Initial impressions

Like is the new love

2011-07-30T16:37:00.000-05:00

One of the great benefits of our age is the ability to access data and swiftly turn it into an enlightening (or at least entertaining) infographic, and share it — quite literally — with the world. Who knew that college students had such a strong liking for Corona, Chipotle, and Macs? Facebook, of course.
This graphic makes it clear.

30 miles from campus — and a world away

2010-11-13T03:22:00.003-06:00

The November episode of "Wichita State & The World" focuses on prairie restoration and biological research at the Ninnescah Reserve in southwest Sedgwick County. The above video clip gives you a glimpse of the show:
Host Provost Gary L. Miller explores the land, the new research center, and the work of students and faculty in the 30-minute episode broadcast on Cox Cable Channel 13. It airs at 8 p.m. Sundays, 9 a.m. Mondays, 3 p.m. Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays, and 1 a.m. Fridays this month.
In December, you can catch up to past episodes you may have missed — a variety will be rebroadcast in rotation at the above times.

"WSTW" is a production is of Wichita State's Media Resources Center, and I had a blast walking the prairie with awesome videographers Greg Matthias and Rik Dubiel for this project. Rik also edited, and did a terrific job, as you can see. I was producer, which included scripting out the storyline, creating a shot list, doing background research and lots of other behind-the-scenes tasks. The folks in the biology department were great to work with — and they did a great job explaining their research.

"Day Without Media" not worth living?

2010-09-10T00:13:00.000-05:00

A former newsroom coworker just spotted this gem of a public notice in New Mexico — and naturally captured the image with her cell phone camera and posted it on her FaceBook page.

It brings to mind a fascinating study my husband, Dan Close, recently conducted with his classes at Wichita State University's Elliott School of Communication. Asking digital natives to give up their cell phones, videogames, laptops, iPods, TVs, etc., etc., for just 12 hours was asking more of them than most initially realized.

Students wrote about their experiences, and he presented the findings at a Popular Culture Association conference (in Albuquerque by coincidence). He called it “A Day Without Media: Freaking Out Students Who Take Technology for Granted.”

Most, as the title indicates, described themselves as disconnected, lost, afraid, alienated, on edge, lonely, stressed, frustrated, silenced, withdrawn, clueless, irritable, antsy. . . you get the idea. “It was a weird experience,” said AB, “and that’s saying the least.” A few made good use of their new-found free time and tackled chores, enjoyed time with family or friends, or just felt blessed by the relative silence.

For the course I teach for the Elliott School, Comm 502 Public Information Writing, I opened the first night of class with a request that students turn off their cells and put them away — but conceded that if it proved too uncomfortable, they should at least put these distracting little devices out of sight and out of immediate reach for the 90 minutes we meet. It's not surprising that young adults are programmed to reach constantly for their phones; a recent Pew study indicates they typically send and receive 50 text messages a day.

Brunettes kick more butt?

2010-07-23T02:43:00.000-05:00

My teenage daughter is caught up with the idea that although a highly acclaimed film version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" has been made in Sweden and released on DVD in the United States (just $19.99 in a flashy display at Borders!), there are already plans to remake it with an American cast.

She is anticipating casting "disaster."

"They can't just stick a nose ring on some blonde Kristen Stewart and call her a badass."

Well, they can, but it won't make it so, I assure her.

There are few bedrock truths in this life, and one of them is that badass girls are brunettes.

So who could be believable in the role as punked-out crime-solving computer hacker Lisbeth Salander? A young Angelina Jolie? A young Wynnona Ryder? Do we even have actresses like this in the wings these days?

"No," she says emphatically. "They are going to have to find someone unknown."

You know, like Sweden's Noomi Rapace, the original Lisbeth.

Freshman reading, give or take a few years

2010-07-17T22:01:00.009-05:00

Thanks, Kansas State University, for assigning "The Hunger Games" to this year's freshman class as summer reading. I grabbed the paperback copy you gave my daughter at orientation and didn't return it until I'd finished it four days later with a hearty: "Wow, you're gonna love it!"

And of course, she did.

Suzanne Collins' deceptively simple tale of postapocalyptic America will give students the framework for discussing the ethics of self-defense, rebellion, government control, bio-engineering and even hunting. Along the way, she borrows elements from the Greeks' Minotaur myth, Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and "American Idol" to create an altogether new story.

Chances are good, however, that before classes start Aug. 23, many students will have already blasted their way through the second book in the trilogy: "Catching Fire" — just in time for the concluding "Mockingjay," which is due out Aug. 24. This is, of course, exactly what 18-year-olds need: Books that light up their minds, that provoke discussion and discourse.

Can't wait to hear all about it at Family Weekend.

Tweet tip of the day

2010-04-04T16:03:00.005-05:00

from @bydanielvictor

"If a press release about a survey fails to include methodology, I'll assume it's because you're hiding it. And I will not believe the #'s"

Adding social media to the medicine cabinet

2010-03-25T08:23:00.004-05:00

People fighting chronic illnesses are less likely than others to have Internet access (62% vs. 81%), but once online they are more likely to blog or participate in online discussions about health problems, according to a report released March 24 by the Pew Internet and American Life Project and the California HealthCare Foundation.

"Once online, having a chronic disease increases the probability that someone will take advantage of social media to share what they know and learn from their peers," the study found.

Still, people living with chronic disease remain strongly connected to offline sources of medical assistance and advice:

93% of adults living with chronic disease ask a health professional for information or assistance in dealing with health or medical issues.
60% ask a friend or family member.
56% use books or other printed reference material.
44% use the internet.
38% contact their insurance provider.
6% use another source not mentioned in the list.

Looking at the population as a whole, 51% of American adults living with chronic disease have looked online for any of the health topics included in the survey, such as information about a specific disease, a certain medical procedure, prescription or over-the-counter drugs, or health insurance.

History for modern times

2010-03-23T23:29:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to The Wichita Eagle and writer Roy Wenzl for the latest acclaim for his series on Father Emil Kapaun, a Korean War hero from Kansas who could become just the third American-born Roman Catholic saint (left).

"The Miracle of Father Kapaun" has won a 2010 National Headliner Award for writing and reporting. The series, published in The Eagle in December 2009, has a considerable online presence — I found the historical photos and recording of Kapaun's voice especially moving. Add the first-rate video story produced by Eagle photojournalist Travis Heying — which was picked up and aired by the local PBS affiliate — and you have a great example of how newspapers are competing in today's tech-savvy media market.

Quote of the day

2010-03-09T20:31:00.011-06:00

"There's a saying that we've now changed to read: 'Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can kill.' "

— Warren Blumenfeld, Iowa State

lead author of new study into cyberbullying

Stop, focus and read

2010-03-09T19:34:00.001-06:00

Long before it was called "multitasking," researchers have been looking at just how well people can do two things at once. An article in The Chronicle of Higher Education gives a fascinating — and for many folks, counterintuitive — update. More than 100 years ago, the Industrial Age saw young factory workers rolling cigars while listening to books, newspapers and political or religious tracts being read aloud; the Tech Age finds today's college student sending text-messages in class while listening to the lecture, watching a PowerPoint with imbedded videos, taking notes and googling facts in anticipation of the professor's questions.

The multimedia experience, conventional wisdom tells us, enhances learning as it "lights up" more parts of the brain, but now it appears that people may be merely buzzed by over stimulation.

"Heavy multitaskers are often extremely confident in their abilities," Clifford I. Nass, a professor of psychology at Stanford University, told The Chronicle. "But there's evidence that those people are actually worse at multitasking than most people."

Nass and colleagues published a study in 2009 revealing that people who described themselves as multitaskers performed much worse on tests of cognition and memory that involved distraction than their counterparts who said they preferred to focus on single tasks. And a newer, as-yet-unpublished study by Nass, et al., shows that people who give a lot of time over to media screens fare worse on analytic questions, too.

"One of the deepest questions in this field," Nass says, "is whether media multitasking is driven by a desire for new information or by an avoidance of existing information. Are people in these settings multitasking because the other media are alluring — that is, they're really dying to play Freecell or read Facebook or shop on eBay — or is it just an aversion to the task at hand?"

So glad you dropped by to read this post — hope it didn't distract you for too long from your other tasks!

Quote of the day

2010-01-27T12:27:00.002-06:00

"Businesses today fall into three camps – the social 'denyer,' the accidental socialite, and the socially aware.

— Michael Fauscette, IDC

Supervising social media

2010-01-26T21:14:00.005-06:00

Guidelines issued Monday by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority are intended to “ensure that firms and brokers use social networking sites in an appropriate manner," says Chairman Rick Ketchum. FINRA is the largest independent regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States, overseeing nearly 4,750 brokerage firms, about 167,000 branch offices and some 633,000 registered securities representatives.
Regulatory Notice 10-06 says member companies need to supervise the use of Web sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn by their employees — and "associated persons," such as their brokers and representatives — for public communications, to ensure that customers are not misled.
Firms also need to ensure that they can retain records of those communications.
Twitter, a 140-character online text-messaging phenomenon, started as a way for people to update friends and family on what they were up to at any given moment, but has become a powerful business tool. According to a recent report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project,
46 percent of American adults who use the Internet logged onto a social networking site in 2009, which is up from 8 percent in 2005. The "of the moment" nature of Twitter postings and FaceBook chats have an almost ephemeral feel, compared to blogs — something FINRA seemed to take into consideration. (Get its updates on Twitter by following @FINRA_News.)
It considers static postings to blogs to constitute “advertisements,” and any firm or registered representative that sponsors such a blog must obtain prior principal approval of any such posting. The exception: real-time interactive communications — such as tweets that are fed onto a site. FINRA considers that portion of the blog to be an interactive electronic forum that does not require prior principal approval — but that must be supervised.
The guidelines address the use of social media sites by firms and personnel for business purposes, not use by individuals for purely personal reasons. Translation: It's still not a great career move to post photos from your BFF's birthday bash at the beach bar — but FINRA won't care if you do.

Tweet outburst of the day

2010-01-25T16:21:00.003-06:00

from @toddramsey

Dear event planners: please put the dates of your event on your homepage. In big, garish, bold, and maybe even neon, type.

Man of Steel takes on self-righteous rants

2010-01-25T15:17:00.004-06:00

He may not think of himself as a Superman, but the strength of John Stewart's political humor on "The Daily Show" is that he consistently conveys the message that he is looking out for Truth, Justice and the American Way. His delivery style shows that he's not grinding an ax, he's just trying to have an intelligent and witty conversation with friends (his audience). And like any good friend, when political observation degenerates into ranting, Stewart considers it his responsibility to lead an intervention. Rhetoric and debate professors across the nation no doubt cheered his Jan. 21 Special Comment.

Thought for the day

2010-01-25T07:22:00.002-06:00

Customers don't care what department you're in.

— Jeremiah Owyang, Altimeter Group

Dancing into theaters soon

2010-01-25T01:46:00.007-06:00

"The Dead Can’t Dance," a feature length zombie flick by Wichita's own Rod "Rodrick" Pocowatchit, has finished principal photography and is nearing completion. Because a writer-actor-director's work is never done, Rod, a talented artist, page designer and film critic for The Wichita Eagle, also created the eye-catching movie poster. The taglines hint at the Native American storyline: "Your Bloodline Matters" and "The First Ones Here Will Be The Last to Leave."

"Wichita" on video

2010-01-18T20:17:00.006-06:00

Have you ever been watching a movie or TV show (or music video) and realized that you recognize the location? Maybe it's the 10,000th shot of Central Park featuring that little lake that you cruised past in a pedacab on your trip to New York City. Or a house with a lot of character near your old school. It gives you a little thrill, eh?

It's even better when the camera captures familiar images but gives them back to you in a way that opens your eyes. Lonny Quattlebaum and Wade Hampton, a couple of talented videographers and fellow Wichitans, took a quick nighttime tour through our hometown the other day and produced a startling little video. Thanks to the soundtrack by local musician Gooding, Wichita has never looked (or sounded) so space-age and gritty in the space of about two minutes. But that pretty much sums up the spectrum here!

WICHITA from Wade Hampton on Vimeo.

Look! Up in the Sky!

2010-01-14T15:40:00.004-06:00

Trash or Art? I say: Pure genius! Check out an aptly named photo collection: Things Caught In Trees.

Thanks to cellphone cameras, it's easier than ever to document the world around us, but we have to take the time to actually see what's around us!

An informal survey quickly revealed that the irony inherent in the pic of the Dollar Tree Store bag was a favorite of many viewers . . . proving that these are not just "throwaway" snapshots! (Sorry for the pun; couldn't resist.)

(thanks to @nprnews for the heads up on Twitter!)

Creative video projects

2009-08-31T18:09:00.005-05:00

I love working with videographers and editors because the time they spend with a new tool (camera, graphics software, etc.) is just one more reason to let their creativity run loose.

This "playing around" isn't wasted time — it's all about learning how to get the most from your resources. As a bonus, it usually produces something that's fun to watch, too!

Consider this "videoscrapbook page" from Wichita State University video/editing guy Rik Dubiel, who incorporates footage from a Cannon HV20, some fun music, nicely choreographed color effects, and one cute as a bug little boy exploring his back yard.

My Backyard 3 from Rik Dubiel on Vimeo.

Did you catch the basset hound wagging his tail to the beat? Nice work, Rik!

Check out that smile

2009-05-12T14:41:00.012-05:00

I love this photo of Cokie Roberts, taken by Ken Davis as she signed books at Wichita State University's Metroplex. She was on an author's tour to promote her latest book, an updated version of her best-selling "We Are Our Mothers' Daughters," and I was impressed with how generous she was with her time. She gives off a definite vibe that she doesn't suffer fools gladly, but she was warm and kind to the fans who approached her at her many campus events. After all the years she's spent on NPR and ABC, they feel like they know her, and she responded in kind.

The "Cokie show" is ready!

2009-05-05T22:04:00.014-05:00

From Martha Washington's legacy to Michelle Obama's future, from watching her mother cook for 1,500 wedding guests to analyzing sexism in presidential politics — Cokie Roberts told one fascinating story after another during her recent two-day visit to Wichita State University.

Two of Robert's campus appearances (her sold-out speech at the Metroplex and "Conversation With The Provost" Q & A) were captured on video and are featured in the newest episode of "Wichita State & The World." The show debuts at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 7 on WSU-TV, Cox Cable Ch. 13, with repeats at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 10; 8 p.m. Thursday, May 21; and 7 p.m. Sunday, May 24.

Roberts, a longtime ABC political commentator and National Public Radio senior news analyst, was brought to campus by KMUW-FM 89.1. She made appeals to listeners on air during the station's spring pledge drive.

For more on "Wichita State & The World," which is hosted by Provost Gary L. Miller, go to www.wichita.edu/provost.

A whirlwind of a week!

2009-04-24T20:05:00.007-05:00

Broadcasting legend Cokie Roberts visited Wichita State University as part of her national author's tour, and generously gave her time to several campus events, including a speech Wednesday night, a "Conversation With the Provost" Thursday morning and about an hour on the air during KMUW-FM's spring pledge drive. Cokie, promoting her updated best-seller "We Are Our Mothers' Daughters," has plenty to say about the changing roles of women, the expectations of men, the current state of politics and business, and much more. It will be a challenge to package the video footage we collected into just an hourlong show, but it's a good challenge to have. Several people have stopped me to ask when they could see "Wichita State & The World's" Cokie episode — look for it in May. (And check back for updates!)

Thursday night, local TV icon Anita Cochran hosted an in-studio Tweetup for her Twitter pals during the 10 o'clock news. Tonight is her final broadcast for KSN, Ch. 3, and though Wichita viewers will miss her terribly, I couldn't be happier for her. She decided a few months ago to invest more time in her family life, specifically her tween-age daughters. I may be biased; I made a similar move in 2007. Anita won't languish at home with daytime TV and bonbons (for those of you who cling to stereotypes!); she has some exciting projects in the works.

Oletha recognized as a leader

2009-04-15T20:13:00.008-05:00

Congratulations to Kansas Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau of Wichita's 29th District — she is among the 40 members of the 2009 Leadership Kansas class, the Kansas Chamber announced today.
I worked with Oletha on her campaign last fall, and it is a testament to her commitment to the community and her work as a state representative that she earned 70 percent of the vote in the general election. It was a historic moment: She is the first African American woman chosen by voters to serve in our state Senate.

It is fitting that she's been selected for Leadership Kansas, a program that works to develop and motivate future leaders in Kansas. More than 500 people are nominated each year. The 40 who are chosen participate in training sessions in six Kansas communities over the course of the year. Discussion topics include business, education, agriculture, public policy, societal health and development, economics and government.

Way to go, Oletha!

A victory for Wichita

2009-04-10T09:08:00.012-05:00

So satisfying to see Wichita City Council candidate Janet Miller elected Tuesday. She is going to do a great job representing District 6 (a wedge that starts downtown and runs along I-135 on the east and the Big Ditch on the west). Integrity isn't just a campaign buzzword when it comes to Janet; it's central to her character.

I served as her campaign media coordinator, which meant working on everything from postcards to TV ads to Web site content. Greg Sullivan of Sullivan Gang Graphics did an outstanding job on her "visual message" (everything from developing her logo to designs for mailers and the Web site) and offering gentle counsel — he's worked on countless local and state campaigns.

And the volunteer organization was awesome. I especially admire those who gave up their weekends to walk neighborhoods in the wind, rain, cold (13 degrees one day!) A severe ankle injury kept me from joining them, but I'm not sure I would have made it that day even if I had been whole!

After 26 years in a newsroom, where professional ethics prevented me from taking an active role in a political campaign, it is so good to be able to do more to ensure that voters get a clear view of the best candidate in a race.

Changing things for the better: Dr. P

2009-04-09T16:28:00.011-05:00

I'm so happy with how the new episode of "Wichita State & The World" turned out. This month, Provost Gary Miller talks with WSU Professor Ken Pitetti — one of my favorite people on campus.

Ken is one of those rare human dynamos who manages to inspire everyone he comes into contact with — without wearing them out. His generous spirit means he is as giving to aspiring nurses and medtechs in the classroom as he is to autistic kids and his fellow amputee veterans in the research environment. His personal story — of, yes, tragedy and triumph — has led him on a winding but fascinating career path.

I first "met" Ken through my husband, WSU Associate Professor Dan Close, in 1991. Dan had interviewed Ken for a magazine profile and came home mightily impressed with his ground-breaking work, his character, his innate curiosity, his humor and grit.

I've never taken a course from Ken — maybe one day! — but I've learned a lot from him.

I hope you'll check out the show. This episode debuts at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 9, with repeats at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 12, 8 p.m. Thursday, April 23
and 7 p.m. Sunday, April 26.

For more info and links, go to www.wichita.edu/provost and scroll down to the center of the page.

Next stop, Wichita . . .

2009-04-06T17:31:00.008-05:00

Cokie Roberts — award-winning broadcaster, best-selling author — is coming this month to Wichita State University for two days of appearances, and folks are going wild. Her campus visit is part author's tour (an updated version of her book "We Are Our Mothers' Daughters" has just been released) and part fund raiser for public radio station KMUW.

The moment tickets were made available to her public appearances, the organizers were overwhelmed with requests.

I'm happy to be part of the team that's documenting her visit, including her "Conversation With Provost Gary Miller" before an audience of primarily students and faculty. Those who don't have the chance to attend the WSU events will have a chance to see her in May via "Wichita State & The World" on WSU-TV, Cox cable Ch. 13.

Telltale numbers

2009-04-05T21:29:00.004-05:00

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the Columbine shooting, you will no doubt be confronted with lots of "where are we now" stories. Consider these results from a new survey of K-12 teachers:

— 2 in 5 teachers have faced verbal or physical aggression from a student's parent or guardian.

— 1 in 4 say a pupil has attacked them.

— 1 in 3 teachers in primary schools say they have experienced physical aggression, compared with 1 in 5 in secondary schools.

More evidence that American kids are out of control? No.

This data comes from Britain, where nearly 60 percent of those who took part in the Association of Teachers and Lecturers' survey said they thought student behavior had worsened during the past five years.

Horror stories included 6-year-olds trashing rooms and computers, pulling knives, and attacking teachers and other students.

In contrast, my time last year filling in as an English and history teacher at Wichita's East and North high schools — which many people perceive as "inner-city" environments — was rewarding and low-conflict. Just a thought.

Life list

2009-03-02T16:06:00.005-06:00

Saw this here and thought it would be fun to play along — especially considering the theme of Wednesday's presentation: Reinvention. The rules: Bold the things you’ve done, and post on your blog!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (does "from shore" count?)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (well, at The Venetian in Las Vegas!)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (The old stone house in Glenadagh, County Mayo, is now a hay barn.)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (Plains Indian sign language, very handy in elementary school)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

More than words can say

2009-03-02T15:16:00.009-06:00

Music speaks to us like no other media, communicating volumes in just a few notes. Last week in a class I'm taking on law enforcement issues, we all giggled when the instructor's cell phone began ringing "The Imperial March" (Darth Vader's Theme) from "Star Wars." And a friend on Twitter today summed up her thanks for a job well done with this BlipFM Props to the cops for making a speedy arrest in the carjacking of an 84-year-old man. Says it all.

The 3 R's for the new economy

2009-02-23T17:19:00.005-06:00

I'll be speaking at the Wichita Professional Communicators' March lunch meeting on a topic that's become hot in this chilly economy: Career reinvention.

I happily took on this task because I've built my work life on the principles of taking calculated risks, accepting creative challenges and other key factors that help keep life interesting and rewarding.

My presentation is called "Reinvent, Revitalize, Renew: The 3 R’s You Must Master Now," and here's the pitch: "As a professional communicator, you’re a whiz at readin’ and ’riting, and thanks to calculators, you can even handle ’rithmatic. But your old reliable skills may not be enough to help you ride out these rough economic times. Media consultant L. Kelly offers practical advice for rejuvenating your job skills — and your life — at the March 4 Wichita Professional Communicators luncheon meeting.

"L. Kelly spent 26 years with The Wichita Eagle, working a variety of jobs as a writer, editor and page designer in the news, features and opinion sections. After directing the paper’s coverage of the BTK investigation, she was project leader and co-author of the true crime book 'Bind, Torture, Kill: The Inside Story of the Serial Killer Next Door' (HarperCollins 2007). She is now a media consultant, TV producer and communications trainer with her own company, L. Kelly Media Services, and teaches at Wichita State University."

RSVP to Becky Funke by noon Monday, March 2, at bfunke@activeagingonline.com, call 942-5385, or reserve and prepay using WPC’s online PayPal account at www.wichitaprofessionalcommunicators.com.

DATE: Wednesday, March 4
TIME: 11:30 a.m. sharp-12:30 p.m.
PLACE: Larkspur, 904 E. Douglas
COST: Members $12, students $10, guests $15

Wake-up call

2009-02-23T14:58:00.007-06:00

As I've noted here before, I'm a statistical junkie.

Not the memorize-the-back-of-a-baseball-card type, but let me log into the online Statistical Abstract of the United States, or the Department of Justice's research section on violent crime, or a well-executed attitude and opinion survey, and I'll be gone for hours. I'm a miner at heart, digging up little gems and following veins of information this way 'n' that, hoping to reach the mother lode of knowledge and insight. I'm constantly finding stuff while on my way to look up something else.

Today's treasure is a 2008 video that challenges viewers to consider the necessity of career reinvention — given global pressures and technological advances — in the Information Age.

The video asks: "So what does it all mean?"

It's a competitive world. Position yourself accordingly.

Greensburg tornado headed for WSU TV

2009-02-23T00:24:00.005-06:00

Working on a "Wichita State & The World" episode that blends interviews with WSU associate professor Les Anderson and a handful of students, excerpts from their on-location video stories, blog entries and still photography from their Greensburg project, and of course an epic F-5 twister.

What will we have when the debris settles?

Stay tuned; it airs in March on WSU TV, Cox cable Ch. 13.

Ripples on a pond

2009-02-20T17:02:00.007-06:00

Back in the 1990s, when I was working as a reporter for The Wichita Eagle, I traveled to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale to meet Don and Shirley Beggs. I was working on a profile of Don, who was a finalist for (and ultimately received) the job of president of Wichita State University.

I'll never forget how warm, gracious and genuinely open the Beggses were (and have continued to be to me and my husband over the years). Journalists who cover education and politics — and this story had elements of both — don't encounter that routinely.

It was also clear from the start that Don and Shirley were a unique kind of "power couple." There was real substance behind those smiles; hard work, solid character, and caring underpinned their their quiet confidence.

I see less of them now than I once did, so I was as surprised as any reader to pick up the paper this week and discover that Shirley is being treated for breast cancer. As the story by Roy Wenzl details, Shirley has faced it with her typical determination, and minimal disruption to her university duties, but finally decided to go public with her story in hopes that it might help someone else.

The day Shirley's story was published, my mother-in-law was headed in for yet another chemo treatment. It's Maggie's third go-round with breast cancer and as she'd tell you: It's kind of a drag.

But reading about Shirley's strength of spirit — and learning they go to the same clinic — gave Maggie the boost she needed to make it through the morning. Chances are these two wonderful women will never cross paths there, but like ripples on a pond, their stories have.

Go ahead, make my day!

2009-02-13T15:24:00.003-06:00

Just got this note from a client in response to a quick editing / rewrite task I did for her this afternoon:

"Thanks for the feedback. . . . I knew it needed help. Sometimes an objective eye is the just the thing needed! It reads great now. Thanks."

Made my day!

Would I lie to you?

2009-01-23T17:21:00.008-06:00

Last October, I blogged about micro-expressions and how understanding these subtle bits of body language can help reveal what's going on inside someone's head.
This week, Fox debuted a fun new crime show starring Tim Roth called "Lie to Me," which is built around the science of micro-expressions. The show's Web site offers a primer, along with video from the show.

The pilot was fun, tho I'm not sure the series can sustain over the course of several weeks without feeling like a college course practicum. . . . See this bad guy? I know he's lying because he shrugged his right shoulder. Did you see that woman look down before answering the question? She was honestly trying to recall what really happened . . . . Worth checking out though. This is a show you can play along with at home!

Perhaps more important for those of us out here in the real world, it's a great reminder to take a look in the mirror and analyze what inadvertent messages we're sending our clients and customers. Do we say one thing and "broadcast" another with knitted brows, raised shoulders or pinched lips?

Looking out for what makes us real

2009-01-14T18:52:00.015-06:00

"A sense of place" is important to help us feel at home, what the academics call "psychologically comfortable in our environment." Beyond climate and geography, small businesses help define a city's character.

I've been thinking about this ever since a Denver burger chain opened up a restaurant on the east side of my hometown, Wichita. The new place was all the buzz, so I went to check it out. I guess the food was OK, but the place had a definite Strip Mall Vibe and I came away thinking: We've already got better than this here. And I feel a certain loyalty to them, these places that give Wichita its flavor.

I can't pick just one homegrown burger joint that's Quintessential Wichita; each one feeds our souls in its own way. I'd start with Dog N Shake, with history going back to 1948 and the slogan: "We butter toast our buns for you!" It makes a mighty tasty cheeseburger, despite leaving that fact out of the name. Then I'd move on to Bionic Burger, which not only has some of the best fries in town, but serves kids' meals in cardboard classic cars just right for Barbie and Friends. Then there's TJ's Burger House, a cafe in the revitalized Delano neighborhood that compliments its burger baskets (did that photo get your attention?) with a mean "Hamburgers (sic) Stew." I've gotta include Nu Way, the original non-patty burger, whose creed "Crumbly Is Good" still draws oldtimers to the little white brick place on West Douglas. (Then again, it might be the house-recipe root beer. Yum.) And I've gotta give props to both the the Oasis' burger on the west side and Heroes' sweet pepper bacon burger in Old Town.

As my waistline shows, I could go on. . . . I'll leave it to others to explore the True Wichita to be found cruising for comfort food at our Mexican, Vietnamese, Thai, Lebanese and other specialty restaurants. I've got my opinions. I'd love to hear yours.

Now playing

2009-01-09T17:56:00.008-06:00

The long-ago promised video clips of Tom Otterness are finally here! Thanks to Lonny Quattlebaum, Greg Matthias and Rik Dubiel of Wichita State's Media Resource Center for their fantastic videography and more.

Former Wichita Eagle publisher Lou Heldman, creator of "Wichita State & The World," interviewed Ulrich Museum of Art director Patricia McDonnell.

Tom Otterness' fascinating introspective of his work included slides ranging from childhood paintings to computer-assisted designs for recent projects.

Please stand by . . .

2009-01-09T12:43:00.007-06:00

Dreaded "technical difficulties" prevented Episode 5 of "Wichita State & The World" from airing Thursday night. Reportedly a problem with an air conditioning unit caused massive overheating in master control, which . . . well, the bottom line is, this hourlong show featuring A-list sculptor and native Wichitan Tom Otterness will debut at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11 instead. WSU TV is on Cox cable Ch. 13.

It's worth the wait — and I'd say that even if I wasn't the producer. Really. For more about the show, check out www.wichita.edu/provost.

Tom Otterness, sculptor

2009-01-05T10:07:00.010-06:00

I'm wrapping up work on Episode 5 of "Wichita State & The World," featuring Tom Otterness. An acclaimed figurative sculptor based in New York City, Tom is a Wichita native best known for public art that combines whimsy and social satire.
The show, which debuts at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, on Channel 13 on Wichita's Cox cable, will feature footage from the installation of "Millipede" on the WSU campus as well as an illustrated lecture by Otterness.

One of my favorite things about this hourlong episode — aside from the fact that the art is a treat for the eyes — is how well it captures the fact that despite living virtually all his adult life in New York City, Otterness is still clearly a Guy From Wichita.

Check back for an update; I'll add video clips here when available.

YouTube as battle strategy

2008-12-30T10:57:00.014-06:00

The Israeli army is taking its public relations war directly to a global audience: It has created a YouTube channel to disseminate video that documents recent precision-bombing operations in the Gaza Strip as well as humanitarian aid distribution efforts.

"The blogosphere and new media are another war zone. We have to be relevant there," says IDF Foreign Press Branch head Maj. Avital Leibovich.

Although graphic content — including a clip showing an air strike on men who were apparently loading rockets into a truck — has since been removed by YouTube, "The intelligent audience watching the footage will know that people killed did not have peaceful intentions toward Israel," Leibovich had told the Jerusalem Post. "I don't believe they'll be disturbed. The important thing is to get the truth out there."

And on YouTube, there's this posting from Leibovich's office (note the last sentence!): "We are saddened that YouTube has taken down some of our exclusive footage showing the IDF's operational success in operation Cast Lead against Hamas extremists in the Gaza Strip. As the State of Israel again faces those who would see it destroyed, it is imperative that we in the IDF show the world the inhumanity directed against us and our efforts to stop it. It is also worth noting that one of the videos removed had the highest number of hits (over 10,000) at the time of its removal."

The IDF Foreign Press Branch has also delivered briefings to bloggers around the world, and staff members are preparing to start their own vodcasts — video diaries — to discuss their feelings about the conflict in English and Arabic. They rightly calculate that this personal approach will affect audiences very differently than traditional news coverage and pundit commentary.

Since the beginning of the Gaza air strikes this holiday season, Israeli politicians have held frequent press conferences to defend the attacks, but when their words are broadcast on the news over images of mayhem, destruction and crying children, it is hard to listen to speeches. The IDF is making a smart tactical move.

6: and tag you're it

2008-11-18T12:21:00.013-06:00

The fabulous Suzanne Tobias, of Notes for My Kids' Therapist, tagged me in the latest blogger game making the rounds in Wichita and elsewhere. In typical fashion, I've put this off as long as I can, so here we go:

Here are the rules:

* Link to the person who tagged you.
* Post the rules on your blog.
* Write 6 random things about yourself.
* Tag 6-ish people at the end of your post.
* Let each person know he/she has been tagged.
* Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Six random things about me:

1. Childhood pets included a dog named Puppy and cats named Kitty and Cat. And yet I went on to a career working with words. Go figure.
2. I like Wizard Rock — grassroots music inspired by the "Harry Potter" series. I was introduced to the all-musical-genres fan-based phenom last year by my teenage daughter (who has amassed a large collection of tunes by bands such as The Whomping Willows, Draco and the Malfoys, Obliviate! and The Hermione Crookshanks Experience). The Girl appears to be outgrowing her obsession for songs written from the perspective of fictional characters, but I'm still hooked. At least on mother-daughter roadtrips, we can agree on the playlist, and it doesn't include German Techno Scream anymore. Ugh.
3. When I was in sixth grade, I was a Safety Patrol crossing guard on the corner of Murdock and Edgemoor in Wichita, in front of what a short time later became known as The Otero House when four members of the family were killed by serial killer BTK. I grew up to direct my newspaper's coverage of the investigation after he resurfaced, and to lead a team that wrote the definitive book on the case.
4. I once crashed through a jungle at night without a flashlight to view Halley's Comet from the top of an ancient Mayan observatory. (Crawling up the pitch-black no-room-to-back-up double-helix stone staircase, which was covered in years of who-knows-what, was a very Indiana Jones moment.)
5. I am the world's worst penpal. If you write me a letter, chances are extremely high that I will eagerly write you back but never mail it. (Exhibit A: I packaged a Christmas present for mailing to a dear friend in the mid-1980s and still have it in a closet.)
6. My personal motto is: Take the Initiative to Make Things Better.

And now, who to tag? I think it shall be...

Dan, Lou, Andi, Daniel, Ron, Martha

Fun with words

2008-11-02T21:41:00.007-06:00

Pop art, poetry and technology merge in Wordle, an applet that allows users to create a "beautiful word cloud" from a blog, RSS feed or copyblock with one click.

Fun to do, but even more interesting to people watch: The gallery includes everything from love poems to a master's thesis.

The results are in

2008-11-02T15:29:00.003-06:00

The informal survey of Twitter users (see post below) yielded some interesting stats:
— 9 in 10 of those responding said they had volunteered this year.
— 1 in 4 volunteer on a set schedule
— 3 in 4 volunteer as events or their heart moves them

Tweeples were most likely to split their time between:
— Mentoring and
— Sitting on boards and advising organizations
Half of the respondents chose those activities.
Next most-popular was political action — which makes sense, given that this is a presidential election year.
That was followed, in descending order, by:
— Fundraising
— Tutoring
— Faith promotion
— Other, which included: feeding the homeless through a church program, working in the arts, being a Compeer match, collecting items for battered women at the holidays, and working with at-risk kids at school (I'd likely have put that under mentoring or tutoring, but for the respondent it didn't seem to fit those categories so OK)

How often do the responding Tweeples volunteer? We are split:
1 in 3 volunteer monthly
1 in 3 volunteer randomly
1 in 5 volunteer weekly
and a very small set volunteer yearly (at the holidays) or never.

Why do Tweeples volunteer? Lots of motivations. Here's a sampling:
— "I believe in the causes."
— "I believe in humanity."
— "I makes me feel good, and I have skills to share."
— "To give back."
— "I am blessed with a little money and a little time — happy to help others."
— "Sense of civic responsibility inherited from my grandfather."
— "I think there could be a revolution, parents' overall inability scares me these days, the future is delicate."
— "To make a difference in the community."
— "Why not?"

Thanks to all who participated!

Tweeple in Action

2008-10-23T11:52:00.005-05:00

Lots of chirping on Twitter in recent days about good deeds inspired me to create a survey on volunteering.

I'll compile the results and comments and here, so check back!

Express yourself

2008-10-19T12:21:00.007-05:00

I've been focusing lately on microexpressions, fleeting facial movements that underscore or undo someone's spoken message. Microexpressions help us tune into the emotional truth behind the words. (A prime example from a few years ago: The pleas from Sarah Smith for the return of her allegedly kidnapped little boys. Investigators observed that not only did her carjacking story not add up, her serene face did not match her anguished words. She eventually confessed to their murder.)

A lot of folks have been talking in recent days about facial expressions made by the presidential candidates during last week's debate: John McCain seems "too excitable"; Barack Obama seems "smug"; both can seem genuinely in touch or arrogant. So I found it interesting to watch Colin Powell talking on "Meet the Press" about how he evaluated these men over the past two years, then decided to endorse Obama.

As you watch it, focus on Powell's eyes and mouth. Does he smile or frown inappropriately? Scowl when he is saying something positive? Or do his face, words and emotions seem to be in sync? I'll let you be the judge.

Standup candidates

2008-10-17T14:12:00.005-05:00

It is wonderful to see smart politicians let voters in on their sense of humor. I wish they did it more often, because you can tell a lot about a person by what they find funny and how they tell a joke. (Kansas Sen. Bob Dole is much more likable and people-savvy than his stiff presidential campaign persona led people to believe.)

Thursday night's white-tie dinner bearing the name of Alfred E. Smith (a witty presidential candidate of the 1920s, not to be confused with Mad magazine's Alfred E. Newman!) was a great reminder that behind all the rhetoric, Barack Obama and John McCain are real men - with great writers! Check out these videos (and watch for Hillary Clinton in the audience, too!)

Contagious politics

2008-10-17T01:37:00.006-05:00

With less than three weeks to Election Day, political signs are everywhere, with more popping up daily. Ever wonder why signs tend to be clumped in yards on one end of a block, or why next-door neighbors will publicize their disagreements to strangers driving by? If it seems that there's something more than politics going on, you're right.

Putting out a sign can be a powerful provocation to others — to rally to your candidate, or to declare their opposition. The phenomenon is called "goal contagion," explains Art Markman, a cognitive scientist at the University of Texas and Psychology Today blogger.

When someone puts out a political yard sign, the people who see it immediately understand the goal. This action leads others to be more likely to want to announce their own preference. This desire is likely to be particularly strong for one's neighbors, says Markman, because they see the sign every day.

You can also see the contagion at work in this story: When business leaders became vocal in their opposition to County Commission candidate Karl Peterjohn, "It inspired a backlash for Karl," Darrell Leffew told The Wichita Eagle. He recently put six pro-Peterjohn signs in his yard.

2008-10-09T18:16:00.009-05:00

I've spent many a workday working through lunch, but my preference by far is to spend the lunch hour with a friend or two, talking about events of the day, laughing away a little stress and making plans to get
together again soon. That's why I enjoy Wichita lunch TweetUps, like the one Thursday that drew about 15 people. Some recent gatherings have drawn twice that many.

TweetUps inevitably are a dynamic mix of old and new friends and complete strangers who quickly become friends thanks to their online interaction via Twitter.com. At our long table were police detectives, graduate students, community group facilitators, a medical transcriptionist, a reporter, a couple of Web page designers, a couple of PR folks... A virtual community has become a very real one.

With a large group anchored to the table by food, it's only natural that the free-for-all conversation that is Twitter breaks down into a lot of 1-on-1s. Sometime soon, we're going to try a "SpeedTweetUp" that gets us moving around the table to talk to someone new every few minutes. Should be a hoot.

"WSTW:2" focuses on giving

2008-10-03T08:43:00.007-05:00

Episode 2 of the new show "Wichita State & The World" hosted by provost Gary Miller debuts on Sunday evening, and reviewing the online excerpts today reminded me of how much I enjoyed sorting through video interviews with WSU engineering students to select material for it. (I'm the producer.)

Wow, what an impressive bunch.

Hearing college kids describe their experiences - the personal impact of scholarships, of mentoring from professors and professionals, of opportunities to work on real-world projects such as NASA in Kansas - made me proud(er) to be a WSU alum.

The episode, which focuses on how gifts to the WSU Foundation change lives, debuts at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, on WSU TV, Channel 13 on Cox cable, with repeats Oct. 16, 19 and 30.

Listen and learn

2008-09-30T01:20:00.007-05:00

A lot of my job - as a communications professional, as a parent, as a friend - is reading between the lines. Or mores precisely, listening between the lines.

Often it's not the question that is asked, but the concerns behind the question that need to be addressed.

"What are you working on today?" might be mere small talk, or it could be a sonar ping: "Do you have time for me? Are you too busy to talk to me? Am I important to you?"

When you talk with clients, family and friends, do you hear them? Are you sure? Try focusing your full attention on them (not your work, not yourself, not the long to-do list that is calling your name), and think before you automatically respond to questions. Tip: Ask "Why do you ask?" or "What's troubling you about that?" then listen. You may have your ears - and your eyes - opened. I know I have.

Looking for work? Clear out online clutter

2008-09-14T23:27:00.012-05:00

More Americans than ever are daily users of online social networking sites, and more employers are are plugging in, too. A new survey by CareerBuilder.com shows that 22 percent of employers search networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace to screen job candidates. Another 9 percent plan to start soon. In 2006, only 11 percent of hiring managers screened using such Web searches.

In the new survey, of the hiring managers who peruse social networks, 34 percent reported finding information there that caused them to pass on a job candidate. More than 3,100 employers took part in the survey.

Areas of concern included:
- candidate posted information about them drinking or using drugs 41%
- candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or information 40%
- candidate had poor communication skills 29%
- candidate bad-mouthed their previous company or co-worker 28%
- candidate lied about qualifications 27%
- candidate used discriminatory remarks related to race, gender, religion, etc. 22%
- candidate’s screen name was unprofessional 22%
- candidate was linked to criminal behavior 21%
- candidate shared confidential information from previous employers 19%

But this doesn't mean we should all shut down our social sites. In addition to FB, I know many professionals who swear by LinkedIn, and I have found Twitter to be not just fun but a terrific way to connect with professionals of all stripes in Wichita - online and at weekly TweetUps, where friendships and business contacts are forged.

Indeed, the survey showed that social networking profiles gave some job seekers an edge. Of hiring managers who researched job candidates via social networking sites, 24 percent said they found content that helped to solidify their decision to hire the candidate.

Top factors that influenced their hiring decision included:
- candidate’s background supported their qualifications for the job 48%
- candidate had great communication skills 43%
- candidate was a good fit for the company’s culture 40%
- candidate’s site conveyed a professional image 36%
- candidate had great references posted about them by others 31%
- candidate showed a wide range of interests 30%
- candidate received awards and accolades 29%
- candidate’s profile was creative 24%

My former newspaper colleagues refer to online as a publishing platform. It has unique attributes, but that's what it is: A way to publish, to reach mass audiences. In their view, it can be edgier than the mainstream paper, but it's not boundless. Newspaper editors know what it's like to have to handle phone calls from readers who are angry or upset by what seemed innocuous the night before.

Job candidates might learn something from The Gatekeepers, as editors used to be known. Because the price they'll pay for indescretion might be worse than difficult phone calls - it could be no calls at all.

A new series

2008-09-05T09:27:00.009-05:00

I'm excited about seeing one of my big projects on the air! The fall season of "Wichita State & The World" kicks off on Sunday, Sept. 7, with an episode that features Associate Provost David McDonald of WSU and Paul Wooley of the Orthopaedic Research Institute at Via Christi talking about biomedical composites research and its impact on business and medicine.

"Wichita State & The World," hosted by Provost Gary Miller, is a series that examines how Kansas' only urban-serving research university is changing our community, our nation and the world. It's on WSU TV, Channel 13 on Cox Cable.

Episode 1 airs at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, with repeats at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18; Sunday, Sept. 21; and Thursday, Oct. 2.

You'll find more information about this and upcoming episodes at www.wichita.edu/provost.

Rover, Fido or Izzy?

2008-09-04T16:51:00.010-05:00

Best friend adopted a shelter dog today - pre-named Izzy. Odd name for a girl, and a golden retriever, we think, tho my friend says "she kinda looks like an Izzy."
That's the fascinating thing about names: They have connotation and undefinable mojo. And they have the power to attract and repell. There is a certain boy's name that I could swear is a marker for ADHD -- I've yet to meet a child with this particular moniker who didn't exhibit the signs -- but it continues to be wildly popular with other parents, so maybe it's just me. Then again, the only Izzy I can recall was a pretty cool character in the novel "Fried Green Tomatoes," so that name is growing on me.

Understanding the risks

2008-09-03T15:39:00.007-05:00

I'm a stats junkie, and I love to go to the source whenever there's news about research. The Web makes it easy to go deeper than the headlines and sound bites -- and too often, a little digging turns up the real news: That the reporter didn't really understand what the researcher had discovered. Oversimplification takes a toll.

That's why I like the innovative charts that accompany a paper published in the June Journal of the National Cancer Institute. They provide a broader perspective than most risk calculators, covering 10 different causes of death while differentiating between nonsmokers, smokers and former smokers -- at various ages -- and by gender.

With this method, it's apparent that a 35-year-old male smoker is seven times as likely to die of heart disease as a nonsmoker the same age. Of course, some hardy smokers will manage to survive into their 70s, and by age 75 smokers and nonsmokers have nearly the same risk of death from heart disease. For women who have never smoked, the magnitudes of the 10-year risks of death from breast cancer and heart disease are similar until age 60; from this age on, heart disease represents the single largest cause of death. For women who smoke, the chance of dying from heart disease or lung cancer exceeds the chance of dying from breast cancer from age 40 on (and does so by at least a factor of 5 after age 55). This is especially significant given that cancer risk generally increases with age.

Paper co-author Lisa M. Schwartz, an associate professor of medicine at Dartmouth University, said the the 10-year risk increments of the charts are especially informative. “Often numbers are presented as lifetime statistics, which make the risk look too large, or as one-year statistics, which make the risk look too small. The charts provide the information you need to understand a risk, and whether to consider taking some action to reduce it.”

Buzz kill: The waiting game

2008-08-22T23:09:00.020-05:00

The wait is all but over - based on reading the tea leaves, Sen. Joe Biden appears to be Barack Obama's pick for vice president - but the wait itself became news Friday night as the hours dragged on and on and on.

Impatient supporters and journalists I follow on Twitter (and I'm writing about two distinct groups here) had become rather cranky by bedtime. Some, even earlier:
As @jeffbutts Tweeted about 6 p.m.: "Re: obama's running mate. there's suspense. And then there's just plain annoyance. Get it over with."
After a daylong vigil, CNN reported Friday night that senior campaign officials said Obama's choice would not be announced to supporters in a text message until Saturday morning.
By 11 p.m., ABC News was reporting that the Secret Service had been dispatched to Biden's home.
As @nickjungman wrote at about 11:15 p.m.: "I am beginning to feel that I will *not* be the first to know Obama's VP pick. FALSE ADVERTISING!"
By 11:45 p.m., CNN flat-out declared Biden to be the guy.
Minutes to midnight, social media maven @toddblog summed up the feelings of many: "You can't promise that people will receive a text message "first," send a release to the news and NOT send the text. LAME Obama. Lame."
So maybe the promise was too good to be true. An interesting lesson in the buzz biz, nonetheless: Follow through and pay off matter.
PS: And seriously, is my phone network down? Because I still don't have a txt msg, and it's Saturday on the East Coast....
Addendum: It's now 8:02 a.m. Saturday. Bleary-eyed, I reach for my phone and see The Text. Sent at 2:38 a.m. today. Hmm. Shortly after midnight on the West Coast. Ah, well. It's a big country. Maybe the challenge of sending millions of simultaneous txt msgs was bigger than anticipated. Or maybe the campaign didn't want to be blamed for crashing Twitter when the news hit like a tsunami. That would have been a fatal blow to yesterday's buzz.

Buzz update

2008-08-22T14:26:00.005-05:00

Just back from WichiTweets lunch, where cell phones vied for space on the tables with the chips and salsa. Several of us kept one eye out for The Txt Msg from the Obama campaign, announcing his vice presidential pick. Some checked their phones a little more than was necessary (obsessively?) considering that when the time comes, a cocophany is sure to ensue.

But the txt did not come over the lunch hour. So anticipation spawned speculation over the timing of the announcement: Before the evening news? During the evening news? During tonight's Olympics coverage? (My money's on breaking in during prime time tonight, though Old School thinking would aim for the start of the network news shows, 5:30 p.m. Central.)

Stay tuned.

PS: Is my phone working? I haven't gotten any txts all day! Better test it....

Building buzz by building a social network

2008-08-22T10:09:00.008-05:00

Cable TV pundits are abuzz this morning, speculating on who Barack Obama has chosen as his running mate. Will it be Biden? Sebelius? Bayh? Clinton? Heightening their anticipation is that the news will break via text message.

I imagine that there were plenty of folks debating whether to shower this morning, for fear they might not hear their phones and thus miss The Moment.
Now, in the scheme of American Politics, this 3-second interaction between voter and cell phone is no Gettysburg Address. But there is an intimacy, a sense of inclusion in something important - which the Obama campaign has used cold, hard technology to create.

First came the e-mails: Be the first to know who has been chosen! (Who doesn't want to have and share "inside" knowledge?) Just text VP to a 5-digit number from your cell phone. (What could be easier for the under-50 crowd?)

How did the campaign get their e-mail addresses? Months ago, anyone curious to see the senator speak at an event was asked to RSVP via e-mail. In return, they'd get an "electronic ticket." The tickets didn't ensure entry, but they did allow organizers to anticipate crowd size and collect millions of e-mail addresses from across the nation. Simple and sweet.

Obviously, not everyone who signed up is a supporter - I'm maintaining political independence as I write this - but there's no doubt that Obama's contact lists of potential volunteers and voters is every candidate's dream.

BTW, I just checked my cell phone - again. No txt msg yet. Feeling kinda antsy. Can't recall **ever** feeling this way about a VP announcement. Can you?

Wil U b my VP?

2008-08-10T19:57:00.009-05:00

Barack Obama's campaign sent Social Media e-mails Sunday evening inviting folks to "Sign up today to be the first to know" who his running mate will be.

Those who register online at http://my.barackobama.com/vp "will receive an email the moment Barack makes his decision, or you can text VP to 62262 to receive a text message on your mobile phone."

As campaign manager David Plouffe points out: No campaign has done this before.

Meanwhile, Republican presidential candidate John McCain "apparently has figured out the younger generation just fine," according to The Washington Times. The newspaper reported Aug. 8 that in the past two weeks, his "celebrity attacks" have stomped Obama in YouTube hits. You'll find him @ www.johnmccain.com.

This truly is the first 21st-century presidential race.

A long and sociable day

2008-08-07T19:48:00.005-05:00

Up early today to make the morning Wichita Tweetup @ 7:15 a.m. in the back room of the Hillside & Central Panera. This was the second get-together for the early birds, an interesting blend of folks primarily with Ad/PR interests, though all Tweeters in the area are welcome. The group is growing, and it was great to see some new faces, including two with Wichita State connections. (The night owls will Tweetup next Thursday @ 6 p.m. in the back room of The Anchor on East Douglas; many of us put both on our calendars.)
Next it was off to meet with the in-laws at the Wichita Clinic and have lunch afterward, because sometimes the most important thing you'll do all day is sit in the radiologist's waiting room and let someone cry, then let them buy you a hot fudge sundae. With pecans.
Afternoon was mostly split between making small talk with new acquaintances, talking about projects with collaborators, touching base with several people via phone, e-mail, txt and Twitter - and focusing on actual work.
Stayed late at the computer to make up for "lost" work time - but looking back on the day, I wouldn't give up any of the "live" interaction. If anything, tonight I crave a bit more. Time to go hug The Girl and The Husband. Maybe I'll just check Twitter first, tho....

Flocking to the Tweetup

2008-08-01T09:32:00.005-05:00

Judging from the noise level, Thursday night's Wichita Tweetup was a rousing success. It drew roughly triple the people of the first, thanks in part to the pebble effect: Many of the seven people who attended the first spread the word about the second, then those ripples extended further out....

The result was a lively mix of folks at a long collection of tables, some meeting up with old friends, all making new ones, introducing themselves to strangers and making connections - "tweeting" in the Real World.
That microcosm included people from advertising and PR, the news media, higher education, non-profits, small business, Web design, IT, and beyond.
Conversations ranged from the highly technical to the highly personal to the downright hilarious. You had to be there.
Next is a morning Tweetup, date TBA. We'll keep you posted.

Investing in research

2008-07-28T19:16:00.006-05:00

Do you know your audience or customer? Really? When was the last time you looked at sharply focused market research? Given the current state of the economy, is your inclination to invest more or less on understanding the people you need to reach?
Radio One recently commissioned and shared the Black America Study, which helps us understand the texture and diversity of this community. Consider these findings about black Americans ages 13-19:
Technical Savvy
• 71% are online
• 30% listen to iPod/MP3
• 20% watch music videos online
• 23% play video/computer games
• At least half have cell phones
• At least half use text messaging
Household and Family
• 52% are being raised by a single parent
• 22% are already parents
• Only 3% are single parents
• 55% are very stressed by school
Business and Finance
• 69% believe that they will own their own business someday
• They are impetuous in spending – heavy spenders on clothing
• They are brand conscious – highest percent (24%) that buy for brand
Understanding the daily lives behind these numbers could translate to better marketing strategies, larger markets, and more loyal customers.
What do you need to know about your current customers - and the people you'd like to attract as customers?

New media converts demand usefulness

2008-07-25T23:36:00.006-05:00

It's fascinating to watch people who are initially resistant to new media become enthusiastic about it. Generally, the barrier is internal: They are limited by their own imagination, asking: "What's the point? What would anyone use that for? Isn't it just a way to waste time?" Once they come to understand exactly how it can benefit them, however, they come around. Before long, a social medium such as Twitter is no longer "boring" or "stupid." New converts brag that it's "a great way to make business contacts" or "an easy way to keep up" with what family and friends across the country are doing. Useful and personal adds up to powerful - 140 characters at a time.

Don't know what you've got till it's gone . . .

2008-07-24T14:45:00.003-05:00

The power of social media was brought home this morning by two very different events: A Tweetup and a computer catastrophe.
Twitter users got together at 7:15 a.m. for the first Wichita Tweetup (and large doses of caffeine). It allowed us to socialize beyond our tweets' 140-character limit, and talk about how microblogging has become integrated into our work and personal lives.
Afterward, many of us discovered that last night something had rolled through Twitter like an F-5. The virtual twister wiped out about half my contacts, but I was among the lucky; one of my Tweeples lost more than 1,000. It wasn't only the tedious work of rebuilding a social network that proved painful, however. The sense of disconnection - of missing out on something important, inspiring or funny, news from people we've come to care about - was disconcerting for many tweeters. We've quickly become a community.

If you were a car . . .

2008-07-23T16:34:00.012-05:00

It's said that we Americans ARE what we drive. And though I have been brand-loyal to Honda ever since my 1980 Chevy Chevette ("The Last of the Stone Age Cars") was towed off to the scrapheap, the Tomorrowland car quiz says I'm a Corvette.

Well, at least that's a decent step up in the Chevy line. And I must say, the assessment isn't half bad:

"You're a classic - powerful, athletic, and competitive. You're all about winning the race and getting the job done. While you have a practical everyday side, you get wild when anyone pushes your pedal. You hate to lose, but you hardly ever do."

Quizzes can be a fun and effective way to reach your audience. See for yourself: Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz for a spin.

Thanks for sharing

2008-07-23T14:57:00.004-05:00

One of the perks of my work is making contact with so many smart, interesting and curious people. Invariably, they are a generous lot - happy to share what they know, and eager to learn from the people they encounter as well. So, to everyone I've talked/networked/Tweeted/e-mailed/blogged/and otherwise communicated with this week: Thanks. You're the reason I'm in a great mood today.

Social media in action

2008-07-22T18:22:00.004-05:00

Social media experiment moving forward: Reached out to Tweeple @jdecesaro, we conferred, then we spread the word at a PRSA meeting today. Now it's set: Our first social media TweetUp is set for Thursday 7/24, 7:15 A.M. Panera @ Central & Hillside. That's mighty early (I was rooting for 7 PM @ a bar in OldTown), but it's a start!

Working lunch

2008-07-22T15:07:00.009-05:00

Happy to report that the media panel at the Wichita PRSA luncheon today delivered what one should expect from public relations and news/media professionals: a top notch presentation.

The four panelists - including a dear friend and former Eagle co-worker, Deputy Editor for News Tom Shine - kept the tone conversational, the content informative and the pace lively. And it was great to talk to my Tweeple @ToddBlog - Todd Ramsey of GretemanGroup, whom I'd previously "met" only via the social networking site Twitter. My old, new and virtual worlds converged.

Presenting a better presentation

2008-07-21T17:40:00.010-05:00

A Twitter acquaintance asked today about the worst presentation I'd ever endured. I had to admit: It was one I gave back in '05. I was unprepared; I tried to wing it on too little sleep and too much caffeine. Lesson learned.

HERE ARE 5 MORE TIPS for improving your presentations:
- Know your audience. Ask plenty of questions when you accept the gig about what is expected by the organizers, then arrive early and get a sense of the room. Tweak your comments if necessary.
- Dial back on the caffeine. You can count on a jolt of adrenaline to carry you through.
- Get away from the podium. Unless you are giving the State of the Union Address, you'll benefit from closing the distance between you and your audience.
- Talk to people, not things. Humans came to see you, not your notes, mic, laptop or PowerPoint screen.
- Lead the pack. Don't allow a "Jack in the Box" to ruin the experience by popping up with off-topic comments. Suggest you take up that discussion afterward (or by e-mail), then focus on other audience members.

Today's to-do list

2008-07-21T10:28:00.003-05:00

Wrapping up post-production on Episode 3 of "Wichita State & The World" today, on public health, to air this fall on WSU TV, Cable Ch. 13. Also meeting today to get going on an episode that documents the rebuilding of Greensburg. I love the eclectic nature of this show.

Know who you work for

2008-07-20T23:35:00.005-05:00

In my years as a newsroom editor, I had two major goals in mind as I worked: I wanted to meet the readers' needs, and I wanted to make the reporters I worked with look good. The first goal was obvious, the second more subtle. It meant helping reporters think about what their audience expected from each story, and teaching them to be not just better writers but better self-editors. It also meant going beyond expectations, and delivering more than was asked of us.

Loving work a little too much

2008-07-19T22:52:00.001-05:00

Not that long ago, I didn't think of myself as a workaholic. I wasn't the sort who'd get up at 5 a.m. to hit the gym for a pre-power-breakfast workout or take a briefcase crammed with documents to the beach. But I loved my work more than anything. I'd put off lunch till 2, 3, 4 p.m., then go back and stay as long as I was needed - and there was always something else to do. It took a real toll on my health & my family. A lot has changed since then. I still work hard and I love what I do, but now I build a little down time into my day. I walk more, pace less. I'm out of the office and into life.

Reinvention vs. evolution

2008-07-19T19:43:00.001-05:00

As journalists find themselves downsized in staggering numbers across the nation - and sadly, close to home as well - it's clear that industry evolution is a painful, lurching and brutal process. Luckily, reinvention is in the hands of individuals. We can become who and what we want to be through education, retraining, networking and hard work. It's what this country was founded on. Reinvention embodies hope and a sense of control - something all journos need right now.