Martin is a dedicated vlogger from Karlskrona, Sweden. He's actually been vlogging since before YouTube existed. His interest is also academic - he's written a these on vlogging and social media, and is now preparing a documentary exploring the subject - he's seeking your participation. Martin also discusses the Nordic vlogging community.
Some supplementary information about Martin not covered in the interview:
Though Martin has had an interest in the power of media for quite some time, he was, briefly, the center of a media firestorm during the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007. He had arrived on the campus a day before on a educational collaboration, and was on campus, with his video camera, during the shooting. He provided the video, free of charge, to the media (he says he never wanted to be accused of profiting off of the tragedy), and was interviewed by media in the U.S. and in Sweden.
He had what he describes as a surreal experience being interviewed by various reporters from CNN and other outlets: One reporter, in interviewing Martin, referred to Olaf Palme, the Swedish Prime Minister assassinated over twenty years earlier, perhaps looking for a parallel between the two entirely unrelated events. Martin, however, wasn't entirely critical - he singled out CNN's Anderson Cooper as a particularly compassionate reporter. Martin intends to explore his personal experience at Virginia Tech in an upcoming documentary.
Martin's Primary Channel is PrinceWord
His Secondary Channel is TheSwedishLad
Monday, March 5, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
No Social Media? No, Social Media!
"in order to see how fully social media has been ingrained in our lives, we want to test your resolve. We propose a challenge: Who can survive without social media for two weeks? This means you can't update your status, send a tweet, +1 a post or "check in" to a restaurant. For two weeks you will only be able to engage with few online resources."
I'm sure the results will prove fascinating - but there is no &^%&^ way I'm taking part! Call me an addict if you'd like, but I don't think I'm alone in believing the whole exercise to be, in my world at least, totally impractical. I'm not an obsessive user of any particular site, but I use many of them on a regular basis.
And no, my hand isn't shaking uncontrollably at the mere thought (but does trembling count?) .
I don't "check in" anywhere, for the most part, so I wouldn't miss that sort of thing - but actions like posting blogs, uploading videos, are all forbidden. Chatting isn't allowed. Commenting on a YouTube video or a Facebook isn't allowed. Interacting through social media is simply banned.
The fact is, it's simply not practical. Social Media has become an integral part of the way I live my life - it's not only an efficient way of how I interact with friends (off and online), but it's an important part of my own personal (and constantly developing) business strategy. I can't give up social media for two weeks any more than I can give up my cell phone or email or simply leaving my home.
That doesn't mean I wouldn't disconnect (mostly) if I went on vacation, but at the moment, I'm workin' .
I look forward to the article - but I'm happy right here on the grid, thank you!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The Vlogger Interviews: MaddiePost1
About this Interview:
Maddie - MaddiePost1 on YouTube - considers herself to be in a rare vlogging category - she's a woman in her forties that's not vlogging about her family. She first discovered the world of vlogging through some of the popular make-up vlogs, but soon discovered the wide range of entertainment available in the vlogging world. Eventually, she decided to try her own hand, and she's having a great time. Like most vloggers, she enjoys the interaction with her subscribers, and extends her online community to Google Plus Hangouts. Maddie also shared a concern that many women vloggers have expressed - the very real concern about maintaining privacy and security while continuing to enjoy her online interaction.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Who is the REAL Generation C? Nielsen's "US Digital Consumer Report"
Some of the overall findings shouldn't be any surprise - the number of Americans with Internet access has doubled since 2000, to approximately 274 million. 64% of mobile phone time is spent on apps. 42% percent of tablet owners use them at the same as they watch television. Except for tablets, males and females are both well represented across social media devices (males currently use tablets to a greater extent).
58.8 percent of "Generation C" access social media through their mobile phones (versus 36.3% of the 35-54 year olds (in other words, they're on constantly).
The graphic-based report is a worthwhile read - entrepreneurs and content creators will undoubtedly find it useful and thought provoking. I wonder, though, if some of the stats don't reflect the immediate present. In a section entitled, "An in-depth Look at the Digital Consumer," most stats show 13-17 year-olds to be near the bottom of the scale in several categories, including online video viewers (14% of the audience) and social network/blog visitors (13%).
I suspect that the actual percentages of 13-17 year-old digital consumers may be considerably higher (though will naturally be somewhat restrained by practicalities of school and finances). In fact, I believe that their numbers likely rival those of the 18-34 year-olds. As the first group born into the age of socail media, they may, in fact, be the true "Generation C" - savvy users, consumers and creators of digital content.
As always, I welcome and encourage your comments!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The Vlogger Interviews: Austin Null [TheNiveNulls]
Austin didn't expect to do anything but record his life with Brittany, and share their adventures with friends. Their channel records their life, but also includes comedy, skits and other creative content - it's a way for the outgoing and upbeat couple to have a good time together - and share it with friends. The audience for TheNiveNulls grew over time, and now includes thousands who enjoy sharing their lives, and anticipate the birth of Austin and Brittany's child, due in June.
One of the emerging themes across a number of the Vlogger Interviews is the understanding by vloggers that they are creating an intimate archive of their lives - in effect, it just may be a very contemporary equivalent of the old-school photo album. Imagine looking through old photo albums and hearing the voices and thoughts and witnessing the experiences of relatives from generations past. Imagine Austin and Brittany's child looking back at the lives of her parents in the months before she was born - and seeing in very real terms, who they were long ago in 2012...
Friday, February 17, 2012
The Vlogger Interviews: JostenDooley
About this Interview:
In this Vlogger Interview, I spoke with Josten Dooley [JostenDooley on YouTube], a college student in North Carolina who vlogs every day. Why? Partly, Josten is archiving his life so that he can look back on his personal evolution for years to come. Josten also appreciates that many consider one of the most exciting benefits of Vlogging: The opportunity to get to know people from virtually anywhere in the world - developing diverse friendships that were inconceivable just a decade ago.Also, discover why traditional television just doesn't have the appeal it once had...
Enjoy the interview!
(click on the YouTube Logo to view this on my channel)
Monday, February 13, 2012
Outside the (Storytelling) Box
On a recent visit to a Barnes and Noble bookstore (to actually buy something, rather than target titles to download!) I came across a display for a new young adult novel that signals a developing option in storytelling.
"Chopsticks," by Jessica Anthony, is a mystery about the disappearance of Glory, a teen piano prodigy, and her relationship with Frank, an artistic boy next door. According to the official description, "nothing is what it seems, and Glory's reality is not reality at all." Through words, pictures and photographs, the reader has to determine the line between what is real, what is imagined - and and what is madness.
The display at Barnes and Noble drew my attention, however, because it suggests far more than a straightforward literary experience: "A Book. An App. A Website. A Love Story. Read It. View It. Experience It." Storytelling, in this case, expands beyond the page and engages the reader through other platforms.
A cursory view of the description for the $6.99 iPad/iPhone app suggests that it offers additional features to help readers solve the mystery at hand, and delve deeper into the lives of the central characters. For example, readers can explore hidden clues in Glory's scrapbook, drill down into the CD mix she shares with Frank, or watch their IM conversations "live." In some cases, there's even video.
I haven't read the book, or bought the app - but the concept of storytelling across platforms is intriguing - for the right premise. Differentiating true storytelling with a promotional gimmick, however, will be the challenge.
Both traditional and online content creators involved in creative storytelling seem to remain focused on building linear, platform-specific product, providing only supplementary and fan-related content across other platforms. Few, it seems, are looking for ways to enhance or expand the story experience across these platforms.
What do you think? I'd also like to hear about vloggers or other online content creators who are experimenting with multi-platform storytelling. Let me know - I'd love to share your experience.
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