Participatory Media: The view from inside June 07, 2008

about: self Who: Shyam Somanadh (aka codelust) What: Erratic writer/blogger since 1999 and a platform junkie Why: Economics grad, trained in journalism, fascinated by technology Where: With Network18 since 2005; job profile: principal enabler WWW: http:// fatalerror.in http:// twitter.com/codelust

Who: Shyam Somanadh (aka codelust)

What: Erratic writer/blogger since 1999 and a platform junkie

Why: Economics grad, trained in journalism, fascinated by technology

Where: With Network18 since 2005; job profile: principal enabler

WWW: http:// fatalerror.in http:// twitter.com/codelust

about: scope What: Participatory media How: Our experience in participating in it Where: On http://www.ibnlive.com A bit about the product Our learning Problems we faced End-user perspective Your questions

What: Participatory media

How: Our experience in participating in it

Where: On http://www.ibnlive.com

A bit about the product

Our learning

Problems we faced

End-user perspective

Your questions

But… We thought this event was about Social Media?

We thought this event was about Social Media?

But… We thought this event was about Social Media? AND

We thought this event was about Social Media?

AND

But… We thought this event was about Social Media? AND What on earth is this participatory media?

We thought this event was about Social Media?

AND

What on earth is this participatory media?

I CAN HAS MY SOCIAL MEDIA PLZ?

First A fair warning * * Do not attempt this stunt at your Web 2.0 household

Because. This. Could. Hurt.

Brace for impact Ready?

Here we go There is nothing called social media

Once more, louder & clearer There is nothing called social media

WTF? BUT..

WTF? BUT…. WHY??

Social Media does not exist because The converse would then have to hold true

The converse would then have to hold true

Social Media does not exist because The converse would then have to hold true That rest of the media is asocial or antisocial

The converse would then have to hold true

That rest of the media is asocial or antisocial

Social Media does not exist because The converse would then have to hold true That rest of the media is asocial or antisocial Any media, by nature, is social

The converse would then have to hold true

That rest of the media is asocial or antisocial

Any media, by nature, is social

Social Media does not exist because The converse would then have to hold true That rest of the media is asocial or antisocial Any media, by nature, is social You write about people/events, which are consumed by more people

The converse would then have to hold true

That rest of the media is asocial or antisocial

Any media, by nature, is social

You write about people/events, which are consumed by more people

Social Media does not exist because The converse would then have to hold true That rest of the media is asocial or antisocial Any media, by nature, is social You write about people/events, which are consumed by more people Ergo , something that is not social, is not media

The converse would then have to hold true

That rest of the media is asocial or antisocial

Any media, by nature, is social

You write about people/events, which are consumed by more people

Ergo , something that is not social, is not media

Going Further… There really is no ______ Media

There really is no ______ Media

Going Further… There really is no ______ Media There is only Media

There really is no ______ Media

There is only Media

Going Further… There really is no ______ Media There is only Media Which delivers content created by someone - about someone or something

There really is no ______ Media

There is only Media

Which delivers content created by someone - about someone or something

Going Further… There really is no ______ Media There is only Media Which delivers content created by someone - about someone or something That is finally consumed by an individual, group or groups

There really is no ______ Media

There is only Media

Which delivers content created by someone - about someone or something

That is finally consumed by an individual, group or groups

Going Further… There really is no ______ Media There is only Media Which delivers content created by someone - about someone or something That is finally consumed by an individual, group or groups ______ Media is the classic Bollywood ' zara-hat-ke ' (it is different) approach to product differentiation

There really is no ______ Media

There is only Media

Which delivers content created by someone - about someone or something

That is finally consumed by an individual, group or groups

______ Media is the classic Bollywood ' zara-hat-ke ' (it is different) approach to product differentiation

What is Participatory Media? It is about people being a part of the conversation

It is about people being a part of the conversation

What is Participatory Media? It is about people being a part of the conversation It is something that widens the entry point for creation (blogger, wordpress, livejournal, tumblr) of content

It is about people being a part of the conversation

It is something that widens the entry point for creation (blogger, wordpress, livejournal, tumblr) of content

What is Participatory Media? It is about people being a part of the conversation It is something that widens the entry point for creation (blogger, wordpress, livejournal, tumblr) of content It is something that allows everyone to participate than the select few (comments, forums, blogs)

It is about people being a part of the conversation

It is something that widens the entry point for creation (blogger, wordpress, livejournal, tumblr) of content

It is something that allows everyone to participate than the select few (comments, forums, blogs)

What is Participatory Media? It is about people being a part of the conversation It is something that widens the entry point for creation (blogger, wordpress, livejournal, tumblr) of content It is something that allows everyone to participate than the select few (comments, forums, blogs) It is something that amplifies your participation, mixes and mashes it up to create new contexts

It is about people being a part of the conversation

It is something that widens the entry point for creation (blogger, wordpress, livejournal, tumblr) of content

It is something that allows everyone to participate than the select few (comments, forums, blogs)

It is something that amplifies your participation, mixes and mashes it up to create new contexts

Our Story: the bulleted version IBNLive.com started in December 2005 as the online presence of CNN-IBN We wanted it to be different: based both on belief and business necessities The traditional television establishment did not 'grok' the Internet But they realized it was the future and backed us fully and wholeheartedly We have done a fair bit, but we still have a long way to go

IBNLive.com started in December 2005 as the online presence of CNN-IBN

We wanted it to be different: based both on belief and business necessities

The traditional television establishment did not 'grok' the Internet

But they realized it was the future and backed us fully and wholeheartedly

We have done a fair bit, but we still have a long way to go

Our Story: the product Pushed user comments as a must-have, than as an optional extra Introduced blogging (internal and external) from day one Introduced podcasts Your Voice: The news in your voice Introduced topic/theme-based blogging Flagship initiative: Citizen Journalism Public Ka Kaptaan for cricket

Pushed user comments as a must-have, than as an optional extra

Introduced blogging (internal and external) from day one

Introduced podcasts

Your Voice: The news in your voice

Introduced topic/theme-based blogging

Flagship initiative: Citizen Journalism

Public Ka Kaptaan for cricket

Our Story: the learning Uptake has been good, but not spectacular

Uptake has been good, but not spectacular

Our Story: the learning Uptake has been good, but not spectacular If you are in it for the traffic, then get out and stick to the usual suspects

Uptake has been good, but not spectacular

If you are in it for the traffic, then get out and stick to the usual suspects

Our Story: the learning Uptake has been good, but not spectacular If you are in it for the traffic, then get out and stick to the usual suspects 20% contribute, 80% consume, 5% stinks up the whole place for the 100%

Uptake has been good, but not spectacular

If you are in it for the traffic, then get out and stick to the usual suspects

20% contribute, 80% consume, 5% stinks up the whole place for the 100%

Our Story: the learning Uptake has been good, but not spectacular If you are in it for the traffic, then get out and stick to the usual suspects 20% contribute, 80% consume, 5% stinks up the whole place for the 100% Brands matter a lot: Established names get excellent recall/repeat traffic

Uptake has been good, but not spectacular

If you are in it for the traffic, then get out and stick to the usual suspects

20% contribute, 80% consume, 5% stinks up the whole place for the 100%

Brands matter a lot: Established names get excellent recall/repeat traffic

Our Story: the learning Uptake has been good, but not spectacular If you are in it for the traffic, then get out and stick to the usual suspects 20% contribute, 80% consume, 5% stinks up the whole place for the 100% Brands matter a lot: Established names get excellent recall/repeat traffic People matter a lot: Consuming news is a habit; switching that is hard to pull off

Uptake has been good, but not spectacular

If you are in it for the traffic, then get out and stick to the usual suspects

20% contribute, 80% consume, 5% stinks up the whole place for the 100%

Brands matter a lot: Established names get excellent recall/repeat traffic

People matter a lot: Consuming news is a habit; switching that is hard to pull off

Our Story: the learning Uptake has been good, but not spectacular If you are in it for the traffic, then get out and stick to the usual suspects 20% contribute, 80% consume, 5% stinks up the whole place for the 100% Brands matter a lot: Established names get excellent recall/repeat traffic People matter a lot: Consuming news is a habit; switching that is hard to pull off Expect the unexpected: In what will be said (good and bad) In how much will be said (average comment length, regulars ) In how it will be said (local language comments)

Uptake has been good, but not spectacular

If you are in it for the traffic, then get out and stick to the usual suspects

20% contribute, 80% consume, 5% stinks up the whole place for the 100%

Brands matter a lot: Established names get excellent recall/repeat traffic

People matter a lot: Consuming news is a habit; switching that is hard to pull off

Expect the unexpected:

In what will be said (good and bad)

In how much will be said (average comment length, regulars )

In how it will be said (local language comments)

The users’ story Remuneration: should we not get paid?

Remuneration: should we not get paid?

The users’ story Remuneration: should we not get paid? Copyright: should we not 'own' our content?

Remuneration: should we not get paid?

Copyright: should we not 'own' our content?

The users’ story Remuneration: should we not get paid? Copyright: should we not 'own' our content? Liability: sites indemnify themselves, liability rests with the commenter

Remuneration: should we not get paid?

Copyright: should we not 'own' our content?

Liability: sites indemnify themselves, liability rests with the commenter

The Challenges It is hard to scale participatory media (resource and time intensive)

It is hard to scale participatory media (resource and time intensive)

The Challenges It is hard to scale participatory media (resource and time intensive) Advertisers don't like it too much (content can be very unpredictable)

It is hard to scale participatory media (resource and time intensive)

Advertisers don't like it too much (content can be very unpredictable)

The Challenges It is hard to scale participatory media (resource and time intensive) Advertisers don't like it too much (content can be very unpredictable) Legal hassles: comments have generated legal notices and much ire at times

It is hard to scale participatory media (resource and time intensive)

Advertisers don't like it too much (content can be very unpredictable)

Legal hassles: comments have generated legal notices and much ire at times

The Challenges It is hard to scale participatory media (resource and time intensive) Advertisers don't like it too much (content can be very unpredictable) Legal hassles: comments have generated legal notices and much ire at times Inconsistency: Both in terms of quality and quantity

It is hard to scale participatory media (resource and time intensive)

Advertisers don't like it too much (content can be very unpredictable)

Legal hassles: comments have generated legal notices and much ire at times

Inconsistency: Both in terms of quality and quantity

The Challenges It is hard to scale participatory media (resource and time intensive) Advertisers don't like it too much (content can be very unpredictable) Legal hassles: comments have generated legal notices and much ire at times Inconsistency: Both in terms of quality and quantity Next steps: Where do we go from here?

It is hard to scale participatory media (resource and time intensive)

Advertisers don't like it too much (content can be very unpredictable)

Legal hassles: comments have generated legal notices and much ire at times

Inconsistency: Both in terms of quality and quantity

Next steps: Where do we go from here?

The greatest challenge for both ______ Media proponents and the non-believers is this:

The greatest challenge for both ______ Media proponents and the non-believers is this:

The greatest challenge for both ______ Media proponents and the non-believers is this: How do you – as an established media entity or otherwise – compete with funny speaking dogs and cats for prominence in the same space?

Questions? Thank you

Thank you