Austin Social Media » new media http://nmlab.com New Media Lab- Austin Business Class Social Media Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:36:14 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Social Media Accelerates Age-Old Journalism Realities http://nmlab.com/social-media/social-media-accelerates-age-old-journalism-realities/ http://nmlab.com/social-media/social-media-accelerates-age-old-journalism-realities/#comments Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:20:41 +0000 Benn Rosales http://www.nmlab.com/?p=1278 old media versus new media

Old Media Versus New Media

Last night, we attended the Austin Social Media Club panel on Old Media vs. New Media and to be honest, it was a great panel that probably ended in the nick of time. As the night went on, tensions were becoming palpable in the room- people’s passions on the Institution of journalism ran high as did the passions of the journalists themselves. Although time constraints abruptly ended the panel (which may have been a disservice to old media), it did end civilly despite the conversation quickly turning to the thoughts and feelings from the audience on where the failures lie, and where they believe old media could change for the better. It was obvious that some believed that newspapers should drop actual paper altogether and go completely online. In fact, there was even mention of disintermediation of sports casting by single websites that aggregate sports news for television channels.

Whether you’re friend or foe to old media, I’m sure your feelings on the subject are just as intense, and I’m sure you too have the answer that might save old media, but so does everyone else. Maybe that’s the problem in general- opinions are a dime a dozen and free in bulk.

Bush Wins, Journalist Cries

Isn’t this where media has gone wrong? When I began really paying attention to print and television media was around the 2000 presidential elections and it seemed to me that there was little distinction between biased and unbiased coverage. I even remember one news reporter fighting back disappointed tears as she reported that George Bush won the election. Some may have understood her frustration, but the problem was that she was visibly frustrated in the first place which left me scratching my head in confusion- I thought journalists were supposed to be unbiased?

Opinion has taken center stage at the New York Times, Fox News, and even our own Statesman in Austin, all having reputations for leaning a particular way (whether true or not, perception becomes reality). This furthers my point that whatever your particular leaning, there is a media outlet that will cater to your needs and as one journalist on last night’s panel said, I would lose half my audience if I came down on one side or the other in bias.

The Value of Fact vs. the Value of Opinion

Fact wins every time- This identity crisis has plagued the media for decades but with technology has become more and more accelerated and obvious as media rush to push their brand and personal brands more and more into the mainstream social consciousness. As one audience member remarked last night, it seems that each medium seeks to become the other as television is going print, print is going video, and so on and so forth… and no one denied it.

The rush for the online advertising dollar has blinded media to the reality that their value is not in the opinion, their value is actually in the news itself. Hard hitting investigative journalism loaded with facts is King, and is the holy grail to a citizen journalist (blogger), not the other way around where the journalist becomes the citizen journalist- in fact, that’s what journalists become the minute they allow their tears to lean a story.

Advocacy Versus Endorsement

I don’t fear journalism is going away, but in reality I see journalists becoming citizen journalists more and more. I see opinion wrecking the Institution when the Institution seeks to control opinion by inserting their own- the line has been severely blurred between advocacy and endorsement. This problem didn’t begin when social media was born, it began ages ago when an editor asked “what’s the angle?”

I see in the end a few Institutions left standing- those that understand where their value truly lies, and own their identity, regardless of medium. Identity is power, not the opinion, nor individual popularity. In fact, it is the journalist that understands their value and fights for ethics is the Institution that will be left standing and those who do not will soon be known for what they really are- Dear Abbys. It’s still self sabotage to place more emphasis on opinion over fact in journalism.

Inherent Devaluation

Social media fits into the paradigm we call media, however, wielding social media as anything other than a communication tool accelerates the demise of integrity when used to express feelings around an issue. Social media used to promote the media brand, news, or events is excellent, however, history continues to tell us that when a journalist or an Institution emphasizes an opinion, the product of source based information is inherently devalued regardless of the medium.

]]> http://nmlab.com/social-media/social-media-accelerates-age-old-journalism-realities/feed/ 0 Using the Recession as Marketing Fodder http://nmlab.com/social-media/using-the-recession-as-marketing-fodder/ http://nmlab.com/social-media/using-the-recession-as-marketing-fodder/#comments Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:51:19 +0000 Lani Rosales http://www.nmlab.com/?p=554 new media at its finest

RecessISon!

I recently learned from Brains on Fire that the ultra fancy Morgan Hotel Group has sponsored the blog that plays on the current recession, called recessISon. Above is a letter from Morgan Hotel Group that takes advantage of down times instead of letting it get them down.

Taking advantage of bad news:

How exactly does your business take advantage of bad news? Do you go as far as the Morgan Hotel Group and sponsor an entire site that says “f**k the recession” or do you find your own creative way? The main ingredient in an online presence is authenticity so what kind of brand do you have? Are you silly like MHG or does your brand typically take a more formal stance?

Bad times are human

Let’s say that you are a more starched shirt kind of company, that’s okay- instead of a letter with cuss words, maybe your public online face person can poke fun at the recession by writing a satirical comment on Twitter about how the dollar bill toilet paper rolls have been removed from the bathrooms and Jeeves no longer gives foot massages during conference calls. Or, if you’re a corporation, it might be time to talk about the nitty gritty of the recession- how exactly have you had to cut back? Say it out loud! This is a chance to humanize your brand. Don’t stick to the timeless line of “it’s a good time to buy” if it’s not true- be honest and be true to your brand’s personality. Use the bad times to be human, social media gives an opportunity to humanize your brand like never before.

]]> http://nmlab.com/social-media/using-the-recession-as-marketing-fodder/feed/ 0 Social Media and Originality http://nmlab.com/social-media/social-media-and-originality/ http://nmlab.com/social-media/social-media-and-originality/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:15:54 +0000 Lani Rosales http://www.nmlab.com/?p=552 social media is not original

No original thought is possible?

Social media is the land of collaboration and never before has the saying “there is no such thing as an original thought” been more true. The Hidden Persuader shared the above image and it couldn’t be more timely for us because we are exiting the early adoption phase of social media and entering a new era where everyone is an “expert” even though they just got their first email address last month.

New Media case study:

In the new media space, those of us that create content are often imitated and while it can rub you the wrong way, it is inevitable. People new to the space should know that it’s okay to look to the pioneers for a road map. We’ve been at this for some time now and even launched a highly successful peer-to-peer magazine online that is often looked to as the template for others and that’s okay. We didn’t invent blogging, we didn’t invent Word Press, we didn’t invent Twitter, widgets, html, css, and we didn’t invent the color wheel, but we did put together a sexy, tightly run, extremely popular and well trafficked site.

Crappy Mariah Carey Perm

How? We just did it better. We accepted that we are in an environment of collaboration, of creativity, of authenticity and we took the building blocks of those that went before us and made them better, as others will try do to everything we’ve built. It’s a lesson learned by being immersed in this environment, so take it from us- it’s inevitable… as much as my Mariah Carey perm in 4th grade was eventually copied by my girlfriends which pissed me off because it was NOT flattery. But I digress… I got mad because I was copied. But as my father told me, “Lani, you didn’t invent the perm” to which I added in my head, “I just made it better.”

]]> http://nmlab.com/social-media/social-media-and-originality/feed/ 0 Austin Social Media in Non-Profits http://nmlab.com/social-media/austin-social-media-in-non-profits/ http://nmlab.com/social-media/austin-social-media-in-non-profits/#comments Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:28:06 +0000 Benn Rosales http://www.nmlab.com/?p=504 austin non profit social media usersThe Live Social Media Capital of the World is more than just a bunch of awesome people that use social media, Austin is a city of people that dialogue online and work hard to advocate for each other.

Non profits are increasingly utilizing the new media space to get their message out and reach as many people as possible and Austin is a great template for other non profits. We have many great leaders in the field and below are just ten of them. Feel free to add more non-profit people in Austin in the comments.

Now go check out the full list of the Live Social Media Capital of the World (Austin) social media influencers.

]]> http://nmlab.com/social-media/austin-social-media-in-non-profits/feed/ 1 Austin Social Media in Real Estate http://nmlab.com/social-media/austin-social-media-in-real-estate/ http://nmlab.com/social-media/austin-social-media-in-real-estate/#comments Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:57:37 +0000 Benn Rosales http://www.nmlab.com/?p=471 austin social media realtorsThere are a great deal of licensed real estate professionals in the city of Austin that have embraced and are using social media in their businesses.

We’ve compiled a list of ten Austin Realtors that you should check out as you study ways to get started in or improve upon your own new media efforts. Because this is just a snapshot of a few agents, feel free to add more real estate social medians in Austin in the comments.

Now go check out the full list of the Live Social Media Capital of the World (Austin) social media influencers.

]]> http://nmlab.com/social-media/austin-social-media-in-real-estate/feed/ 2 Did You Know? http://nmlab.com/social-media/did-you-know-2/ http://nmlab.com/social-media/did-you-know-2/#comments Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:59:15 +0000 Lani Rosales http://www.nmlab.com/?p=444 new media lab on flickrBecause New Media Labs is part of the Austin Social Media Scene, we’re really into photo community, Flickr where people can upload, host and comment on digital photos.

You can see tons of pictures of the Austin Social Media Scene on our flickr page where all of the pictures at the bottom of this page are hosted. Be sure to comment on pictures of the people you know (or would like to know).

]]> http://nmlab.com/social-media/did-you-know-2/feed/ 1 Austin Social Media- Live Social Media Capital of the World http://nmlab.com/social-media/austin-live-social-media-capital-of-the-world/ http://nmlab.com/social-media/austin-live-social-media-capital-of-the-world/#comments Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:05:02 +0000 Lani Rosales http://www.nmlab.com/?p=104 austin panorama

Austin Social Media’s Top 100

If you’re living in a cave and didn’t yet know it, Austin is the Live Social Media Capital of the World and has been looked to by others as the pioneers of the new media space. Below, we’ve listed 100 innovators in Austin and encourage you to look into them all. If you’d like to connect with us (and we totally want you to), click here.

Austin Marketing & PR

Austin Radio, TV, Film, Art, Journalism

Austin Non-Profit & Advocacy

Austin Technology

Austin Retail & Sales

Austin Recruiting & Human Resources

Austin Real Estate & Finances

Austin Parenting

Austin Observations

Coworking, Austin Startups

There are plenty more people involved in the new media scene in Austin and you’re welcome to add names in the comments. Be sure to connect with us and to check out all of the upcoming Austin events!

]]> http://nmlab.com/social-media/austin-live-social-media-capital-of-the-world/feed/ 37 2008 Social Media Statistics Report http://nmlab.com/social-media/2008-social-media-statistics-report/ http://nmlab.com/social-media/2008-social-media-statistics-report/#comments Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:55:16 +0000 Lani Rosales http://www.nmlab.com/?p=396 twitter birdWe’ve combed the land of statistics high and low as 2008 closes and companies go public with their data and we’ve discovered that 2008 was a year of explosive social networking growth.

We learned that Twitter grew 752%, Facebook has 150 million users, YouTube now hosts 44% of all online video, LinkedIn users have awesome household incomes, Flickr has over 3 billion images and that one million blog posts are written every day across the globe.

Check out our FULL REPORT which covers 2008 statistics for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, Digg, Wikipedia and blogs.

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