Behold - The Power of The Amateur
I know we’re just getting started here, but I thought it might be nice to introduce some ideas about this new little community of ours. Perhaps it would be important to lead off with this:
The World Is Changing.
That’s what I find so compelling about this medium of social media. As an example, check out the City Pages from last week — there’s a feature announcing this website. Yeah for us!
So I thought I’d go over to the City Pages website and grab the article for our blog - but there’s no online version of the the paper! Dad-gum-it!
In today’s digital world, this doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I guess from a traditional media perspective, maybe it does. We’ll just have to keep faith that one day, The City Pages will come around so people in Guam will know what goes on here.
The thing about being online is that the greater population has evolved - perhaps not as quickly here in rural America, but it is undeniable.
Traditional media is not very well-suited to change. Consider magazines, books, direct mail, newspapers or even the yellow pages; when an article is written anywhere in these mediums, it’s done. Corrections or updates can be made the following issue, subscription or printing, but for the most part, what’s done is done. It remains a rather rigid and slow means of providing information.
New media (online content) is instantaneous. A post can be modified, changed or deleted at the flick of a keystroke at any given moment. A photo could be added, a comment, or any number of media files.
Traditional media can’t do that. If a magazine, newspaper, or book has a typo and it goes to print - it’s too late.
Here at Citizen Wausau, you have the ability to interact with an article. Anyone can start a conversation, stir debate, correct an error. With older media, it’s a letter to the editor, which may or may not ever see the eyes of the public.
On top of that, traditional media struggles with trust issues - primarily because it boils down to advertising money. No business would want to intentionally tick off a revenue source; it would be economic suicide. By staying the course and not rocking the boat, advertising buyers remain content and continue spending advertising dollars. So where can people go to discuss more complex issues?
That’s why this new medium of blogs and citizen journalism is exciting, yet somewhat terrifying. It’s great that information can travel quickly, but who is accountable to accurately convey that information? Try wrapping your mind around the distributed nature of the Internet. Anyone can write a post, empowering the individual to take power away from ruling old media, and say whatever it is they wish to convey.
A blog with only a little influence can gain momentum quickly. With a tool like Digg.com, even an understated message can have a great impact. Why? Because the messages are easily transferable. Add a link, a pingback, a comment, bookmarks, they all drive traffic, and traffic has opinion. If the idea is considered viable by the majority, it gets past along with lightening speed.
Consider that:
- Anyone can start a blog.
- Anyone can open a web company.
- Everyone can have a voice.
- Everyone can have an audience or influence.
Is it any wonder why traditional media is struggling to adjust?
Now, in the case of Citizen Wausau, our voice or audience may never be big, but that’s kind of the point. Our community revolves around a singular common interest: our city of Wausau.
So what if a small group of people were passionate about a worthy cause in Wausau? Could we explode on the scene with a united, powerful voice? Consider what changes in our community this voice could do!
By simply tapping our common interests & passions, anything can become possible. So Citizen Wausau gets away from a mass market. It becomes a series of niche markets making a lot of noise.
We may be amateurs, but we can still change things.
lisastahl said:
Is it just me or (to paraphrase Yogi Berra) is this post like deja vu all over again?
October 11th, 2007 at 2:05 pm #
Dino Corvino said:
Its up, its down…we change thing…do the hokey pokey and you turn yourselves around.
We have no idea what is going on. Its the tubes and gremlins.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:08 pm #
robertmentzer said:
Discussion question: What impact does the internet have on the concept of “local”? Citizen Wausau is about two things — the collective power of internet amateurs and also one specific place, Wausau, Wisconsin. But aren’t those things kind of opposed, or at least in tension with each other?
Put another way: Is there such a place as Wausau on the internet? I think the answer might be ‘yes,’ but I am not sure I can explain why. Maybe someone else can take a shot?
October 11th, 2007 at 10:55 pm #
Tom Neal said:
Rob …
I’m inclined (from where I sit) to opine that there is no appreciable “Wausau on the Web.” Explanation: Of course, the worldwide Web is a means to access data, enjoy entertainment, explore new things, pursue relationships and whatnot from far-flung sources … and certainly, Wausau-area users can engage in these activities on a local level, too. Yes, there’s this new forum site (CW) and the WDH opinion forum and other locally based blogs and sites, and friends and relations e-mail each other just as readily as they might use the phone. But what I expect you’re getting at with your discussion question is something like: Is Wausau a dynamic Web-based community where a significant percentage of the population is networking, sharing, updating, proposing, exposing, explaining, organizing, moving and shaking? I’d say, not so much, at least not yet. If it were the case, I think I’d hear about it more out in non-virtual Wausauworld. Has the Web led to the creation of Wausau social movements; new action groups to be reckoned with; cultural & arts enrichment; a power base for change; a source for individual enablement, empowerment and access to life improvement; a “buzz” around town? I’m thinking no. But that’s where we’re headed. Thanks to a number of early adapters (of which, I’m not one), there is a source of energy to help drive the process, but it’s only beginning. Just wait.
October 12th, 2007 at 7:37 am #
Marcus Nelson said:
Both Rob & Tom –
Great discussion — From where I stand, Wausau is certainly not a “tech hub,” but it could be. The Internet has so many rich tools that are just plainly overlooked by most online peeps here.
Off the top of my head -
flickr - A super-great photo sharing service.
upcoming - excellent service for events.
twitter - short form blogging/messaging.
pownce - file/link/message sharing service.
ma.gnolia - bookmarking tool.
Just by joining these services and subscribing to other people’s profiles, you can learn, share and get help with all kinds of things. I can’t begin to tell you how much more enriching my Internet experience has been by networking with people all over the world. Unfortunately, there aren’t that many in Wausau accessing these tools - so my local contacts with these tools are few. There’s so much more to the “Internets” than just Myspace, AOL & Yahoo. :-)
Perhaps I could make a good post elaborating on this ramble?
October 12th, 2007 at 9:02 am #
Dino Corvino said:
See, a post on thosee things. Hahaha.
October 12th, 2007 at 9:07 am #
Tom Neal said:
Trust — misplaced? earned? abused?
Marcus, your article (and follow-up comment) about new/old media outlines many great aspects/opportunities that this new generation of communication affords us. And, I am a slowly adopting and adapting fan of the same. But one thing popped out at me (and I believe you and I have discussed this topic before) and that’s trust. Here’s your statement that intro’d the topic:
“On top of that, tradition media struggles with trust issues - primarily because it boils down to advertising money.”
And yes, admittedly, the Web-savvy and particularly the younger users are prone to dubiousness; they don’t like blatant self-promotion, marketers, big business and their ilk … even as they become furiously loyal iPod owners and Abercrombie & Fitch mannequins. Instead, they place trust in their online community(ies), in open exchange found in forums, and often in individuals they “meet” in these environments. But, let’s consider our own Wausau-area Web users — read their thoughts in opinion forums. What incredible proliferation of misinformation there is! Claims from the rabid right. Counterclaims from the livid left. Anonymous nonsense-spewing contributors spouting intolerant cant. Spurious, unfounded assertions. Blatant disregard for the foundations of reasoned debate. Our new media mates.
Let’s not glorify the altruistic “truthiness” of new media; it’s just as prone to abuse, exploitation and thinly veiled self-promotion as the old. And let’s not write off old media … it’s been governing itself much longer than the new has and I’d venture to say that it has more checks and balances in place to ensure its credibility (even the sold-out agenda-driven outlets take a modicum of care to avoid pitfalls of libel, inaccuracy, etc.). In fact, one of old media’s most useful “checks” is the Web itself, where “pure” information can be found in abundance to support or debunk. And, bear in mind, I include TV and radio into the old media mix, even though they share much of the immediacy and nimbleness of the Web, and an ever-increasing degree of interactivity. But in old media, accountability stands as a cornerstone. Addressing this statement from your article:
“Consider that:
* Anyone can start a blog.
* Anyone can open a web company.
* Everyone can have a voice.
* Everyone can have an audience or influence.
Is it any wonder why traditional media is struggling to adjust?”
Within that observation can be found the wonder and the peril of new media. Do I discount new media? Obviously not. But I approach it with the same mindset that I maintain as I begin a hike deep into the woods (REAL old media!) … watch out for snakes, ticks, bears, poison ivy, bad people … all the while, enjoying the quiet, the smells, the colors, the “splendid isolation” (to quote Warren Zevon), and the discovery found around the bend. Wonder … and peril.
October 12th, 2007 at 9:56 am #
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October 12th, 2007 at 11:44 am #
graydiane2 said:
There are many talented and enjoyable writers here! Citizens Wausau is great where I can enjoy all that is local hometown news. Love it. It keeps me connected to my hometown. I do feel though that I can’t compete with the writing. :) Even in my area of southern CA there are not a lot of computer-savvy people. At least not as far as specific blogs are concerned. Keep up the great blogging!
October 13th, 2007 at 9:42 am #
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October 18th, 2007 at 2:10 am #