The Multimedia Maven

The International Press Institute is partnering with Google to offer 2.7 million dollars in grant funding for news platform, sustainability and training. They are focusing on reliability and credibility as well as economic models and teaching journalists how to capitalize on digital tools. You can read the details. I’m just blogging the word.

IPI partnered with Poynter to create this publication,
Brave New World focusing on the concerns and vision for the future of news. Hopefully, it can help you shape your idea(s).

In the voice of the little boy from the movie, The Sixth Sense, I SEE OPPORTUNITIES!

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I knew about Google Goggles but life was happening so fast, I really didn’t have a chance to explore the mode of visual search. On the iPhone 3G and higher, just hit your Google app. The search option appears and their will be a camera and microphone icon. Hit the mic and say what you want to find. Google is capturing your voice pattern and your search.

Hit the camera icon and take a picture of a book, DVD, product, landmarks, famous pictures and even a sudoku
puzzle and the results will shock many. Once facial recognition improves, I keep educating people about privacy, ethical and possible legal issues.

When people can be recognized with the wave of a phone, whether the person realizes it or not, how will this impact democracy? Will I one still attend a rally perceived to be politically incorrect by some? Will those in witness protection programs remain anonymous? Oh, I have more questions but I’m sure the reality is getting clearer as facial recognition software improves as well.

Don’t fear, be informed.

Remember, online sins may be forgiven, but they won’t be forgotten.

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Well, with 3 inches of snow on the ground and ice underneath, many schools and extended care programs were closed. Instead of canceling classes, I opted to blog The Business of News and to Tweet Journalism Practicum III #bujrn.

I emailed the students the night before instructing the bloggers to answer the questions included and to comment on one another’s posts. I had the Twitter group exchange handles and prepare to answer an initial question. I put 8-10 in the Twitter draft and added them as needed. I also asked them to read a CNBC article about 13 Twitter rules. Ironically, I didn’t see the link to tweet.

For 75 minutes, I read and commented on blog posts. I was glad I did not use the real time blogging service coveritlive for this project. The students had a chance to more fully formulate their ideas via individual posts.

In the second class. I spent 75 minutes tweeting with students about twitter and journalism.

It was a rewarding experience. I was a tad perturbed my Twitter and Facebook link decoupled and since I was using my iPhone due to a computer crash, I couldn’t fix it. And my original post on wordpress disappeared too.

Still, I have the student’s enthusiasm about today’s learning experience to keep me going.

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Growing up there was a Life cereal commercial featuring three little boys. Two of the little men were presented with something new, a cereal neither had tried. The two older boys more set in their ways were intrigued by the new breakfast option but they weren’t brave enough to try it. As early adopters, those who WATCH innovators and then determine whether they will try a new idea, they pushed the opportunity to their younger brother, Mikey. “Let’s get Mikey, he won’t eat it, he hates everything.” Then to their utter amazement, not only does Mikey try it, but he likes it. This scenario is playing out with traditional and new media, legacy/incumbent companies and new entrants, the younger generation and the older generation. Insert your dichotomous relations here. The bottom line is trying something new isn’t an option in the Wild Wild West. By fate or by choice, you are going to more than likely be faced with foraging into the unknown. Handle the task like Mikey. Look it over and realize you only have to try it once to figure out if it’s for you.

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The headline read Prince says the Internet is Dead, funny Wired magazine dedicated an entire issue to the same sentiment exploring the concept, The Web is Dead but priceless words from Prince are often dismissed. Maybe he needs to put his points about the Internet into song. History should teach some not to count the Purple one out. After all, it was Prince, well, at the time, he was the artist formerly known as Prince who challenged his record label, won his name, his career and revenues. Prince runs the show and some can’t handle it. He gives away CDs in newspapers and sells out concerts in return, you do the math.

Regarding his proclamation the Internet is dead. Think about it. Are you reading this article on a desktop, laptop or mobile device? What do you grab in the morning after, well sometimes even before your mate? I keep saying if it isn’t accessible on my mobile device, I probably won’t have time to see it. Projections are clear MOBILE is the current and next frontier. In an article via Mashable, Morgan Stanley analysts project mobile will be bigger than the desktop Internet by 2015.

Prince really is “The Artist”, “The Innovator”, “The Free Man.” The plantation model just evolved, it did not disappear. The frustration in many industries is a matter of executives making a great deal of money at the expense of their employees. The system is so out of balance, it is imploding under it’s own weight. Greed is a hell of a burden bear, let alone maintain. Those who are brave enough to forage for their freedom are doing so. Many who are frozen with fear and who have an antiquated mindset are chewing on skunks and spewing venom. Others are smart enough to support those on the run. During slavery, abolitionists (those who wanted to abolish slavery), anti-slavery (those who didn’t want slavery in their community but were fine with it in other areas), free Negroes (those who were NEVER enslaved), fugitives (those on the run from slavery), strangers (those serendipitous encounters with Samaritans along the way), slaves (those still in bondage) and the slaveholders (self explanatory) were the primary players. Which role do you fill as you watch entrepreneurs (goal is to make money) and innovators (goal is to create)?

As I ponder Prince’s latest pioneering strategies, I am encouraged, impressed and proud of the Purple One. I won’t dismiss what some call his “antics” so quickly. Remember, David PLAYED crazy in the cave and King Saul couldn’t recognize him. Let’s Go Crazy!!!

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