MediaSnackers

Film review.

No matter how much we talk to colleagues about the grooviness of social media, it takes a MediaSnackers course to switch them on to it. People seek me afterwards to tell me how excited they are, how they ‘really get it now’ and how they’re going to use it in all sorts of ways, both in and out of work – which is great, because the more they use it the more social media punch we’ll have as a campaign. Here’s hoping that DK & the boys keep on rocking.
Dan McQuillan, Digital Guru, Make Your Mark Campaign

Related posts: Make Your Mark Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Five, Part Six.

Back to back speaking gigs.

(GBR) The first speaking gig I can walk to and our first MediaSnackers session in Wales.

I'm keynoting a blended learning session today at the University of Glamorgan for educators in the region—focussing on young people, new media and technology.

DK provided the keynote speech for one of our blended learning in schools seminars. The audience comprised teachers from a number of local schools and to say that they were blown away is an understatement. DK engaged the audience immediately with an entertaining, yet challenging presentation about young people's attitudes to technology. The discussion that followed was lively and thought-provoking… and the time far too short. We'll definitely be inviting DK back for a follow-up session.
Catherine Naamani, Senior Lecturer in Blended Learning, University of Glamorgan

MediaSnackers Speaking

First of two speaking gigs this week.

(GBR) Up North at Stobart Stadium Halton and the local youth services Youth Voice Awards—celebrating children and young peoples contribution to the design and delivery of services for them and the support of the staff that enable them to do so.

I'm delivering two talks (as they have two different parts to the event) on the changes in youth through social media and technology.

We asked DK from MediaSnackers to speak to children, young people, senior officers, and elected members at our VOICE Awards ceremony in April 2008. The topic was the future of participation and the VOICE of children and young people through the internet. His two presentations unfolded the link between participation and the social media networking activity of young people with clarity,  was pacey, and kept the audience of 700 people aged 8 to 68 engaged and thoughtful throughout. Thanks DK.
Dave Williams, Head of Halton Youth Service

MediaSnackers Speaking

Keeping track of the growing MediaSnackers Meme.

(WORLD) We probably weren't the first to apply the 'snacking' metaphor to media, although there seems to be a growing adoption in terms of describing the new youth-media landscape—we thought it would be good to keep an eye on the growing MediaSnacking meme:

I think there will always be a form of "dine in" networking, where we want the ambience and look and feel of that network for the mood it evokes. Same as going to the cinema perhaps—sure we can watch the movie at home, but the cinema meets OTHER needs. Aggregators meet the "take out" needs—quick catch up, fast food/media snacking.
Talking about aggregating social networking sites.

In today's widely cast media landscape, where "media snackers" graze on blogs and search results and news sites and other content that meets their specific interests, advertising needs to be less accidental and more intent based and heavily targeted. As media expands, consumers will hone the media they ingest with greater care, and advertising needs to do the same to reach people.
Discussing the next phase of advertising and marketing.

Essentially, the New York Times is using Twitter to make a river of news…headlines that are really useful on your cell phone. They look like appetizers on a tray. Hence the notion of a media snack.

In most cases if you do get people to your Web 1.0 site they have no real reason to stay. You are offering content with no substance, you are offering general content when people are looking for specific content and answers, you are offering old style communication, you are not paying attention to the new age of Media Snackers.
Thinking differently about competing for eyeballs online.

Media consumers, in growing numbers, are embracing the notion of "media snacking". Hundreds of millions of audio and video devices like iPhones, iPods, Zunes, PSP, Smart Phones, and Laptops are now in the marketplace empowering consumers with the ability to listen and view content when they want, where they want and how they want.
Why radio stations need a new digital strategy of operations.

The world is media snacking, getting their information in short bursts from cell phones, podcasts and RSS feeds. We decided that the physician, who really does have precious few minutes a day, is the perfect audience for short, succinct educational streaming videos. Our goal is to provide an engaging, interesting way for doctors to learn that quickly gets to the point.
The reasons behind launching an online Doctors Channel.

View all ‘MediaSnackers Meme’ posts

2nd speaking gig this week.

(GBR) This time I'm down south in Woking at the Participation Works South East conference entitled 'Talk It Up'.

I'm honoured to be opening the conference as keynote speaker plus I will be taking two workshops exploring some digital platforms and tools for the delegates to take away and play with.

Having MediaSnackers at our event really brought us into the 21st century! DK’s presentation really opened my eyes to all the possibilities for improved engagement with young people, and most importantly that engagements being on their terms, using methods they are familiar with, can be of real benefit to organisations. The quality of the information was exemplary and presented in such a way so that delegates could ask realistic questions without feeling too ‘out of touch’. I would recommend MediaSnackers to anyone curious about social networking and technological approaches and how these can be embraced to improved the quality and range of youth participation.

Melanie Parr, South East Participation Network Coordinator

MediaSnackers Speaking

Speaking gig.

(GBR) I'm up in Lancashire today speaking at the Wigan Youth Service conference.

The brief is to inform and engage the audience in 'new' media and technology of the 21st Century to enable services to communicate effectively with young people (times two as delivering the same seminar twice).

The purpose of the event was to introduce the concept and uses of social media to the widest audience possible—from the Director of Children and Young Peoples Services, face to face youth workers to young people in two session. As our guide, interpretator and 'expert' DK was exceptional providing the history, knowledge and practical applications of social media in a medium that was accessible to all, immediate and relevant; all the participants were motivated, challenged and engaged.

DK allowed us to begin to think what Services for Young People need to do to communicate with young people in a rapidly evolving media age, this is a highly recommended input, so good we have invited him back.
Simon Morton, Development Manager Wigan Youth Service

MediaSnackers Speaking

A review.

(GBR) Here's a quick video review of our time with the fantastic guys and gals at NESTA on Wednesday (TIP: if you ever get a chance to visit their offices, do so—was just like walking into a Mac, extremely funky and made us green with envy).

Working with MediaSnackers has been an enlightening and energising experience! Our one-day session helped us to better understand how young people are using social networking and digital content creation sites. We also learned how to collaborate more effectively with our colleagues using online tools. Since MediaSnackers took over one of our meeting 'pods' for the day, we've developed the confidence to begin blogging—and we've agreed to meet regularly in future as a peer group to swap tips and rejuvenate our enthusiasm.
Katherine Mathieson, Head of Future Innovators

Loved the discussion in our closing circle relating to establishing an internal 'informal' group who would come together once a month to present on social media sites, platforms and tools which members have come across—a great model to replicate in any organisation.

NESTA Future Innovators Training Part 1

MediaSnackers Training

Or a start.

(WORLD) Even though this week was the end of the Pacific Youth project (a five week online social media pro bono course for twenty youth leaders from Tonga and Papua New Guinea), we know it's going to be a start for those participants in using and utilising social media.

Check out their videos below which was their response to the mission for the vodcasting week:

Tonga

Papua New Guinea

A perfect illustration of using social media to broaden horizons, create relationships and give insights into other peoples' worlds.

We will now be putting together a 'report' of some kind in the next few weeks and then making the whole course available under the creative commons license so other groups around the world can take it.

Related post: The Launch and The Start, An Update

Talking with Kate Dean, BT.

(WORLD) The MediaSnackers podcast focusses on individuals, organisations or companies who are simply impressing us and which are crying out for more discussion.

Kate Dean is head of television for BT Vision and talks to us here about convergence of technology and interactive/communications elements in their service offerings.

0.00—0.14 intros
0.15—1.09 BT Vision overview
1.10—2.13 main drivers to move into TV
2.14—3.25 expectations from consumers
3.26—5.41 expanding interactive and communications elements
5.42—6.50 how much content is focussed on youth audience
6.51—8.45 future plans (and meta-tagging)
8.46—8.57 outro

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Continue reading MS Podcast#106

Speaking gig.

(GBR) I'm heading down south to speak at the West Sussex Youth Services annual staff conference—the theme of which is 'What's Changed?'—where I'll be presenting two sessions on how digital technology and online platforms should feature and play a role in future policies and operations.

DK really opened our eyes not only into the wide variety of options that the internet can provide for work with young people, but also into how far we’ve got to go now in order to keep up with the young people that we work with. As a forty-something youth worker with 25 years experience behind me, I mistakenly thought that I had a reasonable idea of what was out there. How wrong was I?

From a Participation perspective, DK’s presentation was just what we wanted, stimulating thought on how we can empower young people to have a voice through the use of social media sites.

I’d recommend involvement with Mediasnackers to any service working with young people – the possibilities are endless.

Jane Melvin, Senior Manager

Related posts: West Sussex Youth Services Training Part One, Part Two

MediaSnackers Speaking