I've spent the last 2 weeks without TV news and newspapers. I relied solely on my social networks of peers to gather my information on what's going on in the world. This is a preliminary look at how this affected me.

1. Who’s Talking?
Rise of The Professional Network
Download: Hand-Out
http://www.thejordanrules.com/WhosTalkingHO.pdf

2. Over the past 2 weeks,
I’ve stopped watching the
news on TV & stopped
reading newspapers

3. Here’s what I’ve learned...

4. Opinions are better than objectivity

5. News isn’t as bad as I thought
75% Good 15% Neutral 10% Bad

6. People are coordinated

7. News benefits from many sources
20 Posts
Per Day
5 Posts
Per Day
5 Posts > 5 Posts
Per Week Per Month

8. I think these are 4 major
reasons for the rise of the
professional network.

9. By “Professional Network”
I literally mean a network
of people that equate to
an industry professional.

10. Alone, no one would
consider me a professional
journalist.
Me
Professional

11. But together with a group of individuals, an
observer could get as good, or better information
than that of a professional.
Professional
= My Network

12. Why?

13. For the reasons I outlined
previously.

14. Opinions are better than objectivity
News isn’t as bad as I thought
People are coordinated
News benefits from many sources

15. Opinions are better than objectivity
People that feel free to voice their opinions often provide the emotion required to
completely understand a story. Large networks usually provide a number of passionate
people who feel differently about issues. Listening to them is a great way to understand
more about a story than a objective news report.
News isn’t as bad as I thought
People are coordinated
News benefits from many sources

16. Opinions are better than objectivity
People that feel free to voice their opinions often provide the emotion required to
completely understand a story. Large networks usually provide a number of passionate
people who feel differently about issues. Listening to them is a great way to understand
more about a story than a objective news report.
News isn’t as bad as I thought
Some news agencies sensationalize bad news to evoke a stronger emotional reaction
(among other reasons). Peer-News often (at least in my experience) focuses on positive
news. (upcoming events, cool thoughts, new gadgets, useful tools, etc)
People are coordinated
News benefits from many sources

17. Opinions are better than objectivity
People that feel free to voice their opinions often provide the emotion required to
completely understand a story. Large networks usually provide a number of passionate
people who feel differently about issues. Listening to them is a great way to understand
more about a story than a objective news report.
News isn’t as bad as I thought
Some news agencies sensationalize bad news to evoke a stronger emotional reaction
(among other reasons). Peer-News often (at least in my experience) focuses on positive
news. (upcoming events, cool thoughts, new gadgets, useful tools, etc)
People are coordinated
With the introduction of social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, Podcasts,
Youtube, and the like; uncoordinated individuals have the ability to coordinate on issues.
News benefits from many sources

18. Opinions are better than objectivity
People that feel free to voice their opinions often provide the emotion required to
completely understand a story. Large networks usually provide a number of passionate
people who feel differently about issues. Listening to them is a great way to understand
more about a story than a objective news report.
News isn’t as bad as I thought
Some news agencies sensationalize bad news to evoke a stronger emotional reaction
(among other reasons). Peer-News often (at least in my experience) focuses on positive
news. (upcoming events, cool thoughts, new gadgets, useful tools, etc)
People are coordinated
With the introduction of social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, Podcasts,
Youtube, and the like; uncoordinated individuals have the ability to coordinate on issues.
News benefits from many sources
They key to the rise of the professional network is that a network can have ‘sleeper
participants’ who might rarely participate, but live outside the spectrum of normal news,
and have connections that might provide unique insight when they do participate.

19. So, will I return to
TV & Newspapers?

20. I will, but my opinion
of them has changed
TV Paper

21. I will, but my opinion
of them has changed
TV Paper

22. Instead of using those sources as a default,
I’ll refer to them as needed. I no longer
need a default system to get information.
TV Paper

23. I can keep informed on
what’s going on
through my
Professional Network