The free flow of information “is as vital to the healthy functioning of communities as clean air, safe streets, good schools and public health.” That’s what the Knight Commission on Information Needs of a Democracy concluded in their report on Sustaining Democracy in a Digital Age.  The 145 page report [...]

This morning I ran across this video full of great facts about social media (the facts are great, but the music is not so great). My favorite fact: Social Media is now the #1 activity on the Internet (not porn)!

If you’ve ever studied Mass Communications or Journalism you always discuss the purpose of Mass Communications in your introductory course. One of those purposes is to pass on cultural ideals/norms/values. We just had sloppy joes for dinner. I had to pass on Adam Sandler‘s Lunch Lady Land to my kids. [...]

Robert Scoble has an interesting conversation going on his blog looking at what happens to healthcare privacy as social networking moves into the medical arena (make sure you read the comments). Scoble’s take on it is that the benefits of social networking and getting the  crowds feedback on your condition, [...]

Here’s fourteen social media experts looking at what’s next in 2009. My favorites include “Intimacy touches emotion; emotion powers conversation.” “There’s a lot of fixing that needs to be done.” “Suddenly, being Facebook friends with your mom will seem less ridiculous than following 4,000 strangers on Twitter.” Full document laying [...]

Shel Israel has written a great case study for his new book Twitterville on how to use twitter to catch a PR disaster before it becomes nightmare and how to put it out quickly using twitter. Israel outlines how Scott Monty, Ford’s head of social media, catches a web site [...]