Wednesday, May 31, 2006
NMU (05/30/2006): Court applies reporter's privilege to Web site operator
Web news is news if it is news...no legal way to distinguish or rate published information that acts like news...NMU (05/30/2006): Court applies reporter's privilege to Web site operator: "'The shield law is intended to protect the gathering and dissemination of news,' Presiding Justice Conrad L. Rushing wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel for the California Court of Appeal in San Jose. 'We can think of no workable test or principle that would distinguish 'legitimate' from 'illegitimate' news.'"
Quick takes
Warner is going to let viewers vote on which classic movies they want to see go to DVD. Coices include "The Man Who loved Cat Dancing" and such. Give the people what they want...Warner movie-to-DVD contest set to begin | CNET News.com
Mashups are combinations of applications that provide neat ways to "slice" the Internet. Google Green Summer combines the google map API and video tours of 5 cities featuring what's green in the cities. It includes tips for searching for "environmentally friendly" vacations.
By "green" Google means "things that are earth friendly," Calvert said. That includes "restaurants that are about sustainable living" and "a car service in New York that only uses (gas-electric hybrid) Prius vehicles," she said.I'm always a believer in "put your money where your mouth is. "CinemaNow, which is based in Santa Monica, Calif., said Disney's home video division, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, will offer movies on a download-to-own basis for PCs and portable devices on the same day they are available on DVD."
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Mr. Sun!:Citizen Journalist-- Starter Pack!
I have a grant now to do citizen journalism development. It is summer session and I actually have time to write some stories, but before I get too high on my citizen journalism horse, I like to revisit "Mr. Sun" and the citizen journalist starter pack. It helps puts things in perspective...Mr. Sun!: Mr. Sun Citizen Journalist Starter Pack!
Advertising Age - MediaWorks - HBO Creates MySpace 'Entourage'
Life mimics art? HBO decides to create "Entourages" around the return of the series "Entourage."Advertising Age - MediaWorks - HBO Creates MySpace 'Entourage'
The new way to view or what are You lookin' at?
The rule of threes comes into play in this item. The gist is that video on demand, or the media formerly known as television, is migrating very quickly to any format but the old fixed set in the den. The implications for media businesses involved in video production, for entertainment industries, and for education (as in your students have a different set of media ratios than you do, teacher) are significant.
Story one details youtube.com's rise to bigtime web siteness as in
Visitors to the site view more than 50 million videos a day, mostly made by amateurs. Its audience has mushroomed to 12.5 million a month, making it the chief place people go online to watch video. It has become one of the 50 most visited Web sites overall.The NYTIMES magazine (registration req'd.) focused on MTV's attempts to
"I'd argue that if there's anyone out there who knows what a 15-year-old wants, it's MTV." Considering "Beavis and Butt-head" and "Jackass," he could well be right. But does MTV know what a 15-year-old will want on his phone?Even BusinessWeek is talking about this, though they refreshingly look at people like many of us, who are older than the coveted demographic (18-24) and find that between Netflix and downloads of television shows from Internet, that many people are just not turning the "boob tube" in its traditional form, on anymore.
Problem is, traditional TV providers may not be switching gears fast enough. "The technology is there, but all operators have a lot of things on their plate," says David Alsobrook, a director of video products at set-top box maker Scientific Atlanta, a division of Cisco (CSCO). "You can overwhelm the consumer with too many things." Or worse -- you can underwhelm them with too few.This is nothing new. What is fascinating to me, is this television thing has pretty much unfolded as McLuhan said these changes would. The new technologies arrive. They are disruptive, though not purposely so. The people in charge, in this case of broadcast businesses, look at the future through a rear-view mirror, meaning they try to fit new tech and what the "public" wants to do into their pre-conceived "framework" of what their business is. But because they have been looking out through their old frame, they are shocked, try and legislate against change, and often go so far as to equate the change with moral decline, stupidity, or even evil. Added after initial posting: Breaking my rule of threes, but this is the new "wave" of news it seems, Google and video on Internet
Chicago Public Radio - 848
Here is a smart match up-- the cool radio program 848 and gapersblock's calendar of events. I predict some synergy out of this move. Chicago Public Radio - 848: "Gapers Block and Eight Forty-Eight
Starting today, the popular local news and culture site Gapers Block is a permanent fixture on the Eight Forty-Eight page! The Gapers Block calendar Slowdown is considered one of the best online resources for local events. Eight Forty-Eight has established itself as the pre-eminent radio program for all the details behind those events. Bringing the two sources together offers Chicagoans one-stop for all they need to know in the area."
MediaGuardian.co.uk | Press&publishing | Reuters recruits 100 journalists
This is news. A MSM journalistic entity is hiring reporters and editors. And if I was a young journalist I would pay special attention to the coverage of "sport" in this case the "World Cup." Particularly,the use of journalists writing in languages other than English and also how this will be the "China century."
The company is hiring 21 political and general news journalists across the world and 12 new editors for its global picture desk, which is now run from Singapore following a reorganisation. Reuters is also hiring special journalists to write about religion, terrorism, health and entertainment.MediaGuardian.co.uk | Press&publishing | Reuters recruits 100 journalists
Silver is the new blonde says the Tribune.
This photo is unretouched. Norm has been in style for some time now, and hasn't realized it.
Note the little picture story bottom left.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Who's a journalist? Now we know, thanks to Apple | Perspectives | CNET News.com
You probably have heard about the Apple trade secrets case. Apple went after bloggers and possible leakers of information about its products. The case was settled in way that sets a precedent that makes treats blogging as journalism. This is a good short summary about the case. Who's a journalist? Now we know, thanks to Apple | Perspectives | CNET News.com
Play the "game" of designing transporation for the future
Thanks to Andrew Huff via Chicagobloggers.
The Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS), the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC) and the Regional Planning Board (RPB) are conducting interactive meetings where you will have the opportunity to comment on the /Update of the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan. The meetings will be engaging and useful for you, as well as for us.
Seven participatory meetings will be held throughout northeastern Illinois. The meetings are designed to gather your ideas, wherever you
live, using the innovative tool Transopoly.
You are welcome to attend.
All meetings begin at 6:30 with a sign-in and socializing period. The facilitated sessions last from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. For more information,
please see www.sp2030.com
Friday, May 26, 2006
Social Networks as a way to get rich? Not yet, but...
Here are some interesting ideas about how social networking and P2P technologies can allow individuals to pool their resources and get ahead. Works for Me: Peer-to-peer money - CNET reviews
I have an abiding interest in the efforts like Prosper which looks to me like a high tech version of a Grameen bank. Isn't this the way we should help each other?
Thursday, May 25, 2006
The charges vs. Lay, Skilling
Here is a great concise wrap up of the counts and how the verdicts fell out for the theives of Enron. The charges vs. Lay, Skilling
News is not Assertion and Opinion. Score one for Google.
The banned site's perspective with links to stories that Google cited as examples of "hate speech." I read them over for myself. One is totally obvious with references to "Muslim savages." The others may not be as obvious, but substitute a group that you belong to or our sensitive about for "Islam" or "Muslim" in the stories, whether that word is a gender, race, ethnic or just some social group designation, and it is pretty clear. The stories read like talk radio often sounds -- half-truths and assertions that aren't factual. Opinion and emotion words abound.
So Google decided not to index the sites as "news." And here is what they are doing-- calling for an anti-Google boycott.
The Anti-Google Search Engine Index – The New Media Journal.us
Nashville Scene - Thin News, Fat Profits
A former reporter, now a journalism teacher decries the "dumbing down" of newspapers owned by the corporate chains. In this case he takes Gannett and especially the Tennessean to task.
It is too long, but he makes some good points, especially about where the bright students in journalism see themselves going after graduation. Its not to the local bland newspaper.Nashville Scene - Thin News, Fat Profits
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
The Dead Formats Society
How much of your work is no longer viewable except on dead media devises? Has your work been destroyed to preserve it? The whole notion of archiving, the connection to 1984 and the "Memory Hole" and our seemingly blithe changes from one media to another every year, with the concommitant obsoleting of media playerback devices, and thus an accumulation of remembered by unvisitable media is unsettling.Wired News: The Dead Formats Society
Poynter Online - E-Media Tidbits
Great minds think alike. Amy lists most of my "have to use" apps. I am finding that with my hosted content managment system, I need to use outside media storage and so Podziner and Blinkx are useful.
I really use del.icio.us more than I do Furl, but both are great for keeping track of one's browsing 'verse.
I have the cocomment thing on my site, but my style of browsing hasn't really called it into use much. As the semester business winds up, I think I will go back to commenting on sites and try and use cocomment to keep track of the multiple discussions. Poynter Online - E-Media Tidbits
Monday, May 22, 2006
Reality check on Pew Research
Read over this chart. It shows landline folks opinion (which is weighted to account for sampling considerations) contrasted with cellphone only folks (not weighted--about 10% of the population now, and then a column where Pew has "blended" and weighted the two. What is your take on whether the cellphone only folks opinions are different than the landline folks. And, when you look at the "blended" column, does it seem that factoring in the cellphoners makes little or no difference in the poll results?
To me, it looks like adding them in does little to the landline only overall rating, but disguises the big differences in the cell only people's opinions.
While only 10% at this time, they are younger and have other demographics. I'm going go back to my stats books and write more about this, but my first reaction is that pollsters are "wishing and hoping and praying" that giving up landlines isn't going to disrupt their business, but it looks like it will, to me. 
The full study with the data:Summary of Findings: The Cell Phone Challenge to Survey Research
The full study with the data:Summary of Findings: The Cell Phone Challenge to Survey Research
Is this public relations or "buy a reporter"
I might need to consult an expert about some of these security areas, but I am kind of sceptical of the way this site promotes itself. Looks like you can "buy a voice" or something...Mighty Scribe Media Relations - About Us
Pearl Jam's “Life Wasted” video released under a CC license | Creative Commons
Pearl Jam, the band that tried (but failed) to fight Ticketron's monopoly on booking venues is doing its fans a creative favor. Pearl Jam's “Life Wasted” video released under a CC license | Creative Commons
Freedom of the Press at Risk
You can't have freedom through repression. You can't have lawfulness by having a law-breaking administration. By the time these neo-cons are done, there won't be any freedoms to worry about protecting. If you haven't registered to vote, get out there and do it. Do it for ME if you don't see why voting might make a difference. Then look for alternatives to those currently in power who are abusing their postions. Try it. You'll like it. Freedom of the Press at Risk
Clueless about IT issues department
I work at a College. Summer school is about to begin. We do not use Blackboard, but some old (e.g. pre-WSIWYG) version of jenzabar which is bad enough. I know, I have two kids who attended other colleges so I have seen how an academic online sytem can work...this is an actual email about upcoming service outages.
Five days in computer time is a lifetime. What else can I say, but read all about the Cluetrain which some of our IT dept. might just have missed Cluetrain Manifesto
On Friday, June 2nd at 3:00 pm, the OASIS portal will be upgraded to a new version of the software. This upgrade process will take a minimum of 5 days. Therefore, the Oasis portal will be down from Friday, June 2, through Thursday, June 8th. No students or faculty will be able to access the portal during this time. Students and faculty who are registered for or are teaching summer courses are urged to print syllabi and any required handouts or documents from the portal before Friday, June 2nd at 3:00 pm. OASIS email will be available via http://myoasis.colum.edu/. After the update a new portal format will be available for faculty and student use. The IT Department
Never underestimate the power of cartography
Are Yahoo maps using Japanese place names and leaving out the South Korean place names?United Press International - NewsTrack - Yahoo! Maps panned by South Korea group
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
More on net neutrality
SIVA VAIDHYANATHA is a prof at NYU. He speaks out about copyright (and copywrongs) and here he lays out the whole "what is net neutrality question" and why its important. The site has a link to the MP3 from NPR and also the transcript. If you don't know why this is important, then you really need to read this.netneutrality
My Representative is looking for OUR interests
From Rep. Jan Schakowsky regarding her position on net neutrality. Go Jan, go.
Dear Ms. Iverson:
Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to
Internet providers creating different tiers of speed and quality of service
for different content and applications offered on the web. I appreciate
hearing from you, and I share your concerns.
I believe the Internet is a vibrant source of innovative services,
applications and information that has thrived from consumers deciding
which websites have the most to offer them. I am concerned that,
without meaningful competition or established principles of "net
neutrality," cable and telephone companies who own and control
broadband networks may decide to treat content, services, and
applications transmitted over their wires differently. For instance, they
may choose to prioritize their own content and services or those of
others who can afford to pay a premium price. Cable and phone
companies have begun talking about charging Internet-based
companies access fees for preferential speeds, creating a fast lane and a
slow lane on the Internet. Those tactics would undermine competition
and innovation that consumers have come to expect from the Internet.
Consumers, not the network operator, should determine winners and
losers in the online marketplace.
As you may know, I serve on the Energy and Commerce
Committee, which recently considered legislation, H.R. 5252, the
Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act that
would amend current telecommunication laws. Unfortunately, the bill
has no provisions to ensure that the Internet remains open and
unfettered. I voted for an amendment offered by Representative
Markey which would preserve the Internet. It was rejected by a vote of
34-22, and, because it was not included in the bill, I voted against final
passage. The bill is currently awaiting floor consideration. I will
continue to fight for net neutrality.
Again, I appreciate hearing from you. Please do not hesitate to
contact me whenever I may be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Jan Schakowsky,
Member of Congress
Hackers, programmers, we need ways to protect our stuff from "Big Brother" spying
The whole issue of the govt. entities turning their spying on legitimate work by citizens makes me remember "The Sheep Look Up" by John Bruner. In case you haven't read that one, and you should check it out, there are "worms" that citizens can upload into the main information stream that screw up the govt. spying algorithms...hmmm.
The Blotter: "Federal"
Monday, May 15, 2006
MiamiHerald.com | 05/15/2006 | Is 'convergence' the next media disaster?
I don't like to rat out people my age (Boomers) but I think behind stories like this is a "generation gap." Yes, putting cameras in the hands of all reporters won't automatically produce prize-winning, heart-rending photojournalism. But what percentage of existing photojournalism is "great?" Expecting all reporters to be able to document news in a photo won't keep a great photojournalist down.
What the real problem here is not the tech, or the convergence, it is the business model that is cutting staff in newsrooms today instead of investing in good reporters and other news staff.
When your business depends on selling a product that is losting value (paper copies, video copies) -- information in a particular format -- you are in a dying business. But it is your business model that is dying, not the desire for news or not even the willingness to pay for information. Read my previous post or Kevin Kelly's "Scan the Book" from NYTIMES magazine to see what I mean.
It ain't the copy of the story, its the point of view and news sense that is worth money today.MiamiHerald.com | 05/15/2006 | Is 'convergence' the next media disaster?
Is "document" an anachronism? A couple of good reads.
Let's start with this idea:
"By freeing ourselves from document-oriented thinking, we clear the way towards developing more efficient collaborative infrastructures (as opposed to tying ourselves to the older less efficient ones). So, before we encode that knowledge into some sort of document and debate what the format it should be stored in before we mail it around, why don't we think about the most efficient way to share that knowledge and work from there?"
from IBM VP and OpenDocument Format evangelist Bob Sutor.
So, we are going to be open about the fact that discourse and exchange can occur around ideas that might not find instantiation in a document, either of paper of pixels. Now, consider how our minds work, or as Vannevar Bush put it, As We May Think , which is a messy, non-linear but associative process.
You are discussing communication for example, and someone utters the word "telephone." Depending on your age, hearing the word "telephone" the thought/concept of a wireless cellphone might come to mind and you might think of texting, and then perhaps a friend who recently texted you. For someone my age, "telephone" might trigger a fleeting memory of the days of party-lines and how you had to hang up if your neightbor was using the phone. (In those days, we did not brook surveillance of our private conversations.)
So, instead of thinking in a linear way, our minds dart around based on associations brought up by words, pictures, etc.
Vannevar proposed that the biggest revolution in thinking and technology would come when we devised a method of keeping track of ideas that reflected our natural bent toward association and would allow us to move beyond the artificial, but previously dependable, alphabetical filing method. Librarians have refined the alpha search to include keywords and other subtle refinements that are anything but natural, but are orderly and allow us to follow ideas.
Vannevar said that we need a tool that allows the teacher to pass on a set of "trails" to his or her student that allows the student to traverse the same mental terrain that went into developing a theory or concept.
Then comes Ted Nelson, who proposes hyperlinks, and the actual creation of the WWW which is designed around the use of hyperlinks.
This is leading to the wonderful NYTimes Magazine article by Kevin Kelly Scan this Book from the May 14, 2006 issue. You probably need to register to read this, but IT IS WORTH IT.
Kelly writes clearly and well, somewhere between the overly technical pedant and a reporter who doesn't know the subject very well. His analysis of copyright and his idea of "copyduty" and why the laws on copyright are so out of whack with what is needed to move forward both economically and intellectually, is right on target.
Much of the agonizing over audience loss in the mass media stems from mindsets locked into old business models. Currently, the content industries--books, newspapers, music recording, movies, television, magazines, etc.-- are going through the kind of profound restructuring that the manufacturing industries experienced in the late 20th century.
The old business models are broken. The assumptions underlying them just aren't true anymore. The govt and corporations can try and shore up the failing model, but it is gone like the smoke. Copies don't have any value anymore. It is the intangibles and occasionals around the copies that have value-- personal appearances, "add-ons" and special features.
As an academic, I can see this and not be offended by it, as it likely won't take change the way I make a living too much. But for many in the content industries who have worked hard, it spells drastic change and some of those who found success in mass media in the analog world, won't make the transisition to digital.
But while the future can be slowed or pushed back for a time, "the old order is rapidly changing" and if you can't get out the way or adapt, you're probably a goner, a dead creator walking so to speak.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
New meme alert
First mention I have seen of "skypelag" similar to jet lag.Poynter Online - E-Media Tidbits
Friday, May 12, 2006
AlterNet: Bloggers Strike Back
AlterNet: Bloggers Strike Back
An overview of how blogs have become part of the media environment in the US
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Snakes on a Plane: the intellectual's approach to cultural hysteria
Of course I have been monitoring the "Snakes on a Plane" meme because a) I love Samuel L. b) I am not afraid of snakes and in fact kind of like snakes and c) I love memes.
If you haven't heard of Snakes on a Plane yet, you can catch up via YouTube's collection of videos about Snakes on a Plane. But anyway, I was able to find an intellectual take on why our pop culture goes crazy over basically idiotic things like this. I like this explanation which touches on hysteria, the cold war, Jung and of course, snakes.
Charm School: Snakes on a Mania!
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Media Life Magazine
Media Life Magazine
reports that advertising is changing fast. Craigslist and various new models of advertising from the web are sapping traditional classifieds. But there is still money in them ads...
WASHINGTONIAN: Washington BUZZ
Who gets it? NPR. Leading the media-sphere in podcasting downloads. Content, not the conduit through which we get content, is king.
WASHINGTONIAN: Washington BUZZ
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Did media miss real Colbert story?
From the media critique thread
Yes, the real story is how the supposed watchdogs in Washington have been bought and paid for by their corporate bosses.
Read Bucky Fuller on the passing of the nation/state. Most of the large news orgs today are just extensions of the their corporate parents. How can a news org that is owned by GE ever criticize nuclear power plants, for example.
This includes Doug Elfman's on the mark observations and a transcript of what Colbert said about Bush.
Individual reporters need to shake off their need to near power and get back to being like I.F. Stone--do the research and then ask the questions.
Did media miss real Colbert story?: "This is trouble for the media. It has been losing customers to bloggers and Web sites for years. This won't help. The media's implosion of silence could be one of the final reasons many liberals use to not turn on TV news. It's not like they feel a vested interest in the industry anyway, since it has been bought and parceled by conservatives."
Ideas about bloggers and journalists are getting more sophisticated.
It's good to see that thinking about blogging and journalism is getting more sophisticated.
I am with Jarvis on the call for more open source and reputation ranking as ways to structure and organize and measure what is going on, online.Poynter Online - E-Media Tidbits: "
Text-Stalking"
Are we infantilizing our media?
When is what people say in real life so terrible it must be censored in a documentary? When Marty Scorcese makes a documentary about blues artists, for one.
This repression of words and thus thought really needs to be brought up short. Let the FCC set a time for children's shows and be serious about getting rid of commercials and educating as well as entertaining kids. Then it might be time for them to start acting like the thought police for adult shows. Inside Higher Ed :: Fighting the FCC Over Profanity
Monday, May 08, 2006
Why I post so often about Cyworld....
They have the eyeballs, and the right eyeballs.
I will repeat my critique based on my visit to their headquarters in Seoul--users have to buy everything in the "world." That seems like the over 30s would go for that and some of younger teens, but the solid gamers and other Open Source and "modder" users will want to be able to tweak avatars, backgrounds, and such.
We will see how the English version fares. It is online but in a closed beta test now. Wired News: Koreans Find Secret Cybersauce: "According to the service, Cyworld jumped from 10 million to 13 million users in 2004. A quarter of the country's 48.2 million people have signed up, including 90 percent of the 24- to 29-year-old age group, the company claims."
Update on Cyworld in English
INSIDE JoongAng Daily: "Meanwhile, SK Communications, another SK affiliate, is preparing to launch Cyworld in the United States later this month. The Web-based community portal has been widely successful in Korea. Its American incarnation is currently in a closed test service phase.
“Selected users have been testing the service since December and it will soon be ready for the general public,” said Shin Hee-jung, an SK Communications official in Seoul.
The American Cyworld will be run by SK Communications’ branch in San Francisco, which was established in October last year.
SK Communications has high hopes for Cyworld’s U.S. debut, as the service has been hugely popular in Korea and China. Cyworld in Korea had 17 million members as of April.
"
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Much ado about blogging - Editors Weblog
What people are saying about the blogs, blogosphere and RL (real life. Much ado about blogging - Editors Weblog
Blink Makes Internet World Smaller, Closer
More about how South Korea is beyond us in connectivity and thus usability of broadband. Blink Makes Internet World Smaller, Closer
Sun-Times, Channel 5 forge new partnership
A new partnership. Interesting.Sun-Times, Channel 5 forge new partnership
Why Broadband is Much Better in South Korea
We subsidized the railroads and telephones in another century but now we "forget" the role that govt played in building infrastructures that yield public benefits. Why Broadband is Much Better in South Korea
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
This administration makes Nixon look like maybe he wasn't such a crook...
Good news: U.S. government knows what good reporting and journalism should be.Good Reporters Translate, Interpret the News for Readers
Bad news: They know how to subvert good journalism, and are actively doing so. Mind Games
Managing those pesky Gen Y workers...
Why community counts. This is what news managers haven't "gotten" yet. Insanely good work derives from community. Long hours? If you are having fun and are part of a community, who notices?
My colleague noted that at RTNDA/NAB, managers (read "over 40s") were flummoxed about how to manage "Gen Yers." ( The generation following Generation X, especially people born in the United States and Canada from the early 1980s to the late 1990s.) The new workers don't want to work weekends or the graveyard shift, they don't want to sacrifice their personal life/space for an entry level job that pays around $20K per year "like we all did" say the managers. The managers just think the Gen Ys are spoiled or lazy.
Why did the over 40s ever work like dogs for small pay? Because they saw themselves as part of community that was larger than themselves and that they wanted to join. They were wiling to work "too hard" for the pay because the payoffs were in terms of getting recognized by peers and "making a difference."
The young are no different today. It is the businesses that are different. When everyone "knows" that the large corp you can work for will screw you on any promise of a pension, try and avoid giving you benefits, and cut costs by firing you if they can improve the bottom line, why should the young worker sacrifice for that?
Look at indy publications. The workers there feel they are part of a community. They work hard because they see themselves as assembly-line workers in a word-spewing sausage factory.
Journalism, reporting and writing are as rewarding as they are taken seriously as communication . When words are treated like interchangeable parts of and assembly line product and any interests or special skills one possesses are superfluous because a medicre product will fill the space as well as one's best work, who does care? It would be illogical to devote one's life to such an enterprise.
Toyota showed the world of manual assembly work that treating workers like intelligent collaborators works better than treating them like interchangeable parts. It might be time for news organizations to step out of the corporate silo for minute and consider the gains that can come from a community friendly organization.
Ubantu is free and open and "will always be free" according to its principles. However, the support business around Ubantu is where those devoted to the community of ubantu can work to make money.
I can begin to the outlines of an Opensource media community, and I think my Gen Y students can too. Can you?
Which is easier to foster, brand or community? It is difficult to tell, but my bet is that brand is easier. Brand can be made more recognisable with the aid or PR, marketing and strong business and partner relationships. The science of brand is measurable and can be divided into boxes and spread out across your staff. The science of community however is far more difficult. Communities are delicate collections of people with varying opinions, experiences and prejudices (both positive and negative) on technologies and companies. Traditional uses of marketing and PR are entirely inappropriate for community relations, and it instead requires a deep understanding of community, people and a commitment to the principles that the community is ingrained in. If there is an attempt to subvert these principles, the relationship breaks down.
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