Reading Backwards

After reading this post by Steve Rubel, I decided to take the plunge and switch from NetNewsWire to Google Reader for all my RSS feeds. It was a non-trivial process but I can already see how it's going to help me be more organized and efficient in processing information.

It's also helped me to re-acquaint myself with bloggers that I've drifted away from reading routinely. That re-acquaintance has been both productive and fun.

For example, Jeff Jarvis posted the following video back in April. Listen to how clearly Michael Rosenblum makes some key points about the how the revolution in video production and viewing that is sure to take a great leap forward in 2008 will transform our thinking about media.

Key line: "...the web site IS your focus group."

Here comes 2008...Happy New Year!

Comments

[Ken G.]

I use Bloglines for my RSS blog stalking. I'd consider Google Reader, but I'm far too lazy to make that kind of switch.

Okay... so, the web site "is the focus group" for CNN (etc.), sure, but does that (or should that) really replace editors, directors, and producers?

First, if/when that happens, the web numbers are too easily manipulated by either quirks of culture or force of reloads, and all of a sudden CNN will be telling us that Ron Paul is the most electable presidential candidates, or that the puppy who went down the hill on a sled should be the lead story above the build-up to war in Iran.

There are those who look to CNN.com during the day to "build their own broadcast" of real, serious, and important news. And then there are those who go simply for odd bits of entertainment, and those who go with a set agenda. To give all three of these groups equal weight in forming the broadcast would not be wise.

Yes, the web site is their focus group - but that data must still be analyzed and interpreted by producers who are responsible for what fills any 30 minute time slot.

[Ben Tremblay]

*linked to my rather slothful IT journal*

GReader ... I filled it quite a while back, but cannot say I use it ... almost not at all. Whereas NetVibes I load probably twice at least, every day, and spend serious time on it.
It's as though GReader is ... well, too much of a good thing?

Ohh, I just remembered you're psychology-type. (Cognitive? Does anyone use the term "cognitive ergonomics" anymore? That was hot buzz mid-80s, when SGML was remarkable and TCP/IP just new.)

I keep GReader in mind as paradigmatic of !what.I.plan.to.do ... I use motto of "somewhere between abject boredom and helmet-fire". GReader, for me, in that vein, is perfectly _wrong_.

But it's an impressive piece of work.

cheers
--bentrem