Congratulations! You are Time’s Person of the Year (And Other PR Blog Jots)

Time's Person of the Year? You.

Strategic Public Relations

Kevin Dugan joins many other PR bloggers in posts regarding the announcement of “You” as Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year.”  The magazine honors Web 2.0 users this year, pointing to bloggers, Wikipedia users, YouTube users and all other users of social media as the most influential people of the year, arguing that it is these people who “control the Information Age.”  Dugan also joins other bloggers in wryly noting that this move will certainly give Time some free publicity, as bloggers the world over will be posting about the decision today.  “The real genius in all of this is that we will help ensure healthy print sales with plenty of posts just like this one.”

We are Time's Person of the Year? No kidding.

Buzz Machine

Weighing in on Time’s “Person of the Year,” Jeff Jarvis notes that Web 2.0 users have always known that they controlled the Information Age, and that Time is only playing catch-up with this selection.  “This is nothing new. We have always been in charge. It’s just that the people who thought they had the power now have no choice to but hear us and recognize that we are, and always have been, the boss.”

Are We Overestimating Social Media?

Pro PR

Joseph Thornley wonders if Web 2.0 has been overblown, and if social media is truly as pervasive as most bloggers and new media consultants would argue.  He notes that at a recent social media conference there was a startling dearth of bloggers. “And of these thirty people who had paid a lot of money to hear my presentation on sustaining a successful blog - how many actually had a blog? None. Zero. Nada. Note to self: Don’t overestimate the rate of adoption of social media. There’s a lot of curiosity. But it’s still early days.”

"Citizen Media" vs. Mainstream Media

Micro Persuasion

Steve Rubel examines the differences between social, or “citizen” media and mainstream media.  He determines that those using social media as their sole source of income are actually legitimate members of the media. According to Rubel, money is the defining factor in determining where mainstream media begins and social media ends. “To me it's like the players in the minor leagues and the major leagues. All of them are professional ballplayers. Some just make more money than the others. Minor leaguers also make more mistakes. Same thing here.”