I just returned from the Future of Media Panel hosted by I Want Media at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. If you missed it, check out the livestream here. It was interesting this year compared to last, which is a true testament to how things have changed in the media world.. Last year’s panelists included more of a traditional set including Michael Wolff from Vanity Fair, Erick Schonfeld from TechCrunch and David Carr from The New York Times. (There were others of course. Allen Stern’s CenterNetworks recap from last year can be read here if you want more.) The panel focused on a popular topic at the time “What is online killing/hurting?” Answers revolved around music, print, etc… you know the argument.
This year, we were over the fact that things were “dying” (for the most part) and focused on where everything is going to be LIVING. It was also a tailored conversation to each of the panelists and what they’re doing individually at their publications/sites. A look at the panel of speakers and you’ll see how all of them had something different to bring to the table:
- Nick Denton, Founder, Gawker Media
- Jack Dorsey, Co-Founder and Chairman, Twitter
- Bonnie Fuller, Founder, Bonnie Fuller Media (not in photo above)
- Alan Murray, Deputy Managing Editor and Executive Editor Online, The Wall Street Journal
- Craig Newmark, Founder and Customer Service Rep, Craigslist
The panelists were awesome. Just look at the list. You have new media, “old” media, non-media and then Twitter that falls into whatever category people are calling it these days. Twitter was the main topic of the questions as it is the main topic of everything these days.
Alan and Nick were the most vocal discussing their experience and debating whether or not advertising was the string holding media together (Alan says NO, Nick says Absolutely YES) Nick even went on to say that “newspapers don’t have material that people will pay for” stirring up some comments from Bonnie Fuller as well. Besides this one disagreement, Nick and Alan noted that they’re actually quite similar on their views. Nick even gets his Wall Street Journal news from Alan’s selective Twitter feed.
Craig Newmark was the show stealer with planned iPhone app sounds after his witty comments (Insert Sad Trombone sound here.) Craig also praised his nerd status and the fact that he is a bystander in a media world growing around him.
The moderator, I Want Media’s Patrick Phillips was the only “need for improvement” of the event. It really goes to show how a moderator can make or break a panel. You need someone who is snappy, on top of his panelists and able to shape the conversation. All traits that were visibly absent.
The good thing is that the panel was optimistic and open to the media landscape changing. That’s a great thing actually. There is opportunity for all involved. Whether it be new media, old media—it’s media and it’s changing. Whether or not you like it or are ready to adapt to it will determine how much it can grow to your own liking.
Some of my favorite soundbites from the panel:
Jack Dorsey:
-Twitter will be a success to the people at Twitter when people aren’t talking about it anymore. When it becomes a utility, that’s when we will consider it a success.
-Twitter is good at listening to our users. We took VC money to become patient and don’t want to do something that will not fit within the commuity.
-Twitter is not a search engine, but rather a Discovery Engine. News is breaking first on Twitter and people are realizing this. (Side note: Jack Dorsey goes to the NY Times for his news after checking the Twitter trending topics.)
Bonnie Fuller:
-People feel that there is an enormous need to be a star in their own lives. Reality shows aren’t needed when you have Twitter. You can do it there.
Alan Murray:
-There is a skill set needed for online. A certain attitude and personality is needed to write in this fashion.
-The Wall Street Journal has one big DON’T when it comes to social media: Don’t be Stupid.
-If you’re Bob Woodward, you probably shouldn’t tweet you’re going to meet Deep Throat.
Nick Denton:
-There is value of producing something original. It’s fantastic. People gather around original content because it’s so scarce.
-Gawker is Ivy Leage and Hipster gossip.
-I’m not selling Gawker Media.
Craig Newmark:
-I’m the Forrest Gump of the Internet.
-Trust is the new black. I read the New York Times because I trust their fact checking and sources.
