Read about the "Statusphere"

Forgive me if this was discussed in class. Brian Solis, of TechCrunch, blogs on the subject here.

The part that really struck me is high up in the piece:

Solis asks "Are newspapers worth saving?”

Walt Mossberg, of the Wall Street Journal, answers.

“It’s the wrong question to ask. The real question we should ask is if whether or not we can save good journalism. Think about it. Of the hundreds, thousands, of newspapers around the country, there are really only a few that matter. Good journalism and journalists, on the other hand, are worth saving.”

Solis goes on to discuss several other topics, including "The Human Network and the Future of Socialized Journalism." Under this subhead, he covers creating a community around one's "personal brand."

"If you are a journalist, it’s now your responsibility to create a dedicated tribe that supports, shares, and responds to your work and personal interaction in both the Statusphere and also at the point of origin. It’s the only way to build a valuable and portable community around you and what you represent."

I think this shift mirrors the shift in political campaigning, to a degree. In many ways, candidates also must foster seemingly personal interaction with constituents -- through Twitter, YouTube, Facebook or any other effective means.

It's food for thought...


-Caitlyn