I'll admit it. I'm fascinated by the new Facebook feature "Timeline" and what it may mean to managing news.
Andrew is doing some research on it and will report to the class on Monday, Oct. 3 on how we might use Timeline to promote Oak News content (no pressure, Andrew).
In the meantime, here is an article from Mashable about using the Spotify music app.
I'm thinking in addition to music critics, the media will create DJ jobs. The DJ will program music choices within a genre and then send it out to FB followers.
Or maybe the job of music critic will expand to include programming an hour a week of music in the genre they follow.
The possibilities appear to be endless.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
5 Reasons People Share News on Facebook & How You Can Get Them to Share Menlo Oak News (we hope)
This is a good article from the Poynter Institute, a Florida-based foundation that provides training for folks in the communication business.
The article focuses on a recent New York Times study that asked people why they share links to news stories on Facebook, Twitter, or email news stories to friends and families.
Check out the "five primary motivations for sharing" and then check out the "six types of people who share." I think I fit into three categories, "selective," "connector," and, sigh, "careerist."
Tell me what category you fit into.
The article focuses on a recent New York Times study that asked people why they share links to news stories on Facebook, Twitter, or email news stories to friends and families.
Check out the "five primary motivations for sharing" and then check out the "six types of people who share." I think I fit into three categories, "selective," "connector," and, sigh, "careerist."
Tell me what category you fit into.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Washington Post: 'Word of Mouth' provides lots of news, plays important marketing role
On the first day of class, I asked how you learned that Osama bin Laden had been killed.
Many of you said, friends or family told you.
In other words, your news source was "word of mouth."
Now the Pew Research Center and the Knight Foundation, two biggies in communication research, have released a report that says "word of mouth," that is getting news and information from family and friends is a more important news source than radio, the local newspaper or even the Internet.
Here's a good Washington Post story about the report and what it means for the future of communications.
Enjoy.
Many of you said, friends or family told you.
In other words, your news source was "word of mouth."
Now the Pew Research Center and the Knight Foundation, two biggies in communication research, have released a report that says "word of mouth," that is getting news and information from family and friends is a more important news source than radio, the local newspaper or even the Internet.
Here's a good Washington Post story about the report and what it means for the future of communications.
Enjoy.
Monday, September 26, 2011
You Make the Call: Was Fox Sports Out of Line?
Earlier this month, Fox Sports flashed what it said were "actual headlines from the local papers in Chicago" about Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, including one that said he "lacks courage." (You can see the three here.) A skeptical Chicago Tribune sports staff did some investigating and found that Fox's "actual" headlines were in fact fabricated. Fox Sports' Curt Menefee admitted that yesterday in an apology during yesterday's pregame show. Click here to see the video.
The fake headlines and the apology are the talk of the journalism world. Click here to read what Copydesk.org said. Holdoutsports.blogspot.com said, "It's one thing to display an incorrect graphic. It's another thing to blatantly lie to your viewers to try to make a point. Let's hope that FOX sports can be more responsible going forward."
I would have fired the folks who did this. Too harsh? Maybe. What do you think? Was the on-air apology enough? Should Cutler sue or demand another apology?
The fake headlines and the apology are the talk of the journalism world. Click here to read what Copydesk.org said. Holdoutsports.blogspot.com said, "It's one thing to display an incorrect graphic. It's another thing to blatantly lie to your viewers to try to make a point. Let's hope that FOX sports can be more responsible going forward."
I would have fired the folks who did this. Too harsh? Maybe. What do you think? Was the on-air apology enough? Should Cutler sue or demand another apology?
Sunday, September 11, 2011
On Campus, It's One Big Commercial
I'll be my mortgage money on this.
I bet Natasha Singer was either an intern for the New York Times this summer, has been a New York Times intern at some point, or is a campus stringer for the New York Times.
I bet she came up with a story idea about students who represent companies--from Red Bull to Target--and sold it to the New York Times.
The result: A story on the front page of the Times Sunday Business section.
I thought the story was very good. I'd like to know your thoughts. Take some time, read the story, and post them in the comments area below.
One more thing, take a look at the multimedia elements with the story. There's a video, a photo slideshow and, I believe, part of a podcast. This package for the web follows the format the was developed for NPR and which we will base group projects on at the end of the semester.
OK, here are some questions that you can, or cannot use, to frame your thoughts.
I bet Natasha Singer was either an intern for the New York Times this summer, has been a New York Times intern at some point, or is a campus stringer for the New York Times.
I bet she came up with a story idea about students who represent companies--from Red Bull to Target--and sold it to the New York Times.
The result: A story on the front page of the Times Sunday Business section.
I thought the story was very good. I'd like to know your thoughts. Take some time, read the story, and post them in the comments area below.
One more thing, take a look at the multimedia elements with the story. There's a video, a photo slideshow and, I believe, part of a podcast. This package for the web follows the format the was developed for NPR and which we will base group projects on at the end of the semester.
OK, here are some questions that you can, or cannot use, to frame your thoughts.
- I this story is too long for reading on the web. Can you edit the story into a length that you think is appropriate for the web? If so, email me you edited version.
- What do you think of companies using student brand managers to "reach students where they eat, sleep, study and sweat?"
- Can you provide any examples at Menlo of campus brand ambassadors, student reps for companies such as HP, Microsoft, etc., or corporate-sponsored academic competitions?
NYT Story: Clever Corporate Communications, Good Idea or bad Idea: Talk Among Yourselves
The New York Times had a great story last week. The web headline was, "New-Form Press Release, in Blog, Tweet and Haiku."
The heart of the story centered on how offbeat writing styles for press releases are creating buzz (do we need to define buzz? OK buzz means people are talking about it) in the worlds of social networking and public relations.
Now this offbeat style isn't widespread. This isn't happening in the button-up world of Wall Street. But funny, snarky, poetic and offbeat press releases are all the rage in Silicon Valley.
Click here to read the story. Please post your thoughts about the story. Here are a few questions to think about and, if you want, answer.
The heart of the story centered on how offbeat writing styles for press releases are creating buzz (do we need to define buzz? OK buzz means people are talking about it) in the worlds of social networking and public relations.
Now this offbeat style isn't widespread. This isn't happening in the button-up world of Wall Street. But funny, snarky, poetic and offbeat press releases are all the rage in Silicon Valley.
Click here to read the story. Please post your thoughts about the story. Here are a few questions to think about and, if you want, answer.
- Is it better to have mastered writing a traditional press release before offering up a playful one?
- Why do you think Silicon Valley has embraced this trend and Wall Street hasn't?
- Can you give an example of when an off-beat press release would be OK? Can you give me an example when an off-beat press release could be seen as offensive?
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