The 18-24 demographic embraces online news, with upwards of 75 percent consuming online news sources. A global study of young people by research firm Synovate, in conjunction with Microsoft, studied online habits and found that a greater percentage tracked current affairs online than use instant messaging. (continue reading)

Okay, so you've set up the social networks, now how do you attract and retain users? If the "build it and they will come" method isn't working for you, Nathan Burke has some great tips on how to build a user base through promotions. (continue reading)

Christine Perkett and Fred Han offer up one of the better responses I've seen to Jason Calcanis' now infamous "fire your PR firm" post (including the point that he never actually said to fire your PR firm). Also: AMC making the right move; tips for searching within Google Reader and Delicious feeds. (continue reading)

One of the many challenges social media companies face is reaching out beyond the computer screen and converting a digital connection to a personal one. The Plaid Nation tour, now in its second year, is an innovative method one company is using to solve the problem. Leslie Poston speaks with Plaid's Darryl Ohrt about the tour. (continue reading)

Hasbro, the company responsible for Scrabble, clearly the inspiration for Scrabulous, decided to launch its own Facebook game, and filed suit against the makers of Scrabulous. The result? No more of Facebook's top game. I'm with Hasbro. (continue reading)

Jen Zingsheim and I were pleased to welcome Geoff Livingston to the Media Bullseye Roundtable this week, where we cover issues ranging from a potential Congressional threat to Twitter (no, not really), to managing your personal brand while boosting your company's profile. (continue reading)

In a thoughtful, excellent post, Todd Defren lays out the guidelines for hiring a social media "rock star." That is, when you have people on your staff who are well-known within a community, what are the responsibilities of the company, and what are the responsibilities of the "personal brand"? Also: Doug Haslam's response to Todd's post, and social media on the international stage at the G8 and Olympics. (continue reading)

ICANN, the international body that regulates domain naming, announced their unanimous vote to open up restrictions on top level domains (TLDs). Starting in 2009, it will be possible to apply to have just about anything as a TLD. So what does that mean for marketers? Adele McAlear explains. (continue reading)

The traditional newsroom has been getting a lot of bad press lately. Layoffs and other issues have been linked to the expansion of new media and the decrease in the power of print. Jason Falls has some ideas to save the newsroom before it dies off completely. He advises an "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach. Also: PR for PR, social media for a good cause, and the best tools for your brand. (continue reading)

When it comes down to it, there have to be professions that are more maligned than public relations, but it does seem to be a field where its employees are constantly on the defensive, forced to explain how they are contributing to the world. Peter Himler details how public relations' impact on world events may help its own PR cause. Also: time management, brand management, and more on Dell and social media. (continue reading)

Welcome to another edition of CustomScoop's PR Pod Jots, our weekly rundown of all the best of the PR and marketing podosphere. It seems many of our favorites have returned from spring break refreshed and ready to discuss PR, social media, and all the latest online tools and trends. (continue reading)

I'm delighted to welcome John Cass back to the program this week, as he joined Jen Zingsheim and myself for our weekly Radio Roundtable discussion. This week, I wanted to talk to John about his series of posts discussing the "unniversary" of the Cluetrain Manifesto, as well as some other interesting issues that have copped up in the social media world this week. (continue reading)

Online shoe retailer Zappos and CEO Tony Hsieh have developed a dedicated following online, particularly on popular microblogging platform Twitter. Soren Jacobsen delves into the company's culture, ideas on transparency, and customer service to discover how they became an online force to be reckoned with. (continue reading)

Slowly but surely, companies and brands are understanding there is something profound happening in this new media world, and increasingly it's something they want to be a part of. But how can they know to whom to turn for advice on engagement? Is it their PR or marketing agency? Their technical group? Or is it someone else entirely? (continue reading)

Spike Lee has signed on to "direct" a film project consisting of footage taken from users cell phones. Lee is calling the project the "democratization of film". In reality, the Nokia-produced film is an attempt at using user-generated content to create a long-form advertisement while fostering a community based on brand loyalty. (continue reading)

Maybe Twitter wont be around to see 2010, yet many major brands have moved in to communicate with consumers and the world via Twitter: H&R Block (Finance), 10 Downing Street (The UK equivalent of US "White House"), Zappos (Online Retailer) and countless others like BBC News to Yahoo's Marketing Team and Amazon.com to the New York LaGuardia airport. Is this wasted energy by the PR/Marketing offices of H&R Block or even US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's social media team? (continue reading)

The guys from the Shill Podcast joined me on the Media Bullseye Radio Roundtable this week to discuss some of the big stories in the social media scene. We had a terrific discussion on everything from Comcast surging onto the social media scene, representing unsavory clients, and how to protect your personal brand during online attacks. (continue reading)

Sure, newspapers are allegedly a dying breed. But there is much to learn from traditional journalism that just might give your blog a boost. My favorite tip? Learn to edit yourself. Also in today's Jots: what would you give up to get something back? And how to get over blogophobia. (continue reading)

While yesterday's Jots asked the question "what is social media?", today's just might have an answer. PR blogger Brian Solis extensively explains how to best engage in social media, and why no one (and everyone) is an expert. Also: using video, controlling (or not) your personal brand, and 6 tips for using del.icio.us. (continue reading)

America Online announced today that it has made a deal to purchase social networking site Bebo for $850 million. Bebo, which generally comes in third to MySpace and Facebook in social network rankings but is rather popular in Europe, has 40 million members worldwide. (continue reading)

Video adds a much needed, well, visual element to many of our communications, whether it is for entertainment, information or business. However, is the rush to video a good thing, or are companies chasing a shiny object regardless of its effectiveness? (continue reading)

Going from "being there" to "being known" to "being the guy to meet" takes effort, and it takes some understanding of flow, of people, and of what matters to people. Doing this and being authentic is harder still. Chris Brogan has some solutions that might work for you. (continue reading)

In today's Jots: social media as a recruiting tool, tips on breaking in, vooVoo Day Madness!; and a call for an end to "they just don't get it." (continue reading)

Yahoo has halted Brand Universe, a project designed to tie the company's various social media offerings around popular brands. (continue reading)