Hot New Trend #Media140: the fuschia pink sweater look...
TwitPic courtesy of @RadioKate
(Check out her amazing project @BBC_SOS )
When Media140 founder and mastermind, Ande Gregson, said, and I quote, “Crack on!” when I suggested that, as an albeit lowly member of the Media140 crew, I did a blog post on feedback-cum-review of the day, I was practically ecstatic. Finally: a chance to dust down all those once-learned, never forgotten tools of the trade I was first taught by the legendary George Short, in a stuffy room full of – I kid you not – manual typewriters behind Reuters HQ at 85, Fleet Street.
So, initially enthusiastic, I set about aggregating, cogitating and filtering - as the links to #media140-labelled posts started to proliferate on Twitter. It wasn’t long before I realised that there was simply far too much stuff here for my super-annuated brain; and that was before I’d even had time to peruse all the energetic and, in the main excellent, live tweeting and blogging which went on all afternoon from the Media140 crew: @paulagoes; @badgergravling; @benjamindyer; @dan_martin; @sizemore; @ana_brasil; @vikkichowney; @brian_condon; @sheamus; @kate_day; @iainaitch; @blogtillyoudrop & @bash.
Added to which, most of the posts were by Social Media denizens who are all, frankly, far more qualified to get to the nub of the issues raised at the event than I am or ever could be. Truth be told, it is translating and copy-editing which now pay my mortgage, although I do try and keep up with the times, as I regularly find myself advising student mates who – despite all my advice to the contrary – still seem determined to pursue a career in journalism.
I do, however, know when I’m beaten so I thought I would restrict myself to sharing some of my own highlights, along with some of the more critical feedback that came my way on Wednesday, when I was wearing that distinctly unflattering Media140 crew tee-shirt. I have also appended a list of published #media140 posts which struck particular chords with me – purely personal whim. I hasten to add that no money has – as yet – changed hands.
There was more than a mutter about the distinct paucity of women on the podium. Indeed, even Bill Thompson referred to himself and his fellows on the first panel as the “Five Old White Guys”. Having been at fairly close quarters as Ande worked to put the event together, I know that this was not for want of trying and, in the end, the women who did speak: Laura Oliver & Joanne Jacobs moderating; Suw Charman-Anderson & Joanna Geary on panels did a fine job. The audience was also at least 50:50, if not more so, female. My gut feeling is that Media140 stuck pretty much to the guns of its sub-title: “The Future of Real Time News” and that, although I have plenty of great Twitter girlfriends, many of them are, if not quite full-blown “Mommy Bloggers” then they often, rather like myself, have a very particular, and not necessarily hard news-oriented, niche to plough.
The emphasis on breaking news and news gathering was also the reason that not more time was devoted to examining the role of PR – pace Dan Martin and others. I know this is definitely a topic to which Media140 hopes to return in the future.
As an ex-foreign correspondent, my own highlight panel was Frontline Journalism with instructive expositions by all: @suw on findingada.com, Mark Jones explaining how the Thomson-Reuters behemoth has come to innovative terms with Twitter; @kevglobal’s fascinating US campaign tours; the charming and personable Moeed Ahmad, when he finally came through loud and clear and Guy Degen’s compulsive footage from Tbilisi – crazy dateline, slightly crazy guy. The impact of his presentation can be seen in this tweet from one of the many unsung heroes of the day – thanks George!
RT @iboy: @fieldreports Watching the folks #media140 watch you was fun. Facial expressions said: "Holy shit, this guy is really doing it!"
So many other people, including the above cited Dan, have written eloquently about the Local Media panel. I was impressed when I signed up for @simongrice’s BeLocal.com yesterday and was receiving DMs about my local weather, news and carefully selected trivia within minutes. It makes an excellent case for the much-talked about micro-micro.
On the technical side, there were unfortunately a few annoying glitches, such as with the mikes. The ever-perceptive Andy Piper came up with a valid grumble. Andy wasn’t there on Wednesday but hoping to follow the discussion and asking questions via Twitter. Sadly, overall, he was disappointed at the lack of response to external questions, lack of response to the back channel and to the video stream. He pointed out that SOMESSO Corporate Social Media Conference on May 15th had a “front channel” alongside the presenters, to which they duly responded. In a series of constructive DMs, Andy explained: “For a “140” event, I was amazed that Media140 didn’t have the same set-up”. All valid points and I know that the other Ande is keen for all feedback. DM him @dailytwitter
My highlights of the day, in no particular order:
- Audible gasp from shocked but enthralled audience as @billt “banged heads together” during first panel.
- Watching Guy’s material from Georgia and remembering why I became a journo in the first place….
- Getting my badge signed by teenage crush Pat Kane
- @Documentally introducing the courageous Gerry Jackson from http://www.swradioafrica.com/
- The suggestion that we just call Moeed on the phone when we were having trouble with the connection, shouted out by well known wag @freecloud
- Working with @klbarber, @petrajohansson and all of @dailytwitter’s other slaves
- Baths full of beer & impossible to eat ciabatta burgers…er that’s it.
Look forward to seeing all and more at the next...
