Based on your excellent takeaways and from reading the comments above, I think that what we all value is a genuine interaction. Mostly, we are all seeking to establish TRUST.

Coming from a PR person’s perspective, it’s been huge for me to be able to talk to media online in order to create relationship – to get to know the person – so that the next time I call with a story idea, there’s extra incentive to listen to what I have to say. It goes both ways. Social media, at first, is a little like testing the waters of face-to-face interaction. Based on the information you share and the insight you lend, others learn to classify you as one to pay attention to or not.

What it can evolve into is an incredible education tool and information giant. The idea that things can be shared in so many ways seems to parallel the advantages of different teaching styles. People are receiving and processing information faster than ever and at their convenience. There are no longer clear cut lines between content producers and receivers. As people start to realize that and take advantage of all the tools at their disposal, social media becomes that much more effective.

Based on your excellent takeaways and from reading the comments above, I think that what we all value is a genuine interaction. Mostly, we are all seeking to establish TRUST.

Coming from a PR person’s perspective, it’s been huge for me to be able to talk to media online in order to create relationship – to get to know the person – so that the next time I call with a story idea, there’s extra incentive to listen to what I have to say. It goes both ways. Social media, at first, is a little like testing the waters of face-to-face interaction. Based on the information you share and the insight you lend, others learn to classify you as one to pay attention to or not.

What it can evolve into is an incredible education tool and information giant. The idea that things can be shared in so many ways seems to parallel the advantages of different teaching styles. People are receiving and processing information faster than ever and at their convenience. There are no longer clear cut lines between content producers and receivers. As people start to realize that and take advantage of all the tools at their disposal, social media becomes that much more effective.

I hope more traditional media continue to see social networks not only as a means to find new stories, but also as a way to deepen connections with readers/viewers and PR pros.

I hope more traditional media continue to see social networks not only as a means to find new stories, but also as a way to deepen connections with readers/viewers and PR pros.

Now I find myself gravitating back to Channel 7 with greater frequency. Why? One reason: I feel like I have a connection with the personality of the station, in the form of a connection with A personality FROM the station. Getting to know Stephen online has formed a new perception of someone I had previously only seen through the looking-(TV)-glass. I see humor. I see genuine-ness. I can relate to the personality in a way that wasn’t previous possible. I’ve yet to personally shake hands with him, but I feel like, in some small way, we know each other to a point…all through online interaction in public fora.

As a result, I feel a stronger personal connection to his newscast and his station. And I want to, as you so often put it, do business with people I like. So Channel 7 gets my ratings point. And I really can’t attribute that to anything other than an online but personal exposure to one of the station’s anchors.

Strong agent of change, this Internet thingy.

Now I find myself gravitating back to Channel 7 with greater frequency. Why? One reason: I feel like I have a connection with the personality of the station, in the form of a connection with A personality FROM the station. Getting to know Stephen online has formed a new perception of someone I had previously only seen through the looking-(TV)-glass. I see humor. I see genuine-ness. I can relate to the personality in a way that wasn’t previous possible. I’ve yet to personally shake hands with him, but I feel like, in some small way, we know each other to a point…all through online interaction in public fora.

As a result, I feel a stronger personal connection to his newscast and his station. And I want to, as you so often put it, do business with people I like. So Channel 7 gets my ratings point. And I really can’t attribute that to anything other than an online but personal exposure to one of the station’s anchors.

Strong agent of change, this Internet thingy.