MatthewPetty.org - Economy, Ecology, & Technology from Fayetteville, Arkansas

I'm one.

matthew petty — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:24:41 +0000

I've seen this video before, but I keep going back to it every couple of months. It may have a few inaccuracies (I have not fact-checked it, and I'm skeptical of some of the claims), but it's so powerful to me that I can't help but be inspired.

What gets me every time is the simple fact that there are 90 million people in my generation. That's 20 million more than the baby boomers, and we'll all be voting age by 2016. With each passing election, we gain more and more political power.

What will the youth of America bring to the table?

Watch the video and find out. If you're really into this stuff, download the PDF, or buy the book.

The Five Stages of Social Media Grief

matthew petty — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:31:40 +0000

I found this list on Scott Monty's website a few weeks ago, and I really liked it. He's the new media guru for Ford Motors, and he's adapted the grief model from psychology to social media.

It's really quite clever, and it reminds me of the social media resolution I brought to the Council near the beginning of the year. In the weeks after introducing the resolution, I watched the public go through each of these stages, until finally the resolution was passed and we entered stage 5: acceptance.

And next year, we'll be doing exactly what Monty says those in stage 5 do, develop a communications plan and an IT assessment.

Here is the list from Scott Monty's website, but you should really check out the entire article (more graphs 'n stuff):

The Five Stages of Social Media Grief, courtesy Scott Monty

Denial - first stage of social media grief in which the marketer refuses to acknowledge the existence of social media. This was the case early on in the industry's development. Luckily, I don't think there are many companies left that think like this.

Common phrases: "It's just a kid's thing," or "It's just a fad."

Common behaviors: avoiding the Internet, putting hands over ears and singing "I can't heeeeeaaaarr yoooouuuuu. La la laaaaa."
Anger - In the second stage, jealousy and rage are misplaced and rage ensues. Common phrases: "This is stupid," "I've got better things to do with my time."

Common behaviors: full-fledged slave to work email; increase in print or television media buy to show effectiveness and superiority.
Bargaining - Anger gives way to hope that incremental adoption of social media will be enough to make a difference.

Common phrases: "If we have a Facebook page, we should be covered," "Let's just create a blog," or "Let the agency figure it out."

Common behaviors: the use of social media only in time-limited campaigns; half-hearted efforts on a limited number of social sites.
Depression - The fourth stage manifests itself in an understanding that the inevitable cannot be delayed and the marketer becomes doleful.

Common phrases: "Twitter/Google/Facebook is taking over the world," or "We're overwhelmed with choices."

Common behaviors: moping; pacing; complaining to friends on Facebook.
Acceptance - With the final stage, the marketer finally realizes that social media is here to stay and begins to determine ways to integrate activities and craft strategies that are truly integrated.

Common phrases: "Let's craft a comprehensive social media strategy," or "Let's spend some time listening to what consumers are saying about us."

Common behaviors: integration of marketing and communications functions, determination of measurement goals, online and offline alignment from the beginning of projects.

Good stuff, eh? What stage do you think your company is in? Or our newspapers? Or our schools?

Reality check: the new era began a while ago

matthew petty — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:20:06 +0000

Warren Stephens and Walter Hussman have joined forces to create a blessed spot for conglomerate media and move towards paid content at 'ludicrous speed.'

Today, each of the NWA Newspapers ran a story about the merger signaling “a new era” for news in our corner of the state. They even said “This region shall have the strongest, healthiest, newspapers in these United States. This 'blessed spot' will have more of what so many other regions are losing or have already lost.”

Blessed spot? That's the funniest thing I've heard...

I guess the editorial boards presume their biased media conglomerate is different from other media conglomerates. And I guess they think a region with zero print competitors (not even an independent weekly!) constitutes a “blessed spot” for print journalism.

Or, maybe I've got them wrong. Maybe they're finally realizing that the whole reason for the merger is that their model can't compete with social and independent media in the first place.

Nah... who am I kidding?

NYT Publisher Compares Print Media to the Titanic

matthew petty — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:12:59 +0000

Arthur Sulzberger, publisher for the New York Times, compares print journalism to the Titanic, doomed because of the invention of the airplane 12 years earlier.

In an article at New York Magazine, the publisher of the New York Times compared print journalism to the Titanic.

This is from the article :

"The industry is in the midst of a massive transition," [Arthur Sulzberger Jr.] said. "But the core of the fundamental job is critical. We have to re-create ourselves, but the heart of what we're going to re-create is still journalism. The way people get information is changing, but the need for information will remain constant."
He thinks that physical newspapers will stick around as well. "The best analogy I can think of is — have you ever heard of the Titanic Fallacy?" he asked. We hadn't. "What was the critical flaw to the Titanic?" We tried to answer: Poor construction? Not enough life boats? Crashing into stuff? "A captain trying to set a world speed record through an iceberg field?" he said, shaking his head. "Even if the Titanic came in safely to New York Harbor, it was still doomed," he said. "Twelve years earlier, two brothers invented the airplane."

And there you have it. In my opinion, everything he said, including the bit about newspapers sticking around, is right. And though it may be insensitive given the timing of the NWA newspaper merger, I think the opportunity for journalists of any sort is ripe.

Fayetteville Flyer to Begin Editorializing Again

matthew petty — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:27:33 +0000

The Fayetteville Flyer, a local website which is taking over the weekly market and has been providing quality coverage of City Council meetings now for several months, is returning to their roots.

They are going to start editorializing again. And it's about time! If there is one thing I've missed about the Flyer it is the opinions.

I think solid opinion pieces make up the most valuable content of any local media source. It's the deep discussion that keeps people coming back.

Here's what the guys at the Flyer had to say:

For a while now, we’ve been trying to figure out an informal way to post brief notes, site ideas, commentary, questions, contest winners, etc.
On plenty of occasions, we’ve found ourselves asking, “What section does this fit into?” Oftentimes, the post idea gets completely scrapped simply because we didn’t feel we had a proper channel for it.
...
As happy as we are with the direction the Flyer’s taken in the last year or so, we kinda miss being able to just spit out a few words here and there when a thought arises.

If you're wondering why you should care, I'll tell you. We just became a one newspaper town, and it's independents like the Flyer that are going to step in to provide the competition we need to ensure accuracy in our local media.

They've already established themselves as a go-to source for cultural news, offering more artist and musician profiles than any other publication. They post notices for every city meeting, and they cover the goings on at City Council regularly.

I dare say they are on the verge of providing "complete" Fayetteville coverage, and that's something to take note of as we talk about the future of media. They are living proof that a hyperlocal, online-only news service can provide regular quality coverage.

The only that's been missing are the editorials to drive deeper discussion, and now they are adding that content back in. Way to go, guys.

UA Journalism Dept to Host Forum on the "Future of the News"

matthew petty — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:57:27 +0000

Well, it's about time! It will certainly be a show to watch with Matthew Waite, the designed for Politifact squaring off against Conan Gallaty from the Demozette.

Of course, one has to wonder how biased the panel will be considering it contains no independent journalists.

This press release is unedited by me:

Lemke Journalism Department Hosts Forum on 'Future of the News Business'

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A panel of working “online” journalists will discuss “The Fog of New Media” during a three-day forum, Nov. 4-6, hosted by the Walter J. Lemke department of journalism in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas.

The panel members include Matthew Waite, the senior news technologist at the St. Petersburg Times and designer of PolitiFact, the first stand-alone Web site to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize; Michelle Malashock, the Web content editor at The Morning News; Gordon Witkin, managing editor at the Center for Public Integrity; and Conan Gallaty, the online director for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The panel discussion will be held at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, in the Donald W. Reynolds Center Auditorium.

The panel is one of three featured events of “ When the Ink Runs Dry: A Forum on the Future of the News Business.” The forum is funded in part by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. All events are open to the public, and faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend.

“A Glimpse of the Future” presents three videos produced by the Washington, D.C.-based Newseum. The videos are part of a 10-part television series, “The Future of News,” which is set to air in early 2010 and features “lively, cutting-edge conversations with well-known journalists and new media pioneers about the evolution of news reporting in an Internet age,” according to the Newseum Web site. The videos will be shown at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, in Kimpel Hall Room 111.

“Advice for the Future,” a student-moderated question and answer session with Matthew Waite and Gordon Witkin, will take place at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, in Kimpel Hall Room 111. The session will be videotaped to air on UATV.

###

ArkBizJournal: Connect Arkansas Gets $2 Million to Map Broadband Access in State - ArkansasBusiness.com

matthew petty — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:45:09 +0000

The Arkansas Business Journal has a report that a grant for $2 million has been awarded to Connect Arkansas to fund the creation of a map for broadband development in Arkansas.

That's pretty important, considering Arkansas ranks 49th for broadband access.

From the Arkansas Business Journal:

Connect Arkansas, an Arkansas private nonprofit created to enhance broadband access, received $2.08 million from the federal government for an accessibility mapping program.
"According to reports, full broadband deployment in Arkansas may create as many as 8,200 new jobs and generate more than $2.6 billion annually in additional Gross State Product," Walls said.

Under the Dome: Public option escape hatch?

matthew petty — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:33:24 +0000

Main Reference:

http://www.underthedome.com/2009/10/state-public-option-opt-out-proceeds...

I've been wondering how the "opt-out" public option would work, and Steve Harrelson, Arkansas' House Majority Leader, has posted an explanation on his own blog.

From House Majority Leader Steve Harrelson's blog

The health insurance reform debate could very well move to the Arkansas Capitol if the U.S. Senate's new version of the health reform bill becomes law. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that the new provision will allow states to opt out and reject participation in any policy that includes a national public option.
Here are some early specifics about how the opt-out would work, should it make the final bill signed into law. In his press conference, Reid said that states could not opt out before 2014.
2011-2012: National insurance exchange is phased in; consumer reforms begin taking effect.
2013: Public Option goes into effect. Americans are mandated to have insurance coverage.
2014: States can opt out with the exact process to be determined. Apparently, the opt-out will require a 2/3 vote of the state legislature, with the governor able to veto an opt-out. I don't have a link to this timeline -- it's simply what I'm being fed from people in the know.
Under this scenario, Arkansas residents would participate in the public option (if they qualify) in 2013. The legislature would then have to vote to opt out of the plan the next year. What is also apparent is that regardless of the opt-out provision, states CANNOT opt out of any reforms that prevent rescission or the denial of coverage for a pre-existing condition pursuant to the legislation.

Now, here's what I'm wondering... does Rep. Harrelson support the public option or not? From the sound of things, it would seem he wants to opt-out as soon as possible.

That would be disappointing.

90 Million Young People Invited to Speak with Senator Kerry re: climate bill

matthew petty — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:34:48 +0000

Will that amazing smile ensure the youth of the future have a livable planet?

Senator John Kerry is hosting a conference call with American youth regarding the Senate's climate legislation. When you RSVP, you can submit a question.

My question for him: If 90 million young people in America consider retaining the EPA's ability to regulate emissions as their Alamo, what could he do to help us not just survive, but also advance our position?

If you RSVP, or even if you don't, what would your question for the Senator be?

Here is the call information.

From the Office of Senator John Kerry:

Thank you for all the work you have done to engage a new generation in pushing to create a clean energy economy. The role that you have played in advocating for clean energy and reductions in global warming pollution has been incredibly powerful and has not gone unnoticed. As the youth clean energy movement has grown, so too has the potential for action on energy and climate in this country.
You are invited to join Senator John Kerry in a national dialogue about the role that young activists can play in the upcoming discussions that the Senate will be having about the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.
Please forward this invitation to all the young people in your networks and please join Senator Kerry on October 27th at 9pm EST to talk about how we can make a clean energy economy that creates millions of new jobs, reduces global warming pollution and increases our national security a reality in the United States.
Call in info:
Dial-In Number: 1-866-931-7845
Conference Code: 727028

It's not a revolution if nobody loses.

matthew petty — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:09:05 +0000

I'm reading a book, Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirky. It is a brilliant analysis of how social technology is affecting our behaviors. It's the kind of book that makes you want to underline every paragraph and write in every page's margin.

I'm thinking of using this title as a textbook for an experiment. I'm pondering a series of posts which could constitute an online crash-course in social technology.

But I digress. The real reason I opened the text editor today was because I wanted to post a powerful excerpt I read this morning.

How can conventional media models compete with social news? Answer: They can't. Media businesses which rely on the conventional model must adapt or be replaced.

It's not a revolution if nobody loses.

Our new freedoms are not without their problems; it's not a revolution if nobody loses. Improved freedom of assembly is creating three kinds of social loss. The first and most obvious loss is to people whose jobs relied on soliving a formerly hard problem. This is the effect felt by media outlets challenged by mass amateurization. The basic problem of copying and distributing information, previously an essential service of the music and newspaper industries among others, is now largely solved thanks to digital networks, undermining the commercial logic of many industies that relied on previous inefficiencies.

Andrew Keen, in Cult of the Amateur, describes a firm that ran a $50,000 campaign to solicit user-generated ads. Keen notes that some professional advertising agency therefore missed out on hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees. This loss is obviously a hardship for the ad agency employees, but were they really worth the money in the first place if amateurs working in their spare time can create something the client is satisfied with? The spread of cheap and widely available creative tools is sad for peoplein the advertising business in the same way that movable type was sad for scribes - the loss from this kind of change is real but limited and is accompanied by a generally beneficial social change.

I won't infringe on Shirky's copyright by posting more of that excerpt, but here's a related section rom earlier in the book. It helps tie the concept above together.

Our social tools are not an improvement to modern society; they are a challenge to it. A culture with printing presses is a different kind of culture from one that doesn't have them. New technology makes new things possible: put another way, when new technology appears, previously impossible things start occurring. If enough of those impossible things are important and happen in a bundle, quickly, the change becomes a revolution.

The hallmark of revolution is that the goals of the revolutionaries cannot be contained by the institutional structure of the existing society. As a result, either the revolutionaries are put down, or some of those instituions are altered, replaced, or destroyed. We are plaintly witnessing a restructuring of the media businesses, but their suffering isn't unique, it's prophetic. All businesses are media business, because whatever else they do, all businesses rely on the managing of information for two audiences - employees and world. The increase in the power of both individuals and groups, outside traditional organizational structures, is unprecedented. Many institutions we rely on today will not survive this change without significant alteration, and the more an institution or industry relies on information as its core product, the greater and more complete the change will be.

After you've read that, let me know your reaction in the comments.