With millions of new media channels and blogs in our midst, it is no wonder that a thriving city like San Francisco has gone from a dozen of newspapers down to one. The competition to reach readers has never been as fierce as today's media market. The conditions of today's economy and new technologies have stirred a swarm of questions surrounding the new world of media, its best practices and outlook.
Who is Selling and Telling the Truth Today?
Freedom of today's social media allows each of us to broadcast, influence, report and share content in as many ways as our social media presence will allow. Truth is skewed and freedom is sacrificed when we allow journalism and curation to be controlled, manipulated and financed by deep pockets of special interest groups. Just how are credible news outlets able to sustain themselves with the rapidly changing landscape of online media?
A 14th century clergyman who led a parish and invested in the care and cure of souls was once called a curate. A journalist once was dedicated to investigate and report on the truth, the pure, unadulterated truth. Who is caring for our souls and reporting the truth today?
Investigation Begins
Social Media Group's Maggie Fox moderated a panel discussion by Social Media Today. As part of the Best Thinkers Series, a live webinar titled "Is Curation the New Journalism?" sparked critical issues facing the media market. Panelists Steven Rosenbaum, author of Curation Nation and Tom Foremski, former FT journalist turned journalist blogger and publisher of Silicon Valley Watcher started a discussion on the differences between "traditional journalism" versus "online curation," a conversation that very quickly honed in on the dilemma that today's journalists are currently facing.
Online Curation Defined
Journalism was once led by the investigation of a subject and speed of distribution. Today, anyone can fulfill that role as an online curator. In fact, Steven Rosenbaum encourages that consumers take on this curation exercise, "Find something interesting and put it on Twitter." However, Tom Foremski has a more refined approach towards curation and replies, "Curation is more than a tweet. It is choosing a proper subject, sources and readers."
Steven sees endless opportunities in today's media as a curator and says that standard rules no longer applies regarding fair use or the best practice of reproducing content. Simply put, asking permission to share content by linking, copying, and rewriting what others have already written is passé. Tom disagrees with this approach to curation and he shares, "Rewriting what someone else has already written is not called curation. It is called re-writing."
Both media movers agree that the establishment of trust is critical to curation and that ReTweeting can be considered an act of curation. "Editors by nature are curators," adds Maggie Fox as she lead the discussion to emphasize the emerging roles of business. She asks, "Are brands behaving like media companies?"
When credibility is key, journalism must be driven by truth and passion, and not by businesses and brands. In theory, journalism and business are supposed to be separate and Tom agrees, "Media is a long term commitment. It is not a three month marketing campaign." Steven elaborated on this phenomenon by sharing how the line can be blurred and believes, "Passion leads to a voice. This has a social impact for brands."
A Heinz 57 Media Approach
How then can media outlets continue to produce content, develop relationships with readers and not go in the red? Tom advises mediapreneurs to take a Heinz 57 model approach and seek multiple revenue streams for sustainability in today's ever changing new world of media and content generation.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. In 14th century, the clergyman were known as the curate. During this period, society was restricted and relied solely on the curate.
The new world of media was launched with the Gutenberg printing press producing and distributing the Bible in a variety of languages allowing larger segments of society to access the content. This started the information revolution where new ideas and information can spread quickly and have a great impact to society. Prior to the printing presses, the curates held the power of the truth.
Be the Curate of Your Own Tribe
Much like today's society, once restricted and reliant solely on the juggaurnaut newspaper industry for information that impacted our lives, we are in the midst of a new age of information with the use of blogs, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Today's media can reach readers seeking content granular in nature simply by following a hashtag on Twitter. No longer are writers obligated to water-down their topics for mainstream audiences. Writers can reach readers without answering to the big media gods. How then will you use the wealth of information and content as you lead the tribes in your online communities?
A curate is the leader who invests in the care and cure of souls. With this powerful role comes great responsibility. As the media industry reinvents itself , more and more content will be generated. Regardless if you call yourself a journalist or a blogger, do not lose sight of your purpose and impact while checking your Klout score.
The longstanding virtues of a powerful writer have always been based on truth, passion and freedom. May the key to credibility be the holy grail that sustains you. Long live the curate.
Who is Selling and Telling the Truth Today?
Freedom of today's social media allows each of us to broadcast, influence, report and share content in as many ways as our social media presence will allow. Truth is skewed and freedom is sacrificed when we allow journalism and curation to be controlled, manipulated and financed by deep pockets of special interest groups. Just how are credible news outlets able to sustain themselves with the rapidly changing landscape of online media?
A 14th century clergyman who led a parish and invested in the care and cure of souls was once called a curate. A journalist once was dedicated to investigate and report on the truth, the pure, unadulterated truth. Who is caring for our souls and reporting the truth today?
Investigation Begins
Social Media Group's Maggie Fox moderated a panel discussion by Social Media Today. As part of the Best Thinkers Series, a live webinar titled "Is Curation the New Journalism?" sparked critical issues facing the media market. Panelists Steven Rosenbaum, author of Curation Nation and Tom Foremski, former FT journalist turned journalist blogger and publisher of Silicon Valley Watcher started a discussion on the differences between "traditional journalism" versus "online curation," a conversation that very quickly honed in on the dilemma that today's journalists are currently facing.
Online Curation Defined
Journalism was once led by the investigation of a subject and speed of distribution. Today, anyone can fulfill that role as an online curator. In fact, Steven Rosenbaum encourages that consumers take on this curation exercise, "Find something interesting and put it on Twitter." However, Tom Foremski has a more refined approach towards curation and replies, "Curation is more than a tweet. It is choosing a proper subject, sources and readers."
Steven sees endless opportunities in today's media as a curator and says that standard rules no longer applies regarding fair use or the best practice of reproducing content. Simply put, asking permission to share content by linking, copying, and rewriting what others have already written is passé. Tom disagrees with this approach to curation and he shares, "Rewriting what someone else has already written is not called curation. It is called re-writing."
Both media movers agree that the establishment of trust is critical to curation and that ReTweeting can be considered an act of curation. "Editors by nature are curators," adds Maggie Fox as she lead the discussion to emphasize the emerging roles of business. She asks, "Are brands behaving like media companies?"
When credibility is key, journalism must be driven by truth and passion, and not by businesses and brands. In theory, journalism and business are supposed to be separate and Tom agrees, "Media is a long term commitment. It is not a three month marketing campaign." Steven elaborated on this phenomenon by sharing how the line can be blurred and believes, "Passion leads to a voice. This has a social impact for brands."
A Heinz 57 Media Approach
How then can media outlets continue to produce content, develop relationships with readers and not go in the red? Tom advises mediapreneurs to take a Heinz 57 model approach and seek multiple revenue streams for sustainability in today's ever changing new world of media and content generation.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. In 14th century, the clergyman were known as the curate. During this period, society was restricted and relied solely on the curate.
The new world of media was launched with the Gutenberg printing press producing and distributing the Bible in a variety of languages allowing larger segments of society to access the content. This started the information revolution where new ideas and information can spread quickly and have a great impact to society. Prior to the printing presses, the curates held the power of the truth.
Be the Curate of Your Own Tribe
Much like today's society, once restricted and reliant solely on the juggaurnaut newspaper industry for information that impacted our lives, we are in the midst of a new age of information with the use of blogs, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Today's media can reach readers seeking content granular in nature simply by following a hashtag on Twitter. No longer are writers obligated to water-down their topics for mainstream audiences. Writers can reach readers without answering to the big media gods. How then will you use the wealth of information and content as you lead the tribes in your online communities?
A curate is the leader who invests in the care and cure of souls. With this powerful role comes great responsibility. As the media industry reinvents itself , more and more content will be generated. Regardless if you call yourself a journalist or a blogger, do not lose sight of your purpose and impact while checking your Klout score.
The longstanding virtues of a powerful writer have always been based on truth, passion and freedom. May the key to credibility be the holy grail that sustains you. Long live the curate.
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