Twitter, Flicker, Facebook, Digg, Linked-In, and forums...

dd74 · 08-21-2009, 11:38 AM

How deep are you into what's being called "the new media?"

I recently talked to a couple people in the journalism industry, one from ESPN magazine, the other from the LA Times. Both persons twitter, facebook and have blogs. At the LA Times, it's almost required you have these items.

Most of what the LA Times write and edit is now online. It's almost as if they're phasing out the newspaper. I do know many of the old writers and editors are gone, and replaced by 20 and 30-somethings like the place were a startup or something.

But to work there as just a regular writer, you have to have so much electronic "new media" knowledge, it's like relearning to communicate.

So how many of you old farts driving old Porsches have that knowledge?

onewhippedpuppy · 08-21-2009, 11:43 AM

I have Linked-In and Facebook. I just joined Facebook at the urging of friends. I rarely use Linked-In as I can't really see how it's going to enhance my career. Facebook has been interesting, it's put me back in touch with a lot of people I haven't see/talked to in years. It's more for the sake of curiousity, I'm still friends with the ones I really liked.

VINMAN · 08-21-2009, 11:45 AM

I only use Facebook. Its good and bad. Found alot of old friends. But also some people I'd rather not deal with.

onewhippedpuppy · 08-21-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VINMAN

I only use Facebook. Its good and bad. Found alot of old friends. But also some people I'd rather not deal with.

I've only been on there one week, but have already utilized the "ignore" feature.

jyl · jyl's Garage

I've been on Linked-In for a while. Haven't had any oppty to "use" it but do stay sort of connected with some former colleagues that way. I opened a Facebook account but realized it would take time/effort that I don't have. If I wanted to post pics, thoughts, updates, musings, etc then I'd simply start a blog.

The net result of these sites, for me? I've gotten back in touch w/ an old (girl) friend, she and her husband came over for dinner, that was nice. I've been contacted by my former fiancee, that was mildly disturbing, but I just erased her vmail and that was that. I've been contacted by a former friend, but it was handled ditto. So, the net is slightly positive, about inline with the effort I've put into it.

Given the demands of work and kids, I have about as many friends as I have time for, so not much motivation to make/rediscover others.

My profession doesn't require use of any social networking sites.

slodave · slodave's Garage

I can't find you Matt.

crustychief · crustychief's Garage

There are two forums I visit, here and rchangout. other than that I only use the computer for a little internet research.

stomachmonkey · 08-21-2009, 12:09 PM

Watch, interesting stats.

Jeff Higgins · 08-21-2009, 12:14 PM

O.k., I'm an old fart, and I'm getting ready to prove it.

I remember when the same thing happened in the engineering disciplines - CAD, or "computer aided design". The young-un's that could drive the various CAD packages were somehow seen (by management) as brighter than the old farts that couldn't. The "gee-whiz" factor was quite high when we first saw this stuff. It was easy for the kids to impress with their knowledge of these wonderful new tools. Impress non-engineers, that is. The rest of us could see right through the smoke and mirrors (pay no attention to the man behind the curtain...). These hot shots were decidedly lacking in knowledge in their primary field, but effectively covered that up with their knowledge of the tools.

I wonder if the same thing has happened in the media. Many of us have noticed a distinctly lowering standard of journalism, of substance, of relevance in media. And a short attention span machine gun style delivery that has us old farts stuck on something two or three soundbytes back, as they rattle their way through them. I wonder how many really good journalists have lost out to the shallow glitz of modern electronic media and the vapid kids that can drive it.

dd74 · 08-21-2009, 12:14 PM

There's just so much to digest. I'm finding writers who live entirely off of freelance work they do for these online media sites. But they're writing 10-15 500-word articles a day. And that's crazy!

dd74 · 08-21-2009, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I wonder if the same thing has happened in the media. Many of us have noticed a distinctly lowering standard of journalism, of substance, of relevance in media. And a short attention span machine gun style delivery that has us old farts stuck on something two or three soundbytes back, as they rattle their way through them. I wonder how many really good journalists have lost out to the shallow glitz of modern electronic media and the vapid kids that can drive it.

Well, to give you an idea: a paper that an article referred to only as The Times shut down their entire sports desk. Sports is all online now. But does that mean no sports section in the daily? I don't know.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

twitter is for twats

masraum · 08-21-2009, 01:48 PM

I'm 38 (39 on Sun), and am in a technical field computer related field. So I'm pretty tech savvy and not an old fart. I have a facebook site, but don't use it. I also have a linked in site, but I don't really use that either.

I don't see myself using Twitter. I'll resist that with all of my will. I will not tweet, and I've never seen a twitter page. Hopefully I can keep it that way. I also don't blog.

I do use forums. For me, forums are mostly for educational/research purposes and also social (mostly this one). Forums that I'm on or have been on: Benchmade (my pocket knives), XDTalk (my gun), TexasCHL (Texas CCW), Pelican, Miata, Watchuseek (wristwatches), Jeep Cherokee, AtlasF1, Photographyonthenet (Canon Cameras), genealogy.com, Ancestry.com, rootsweb (3 genealogy forums), corvette action center, Japanese language forum, etc.....

trekkor · 08-21-2009, 02:06 PM

I enjoy FB.

KT

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I do not get Twitter. I guess it's fine for personal use, but I cannot see why it's the holy grail of communications among PR professionals. I went to a luncheon yesterday that was all about Twitter. I just don't get it. Why the hell would anyone care what I had for breakfast or that I'm going to get a haircut? That's BS even for friends and family. But it's completely inappropriate to be talking to people about as part of my job or on a client's behalf. The whole world's gone mad.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

FB for friends, Linkedin for business

For Linked in - it's a great way to get a "resume" on line without having a resume on line. Get recommended - write answers to topics that you know. Network with other professionals in your field, porsche buddies, old classmates, old workers - work it - you never know where your next opportunity will come from

MikeSid · 08-21-2009, 03:17 PM

[QUOTE=Jeff Higgins;4849746]
...And a short attention span machine gun style delivery that has us old farts stuck on something two or three soundbytes back, as they rattle their way through them. QUOTE]

You mean like that annoying video of statistics posted above. I think those stats only prove that the world is full of more empty headed idiots than I previously thought.

Every argument I've ever heard promoting social media boils down to, "everyone is doing it". And that's not a terribly compelling reason to do anything.

Oh... by the way... tweet... I'm sitting in a chair picking my nose... tweet.

stomachmonkey · 08-21-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I do not get Twitter. I guess it's fine for personal use, but I cannot see why it's the holy grail of communications among PR professionals. I went to a luncheon yesterday that was all about Twitter. I just don't get it. Why the hell would anyone care what I had for breakfast or that I'm going to get a haircut? That's BS even for friends and family. But it's completely inappropriate to be talking to people about as part of my job or on a client's behalf. The whole world's gone mad.

My webmaster, Eric, tweets on behalf of the company.

When used correctly it's a great tool.

Our VP of Marketing found out about it and got all hot and bothered. (I suspect because I trumped him on it and he had egg on his face when the CEO enquired.)

He made a play to take it over and I told them under no circumstances. He was free to start up another account if he wanted.

We have built a loyal following of people that trust what Eric shares with them. They know it's not Marketing/PR hype.

We do "insider" give aways and scoops on upcoming stuff.

Makes them feel part of what we are doing. They eat it up.

Gogar · 08-21-2009, 03:23 PM

I detest Twitter, but I guess if you want to it's ok.

It's like a text message you can send to hundreds (or thousands) of people at once.

I think the thing about Twitter is that it's a useful tool,

But only if you have something ACTUALLY IMPORTANT to tell those thousands of people.

I do have a friend in LA that has a FT job pushing links and songs and video clips up the ratings sites like Digg and Reddit. All day long she sits on the computer and gets hundreds of her peers on IM to upvote things on Reddit, so they'll get lots of hits. Bizarre.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

I am on FB twitter myspace, lots of forums, Xbox Live, LFS racing....