New Media and Higher Education

It's not only entertainment. New media hits higher education. Today Yale University announced they are offering undergraduate courses freely available to anyone in the world with access to the Internet:

Open Yale Courses reflects the values of a liberal arts education. Yale's philosophy of teaching and learning begins with the aim of training a broadly based, highly disciplined intellect without specifying in advance how that intellect will be used.

Oh, but wait. There's more! Stanford University has got free CS education library. MIT's got a few in classes, too. And Berkeley does it with an iPod.

Wendy Boswell from LifeHacker's got gads more college classes listed in her blog.

Oh, and back to that iPod for a sec: the New York Times wanted to know this past weekend "What did the professor say?"

Mix '08 - The Next Web Now

File this under "New Media". Now in its third year, the MIX conference slated for March 5- 7, 2008, promotes itself as an "intimate opportunity for cutting-edge technical, creative and business strategists to engage Microsoft in a conversation about the future of the web." The purpose is to "explore the latest wave of opportunities and help redefine the boundaries between: content and commerce, PC and TV, Windows and the Web."

At the risk of reactivating a holy jihad between rivals Mac and PC and the communities they serve, my gut tells me this is a way for Ballmer to pick your brain and get a toe-hold over Job's corner on the market. And not to sound all Eeyore on you, but I've tested a Zune. There's a very good reason the Ipod is a winner in my book and that is: ease of use and elegance of design. It plays well with any file, whereas a Zune does not (this was my frustrating experience from a year ago this month so your mileage may vary).

Anyway, I'm a Mac grrl, so this ain't my thing. But maybe it's yours. Apples and oranges and all that jazz.

Errata

Errata: In the "WSC Bonus Podcast for 12/11/07" episode, I said that "5,000" pencils were going to be delivered as part of the Pencils2MediaMoguls campaign. I meant to say "500,000".


Yes, that would be pretty pathetic if United Hollywood's efforts to gain fan support would have only resulted in a mere few thousand pencils as opposed to half a million.

The truth is, I knew the correct number. My script shows me I did, too. However, in my v.o., I fucked up my line. Had this been an important breaking news story, this would have been perhaps a devastating mistake with far reaching implications.

This is a good example of why citizen journalists only make up a part in the gathering and sharing of news and information in a digital age. In my interview with Bill Froehlich, I was concerned that untrained and wholly amateur citizen journalists would come up against issues of accuracy when reporting.

However, one acquaintance made the point that the real issue in reporting, whether one is a professional or amateur journalist is "ethics" and cited the case of Dan Rather.

Fair enough. Nonetheless, I need to get better at this. I could also do with a fact checker.

Internet TV comes into focus

From The Week Daily comes an article about Internet TV that really captivated me. If I had to pull out only one single quote that summarizes what my biggest question has been since the start of the strike -- namely why are writers striking against the ConGlom's when the Internet offers an opportunity to D.I.Y. -- here's a highly cogent response that I can actually grok:

"Networks are still the most efficient way to create and distribute high-budget programs to mass audiences. But the Internet makes it possible to profitably reach smaller audiences with niche programming."

The piece also pulls focus some other good questions such as: How soon will that future of Internet TV arrive—and what will it look like? Who’s going to make this magic box? What can Internet TV do that current TV can’t (another fantastically grokable opinion)? Will networks become obsolete?

The answers to these and many more really good questions are covered. Read the entire article here.

I read it here first!

So far this morning, I'm getting my news today from bloggers. I wanted to verify the following information, so I ran a search in Google news, but to no avail. So either this story is being broke on a blog (and not just any blog but the Huffington Post) or the story is either false or incomplete (but somehow I doubt that).

Here's what I read:

SEIU Local 99 in Los Angeles -- education workers who include teacher's aids, cafeteria workers and crossing guards -- yesterday fired former Clinton spokesman Chris Lehane from a consulting contract in support of the WGA .

Read Jane Hamsher's entire post here.

UPDATE: As of 2:43 p.m., United Hollywood blogs about this development. So, I'm guessing this is my second source and therefore it must be true.

WSC Bonus Podcast for 12/11/07

This is a special WSC bonus podcast targeted specifically for today because it contains information regarding the United Hollywood’s Pencils2MediaMoguls campaign. The idea is that since the start of the strike fans were asked to buy pencils to send to the six media moguls who run the six corporate conglomerates to demonstrate their support for the writers of their favorite TV series.

In this episode, I speak to Jeff Berman with United Hollywood. At the time of this recording, he was reluctant to give the details about where over 500,000 pencils were going to be delivered. So, I waited to release this episode until the information became available on-line.

Here’s the skinny:

Today at 11:30 a.m. the pencils will start being delivered. The staging ground for this event will be Johnny Carson Park, located at 400 Bob Hope Drive in Burbank, just across the street from NBC.

Writers slated to appear include: Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica), Joss Whedon (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly), Alfred Gough (Smallville), Miles Millar (Smallville), and others to be announced.

For more updates, be sure to log on to UnitedHollywood.com

Credits
Producer/Host: Tanja Barnes
Music: "Ay Mambo" by Falik
available on Magnatune.com

Relevant to our conversation, here's a primer on Web 2.0:



And also:



Read Time Magazine's Person of the Year for 2006.

WSC Show #33 - Interview with Alan Katz

In this episode, I meet up with Alan Katz following the "It's All Written" reality television show rally in Burbank. Recorded Friday, 7 December 2007.

Credits
Producer/Host: Tanja Barnes
Music: "Ay Mambo" by Falik
available on Magnatune.com

As mentioned in our conversation, the Internet is a series of tubes:



From MediaSpinner

OurMedia Retools, Revamps and Reinvents

Video failed to load? Download here instead.

OurMedia is the Nikola Tesla of the personal media revolution in that it launched weeks ahead of YouTube. Yet just as Tesla's competitors -- namely Edison and Marconi -- get all the cred, so too does YouTube explode on the Internet while OurMedia does not.

It's worth noting that wireless communication (of which Tesla patented) is one of the reasons for why the entertainment industry is at an impasse today. Oh, but then again, there'd be no moving pictures without Edison.

Wow...those dudes are still fighting it out posthumously? Whatever guys...get over it!

Anyway, back to the topic: two years after its launch, today OurMedia's founder JDLasica announced that the service "is in the process of reinventing itself as a community of professional, semi-pro and amateur media makers showcasing their best videos and podcasts."

Check out OurMedia here.

After meeting Harlan Ellison on the picket lines today, I get the feeling that he would absolutely hate this site. I can hear him now: "Fucking amateurs!" And yes, Harlan. True that.

WGA Strike - NBC - Disney - EdgeCast - YES Interactive - NBA Silverlight - IMEEM - MediaBytes 12.10.2007

From Media30dotcom

WSC Show #32 - Anne-Marie Johnson and Alfre Woodard

In today’s episode we wrap up our series of recordings at the “It’s All Written” reality show rally with a conversation with Anne-Marie Johnson from the Screen Actors Guild. We'll also hear a speech that Alfre Woodard gave at the rally. Recorded Friday, 7 December 2007.

Credits
Producer/Host: Tanja Barnes
Music: "Ay Mambo" by Falik
available on Magnatune.com

I Call Bullshit!

I like this guy HuffPo blogger Gary Rosen who's latest post puts it out there, keeps it real, and asks the question: "How eerie are the parallels between the behavior of the AMPTP and the behavior of the Bush administration?"

He writes:

"Using the pretext of an external shock to the system (in the case of the AMPTP, the rise of the internet -- in the case of Bush, 9/11), they have moved to grab power and achieve long-held goals (getting rid of "the guy who tried to kill my dad" -- getting rid of the residual system). Eschewing the warnings of the "reality based" community and the lessons of history (Vietnam -- the music industry), the AMPTP and the country at large have been driven down a self destructive path by hard liners (Cheney, Rumsfeld -- Time/Warner, Fox, Nick Counter) who view contempt as a virtue."

Oh word, Gary. And it gets even scarier!

Reuters reported last month: "The chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission wants an agency decision by year-end on whether to ease limits on how many media outlets a company may own in a single market...."

To put it simply: It's a decision to grant even more media consolidation to the ConGloms. In a word: monopoly.

That decision will be made on December 18th, 2007. If it is passed, the ConGloms get a pretty nifty Christmas present. They gain more power, they get a tighter hold on controlling news and information and...and...yes...the sky will fall.

But you can do something to prevent this. Call to action: Stop big media now!

WSC Show #31 - It's All Written Reality Show Rally

In today’s episode we’ll hear more speeches from “It’s All Written” informational picket and rally to gain industry standards for writers at FremantleMedia. Featured are speeches by WGA president Patric Verrone, Academy Award-winning screenwriter, producer and film director Paul Haggis, associate producer of "America's Next Top Model" Kai Bowe, and senior producer of "Temptation" Aaron Solomon. Recorded Friday, 7 December 2007 in Burbank, CA.

Credits
Producer/Host: Tanja Barnes
Music: "Ay Mambo" by Falik
available on Magnatune.com

As mentioned in this episode: "Hollywood Workers Rally for an End to Writers' Strike" from the LAist

Wow...WGA Virtual Picketing in Second Life

From the LiveJournal community of wga_supporters comes this post:

A group of like-minded avatars teleported over to NBC 1 today. NBC 1 is the main island owned by NBC/Universal in Second Life. We had an excellent hourlong picket. There are plenty of industry-owned locales in Second Life. Expect this to be a regular weekend event. All are welcome!

Who knew LJ had such a group? And like, an innovative use of SL. Ha...your world, your imagination and all that. I wonder if, when the day comes after the strike is over, any sims will be hosting a TV night in their virtual living rooms and serve virtual pizzas with virtual beer?

Foxtrot

Click on image for bigger size. Cuz size matters, you know.

Quote of the Day

Have you guys read the article featured in my previous post?

Check it!

"Consumers are increasingly demanding their entertainment be truly immersive, engaging and collaborative. Whereas once the act of watching, reading and hearing entertainment was passive, consumers now and in the future will be active and unrestrained by the ubiquitous nature of circular entertainment. Key to this evolution is consumers' basic human desire to compare and contrast, create and communicate. We believe the next episode promises to deliver the democracy politics can only dream of." -- Tom Savigar, Trends Director at The Future Laboratory

Who the fuck needs the AMPTP?

"Circular Media" - The Future of Entertainment

A recent study done by The Future Laboratory on behalf of Nokia predicts that by 2012 one of four entertainment items will be generated and edited by users:

The study, entitled 'A Glimpse of the Next Episode', carried out by The Future Laboratory, interviewed trend-setting consumers from 17 countries about their digital behaviors and lifestyles signposting emerging entertainment trends. Combining views from industry leading figures with Nokia's own research from its 900 million consumers around the world, Nokia has constructed a global picture of what it believes entertainment will look like over the next five years.

Read more in this article from CNN Money.

WSC Show #30 - Tenacious D at the Writers' Strike Rally 12/7/07

This episode begins at the WGA's “It's All Written: Reality & Game Show Rally" that took place in front of FremantleMedia in Burbank. For the next several days this podcast will feature speeches and interviews conducted on-site but for now, since it’s Saturday, I thought it would be kinda nice to take a break and listen to the set performed by Tenacious D that kicked off the rally. Recorded Friday, 8 December 2007.

Credits
Producer/Host: Tanja Barnes
Music: "Ay Mambo" by Falik
available on Magnatune.com

Note: if you want to hear a better quality copy of this episode, visit Archive.org.

100 Movies, 100 Quotes, 100 Numbers

From AlonzoMosleyFBI

ROFLMAO on this one, which was produced a wee whiley back. Kinda hearkens to this vid that came out a few weeks after the strike: A World Without Writers

WSC Show #29 - Interview with Sarah Jane Cunningham

Today I speak with writer Sarah Jane Cunningham at the picket lines in front of Warner Brothers Studios. Recorded Tuesday, 4 December 2007.

Credits
Producer/Host: Tanja Barnes
Music: "Ay Mambo" by Falik
available on Magnatune.com

Hollywood Unions: Why This is Their Fight Too

From wgaamerica

Technical Difficulties

Another post to announce that the embedded .mp3 player used on this site is down again. It's offered for free by Odeo, so like I really can't bitch about it because you get what you pay for.

Your best bet to get the latest podcast episodes of the Writers' Strike Chronicles is to simply subscribe though iTunes.

Another workaround is to click on the files where they are hosted at the Internet Archive another free service. BTW, the IA is an official library according to the State of California!

Refresh this post for updates as to when the Odeo player is back in service.

Word On The Street: Don't Mess With Paul Shaffer

From gllafc

It's A Small World After All

Calling out around the world, are you ready for a brand new contract? Apparently writers world-wide are and they are showing solidarity in the WGA struggle as witnessed in the following videos:

Jeff Chester on big media conglomerates

Clip from the film "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism". Executive Director Digital Democracy Jeff Chester discusess big media conglomerates and how they dominate debate

Hulu Update

Hulu recently launched an HD Gallery featuring a selection of High Definition video clips at 1280 x 720 resolution.

You'll need a fast connection and a fast machine to watch HD Hulu. Check out their system requirement here. In a nutshell: a connection of 2,400 Kbps or higher (not your average home user speed) and the latest Adobe Flash Player 9 to stream these High Definition bandwidth clogging clips. Needless to say, this leaves out those who will be using this service on a Wii , aPS3 or an Xbox not to mention an iPhone.

Flash Player 9 is free to download here. It's the secret weapon that Hulu claims will make them the YouTube killer. No more crappy YouTube flash videos, baby. It's HD, baby...HD.

WSC Extra - A Strike Supporter Weighs In

In this short recording, a strike supporter literally came out of nowhere to give me this sound bite and then disappeared. I was told by a bystander that the man was an author now living in France, but who knows? Thanks for the quote though, dude.

Credits
Producer/Host: Tanja Barnes
Music: "Ay Mambo" by Falik
available on Magnatune.com

WSC Show #28 - Interview with Dee LaDuke

Today I visit with Dee LaDuke at the picket lines at CBS Radford Studios. Dee is the author of the book “Making Great Television: Four Essential Ingredients”. As a Bay Area resident, Dee commutes at least once a week to Los Angeles for work. Because of her proximity to Silicon Valley, I wanted to know her take on the impact of new media and its affect on the digitization of the entertainment industry. Recorded Tuesday, 4 December 2007.

Credits
Producer/Host: Tanja Barnes
Music: "Ay Mambo" by Falik
available on Magnatune.com

Give Me What Is Fair, Man!

By bearlaundry

A Day To Honor Star Trek Writers

I'm such a nerd, this is one of the first picketing events since the strike began that's got me all twitterpated:

The WGA will hold "A Day to Honor Star Trek Writers" at the picket lines from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, Dec. 10 outside Paramount Studios' Windsor Gate in Hollywood. This stint is intended to celebrate former Trek scribes and on-screen stars to support the WGA strike.

Beam me down for this one, Scotty.

But John Scott Lewinski makes a point: "There's no word if the Borg will attempt to assimilate Paramount CEO Brad Grey in hope of increasing digital sell-through rights."

So maybe the WGA should recruit some Klingons to help facilitate the negotiations. I'm just sayin'.

Wannabe New Media Whore

Yes, Harlan, I'm one of those fucking amateurs that are giving content away for free. And guess what? I want to make money at this game, too.

I wanna be a new media whore so badly, Harlan. So in anticipation of when I finally make money doing it, I'll be the first to post it on my website because I own the domain name NewMediaWhore.TV. But I won't do it until I get a fat check. Then I'll invite you to be my guest and I'll pay you an MBA. How about that?

D.I.Y. OR DIE

D.I.Y. or Die: How to Survive as an Independent Artist is a low-budget documentary film that shows why artists do what they do, regardless of a continuous paycheck. This video is the first in an 8-part series available on YouTube.

Funny Or Die

Hey writers! Will Ferrell is hip to owning and distributing his own content. So can you!

Within six days of launching Funny or Die, Ferrell's first video offering "The Landlord" garnered 24 million hits. And he didn't need the networks to do it. He used the Internet.

In this article "Funny or Die — and the challenge to the Long Tail" tech analyst Bernard Moons discusses Will Ferrell's creating, owning and distributing his own content. With distribution channels disrupted by new technologies, user-generated content is on the rise and the AMPTP are looking over their shoulders to stay on top of it. One way to do this is to make you guys think you need them.

But you don't.

As for the video below, the one scene that I feel could have made this piece better is a shot from the picket lines with writers putting down their signs to "high-five".

The Internet is all about D.I.Y. Man your laptops, WGA! Rally to the call "D.I.Y. or die!"

Ask A Ninja "Do Writers Need The AMPTP?"

"Ask A Ninja" creators Kent Nichols and Douglas Sarine, have parlayed their Web video entertainment program into about $100,000 a month in ad revenue and income from merchandising and licensing.

Read how they and others are generating income directly from the Internet here.

Until then, you could probably ask a ninja live tonight!

Oh, and in case you missed Ask A Ninja's Special Delivery piece last month about the writers' strike, stream this!

Here Comes Another Bubble

From TheRichterScales


A UGC new media piece about new technology.

I love this one: "There's absolutely no bubble in technology," says Peter Thiel, Facebook investor.

And as the writers have been told, there is no money in digital.

Yeah. Right.

BTW, it's worth noting in that programmers in the tech world are what writers are in entertainment.

I think I'll blog this song....

WSC Show #27 - Interview with Bill Froehlich

In today’s episode I meet up with strike captain and multi-hyphenate Bill Froehlich at the picket lines at the CBS Radford lot in Studio City. Here we discuss the importance of a free press for a healthy democracy despite media consolidation. Recorded Tuesday, 4 December 2007.

Credits
Producer/Host: Tanja Barnes
Music: "Ay Mambo" by Falik
available on Magnatune.com

Publications mentioned:

"The Cult of the Amateur: How Today's Internet is Killing Our Culture" by Andrew Keen.

'We Media: How Audiences are Shaping the Future of News and Information" by Shayne Bowman and Chris Willis (available for free download at above referenced link).