[Dancing Ink Productions Intern, Diandra Louarn, a journalism graduate student from Paris, France, recently participated and worked at the Twitter-based 140Conf. Her report on the conference follows.]
By Diandra Louarn.
Last week I spent two intense days working as a staff member for Twitter's first “140 characters conference” in New York City. Over 500 people showed up, among them major actors of Twitter's revolution such as Ann Curry, Wyclef Jean, Chris Sacca, Justine Ezarik, Tim O'Reilly, Rick Sanchez along with Dancing Ink Productions' team Rita King and Joshua Fouts.
The format was 10- to 20-minute micro conferences moderated and led by guest speakers expounding on diverse topics related to Twitter's trends and its infinite possibilities. Plunging into this cutting edge and super excited community felt like I had literally jumped into the effervescent heart of the “Imagination Age” for 48 hours. I tried not to drown in the wild ocean of computers commenting – I should say “twittering” - each unique detail of the conference. What a fascinating picture, I thought: All the attendees, eyes riveted on their screens, were interacting with each other through tweet exchanges. Both speakers and attendees were equally enthusiastic and more than willing to connect and share their ideas in an effort to make a difference.
Twitter is establishing a new set of rules, which are reminiscent of innovations, improvements and changes that arose earlier in the 20th century, after the Great Depression. Depressions, crises and recessions often bring a deep need for cultural evolution. It follows a theory I believe in called Kondratiev Waves. The theory argues that capitalist societies cycle in 50- to 60- year waves. Viewed through this prism, Twitter is earning a legitimate spot within the current global transformation that is shaking the economic, politic, cultural, and communication models of today.
How 140 characters can matter
Throughout the 140 Conference, people expressed a strong desire to build something serious together and using Twitter to define these new rules. There was no need to convince any one of Twitter's impact. The critical role of Twitter was demonstrated during the first panels of the conference, which discussed Twitter's possible role as a communication tool during the civil unrest following the Iranian elections.
The “Twitter as a news gathering tool” panel with Ann Curry of MSNBC and Rick Sanchez of CNN attributed Twitter with playing a fundamental role in their work as journalists. Rick Sanchez expressed that social media is not a gag, rather it is a tool to change the world. Ann Curry added that, now, news that would not otherwise be available or accessible in mainstream media becomes accessible because of Twitter. It is the chance to know what is happening now, accurately. She also noted that this is only the beginning and we all need to take responsibility, step up and care about the things that really matter.
These examples make me believe that the potential of Twitter is endless and hopeful. Further, because it has an international context, Twitter will likely continue to grow over the next few years.
Conversely, many of the 140 Conf attendees were critical of Facebook, not only because it is a competitor and the leading social network, but because they couldn't see any serious and professional aspects to be developed within Facebook community. It didn't seem to bother anyone that this so-called "unexploitable community" represents over 200 million people while Twitter, despite an amazing monthly growth of 1382%, remains under 10 million. This makes it seem like challengers to Facebook or Myspace will only be more carefully considered for their grass root potential. But I think the revolution of social media has to be considered in the wholeness of its movement. Twitter and Facebook are, for me, interconnected and they don't serve they same purposes, much like two different TV channels.
I don't believe it is necessary to place such a heavy burden on social media and denigrate its social nature. Twitter, Facebook, Myspace and their competitors became famous, first and foremost, because they were playful. Their strengths come from people's desire to connect regardless of any cultural, political or social criteria. Most of these people aren't concerned about current issues of the day, and yet these people constitute what makes social media so successful. This extraordinary diversity makes the social networks stay social and avoids turning them into restrictive professional networks only.
Because we are local and global citizens
Social media, more then ever, has the extraordinary capacity to give a global echo to ideas created by ordinary citizens. I feel lucky to get to live such an immersive experience in the US. The 140 Conf reminded me that everything I like about the US is how citizens are able to federate behind social and cultural values. I had the opportunity during the two days of 140 Conf, to meet extraordinary journalists whose values and ethics increased the passion and interest I have for journalism. When I return to France in a few months, I will keep my experience as a true gift influencing my personal leitmotif for the basics and ethics of my future profession.
Each internet user doesn't necessarily have something to say or feel like stepping up to make a difference but, from now on, what matters is that we have the tools of expression and change at our disposal.
In the end, 140 Conf was not only about Twitter even if Twitter is currently seen in the US as the new leader influencing news gathering new procedures and stakes. It demonstrated its strong impact and bright future more than once during diverse international crises, where Twitter basically built the bridge between citizens and information at the global scale.
To me, the most significant aspect of those 48 hours remains Ann Curry's statement in which she said that says that American and international news judgment is dramatically evolving. I think she artfully raised the question: How are new communication and interaction tools redefining the world?
Other 140 Conf panelists discussed whether or not Twitter's disruptive breakthrough was a positive change for US news judgment. I think this is an amazing and genuine attempt to open minds and bring awareness to an evolving subject. As a foreigner, I am always surprised by the organization of news in the US shows that seems to prioritize local news and barely pays attention to international issues. Yet Twitter redefines the rules by creating a buzz that allows any kind of information to reach global audience and eventually end up on the news anchor's desk. Judgment is not taught; it is continuously changing, partly because the world is getting more and more connected and each local citizen can bring something unique.
Posts
2 comments:
What is perhaps most missing in public diplomacy today -- American or otherwise -- is a sense of playfulness, so it's a pleasure to hear that "Twitter, Facebook, Myspace and their competitors became famous, first and foremost, because they were playful."
Thanks John! Your earlier piece about the importance of Public Diplomacy not taking itself so seriously is still the seminal piece on this issue: For those readers who haven't seen it, it's "Stop the Solemnity"
Post a Comment