulvany, a photojournalist/multimedia producer at The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Wash. As he notes:

“I firmly believe there will be no more just reporters or just photographers. We all need to have crossover skills. The Web demands it.”

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Photo credit: "Creative Commons Creativity Poster" by maven, courtesy of Flickr.com

Words to Inspire

Having an off day? Need a pick me up?

Try these words of inspiration from gonzo marketing guy Seth Godin:

• When you love the work you do and the people you do it with, you matter.
• When you are so gracious and generous and aware that you think of other people before yourself, you matter.
• When you teach and forgive and teach more before you rush to judge and demean, you matter.

For more of the same see "You Matter."

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Photo credit: "August 20, 2008 - Inspiration pt3" by Stephen Poff, courtesy of Flickr.com

Revolution in the Twittersphere

Fascinated by what's going on in Iran? BuzzMachine blogger Jeff Jarvis and Thomas Friedman of the New York Times offer a pair of useful commentaries on social networking vs. despotism.

In "The Virtual Mosque," Friedman writes:

What is fascinating to me is the degree to which in Iran today — and in Lebanon — the more secular forces of moderation have used technologies like Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, blogging and text-messaging as their virtual mosque, as the place they can now gather, mobilize, plan, inform and energize their supporters, outside the grip of the state.

For the first time, the moderates, who were always stranded between authoritarian regimes that had all the powers of the state and Islamists who had all the powers of the mosque, now have their own place to come together and project power: the network. The Times reported that Moussavi’s fan group on Facebook alone has grown to more than 50,000 members. That’s surely more than any mosque could hold — which is why the government is now trying to block these sites.

Adds Jarvis:

Of course, Twitter - and Facebook and blogs and camera phones - alone cannot win a revolution. They cannot protect their users from government’s bullets and jails, as we have seen all to tragically in Iran. ... Fighting for freedom requires courage and risk we must not underestimate. But at least these tools allow allies to find each other and to let the world know of their plight. For thanks to the fact that anyone in the world - outside of North Korea - now has a printing press and a broadcast tower, they can be assured that the whole world is watching.

Also see:

• "How Twitter Creates Social Bonds with the Iranian Protesters" on Reportr.net.
• New York Times slide show
• Twitter Lessons on Revolution
• MediaShift on Iran's Citizen Journalists
  
• Twitter and Personal Branding
  

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(Photo credit: "Iran Protests for 5th Straight Day" by .faramarz, courtesy of Flickr.com)

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