Media Bullseye

We do not cover the mainstream news media a great deal in the Jots, but I thought Gerald Baron's analysis of a recent NBC News report was an excellent case study for what he deems is "wrong" with television news. Also: social giving, and using the right words to attract customers.

TV is going digital, and a major topic of discussion at AdTech San Francisco revolved around whether "programming is dead." Sean Howard writes about his experiences at AdTech, and how TV advertisers are going to have to work to stay relevant as viewers' commercial tolerance drops.

Reading about the forthcoming book version of Wikipedia got me to wondering: does everything we do online eventually come full circle into the mainstream media? It seems that more and more, successful online ventures eventually winds up as a part of the mainstream; whether as a book or a new job or other endeavors.

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.

What do you think makes a video spreadable? Video guru Steve Garfield explains how excerpting 15 minutes from a 90-minute video and sharing it prompted far more views than posting the original. He breaks down the keys to three elements: Content, ease of access, and sharing.

If you think the media is slow to understand the dramatic changes taking place in their own industry, you may not be surprised to know that Congress is even more in the dark. Recent reports suggest that some politicians would seek to handcuff the American media at a crucial juncture in the industry's history.

The right tool can change a presentation and finding what works for you becomes essential, especially to those in communications. Ike Pigott sings the praises of the white board, and its latest starring TV role.

Popular video sharing site Magnify.net has announced it will be adding social networking elements to its service.

According to Ike Pigott, the days of the "big three" for communicators (TV, radio, print) are long gone. This total convergence means it's time to change the strategy for everything from PR to media training.

Bryan Person joined in on our weekly roundtable this week. Up for discussion: an online flap between two smart bloggers over the need for advanced conversations on social media, accusations of "cliquishness" among PR bloggers, and brand usage in viral videos.