Archive for July, 2008

Date: July 31st, 2008
Cate: Advertising/Business, Internet/Technology/Gadgets
1 msg

I Am a Technology Curmudgeon

Perhaps this is related to my rant on why I hate “social media experts.”

There is a hype machine that is driving the evolution of technology (gadgets and web 2.0). Robert Scoble knows this all to well. I’m sick of  seeing coverage on tech for tech’s sake. Scott Karp said it all too well.

“What happened is tech blogging turned into trade publishing on a new CMS (with comments and a lot of attitude).”

I wish I could say it better, but I can’t. So how did we get here and how can we get out? I don’t claim to be the ultimate authority – but allow me to think out loud.

The Problem: Technology is a means, not an end. It is a means to living a more connected life, a means to meeting new people that can help you make the world better. “Communication is key.” That’s what web technology is about. This is why I recently wrote that the technology blogosphere needs to mature.

All too often we mistake the forests for the trees when it comes to tech blogging. We become fascinated with the personalities behind the companies, latest gadgets, A-list bloggers and their occasional bitch-memes . Part of this is human nature (Brittany Spears still gets headlines). Another part of it is that technology is a HUGE money maker for anyone who plays in the space at any level. Even the blog-spammer is taking a piece of the pie.

Is technology at fault? No – technology is a medium, not the message. Some tech tools are great. As Amy Gahran pointed out, this is why Twitter is so revolutionary, it directly connects people to each other. No middleman, no pr agent, no social media expert is needed.

The problems occur when I can’t tell if the information coming to me has been influenced by something other than a persons open and honest opinion.

Let’s take Mashable (although I hate to pick on any one site). I suspect they are in bed with a TON of  PR and marketing firms. I went to the SF Mashable meetup and half the people in attendance were beautiful, scantily dressed girls who worked in PR.

It might be that Pete Cashmore is just that dreamy. It might also be that Mashable’s editorial decisions are driven by press releases and this was an event to celebrate that ongoing relationship. Hey, if the shoe fits.

I’m not blaming Mashable. It works – they produce more content (easy to re-write a press release) get more eyeballs, more traffic and can even charge the same tech companies they are writing about for advertising that looks like real content.

Who loses?

The reader – especially if they don’t know how or why editorial decisions are made. Note the distinction: It’s not that a blog can’t act like a trade publication, it’s that they need to be upfront about it. Then we can make our own decisions. Right now – there is no way to find out for certain.

As my favorite  J-school professor used to say: “Don’t write about the circus if you’re fucking the elephant.” I think the time’s are a changing: You can still write about the circus. Freedom of speech and everyone has easy access to a cheap CMS. But you better let me know about the relationship with the elephant. If you don’t and I find out – not only will I never trust you, but I’ll make sure nobody else does either.

(can I get Hans Blix up in this?)

I don’t doubt lots of people read Mashable thinking “man, how do they find all this cool stuff!” Of course the answer is: It’s sent to them with a pretty bow wrapped around it. Their editorial direction is market driven, so they aren’t serving readers, their serving tech companies that need users.

Now this is all about technology – so who really cares? Get off your high horse Digi-Dave (you think to yourself).

But imagine if we were talking about the pharmaceutical beat? People’s lives hang in the balance. What about health or environment? Make no mistake – you pick a general reporting topic and there are billions of dollars at stake.

I’d love for somebody to leave a comment that convinces me that the tech blogosphere is alive and well, only has our best interests at heart and in its spare time helps old ladies cross the street. But I continue to be disappointed. The tech blogs are starting to be suspect of the same thing that “mainstream” media has traditionally been accused of: the bigger you are, the more money involved – the more you have to lose, the more you have to keep a status quo.

As for me: I’m getting over this technology rant: I’m going back to civic issues (the upcoming SF election). Tech is fun – but people are what makes the world go round.

Date: July 30th, 2008
Cate: New York/San Francisco
4 msgs

One Month to Raise Money for Independent Journalism – Walking the Walk

The stage is set. We’ve quietly raised close to $400 at Spot.Us to hire a journalist who will fact-check political advertisements for 10 weeks preceding the SF election. But we need a lot more and now it’s time to start ringing bells and whistles.

If we can raise another $2,100 by the end of August, the residents
of San Francisco will have collectively hired an independent journalist
to fact-check the political advertisements that will inevitably be hurled
in their direction. If we don’t reach out goal, the $400 will
go back to the original donors. No harm, true – but nothing gained.

And I play for keeps. And this pitch, to have a reporter fact-check
the banner and TV advertisements is perfect for Spot.Us. So I’m
drawing a line in the sand to see “who’s coming with me.” (yes, I put down $50).

It’s hard to argue against this pitch’s merit. Who doesn’t want
fact-checking for political advertising? If you have a moment’s of
hesitation, just watch this video with Josh Wilson from NewsDesk.org who is spearheading the project. (NOTE: the “pitch” is only going to get more refined – Josh Wilson and
I are currently honing in on what SF issues will need to be
fact-checked, details to come).

We have one month, JUST ONE MONTH
to make it happen. If you’ve been waiting on the sidelines, now is the
time to jump in and add to the pot. Instead of complaining that we need
better media coverage of important issues – ensure it will happen!

Why?

  1. Your pledge is only enacted IF we reach the final goal. So you know it will be a meaningful donation or won’t happen at all.
  2. You will help voters make more informed decisions when they step into the voter’s booth.
  3. The money will go directly to a freelance journalist – Spot.Us won’t take a cut.
  4. The content will be licensed under Creative Commons, which means your own blog or organization can use the data too.

How you can help?

1. The best way (and probably the easiest) is to donate $10. Or
heck, if you think it’s worth more – go crazy and give $25. I’d easily
argue this pitch is worth that much. Based on the amount of readers for
the spot.us blog – if everyone put down just $10, we’d be well on our
way. Think of it this way. Instead of buying that last beer (which will
only make you suffer the next day anyways), donate $10 towards this
campaign. Then you can go to bed feeling good about yourself – knowing
you are helping to keep our democracy strong.

2. Spread the word. Go back to the video above and click that little “share” button, or visit ThePoint’s campaign
and do the same. Tell your friends on Facebook, your blog, your
community organization. If you know people at the League of Woman
Voters, a local political meetup, etc – bring them into the fold.

Spot.Us is NOT a for-profit. We stand to make no money off this – we
only aim to serve. So we need help reaching out to the organizations
and civic leaders that might benefit from this collaboration. In the
end that’s all Spot.Us represents: A meeting ground where communities
can distribute the cost of hiring a reporter who will “work for
everyone.”

I will spend the rest of my day sending out emails to local leaders.
If you know civic minded individuals in San Francisco, please share,
twitter, email, or just shout this call out: We need your help!
Together I know we can raise this money and for the first time ever we
will have a journalist who has no connection to advertising. That
reporter will work for nobody but the public and that’s who he/she will
serve first and foremost.

I’m looking forward to the possibilities.

Date: July 29th, 2008
Cate: Uncategorized

links for 2008-07-29

Date: July 28th, 2008
Cate: Crowdsourcing

Crowdsourcing – The Trailer

The book is due out next month.

To wet your appetite, here’s Jeff Howe.

Date: July 27th, 2008
Cate: Digi-Dream
3 msgs

Digidave’s Day Dreams – Take One

An American Idol-esque show for web 2.o startups.
The first daydream is credited to Muhammed Saleem.

I know there are plenty of web incubators – but wouldn’t it be great to take that incubation process, make it public and add a sense of competition by eliminating low performers every week?

1. Catch phrase: “You have been deleted.” (“You’re fired).
2. Judges: No shortage of abstract tech personalities to choose from.

I think it could be a killer show. It wouldn’t even need to star “unknowns.” You could have Giga-Om, Venture Beat, and ReadWriteWeb compete as teams because these names would be completely new to most of the viewing audience.

New Business Model for Airline Industry
Flying is a horrible experience. It’s the only time when it’s okay to treat people like cow to be herded.

Thought: Talking on planes is a bit like talking on the elevator, a social faux-pax. What if an airline encouraged it? What if you could pay an extra-bit of cash and given X minutes to walk to the back of the plane, pick up the speaker and pitch the entire plane on something?

As I was flying back to San Francisco I wished I could just startup a group conversation, Bar-camp style. What if there was a barcamp airline?

Now first class isn’t just about those warm little towels, but also peace and quite.

So the airline is now making money on three ends.

1. Regular tickets to fly.
2. Speaking time on the flight
3. High-end tickets for people who want to drown out speaker time.

Dragonball-Dave
(Freshman year of college I was into Dragonball-Z)

While waiting in the Chicago O’Hare aiprot I became Dragonball-Dave.Dragonballdave

Realizing my true power.
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