Rules of Engagement

Social media is a powerful force- breaking down barriers of discussion that were at one time insurmountable. Cruising the Cayman Islands and want to to share your pics with family? Post them on your blog. Or post them on your Facebook wall. Or now, share it almost instantly with a community of squid lovers as a TwitPic. Innovation has changed the rules of engagement. For the better.

What makes Twitter a different breed of social media cat is the instant, direct dialogue platform it creates. Take the Roger Clemens interview on ESPN yesterday. As soon as the disgraced former pitcher was on the air--continuing to deny he ever used steroids--reaction was flying all over in the form of Tweets. The dialogue was not what you would see in a discussion board or comment section of a blog posting. No, it was real time, Q & A back and forth just as if you were knocking back a few barley molds with your buddies at the tavern.

Even the media was engaged-- reporters were Tweeting with each other, commenting on the absurdity of Clemens continued non-mea culpa but also making suggestions about story angles/takes on the news.

Innovation is taking on many forms in this era of digital journalism. Be on the lookout as it may be under your nose. And if so, be sure you Tweet about it.

Innovative Thinker Series

Around the media universe, the dialogue for how to fix the journalism business model is growing. This is good, as the more conversation is pushed, the better the odds innovative ideas will be hatched.

From a New York University professor who is using his platform to encourage experimentation, to the over half-century Knight Foundation which awards innovative ideas, and if you read this article, there are many who are already designing new models.

Beginning this week, we will launch a series featuring those journalists that are on the front lines; creating, building, innovating.

If you have an idea for someone to be featured, drop the author a line.

Journapreneurship

A short definition of entrepreneurship is "the practice of starting new organizations or revitalizing mature organizations". Combining this dynamic with the practice of journalism and you have the potential for innovation.

At a recent seminar sponsored by the non-profit think tank Poynter Institute, journalists from all over engaged in dialogue blending this concept.

Mark Briggs, who attended the seminar, is an author and co-founder of Serra Media. Mark has a terrific blog with great content on the industry today and its future.

The big picture question is, in order for journalism to be viable moving forward, should it be positioned as a "new organization" in need of start up equity, or a "mature organiztion" that needs to be revitalized?