Commentary
That's Cool, Jay
Jul 01, 2010
Jay Rosen (@jayrosen_nyu), a highly visible and outspoken journalism professor at New York University, recently spoke to World Bank communications officers. They had gathered from around the world to listen to Mr. Rosen speak about impression management–trying to control what others think of your brand–transparency, and "secrecy via complexity." I think that means purposeful obfuscation (Mr. Rosen would argue with that assumption.).
At the time I wrote this column, Mr. Rosen had not yet met with the World Bank communication officers. So I was looking forward to watching YouTube videos of the session, which Mr. Rosen told me and his 35,103 other followers on Twitter had been promised. I thought it would be interesting to see how professional bureaucrats in a global bureaucracy who are presumably experts in obfuscation would react to Mr. Rosen's remarks, particularly as they pertained to transparency.
I would have said so in a Retweet–a response to Mr. Rosen's Tweet–but he rarely (never) has time to respond to me given the demands of his teaching schedule, speaking obligations, and mindcasting– shaping opinions–through his prolific Tweets. By ignoring me, I suppose Mr. Rosen is mindcasting the idea that my perspective doesn't matter much to him and other influential journalists. That hurts a little, but I enjoy Mr. Rosen's rants nevertheless.
Besides, I follow–and get ignored by–far more popular Twitter celebrities than Mr. Rosen. Take Mari Smith (@ MariSmith), for instance. Ms. Smith has 68,000 followers. She is known for her love of turquoise jewelry and as an authority on social media. The coauthor of Facebook Marketing: An Hour a Day (@FacebookMktg), Ms. Smith Tweets advice about social marketing to promote her book and speaking engagements. She's so popular over 900 people recently sent Ms. Smith Foursqure friend requests so they will know where she is 24/7. That's true celebrity.
On a more serious note, I just learned that "Freakonomics: The Movie" is coming soon courtesy of Dr. Mark Drapeau (@cheeky_geeky). The director of Innovative Social Engagement at Microsoft U.S. Public Sector (Quite a title, that.), Dr. Drapeau recently shared with his almost 16,000 followers that he is again single and trying to figure out dating. In the meantime, he's thrown himself into all kinds of special causes. For example, he recently supported a Federal ban on corporal punishment in U.S. public schools. Good stuff.
A colleague in the communications industry, Edward Boches (@edwardboches), chief creative officer and concurrently chief social media officer at Boston-based creative agency Mullen, recently announced to his approximately 12,000 followers that the NPR (national public radio) app for the iPad is the best media app for that device. It's "just a little sweeter than BBC" and doesn't ask for donations very often, which is "definitely a reason to make a donation."
Like the other people I follow on Twitter, I value Mr. Boches advice more than he values mine. But that's okay. I don't have an iPad–which isn't yet sold in the Philippines–so he obviously has little of real value to learn from me, whereas Mr. Boches is dialed into important developments in the industry on a number of levels. For example, he Tweeted earlier that "plummeting marijuana prices make it tough to earn a living growing or selling pot in California." Imagine.
I don't want you to get the wrong idea, though. I do have some friends who Retweet me–and a serious bunch they are. Take Carol Phillips (@ carol_phillips), for instance. Like Mr. Boches, Ms. Phillips has multiple jobs, but in different organizations. She's a professor at Notre Dame where she is a popular authority on Millennials–tough-to-understand youngsters also known as Generation Y and the Net generation–and president of Brand Amplitude.
From Ms. Phillips I've learned that Millennials are resigned to having no real privacy in their lives and "lead the way with lifestyle brands" even though they've taken a serious financial hit: "median income for Millennials fell to $22,000 a year in 2010 from $30,000 in 2009." Still, those in their 20s managed to pay down credit card debt to $4,500 from $5,000 during the Recession. Go Millennials!
This little overview of my Twitter network wouldn't be complete without mentioning my friend Roy Atkinson (@royatkinson) who lives in Maine and has a big back yard. Roy is an IT pro, Saab owner, and problem solver. He also makes me laugh. Every day Mr. Atkinson thoughtfully posts a "groaner." Today's is, "One who receives the gift of a house can always live in the present." Mr. Atkinson just knocks me out.
I learn from and enjoy these Twitter friends, and the day just isn't complete without hearing from them.
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