February 4, 2007

Missed Opportunity

The Tennessee Press Association's Winter Institute is this week in Nashville and there's a session on Podcasts, Videocasts and Blogs where folks can "learn what's new in web-based media technology and strategies and how you can use them to improve your online product's bottom line." The presenters have no serious journalism background - they see social media as primarily an advertising tool to bring in more ad revenue. Sure, news media operations need revenue. But what they need more is a visionary understanding of the role of social media and how it will radically change the journalism business. But instead of getting that this week, the assembled editors and publishers of Tennessee will get a sales pitch from an advertising company.