VaHigherEd.com

Fewer than 50 percent of U.S. homes receive a newspaper — and Yahoo and Google are the #1 and #2 source, respectively, of news.

The implications of the changing face of news and media were discussed at a web content management conference I attended last week in Chicago - where Shel Holtz gave his version of the “State of the Web.”

Word of mouth is the most trusted selling tool — 22 blogs are among the top 100 news sources — 72,000 media jobs have been eliminated since 2000…..and the old models of “central sources” of information are failing fast.

With more pod casts than radio stations, it’s time to think harder about communicating with folks that want to find their answers on Facebook, in IM’s from their friends, and in blogs and podcasts. That’s the “edge,” and that’s where people are experiencing our organizations.  That’s where they get their first impressions, and where they get their “brand information.”

Old media — including newsprint – isn’t dead, according to Holtz.  But it needs to move aside to make room for collaborative and conversational tools that are quickly becoming the inside track for perception and influence.

Becoming part of the conversation at VaHigherEd.com is one way to join in.

Posted by Susan Hayden