Feb 17, 2008
conversational media and user generated content (that means YOU)
Sean has talked alot about the shift in media to conversational media, a two-way dialogue between readers and authors.
It’s an exciting change in the media, which has traditionally been a one-way system (think ‘magic bullet theory‘). It promotes discourse among authors and readers and also is essentially removing the power from the big power players, who have complete monopolisation over the media…
Originally user generated content was strongest in entertainment – artists were keen to get themselves heard and seen, and the internet provided the perfect vehicle (cheap, easy and vast dissemination). But now other areas like news and education are reaping the benefits, with content and information shared via videos, blogs, photos, podcasts, wikis and reviews. Need to know how to make/bake/create something? Chances are that wiki, youtube or one of the other mega collaborative websites can show you how to do it.
This article in The Age gives some interesting facts on user generated content, including that it is now considered mass market (with 46-84% of internet users engaging with user generated media each month), and that traditional or ‘old’ media such as TV are desperate to get in on the act.
The article notes that popularity also does not always guarantee quality (have you watched the evolution of dance? It is the most viewed yotube video of all time and isn’t in the least bit funny, witty or entertaining). But this isn’t stopping us going back for more, and more and more of us are becoming involved by generating content ourselves – social networking sites such as facebook and myspace are based entirely on this premise.
It’s shaping the media of the future, and it’s going to be fascinating to watch.