Mel, do tell…

Reflections on Urban Life

Brave New(s) World: Future of Journalism Summit May 29, 2009

Filed under: Events, Social Media — melissafeeney @ 10:49 pm
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At the one of the breakout sessions entitled The New Journalism Toolbox

At the one of the breakout sessions entitled The New Journalism Toolbox

Out of the many lessons I learned at the Brave New(s) World Summit on the future of journalism held at Centennial College on May 28, the most important take away from the day could be that the newspaper is not dying, it is evolving. 

An elite group of news reporters, journalism professors, students and other media gathered for the day long summit to discuss concerns over the changing print journalism industry and how the web is shaking up the traditional business model.

It seems these days, anyone can be a citizen journalist and can spread messages instantly from their mobile device but does that water down the message and even though we may get our news faster, is it accurate and which source should we trust? How can we make money from putting news online? All these questions were answered, or at least discussed at the summit, with keynote speaker and successful publisher, professor Jeff Jarvis, author of the best-selling book, What Would Google Do?

 

Our discussion notes from a breakout session.

Our discussion notes from a breakout session.

 

As we enter the unknown territory of Web 3.0, it’s important to discuss the impact the web is going to have on jobs. That’s why I think some of the most important decision makers, critical thinkers and influencers didn’t hesitate to participate in the Summit. Representatives from every local and national media outlet  participated in the breakout sessions including: Mathew Ingram, Communities Editor for the Globe and Mail, Amber MacArthur, new media specialist for commandN.tv and CTV/CP24, Kris Reyes, Citytv News reporter.

 

Some of the participants from the Brave New(s) World Summit

Some of the participants from the Brave New(s) World Summit

 

So where do we go from here? Well it was said that people thought the radio was going to make kids deaf and the television was going to make us dumb, and the internet? Will it kill the print publication? No, there is room for both. We just need to adapt by being “small, agile and lethal.”

 

For a summary report of the conference, keep checking back in the next few days as people upload and add information to the blog. http://bravenewsworld.wordpress.com and http://www.centennialcollege.ca/thecentre/summit

 

Chromeo Have a Very Important Message About Washing Your Hands May 20, 2009

Filed under: Music — melissafeeney @ 3:59 pm
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How kind of Chromeo to spread the message of washing your hands to not only the hipster kids but children seven and younger. The electronic duo made an appearance on my favourite childrens show Yo Gabba Gabba in March (pre-H1N1 madness) to teach kids the importance of washing your hands.

 

 

Look out for our own video on washing your hands. I’m even experimenting with Glo-Germ, a product that shows you were all the microscopic germs are living on your hands under black light.

 

SpinTO: A Party for a Good Cause May 19, 2009

Filed under: Around T.O., Events, Social Media — melissafeeney @ 9:20 pm

 

photo taken by Martin Ringehahn

photo taken by Martin Ringehahn

 

Raising $15,000 to date for the Toronto People With AIDS FoundationSpinTO was a helluva party that brought together the cycling, tech and gay communities of Toronto to celebrate the Friends for Life Bike Rally from Toronto to Montreal. 

 

In spite of it being the Victoria Day long weekend, people came out in droves to buy raffle tickets, bid on the silent auction items, dance, watch some burlesque performances, dress in drag and have their picture taken in Rannie Turingan’s photobooth. 

 

Congrats to the organizers on a successful event!

 

 

Kelowna and I in the photobooth at SpinTO

Kelowna and I in the photobooth at SpinTO - photo taken by Martin Ringehahn

 

Will Pay-what-you-like Concerts be Successful? May 11, 2009

Filed under: Music — melissafeeney @ 5:00 pm
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I didn’t realize I was at a free concert until I was leaving the show, as arrogant and ignorant as that sounds. It wasn’t until my guest who had given me the extra ticket pointed out the pay-what-you-like boxes stationed at the exit of the Kool Haus, that I figured out everyone in attendance didn’t have to pay a cent to see the show – if they wanted.

 

K-os, a Toronto hip hop artist passed through Toronto with his YES! Karma Tour recently, a show that was partially sponsored by Rogers urMusic. They covered the basics of staging a cross-Canada tour of this magnitute to allow the fans to pay for what they think the concert should be worth.

 

K-os is putting on his YES! Karma tour for free in hopes that fans will pay for what they think the should be worth.

K-os is putting on his YES! Karma tour for free in hopes that fans will pay for what they think the should be worth.

 

The pay-what-you-like idea has been used in the sale of music on the internet by the likes of Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, but has rarely been applied to concerts. K-os is the first artist in Canada to try out the concept of watch the show first, pay later.

 

Was it a success? 

 

My observations: Very few people stopped to talk to the people stationed by donation boxes called ‘karma’ boxes and fewer people actually made a donation. Sure the idea of a pay-what-you like concert might be progressive, after all shouldn’t we pay for what we think the value of a concert is and not what promoters tell us it should be worth? In the end however, concert-goers and even hardcore K-os fans will take advantage of a ‘free’ concert and the show will receive less in revenue than if they were to charge a flat rate for the show. 

 

I guess that’s why they call it the Karma tour, since K-os is giving something to his fans, wouldn’t it be fair to get something in return?

 

My final comment: Without Corporate sponsorship, pay-what-you-like concerts will not be money making ventures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So to all those people who didin’t pay for the concert, you better be careful or the Karma Police will come after you.