MediaDaily:: All The News That's Fit To Blog? Not Yet, But Maybe Soon
By Larry Dobrow, Contributing Writer
...Blogging and social networking may or may not change the face of traditional media as we know it. But Web wonks at a freewheeling panel discussion in New York Thursday morning said the impact of both is already being felt up and down the media food chain. And with one of the panelists estimating that somewhere in the neighborhood of three million blogs currently exist - three million people decrying the Bush Administration's economic policies, overcrowding at the local zoo or the propriety of continuing "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" without John Ritter - it probably behooves those few who aren't paying attention to get with the program.
The blogging crowd was on enemy turf. The breakfast roundtable, dubbed "The People vs. The Media: Will Blogging & Social Networking Turn the Media World Upside Down?," was held at publishing power-lunch mecca Michael's (in the back room, dubbed "Siberia" by one attendee). Nonetheless, the session was the blogging and social networking equivalent of an all-star game, featuring A-list bloggers, venture capitalists and suppliers of blogging and social networking technology.
The most interesting take on the rise of social networking (and the potential for monetizing it) was given by Tribe Networks chief executive officer Mark Pincus. Pincus, whose Tribe.Net seeks to be to professional networking and advice what Friendster is to dating, suggested that social networks - especially ones that serve as de facto referral networks - could ultimately serve as an alternative to classified ads. The potential implications for advertisers are enormous, as local classified activity is generally considered a better indicator of purchasing intent than a search on the Web.
"Twenty-five percent of the U.S. population participated in a person-to-person transaction [not involving the Internet] last year," he added, saying that there's a huge opportunity for any company that can capture a piece of this business online. At least a few media behemoths must agree: Tribe Networks counts The Washington Post Company and Knight Ridder among its investors.
That point was echoed by Ben Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of Spoke, who said advertisers would soon covet (if they don't already) information obtained via social networks. "I can point a better ad at you based on who your friends are," he said. "Who you know defines you more than the magazines you read."
Other panelists explored whether social networks can help media companies build loyalty with existing readers. Tony Perkins, creator and editor-in-chief of AlwaysOn and the event's host, questioned whether newly emboldened readers will continue to be engaged by Web sites that don't allow them to comment on stories, editorials or columns. What the blogging and social networking era has done for these readers, he said, was reveal "the power of participating in media... the average citizen out there has something to say." As a result, he believes every Web site will eventually have to open itself up to readers' comments, or risk losing their trust...
MacNN News :: Rainjul launches Polywogg blog services
...Rainjul has released a first public beta version of Polywogg, a journaling/blogging service for Mac OS X Jaguar and Panther. "This first release of Polywogg is packed with innovative features, many never before seen on any journal service, such as video blogging with Apple's iSight camera and comprehensive desktop web client application support. The blogging and journaling phenomena are ultimately about the appeal of social networking." It is available as fully functional and non-expiring software with both a Polywogg Reader and Polywogg Publisher. For a limited time, a one-year subscription for five journals is free for Apple .Mac members and $15 for others...
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