what is the balance of entertainment, infotainment, personal reflection, corporate reflection, transcendence and trash? To this point, internet video has played relatively little part in my day for the same reason that you watch little or no TV. What's the benefit? To the extent that it is entertainment, I opt to sit on the sofa and watch what my wife is watching as I rub her feet and she falls asleep. The intervnet video which is entertainment has the disadvantage of being in another room.
But I'm intrigued that you use Chuck...who did a stint on Public television, and Beth who is from the non-profit sector and Josh who is helping people with english. All of them come at the new media from a background of making a difference with their lives...and this is an extension of that. McLuhan always argued that media was an extension of us...and so that may have carry-through in our choices of uses for new media.
At the risk of that last statement sounding incredibly judgmental of you, it isn't. You are building community. Always in that process there is the need for entertainment, for using humor and distraction to reduce the barriers and build bridges. And, Mr. grasshopper that is changing small business and families and health and pushing these kinds of conversations, you are encouraging conversations that make a difference.
You even are willing to raise the question with this kind of post.
Leslie Madsen-Brooks
· 3 years ago
Great questions, and Jon has already spoken my mind for me.
And here I go recommending another book. Have you read Everything Bad is Good for You? The section on TV especially might interest you because it addresses how audiences have grown more savvy in what they watch, how much they can track narratively, etc.
Keep up the good work.
chuck
· 3 years ago
I have to say, I'm really glad you wrote this. I'm so busy in the video world that I don't really blog much, or read blogs anymore - not for pleasure or thoughtful reading, anyway. I miss writing personal, thoughtful posts along these lines, mixing up heady new media thoughts with my own personal life.
I feel this tension too: Between Capital "G" Good stories or journalism, and just silly stuff to make people laugh. I want to do both! Sometimes I manage to combine them. That's whats so great about Rocketboom and the Daily Show, it's all smooshed together. Good, and good for you. :-)
Anyway, keep doin' what you're doin'! This is an exciting time, and there are many hats we can wear. I'm sure we'll have a chance to wear them all if we want, and maybe get some sleep once in awhile too.
paul merrill
· 3 years ago
Best post ya done in a while, Chris.
Keep up the good work. (And I'm glad you got the dream job.)
steve garfield
· 3 years ago
Chris, You mis-quote me. I did not say promote people 'instead' of shows. I said, "at the same time"
Here's what I said:
"Does everything have to be a ’show’?
If we are challenging the TV model of the past, why can’t you push forward the idea that we are going to subscribe to people.
I subscribe to people.
This message is quickly getting lost in the rush to monetize and promote video blogs.
There are people behind all this creativity and connecting with them is one of the most exciting things about this new landscape.
I understand how shows make it easier for people to find things they like, but let’s also try to promote people at the same time.
Please."
--Steve
Jim Kirks
· 3 years ago
Chris, Internet video is my whole day now. I watch more and more content that is produced just for the internet with every passing day. I am consuming so much, I watch little to no TV and find myself listing to less radio/audio podcasts. I am in the same boat with Chuck, I am so wrapped up in making and watching video that there is little time these days to do anything else. Which really bums me out. I too, wish I had more time to post to my personal blog. I also know, I would love the chance to rub some ones feet while watching the tube. There needs to be more time in the day, where did it all go? The promotion going on inside the space right now is fantastic, but is limited. We all now know each other and are talking. This helps us as creators to learn and grow. What I think we are still missing is a connection to the “real” world. I watch everything I can on the internet, I like to think I have a pretty good grasp on what is out there, that is worth watching. Then, I start to talk with someone, a “regular Joe”, and all of the sudden I am speaking Greek. Don’t get me wrong, I love our small community, and I know that I will miss it when it is corrupted by the world. But how do we spread the word on the amazing things going on, and keep it ours. Is that possible? On the question of social commentary, or more fulfilling content, I think I might be the wrong guy to answer this question. My show does neither. It is funny because I am a sucker for the History channel and I have a really bad addiction to politics. So, I am always looking for something with just a bit more. This of course is not what most audiences are looking for, especially the web audience. They are more in tune with the football in the crotch vid. Which is what makes us laugh, I snickered just now typing it. I would love to produce something for this space that was worthy of Frontline or Nova. I think the real question is, who would watch? Once again asking more questions than giving answers. Great post, damn you Chris for making me use what little brain power I have left.
Michael Bailey
· 3 years ago
As I watch many headlines on the Internet, I noticed that when YouTube was bought by Google, the Alexa stats for utube.com showed a 440% increase. To me, that means that people are starting to take notice of things, but they're not exactly sure what it all means.
I am working on numerous projects here at the moment, however, one of them is bridging the gap between those of us who are "tech savvy" and the "regular Joe".
I'm working a minimum of 12 hours a day, unfunded, driven by a simple passion to make a difference.
I've been in the IT industry for a very long time, and I am used to speaking Greek, and the all to common "deer in the headlights" stares which I get when speaking about technology; and now about new media.
Social Acceptance? What you are not hearing when people gather around the water coolers is talk about the last episode of RocketBoom.
We as human beings, have a desire to feel accepted, and therefore small-talk is generally centered around things which have a better chance of being understood. The weather, a sports game, etc.
As we need to add in several layers of technology to even begin to consume this new media, we're alienating ourselves from the small-talk circles.
It is my goal to have a device in 40 million households within 2 years, which will be seen as just another VCR or TiVo, and not be viewed as some technical mumbo-jumbo.
I want your media to be consumed by the masses from the comfort of their own living rooms. To be shared by families, the same way that major media is shared.
I am getting very close to the solution, and the delivery vehicle....perhaps a bunch of 12-hour days from now I can show you what I have.
Beth
· 3 years ago
Great question! For me it is not only promoting people, but causes! So much possibility for people trying to make social change and nonprofits who want to change the world! Lots of barriers though ..
All Comments
what is the balance of entertainment, infotainment, personal reflection, corporate reflection, transcendence and trash? To this point, internet video has played relatively little part in my day for the same reason that you watch little or no TV. What's the benefit? To the extent that it is entertainment, I opt to sit on the sofa and watch what my wife is watching as I rub her feet and she falls asleep. The intervnet video which is entertainment has the disadvantage of being in another room.
But I'm intrigued that you use Chuck...who did a stint on Public television, and Beth who is from the non-profit sector and Josh who is helping people with english. All of them come at the new media from a background of making a difference with their lives...and this is an extension of that. McLuhan always argued that media was an extension of us...and so that may have carry-through in our choices of uses for new media.
At the risk of that last statement sounding incredibly judgmental of you, it isn't. You are building community. Always in that process there is the need for entertainment, for using humor and distraction to reduce the barriers and build bridges. And, Mr. grasshopper that is changing small business and families and health and pushing these kinds of conversations, you are encouraging conversations that make a difference.
You even are willing to raise the question with this kind of post.
And here I go recommending another book. Have you read Everything Bad is Good for You? The section on TV especially might interest you because it addresses how audiences have grown more savvy in what they watch, how much they can track narratively, etc.
Keep up the good work.
I feel this tension too: Between Capital "G" Good stories or journalism, and just silly stuff to make people laugh. I want to do both! Sometimes I manage to combine them. That's whats so great about Rocketboom and the Daily Show, it's all smooshed together. Good, and good for you. :-)
Anyway, keep doin' what you're doin'! This is an exciting time, and there are many hats we can wear. I'm sure we'll have a chance to wear them all if we want, and maybe get some sleep once in awhile too.
Keep up the good work. (And I'm glad you got the dream job.)
You mis-quote me. I did not say promote people 'instead' of shows. I said, "at the same time"
Here's what I said:
"Does everything have to be a ’show’?
If we are challenging the TV model of the past, why can’t you push forward the idea that we are going to subscribe to people.
I subscribe to people.
This message is quickly getting lost in the rush to monetize and promote video blogs.
There are people behind all this creativity and connecting with them is one of the most exciting things about this new landscape.
I understand how shows make it easier for people to find things they like, but let’s also try to promote people at the same time.
Please."
--Steve
Internet video is my whole day now. I watch more and more content that is produced just for the internet with every passing day. I am consuming so much, I watch little to no TV and find myself listing to less radio/audio podcasts. I am in the same boat with Chuck, I am so wrapped up in making and watching video that there is little time these days to do anything else. Which really bums me out. I too, wish I had more time to post to my personal blog. I also know, I would love the chance to rub some ones feet while watching the tube. There needs to be more time in the day, where did it all go?
The promotion going on inside the space right now is fantastic, but is limited. We all now know each other and are talking. This helps us as creators to learn and grow. What I think we are still missing is a connection to the “real” world. I watch everything I can on the internet, I like to think I have a pretty good grasp on what is out there, that is worth watching. Then, I start to talk with someone, a “regular Joe”, and all of the sudden I am speaking Greek. Don’t get me wrong, I love our small community, and I know that I will miss it when it is corrupted by the world. But how do we spread the word on the amazing things going on, and keep it ours. Is that possible?
On the question of social commentary, or more fulfilling content, I think I might be the wrong guy to answer this question. My show does neither. It is funny because I am a sucker for the History channel and I have a really bad addiction to politics. So, I am always looking for something with just a bit more. This of course is not what most audiences are looking for, especially the web audience. They are more in tune with the football in the crotch vid. Which is what makes us laugh, I snickered just now typing it. I would love to produce something for this space that was worthy of Frontline or Nova. I think the real question is, who would watch?
Once again asking more questions than giving answers. Great post, damn you Chris for making me use what little brain power I have left.
I am working on numerous projects here at the moment, however, one of them is bridging the gap between those of us who are "tech savvy" and the "regular Joe".
I'm working a minimum of 12 hours a day, unfunded, driven by a simple passion to make a difference.
I've been in the IT industry for a very long time, and I am used to speaking Greek, and the all to common "deer in the headlights" stares which I get when speaking about technology; and now about new media.
Social Acceptance?
What you are not hearing when people gather around the water coolers is talk about the last episode of RocketBoom.
We as human beings, have a desire to feel accepted, and therefore small-talk is generally centered around things which have a better chance of being understood. The weather, a sports game, etc.
As we need to add in several layers of technology to even begin to consume this new media, we're alienating ourselves from the small-talk circles.
It is my goal to have a device in 40 million households within 2 years, which will be seen as just another VCR or TiVo, and not be viewed as some technical mumbo-jumbo.
I want your media to be consumed by the masses from the comfort of their own living rooms. To be shared by families, the same way that major media is shared.
I am getting very close to the solution, and the delivery vehicle....perhaps a bunch of 12-hour days from now I can show you what I have.