Since I carry around the lofty title of social media editor at The Huntsville Times, I frequently find myself explaining the concept of social media to the not-so-web-savvy folks in the community.
For that reason, I love the fact that social media powerhouse Mashable took on the task of defining social media in honor of Social Media Day, which is coming up on June 30. The Web-based publication asked its readers to define social media in 140 characters or less (to fit the Twitter limit).
This is my favorite, from Jonny Rose: “Ask not what the Internet can do for you, but what you can do with other Internet users.”
In terms of the best definition related to my job, and I have to say that Corina Newby got the closest: “Social Media is on-demand, real time interaction, that uses technology to enable genuine engagement with others around media vs. simply sharing data with them.”
Honestly, though, you have to combine all 20 answers featured on Mashable to even come close to the true scope of social media. Read the full list from Mashable.
Tags: Mashable
I just downloaded the WordPress app for the Droid, and I have to say … I’m impressed. It’s sleek, easy-to-use and super fast. Traditional blogging has always been so, well, traditional. Before mobile apps and QUERTY keyboards became widespread, bloggers were forced to pull out a laptop and establish a connection. Now, it’s as simple as tapping an icon and moving your thumbs.
WordPress also has apps for the iPhone and Blackberry, so WP users with smartphones have no excuse for not taking advantage of this app. The Android version was the last to the party, with a release date of February 2010.
This is my first of (hopefully many) blog posts from my Android-powered phone. To test the full capability of the app, I’m uploading a photo of my old phone. While I liked that phone, this one is certainly an upgrade!
Tags: Droid
I’ve been working on so many Web projects lately that my writing muscle is starting to atrophy. Sadly, this is one of the few places I have left to write more than 140 characters at a time.
I want to blog more, but a couple of issues have slowed me down. For one, it’s difficult to determine what topics are blog fodder and which ones are off-limits. As a young workaholic, 99 percent of topics that drive me to write are work-related. I had an interesting discussion with a coworker on Friday about who owns our online personas — do we, or do our companies? In this day and age, you can’t assume you own your online identity. But that’s a discussion for another day. Mostly, I don’t have much free time on my hands to blog. I’m juggling as many projects as I can handle right now. A few are listed below: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: LinkedIn, Newspaper, ongoing projects, The Huntsville Times
I read a touching story today by Robert Samuel (a promising young journalist that I had the fortune of meeting in St. Petersburg) about the children who ask Santa for jobs for mom and dad and the postal workers who try to answer those difficult requests.
With the economy in the slumps, so many parents are having to tell their children not to expect extravagant gifts. Daddy and Mommy have been out of work for months, are on the verge of losing their home and have resorted to writing their own letters to Santa. What a sad reality.
The Press-Register cheered me up a little with this cute story about the unintentionally humorous Santa letters the post office receives.
I spent a few hours Monday evening compiling letters written to Santa on al.com for the Christmas Eve edition of The Huntsville Times. Here are a few that made me tear up, following by some that made me giggle: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Christmas, letters, LinkedIn, Santa, The Huntsville Times
I’ve had little bursts of holiday cheer this season, but my merriness diminishes when I let myself think too much about the problems facing my industry. This little skit, brought to my attention by coworker Victoria Cumbow, made me smile.
Cheesy? Very much so. But as MinnPost.com writer David Brauer said, “… it’s the Christmas season, so lighten up and recognize these folks still care about what they do, still bleed printer’s ink, and still want to make St. Potterville a better place.”
Thanks, St. Paul Pioneer Press. Merry Christmas everyone, and enjoy!
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