July 15, 2007 71 Comments

Flee The Fishbowl and Re-EMBED in Reality

the chefIt’s come to me: the answer to what’s been bugging me for weeks. I’ve had this kind of malaise about new media, this kind of “podcasting is too insular” feeling. This stretches to video, audio, and even most blogs- even mine. It was/is feeling too much like preaching to the converted. And yet, I wasn’t thinking we should all just throw it away. So here it is (and you can “well, DUH!” me in comments):

New Media is a Tool

Podcasting, blogging, videoblogging: they are all just ways to communicate information. So are newspapers, television shows, and radio stations. So, what are the differences?

With new media tools, you have the ability to create your own media, distribute it, promote it- all in an open system, where everyone can have access to what you consider useful. A tool. That’s it. Not a movement. The movement is the fact these tools are now here. Whoopti-do. Pat your backs. Now, get to work.

Learn the Tools

Just like journalism, learning how to tell a better story, write a better blog, shoot more compelling video is a lifelong effort. If you love this process, learning how to improve your ability to tell a compelling story and build relationships through your digital media of choice, then you’re on the right road.

It’s cool that you CAN be a hack and still get some distribution, but it’s not enough to stay useful, interesting, or worth someone giving their attention. Learn. Build your skills, and grow from there.

Then re-EMBED

This is the revelation part. There should be explosions, flashing sounds, those kinds of queues in movies that tell you, “Hey! Popcorn chin! Pay attention here!”

Get out of the fishbowl. Go back to where your skills can be useful. Work. The Community. Your Family. Your neighborhood. Don’t just stick around with the other new media types.

It’d be like a bunch of firefighters just hanging around in a gym getting stronger. It’d be like watching the Justice League always just hanging out in their secret hideout polishing their batarangs or whatever. The point is: build your capabilities, then go out and USE THEM on something pertinent to something OTHER THAN new media.

We are the Fishbowl

We are the media. Got it. Yep. Now, go out and BE the media. Do something. Cover something. Make the world a brighter and more connected place by bringing the stories from the NON-new media enabled, non Web 2.0 spaces.

Assign yourself a new beat. Give yourself a new area to cover. And here’s a trick: extra points if this new area helps others (in whatever way works for you). Instead of a podcast about parties in Second Life, maybe a podcast about getting the most out of Second Life for small town businesses. Instead of a videoblog about all the conferences you attend (like mine?), maybe a series of video how-to guides, or video travel guides.

What Would Change for You?

What’s your blog/podcast/videoblog/whatever cover? What are you contributing right now? Is it useful to something outside the echo chamber? Does it help people NOT already inside the fishbowl nodding their heads in agreement?

Examples of non-fishbowl podcasts, video sites, blogs:

I could probably come up with more were I not offline while writing this. You might recommend others in the comments for me? But you get the point. It’s not about the bike. It’s not about the band. It’s not the fishbowl.

Use your tools in the EMBEDDED world you already live in. Take what you know how to do and find the REAL stories, the real useful stuff, the real “make a difference in the world” stuff.

Because it’s not being created in Hollywood or New York or Wellington or London or Tokyo. It’s coming straight outta you. The new stuff. The real stuff will be YOUR production teaching us something astounding. And I’ll tell you now that almost everything I do at PodCamp Boston2 will be on this theme. So be ready.

What’s your take?

Related posts:

  1. Fishbowl
  2. Fishbowl Follow-Ons
  3. Hack Reality
  4. Interviewed by MediaBistro in the Fishbowl

ChrisBrogan.com runs on the Genesis Framework

Genesis Theme Framework

The Genesis Framework empowers you to quickly and easily build incredible websites with WordPress. Whether you're a novice or advanced developer, Genesis provides you with the secure and search-engine-optimized foundation that takes WordPress to places you never thought it could go.

With automatic theme updates and world-class support included, Genesis is the smart choice for your WordPress website or blog.

Become a StudioPress Affiliate

← Older Comments
  • http://www.amystevensonline.com/blog Amy

    I dropped by to review some of your notes on attending conferences but have been sidetracked by this post. So while I am going into a relatively new fishbowl next weekend, in between then I am going to be doing some educating.

    On Thursday, I will be co-teaching a class on podcasting, blogs and wikis to public school teachers from rural Vermont. I’m going to focus on finding podcasts that match individual interests, and using Audacity to create new ones in a class setting. The focus can’t be on the technology, it must be on the content. Then the question becomes not, how do I do this, but how do I use the content available to tell an interesting and relevent story.

    (btw, I’d love to hear from your readers what they think are your best posts getting the most out of attending conferences)

  • http://www.amystevensonline.com/blog Amy

    I dropped by to review some of your notes on attending conferences but have been sidetracked by this post. So while I am going into a relatively new fishbowl next weekend, in between then I am going to be doing some educating.

    On Thursday, I will be co-teaching a class on podcasting, blogs and wikis to public school teachers from rural Vermont. I’m going to focus on finding podcasts that match individual interests, and using Audacity to create new ones in a class setting. The focus can’t be on the technology, it must be on the content. Then the question becomes not, how do I do this, but how do I use the content available to tell an interesting and relevent story.

    (btw, I’d love to hear from your readers what they think are your best posts getting the most out of attending conferences)

  • http://www.amystevensonline.com/blog Amy

    I dropped by to review some of your notes on attending conferences but have been sidetracked by this post. So while I am going into a relatively new fishbowl next weekend, in between then I am going to be doing some educating.

    On Thursday, I will be co-teaching a class on podcasting, blogs and wikis to public school teachers from rural Vermont. I’m going to focus on finding podcasts that match individual interests, and using Audacity to create new ones in a class setting. The focus can’t be on the technology, it must be on the content. Then the question becomes not, how do I do this, but how do I use the content available to tell an interesting and relevent story.

    (btw, I’d love to hear from your readers what they think are your best posts getting the most out of attending conferences)

  • http://www.digitalthom.com Thom Allen

    Chris, one of the best things you asked your readers to do last week was to introduce 5 people to blogs or podcasts that would connect with in some way. That was great.

    Taking what we know and love about new media and sharing it with those who don’t understand it will be the tipping point. Start facing the crowd instead of each other will push the platform and technology to the next level.

  • http://www.digitalthom.com Thom Allen

    Chris, one of the best things you asked your readers to do last week was to introduce 5 people to blogs or podcasts that would connect with in some way. That was great.

    Taking what we know and love about new media and sharing it with those who don’t understand it will be the tipping point. Start facing the crowd instead of each other will push the platform and technology to the next level.

  • http://www.digitalthom.com Thom Allen

    Chris, one of the best things you asked your readers to do last week was to introduce 5 people to blogs or podcasts that would connect with in some way. That was great.

    Taking what we know and love about new media and sharing it with those who don’t understand it will be the tipping point. Start facing the crowd instead of each other will push the platform and technology to the next level.

  • http://ericrice.com Eric Rice

    Lan Bui posted a great comment on my blog on this same topic:

    “Next video blog event I put on will require all existing video bloggers to bring one non video blogger with them to attend.”

    Genius.

    http://www.ericrice.com/blog/2007/07/16/the-problem-with-podcamps/

  • http://ericrice.com Eric Rice

    Lan Bui posted a great comment on my blog on this same topic:

    “Next video blog event I put on will require all existing video bloggers to bring one non video blogger with them to attend.”

    Genius.

    http://www.ericrice.com/blog/2007/07/16/the-problem-with-podcamps/

  • http://ericrice.com Eric Rice

    Lan Bui posted a great comment on my blog on this same topic:

    “Next video blog event I put on will require all existing video bloggers to bring one non video blogger with them to attend.”

    Genius.

    http://www.ericrice.com/blog/2007/07/16/the-problem-with-podcamps/

  • http://www.bobgoyetche.com BobGoyetche

    Just the kind of nudge I needed this morning –

    “Go back to where your skills can be useful. ”

    How often we forget that part..

  • http://www.bobgoyetche.com BobGoyetche

    Just the kind of nudge I needed this morning –

    “Go back to where your skills can be useful. ”

    How often we forget that part..

  • http://www.bobgoyetche.com Bob Goyetche

    Just the kind of nudge I needed this morning –

    “Go back to where your skills can be useful. ”

    How often we forget that part..

  • LEMills

    You mean, it’s not all about me?
    It’s about time!
    -L.

  • Linda

    You mean, it’s not all about me?
    It’s about time!
    -L.

  • http://www.chrisbrogan.com chrisbrogan

    It’s not that the fishbowl is bad. If that’s what you’re thinking, you missed the story, young grasshopper. The story is this: go to the fishbowl, learn, drink the water, and THEN go back out and use this in the real world.

    You can’t STAY here. You have to visit, refresh, and go out.

    Otherwise, the bad guys win.

  • http://www.chrisbrogan.com chrisbrogan

    It’s not that the fishbowl is bad. If that’s what you’re thinking, you missed the story, young grasshopper. The story is this: go to the fishbowl, learn, drink the water, and THEN go back out and use this in the real world.

    You can’t STAY here. You have to visit, refresh, and go out.

    Otherwise, the bad guys win.

  • http://www.chrisbrogan.com chrisbrogan

    It’s not that the fishbowl is bad. If that’s what you’re thinking, you missed the story, young grasshopper. The story is this: go to the fishbowl, learn, drink the water, and THEN go back out and use this in the real world.

    You can’t STAY here. You have to visit, refresh, and go out.

    Otherwise, the bad guys win.

  • Pingback: I'm in the fishbowl part time. In reality the other half.

  • http://lovespirals.com anji bee

    sorry i’m a bit late to the party, chris, but i’ve been out and about in the “real world” this week. :P

    my passion has always been music, not only making it, but discovering other’s music and sharing it. podcasting has been the perfect medium for me to do what i love best. my first podcast was created to help promote my band, lovespirals, but i quickly found that i could help other bands through our experiences.

    starting my music podcast, the chillcast, opened up new avenues to get involved. there’s the obvious promotion of new releases, of course, but i’ve found that artist feature interviews and even just contests are making a big impact for the artists. plus, as my show reaches a wider audience, it draws in more recording artists to the concept of podcasting. not only have i been able to help small bedroom bands get their music onto the internet and heard on podcasts, but i’ve inspired major label artists, like lol tolhurt, to start their own podcasts.

    i often wonder how many folks from outside the fishbowl are hearing about my podcasts, since most comments come from my peers, but i feel confident that as time goes on, more and more music fans will be discovering the joy of podcasts through the bands that are featured on the shows. some of the people that come to hear their favorite band are bound to stick around for future episodes. and when they do stick around, they’ll start learning about the wonderful world of “underground” music and “podsafe music” and everything that goes along with that.

    ttys–
    anji

  • http://lovespirals.com anji bee

    sorry i’m a bit late to the party, chris, but i’ve been out and about in the “real world” this week. :P

    my passion has always been music, not only making it, but discovering other’s music and sharing it. podcasting has been the perfect medium for me to do what i love best. my first podcast was created to help promote my band, lovespirals, but i quickly found that i could help other bands through our experiences.

    starting my music podcast, the chillcast, opened up new avenues to get involved. there’s the obvious promotion of new releases, of course, but i’ve found that artist feature interviews and even just contests are making a big impact for the artists. plus, as my show reaches a wider audience, it draws in more recording artists to the concept of podcasting. not only have i been able to help small bedroom bands get their music onto the internet and heard on podcasts, but i’ve inspired major label artists, like lol tolhurt, to start their own podcasts.

    i often wonder how many folks from outside the fishbowl are hearing about my podcasts, since most comments come from my peers, but i feel confident that as time goes on, more and more music fans will be discovering the joy of podcasts through the bands that are featured on the shows. some of the people that come to hear their favorite band are bound to stick around for future episodes. and when they do stick around, they’ll start learning about the wonderful world of “underground” music and “podsafe music” and everything that goes along with that.

    ttys–
    anji

  • http://lovespirals.com anji bee

    sorry i’m a bit late to the party, chris, but i’ve been out and about in the “real world” this week. :P

    my passion has always been music, not only making it, but discovering other’s music and sharing it. podcasting has been the perfect medium for me to do what i love best. my first podcast was created to help promote my band, lovespirals, but i quickly found that i could help other bands through our experiences.

    starting my music podcast, the chillcast, opened up new avenues to get involved. there’s the obvious promotion of new releases, of course, but i’ve found that artist feature interviews and even just contests are making a big impact for the artists. plus, as my show reaches a wider audience, it draws in more recording artists to the concept of podcasting. not only have i been able to help small bedroom bands get their music onto the internet and heard on podcasts, but i’ve inspired major label artists, like lol tolhurt, to start their own podcasts.

    i often wonder how many folks from outside the fishbowl are hearing about my podcasts, since most comments come from my peers, but i feel confident that as time goes on, more and more music fans will be discovering the joy of podcasts through the bands that are featured on the shows. some of the people that come to hear their favorite band are bound to stick around for future episodes. and when they do stick around, they’ll start learning about the wonderful world of “underground” music and “podsafe music” and everything that goes along with that.

    ttys–
    anji

← Older Comments