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MOON IN BLUE WATER

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Member Since: 12/2006Last Seen: 8/02/2008

Making The Buzz Cut: Pamela Drew, Killfile Top WSJ Tastemakers

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In the Weekend WSJ article, "The Wizards of Buzz," Newsvine's Pamela Drew and Killfile were listed among the top 20 Tastemakers, each leading their respective categories for "Social Issues" and "Breaking News."

A new generation of hidden influencers is taking root online, fueled by a growing love affair among Web sites with lettin gusers vote on their favorite submissions. These sites are the next wave in the social-networking craze--popularized by MySpace and Facebook. DIgg is one of the most prominent of these sites, which are variously labeled social bookmarking or social news. Others include Reddit.com (recently purchased by Conde Nast), Del.icio.us (bought by Yahoo), Newsvine.com and StumbleUpon.com. Netscape relaunched last June with a similar format.

The article, which is subcriber-limited online, goes on to describe the commonalities of the sites, their value to advertisers in identifying "tastemakers" that generate early buzz for products. It also discusses some of the risks, including payola schemes, cartel-like behavior such as recently alleged at DIgg, and the question of whether these sites really influence decision-making or provide a genuine information product of value beyond the social networking to their users.

What's this?
Who's leading the conversation?
This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.
19
4.6
{"commentId":523095,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Well, I really wish I could read this article -- but I'm not going to pay to read it.

I was actually contacted by the Wall Street Journal for this piece, and did two 10-20 minute interviews.

Both times I, I hung up the phone and thought: I'm really boring. There is no way I'm going to be mentioned in that article.

:)

(They would ask questions about whether people are actively gaming the system to get to the top, whether there are any "special tricks" etc. -- and my answers (I suspect) weren't juicy enough. "Not really, no. I just write about whatever interests me at the time and people seem to read it." The leaderboard was my downfall. "I don't see you in the top 25 of last week's authors." She also wanted to know specifics about how many people were reading my column -- and I really didn't know.)

In all -- they ended up with the best choices from Newsvine to focus upon -- and I think both deserve a RAV for having been so prominently featured.

I just wish I could see the article.

{"commentId":523095,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"brianford"}
  • 11 votes
Reply#1 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:47 AM EST
{"commentId":523338,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

I had an interview as well, but she kept trying to lead me with the questions, to both the gaming aspect as well as my use at work. I had no interesting gaming strategies to discuss besides justs posting good material early and often, and like I was going to admit to using it during work in a paper that anyone can read.

{"commentId":523338,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}
  • 10 votes
#1.1 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 1:54 PM EST
{"commentId":523361,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Oh yeah -- I forgot to mention that. I got pretty uncomfortable with the work related questions: I go out of my way to -not- let Newsvine affect my productivity at work and she seemed really interested in getting me to say that my work suffers as a result of my time spent online.

{"commentId":523361,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"brianford"}
  • 9 votes
#1.2 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 2:04 PM EST
{"commentId":523434,"authorDomain":"chill888"}

those are interesting comments. from Adam and Brian

it sounds great that the article doesn't have some gaming exposé - as best I can tell there is very little much of that going on here.

{"commentId":523434,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"chill888"}
  • 6 votes
#1.3 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 2:48 PM EST
{"commentId":523463,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

I think the article that they originally planned is not what developed. That's why they switched reporters half way through.

Ellen, the first reporter, was more of a Family/Social reporter, which is why she was looking up the gaming/work related aspects. She also concentrated a lot on asking questions on what newsvine was taking time from, what I would usually have been doing before newsvine. I think the idea was more of how these sites affected the users themselves, or something to that affect.

Jamin, the second reporter, is more of the standard tech reporter and thus a much more flattering, how we are changing media, article came out of it.

It is nice that the article came out as great PR for newsvine, though I think that all this fanfare may be making us miss another important story that hit the "newsvine" tag in the past couple of hours.

Oh wait, it was actually seeded by chill there, and it's about a deal made between the AP and NowPublic for use of NowPublic's citizen journalism to contribute to the AP. This is where newsvine needs to get to. We need citizen journalism from newsvine to contribute to the mainstream media. We need to not just influence the news, but contribute to it.

While we are patting ourselves in the back, especially Killfile and Pamela who represented us with aplomb (I think thats the word I want), we need to continue to look to what more we can be doing. We need the next WSJ article featuring newsvine to be about just newsvine and our new and exciting contributions to news and media.

{"commentId":523463,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}
  • 9 votes
#1.4 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 3:09 PM EST
{"commentId":523479,"authorDomain":"chill888"}
about a deal made between the AP and NowPublic for use of NowPublic's citizen journalism to contribute to the AP. This is where newsvine needs to get to. We need citizen journalism from newsvine to contribute to the mainstream media. We need to not just influence the news, but contribute to it.

agreed I was a little disappointed in that announcement not being between the AP and newsvine

{"commentId":523479,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"chill888"}
  • 3 votes
#1.5 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 3:18 PM EST
{"commentId":523519,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

AP made that deal with NowPublic because several big-time bloggers publish their original content on NowPublic in its entirety. At least, that's the only rational I can see for the choice. NP has a lot of problems with respect to its interface, it's technology, and its community.

I don't begrudge them their day in the sun, but if I were AP I wouldn't have taken the deal. There is, at this point, too much of a risk of inadvertent plagiarism and other major problems.

{"commentId":523519,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"killfile"}
  • 5 votes
#1.6 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 3:46 PM EST
{"commentId":523540,"authorDomain":"redruby"}

Congrats to you, Brian Ford and Adam Hobson ...you deserve an honorable mention for your contributions to the Vine. Certainly notable!

Truth is we have many fine contributors to this site as well as smart, competent management & administration.

I'm proud to be one of the 'bozos on the bus'!

{"commentId":523540,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"redruby"}
  • 6 votes
#1.7 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:04 PM EST
{"commentId":523825,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

Funny you say that about fishing for gaming stuff, that's where they tried to go with me. My answer was that I have no clue about how any of it works. I was just happy to talk about gmos and subjects banned from mainstream media. Then she got my lecture on what to eat and why and we talked about the food supply and censorship and Newsvine's truth niche.

{"commentId":523825,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
  • 7 votes
#1.8 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:03 PM EST
Reply
{"commentId":523120,"authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}

Way to go Pamela & Killfile! Congrats!

{"commentId":523120,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
  • 8 votes
Reply#2 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:59 AM EST
{"commentId":523303,"authorDomain":"whatwasleft"}

Kudos!

{"commentId":523303,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"whatwasleft"}
  • 4 votes
#2.1 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 1:27 PM EST
Reply
{"commentId":523149,"authorDomain":"yar"}
yarDeleted
{"commentId":523152,"authorDomain":"yar"}
yarDeleted
{"commentId":523171,"authorDomain":"jimdent"}

Way to go guys!!!

{"commentId":523171,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"jimdent"}
  • 5 votes
Reply#5 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 12:20 PM EST
{"commentId":523181,"authorDomain":"yar"}
yarDeleted
{"commentId":523184,"authorDomain":"Ardith"}
ArdithDeleted
{"commentId":523248,"authorDomain":"hallo"}
Daniel A. HalloDeleted
{"commentId":523250,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Congrats to you both!

Wizards, yet. That's very cool.

(Is wizard above or below pundit?)

{"commentId":523250,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
  • 4 votes
Reply#9 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 12:53 PM EST
{"commentId":523372,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

I'm thinking Wizard is a sub-class of pundit with a +3 modifier to intelligence but a -2 to charisma and dexterity.

{"commentId":523372,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"killfile"}
  • 10 votes
#9.1 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 2:12 PM EST
{"commentId":523435,"authorDomain":"chill888"}

i hate that i got that joke.

well done to both of you,

{"commentId":523435,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"chill888"}
  • 7 votes
#9.2 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 2:49 PM EST
{"commentId":523535,"authorDomain":"whatwasleft"}

We seem to be overflowing with specialist enchanters and necromancers, with the occasional abjurer. We need a transmuter though, any ideas?

{"commentId":523535,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"whatwasleft"}
  • 5 votes
#9.3 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:00 PM EST
{"commentId":523555,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}
and necromancers

Is this in reference to your recent penchant for bringing old Celestina articles back from the dead? =p

{"commentId":523555,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"deatienza"}
  • 4 votes
#9.4 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:17 PM EST
{"commentId":523559,"authorDomain":"whatwasleft"}

It may be. It may be. But I am quickly running out of spell components.

{"commentId":523559,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"whatwasleft"}
  • 4 votes
#9.5 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:19 PM EST
{"commentId":7165437,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

Where does Curmudgeon fit in the hierarchy?

{"commentId":7165437,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}
    #9.6 - Tue May 19, 2009 2:31 PM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":523424,"authorDomain":"sam-clemmons"}

    Excellent work Pam and Killfile. Congratulations!

    {"commentId":523424,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"sam-clemmons"}
    • 6 votes
    Reply#10 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 2:43 PM EST
    {"commentId":523520,"authorDomain":"jay-baker"}

    Hurrah for Viners!

    {"commentId":523520,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"jay-baker"}
    • 5 votes
    Reply#11 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 3:46 PM EST
    {"commentId":523831,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

    That's the real thing, it's a community and without that, we're just random bloggers, not the Newsvine. Sweet fennel, eh!

    {"commentId":523831,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
    • 4 votes
    #11.1 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:07 PM EST
    Reply
    {"commentId":523777,"authorDomain":"the-rational-inquirer"}

    [We interrupt this program for a few important words...]

    First, congrats, of course, to Smaran, Pamela and Killfile, and Newsviners in general. Recognition of your contributions and of Newsvine is a good thing.

    Adam Hobson wrote, and I agree that:

    While we are patting ourselves in the back......we need to continue to look to what more we can be doing. We need the next WSJ article featuring newsvine to be about just newsvine and our new and exciting contributions to news and media

    I have to say, though, that I found the article a bit disappointing. It is unfortunate that "popularity" seemed to be the sole metric by which the reporters looked at the social news community phenomenon. While that is a prominent -- and for many -- overriding feature of social news, it is not the motivation for many of us who contribute to the various sites.

    Equally disturbing to me, as a person of color, was the absence in the reporting of any of the social news sites whose focus is minority culture, such as Blackplanet.com. And of the thousands (tens of thousands? hundreds of thousands?) of people from around the globe who comment and blog on all of the sites mentioned in the article, I note the absence of Hispanic/Latino\as, Africans and African-Americans, Native Americans. The unfortunate stereotype of technology and certain minorities being disconnected and underrepresented was perpetuated with the article. In this instance "we" (meaning those of us on the other side of the color line) need to do more to insure that not just our voices are heard, but that our faces are seen. The Wall Street Journal will get a lot more than just my two cents worth.

    [Thank you for this moment on my soapbox, I return you now to regular programming.] Congrats, again to all.

    {"commentId":523777,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"the-rational-inquirer"}
    • 7 votes
    Reply#12 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 7:16 PM EST
    {"commentId":523838,"authorDomain":"redruby"}

    Kudos to Smaran as well. Sorry for the oversight.

    {"commentId":523838,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"redruby"}
    • 6 votes
    Reply#13 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:14 PM EST
    {"commentId":523924,"authorDomain":"winsomecowboy"}

    clears throat I once touched Pams hand! skips away whistling

    skips back You recognise that you've both been certified as nodes?

    {"commentId":523924,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"winsomecowboy"}
    • 7 votes
    Reply#14 - Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:30 PM EST
    {"commentId":525760,"authorDomain":"uspolitics"}

    congrats to all ... and thanks for the free WSJ link(s) ... will be using this in my Blogs, Media & Politics class next quarter. :)

    {"commentId":525760,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"uspolitics"}
    • 3 votes
    Reply#15 - Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:58 AM EST
    {"commentId":526695,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

    If it's media and politics you're after, check my activism story with links to Earth Justice, Two Angry Moms, Free Range Studios' viral video and animated short, The Meatrix, lol. Can't get grassier roots, and we have legions, taking on media :~)

    {"commentId":526695,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
    • 2 votes
    #15.1 - Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:16 PM EST
    Reply
    {"commentId":530323,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

    I found my way here because of that story. I read it and decided of the communities they
    described this one sounded closest to my interests. I'm less interested in tech issues - which is what
    it sounds like digg and redit are more about - than news stories, media stories and reviews.

    This seems like a great place here. I hope to be able to contribute to it.

    Perhaps this post can also serve as explanation for why I have tried to add killfile and pamela drew to
    my friends list.. after reading the article i feel like I sort of know you better and we're kindred spirits of a sort.

    {"commentId":530323,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
    • 4 votes
    Reply#16 - Tue Feb 13, 2007 10:33 PM EST
    {"commentId":530327,"authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}

    Glad to have you here, sbutki. Welcome!

    {"commentId":530327,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
    • 4 votes
    #16.1 - Tue Feb 13, 2007 10:36 PM EST
    {"commentId":530515,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

    Yes indeed, welcome aboard sbutki. It is an amazing community and glad you've gone along collecting friends. Don't tell anyone you heard it from me, but lauhal is a great one to have too, always quick with things that give you a smile.

    {"commentId":530515,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
    • 3 votes
    #16.2 - Wed Feb 14, 2007 12:28 AM EST
    {"commentId":738297,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

    Without this story I never would have arrived here. You can call that a blessing or a curse depending on your perspective.

    {"commentId":738297,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
    • 1 vote
    #16.3 - Sun May 27, 2007 8:03 PM EDT
    {"commentId":746117,"authorDomain":"spookybf"}

    It's a blessing and a curse.

    {"commentId":746117,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"spookybf"}
    • 2 votes
    #16.4 - Thu May 31, 2007 12:42 AM EDT
    {"commentId":748335,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

    It's a blurse!

    {"commentId":748335,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
    • 2 votes
    #16.5 - Thu May 31, 2007 7:14 PM EDT
    {"commentId":748369,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

    Just when I think there is nobody zanier than I I'm out zanied.

    {"commentId":748369,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
    • 2 votes
    #16.6 - Thu May 31, 2007 7:29 PM EDT
    {"commentId":748391,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

    Just that with me it's hit and miss....not very repeatable.

    {"commentId":748391,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
    • 1 vote
    #16.7 - Thu May 31, 2007 7:38 PM EDT
    {"commentId":748425,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

    Ah, so I can remain the Newsvine Court Jester?

    {"commentId":748425,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
    • 2 votes
    #16.8 - Thu May 31, 2007 7:52 PM EDT
    {"commentId":748460,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

    I might pop in occasionally to understudy.

    {"commentId":748460,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
    • 1 vote
    #16.9 - Thu May 31, 2007 8:08 PM EDT
    {"commentId":749079,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

    Just don't blow my punchlines.

    Friends, Romans, Newsviners, lend me your ears. Or, in Mr. Van Gogh's case, "ear."

    {"commentId":749079,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
    • 2 votes
    #16.10 - Fri Jun 1, 2007 2:19 AM EDT
    {"commentId":751422,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

    I will observe a general "no blowing" rule altogether, just to be on the safe side.

    {"commentId":751422,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
    • 1 vote
    #16.11 - Fri Jun 1, 2007 9:38 PM EDT
    {"commentId":7164997,"authorDomain":"spookybf"}

    ...Awwww, Scoop, I just found your cherry...

    {"commentId":7164997,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"spookybf"}
      #16.12 - Tue May 19, 2009 2:14 PM EDT
      Reply
      {"commentId":531047,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

      I promise not to even post about it.

      Oops:)

      {"commentId":531047,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
      • 1 vote
      Reply#17 - Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:33 AM EST
      {"commentId":531060,"authorDomain":"theinsideofmybrain"}
      Matthew MilamDeleted
      {"commentId":535732,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

      I don't know that we always have the civil part at the lead but for sure Newsvine is more about sharing and learning for most of us. We didn't even have a ranking system until a few months ago and everyone was just writing and posting without any regard for votes which may have helped to set the tone.

      {"commentId":535732,"threadId":"75345","contentId":"561738","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
      • 1 vote
      #17.2 - Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:19 AM EST
      Reply
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