Audio Post (Edited) “Where There Is a Will, There is a Way” (#NewSpotters)

On Safari?… Take a Listen!

… Since I mentioned this one to many, as a workaround for those who may not have access to email or more conventional methods, etc, etc; regular ones only say “Audio Post” – and I will DM you specifically!

Cheers!

“A Month Away From Spring’s Equinox’s” (a/k/a: #3rdWinter/Day31) & #HelpRon #HelpsKlout?

En Castellano, Traduciendo y Expandiendo:

Okidoki; no posts via @WordPressDotCom for a WHOLE week!… #WhatGives?

@Klout!

Been to The TimeLine lately? (as in the wee hours of THIS morning?)

It’s all there, so to better understand my mind’s perpetual #ScavengerHunt modality, skim here, scan pics here and there, AND then take a look at your OWN Klout Score!

Why? Appears to be a new Job Requirement, that’s why!

(En Castellano, les contare e interpretare pronto!)

Au Revoir!

10 things you still need to know about social media / social business.

Reblogged from The BrandBuilder Blog:

• 

Since I am bouncing around Europe this week, (come say hi at #tsc12 if you can), now is a good time to republish this list from a few months ago. It is still as relevant today as it was then:

1. “Social” is something you are, not something you do. If your company culture doesn’t focus on building relationships with your customers, then chances are that you won’t use social media to do it either.

Read more… 1,043 more words

1

Hola! Five languages? A Polyglot libro! #Kudos! First stop today! https://twitter.com/fjpalacio/status/167586897684742144

#HootSuite – Social Media Dashboard – Announces #HTML5 Rollout and host of other features (#FaveApps) (#InCaseYouMissedIt)

[REPRINTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MEDIA MENTORING SOCIETY AUDIENCE]

• Filed under #Homework #FaveApps #Dashboards #ThirdParty Apps
• Credit/Source: Ryan Holmes – HootSuite [newsletter@hootsuite.com]

HootSuite5 with HTML5

HootSuite users will see significant changes to the social media dashboard today beginning with a completely refreshed HTML5 user interface, plus geo-located search, native Twitter ReTweets, and integrated Google Analytics.

With the recent announcement of Google’s HTML5 site and many other brands like Apple on-board, HootSuite has made a substantial investment in this new technology standard. HTML5 allows us to release unique features like geo-search and drag & drop, plus improve performance with more responsive tabs and streams.

Geo-Searchable

Now, search for tweets by proximity based on geo-location information sent by some (not all) users. Using this HTML 5 powered feature, you can narrow down results to messages sent from your area, wherever you are. This feature will help you learn about local resources, get tips while traveling, and find new customers or followers.

Analytics in Dashboard

Google Analytics users no longer need to switch screens to analyze site traffic and performance because all the data is now available in HootSuite’s dashboard. Using OAuth secure login functionality, you can track conversion to sales, lead generation, or other metrics from your Google Analytics, using advanced URL functions.

More Tools

Other new tools to help broadcast messages, monitor conversations, and track results include:

Interface Re-creation and Themes

The most noticeable change is a fully re-imagined dashboard, with more space for updates and an intuitive arrangement for HootSuite’s many features. Additionally, you can now choose a design theme which suits your tastes.

Options include the familiar green & blue “Classic,” the sleek & stunning “Blue Steel,” or the darkly cool “Magnum.” Which one will you choose? Switch at your leisure to find your favorite.

Facebook Media Preview

Include a photo when you upload a link to Facebook, and then add titles and descriptions to make your update more meaningful and inviting. BTW, this media preview functionality was one of the most requested features on the Feedback Channel.

New or Ol’school RTs

When Twitter launched, early users created shorthand to define actions and attributes, including @replies for addressing, #hashtags for context, and RT for Re-Tweeting or quoting a message which became a powerful way to spread messages beyond users’ local networks.

To standardize the process, Twitter.com added an auto-Re-Tweet functionality, which HootSuite has now integrated. HootSuite users can choose whether to Re-Tweet with initials “RT” or to use the Twitter web native auto-Re-Tweet tool.

We can now check this one off the feature request list.

Drag it, Drop it, Send it

Quickly attach an image or other file to your social update by dragging directly from the desktop and dropping into the message box — this simple act will auto-upload the file to Ow.ly file sharing and add a pre-shortened link to your message. Then you are ready to send your enhanced note to any of your social networks.

Language Localization

Konnichiwa! This release also features interface localization in Japanese, allowing more users to enjoy HootSuite in their native language. More linguistic choices are coming soon, to spread the international enjoyment.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Clicking Shift+Enter on the keyboard now sends the update, saving mouse-clicks and time — another popular user-requested feature.

Handier Help

Listening and learning from HootSuite’s userbase is an important part of making decisions which meet the needs of social media marketers and enthusiasts. HootSuite offers assistance via a Help Desk and and gathers opinions via a Feedback Channel.

With the new release, these channels are easier to access directly right from the HootSuite dashboard. We invite you to share your ideas, and to enjoy a sense of pride when your requested feature is added to a future release.

Twitter Status

The World Cup football/soccer tournament in South Africa has shown the worldwide popularity of Twitter as fans everywhere document their opinions and the nuances of each match. This popularity is also evidenced in the massive demand on Twitter’s systems especially at gametime.

Keep tabs on uptime and performance via Twitter’s status blog and API Status on dev.twitter.com.

Media Resources

Press release - meda announcement about this release:
http://ow.ly/21XAc

Media Kit – company descriptions, logos, executive bios and media contact info:
http://blog.hootsuite.com/media

Social bookmarks – media and blog articles referencing HootSuite:
http://delicious.com/hootsuite HootSuite is a Trademark of HootSuite Media, Inc. More: HootSuite Online Media Kit.

#Facebook Talks: A Thought on #Social/#New #Media – And #Graduating in 2010 (#MMS)

Someone just recently asked me about LinkedIN and their graduation; a conversation ensued in FB Mail, so I took this looooong answer and created a blog post; also helps me showcase the rationales to a few other friends who think the water it’s too cold, deep, or otherwise murky to ‘dive in’…

[SPLASHES INTO A CANNONBALL!]

@ [OLD FBF!]

“Love reading the stuff you post!” (OLD FBF, 2010)

[SIDE SMILE... PUZZLED LOOK]

Really? then I’d make you my ONE reader!

[CHUCKLES... GUFFAWS]

Seriously; it’s sometimes a weird feeling when the ‘interacting’ stops, I know it was more profuse in the past because of specifics such as the election, the length of this recession (which by now has all worn us down to a nub!) and other topics.

Now I think most of the talk happens in FarmVille land, and that little time is available to talk; also, content has exponentially been ‘induced’ into Facebook, so the amounts are just overwhelming…

… and for someone about to graduate, I think time for you is like the most precious commodity, ain’t it?

[SNICKERS... SIGHS...]

Anyway… yeah, y’all 2010 Grads will be facing a HISTORICALLY sucky market; the good news?

Y’all are also the MOST talented ‘generation’ of grads to come out; many ascribe it to the fact that you’re ‘digitally enabled’

IMHO?

Just got a note from a Toastmasters in Dubai.

Go Global.
Expose Yourself
Curate these Sites as though your life depended on IT!
LinkedIN? PAY for the upgrade, and make it a point of getting PAST those 500+ connections in a minute; there, it’s obvious why you’re asking, so be courteous, yet assertive
Here? Create a Professional FB ‘Fan’ Page; make it ‘sound’ like your LinkedIN Profile (100% Business)
Use Networked Blogs to add some cool RSS’ing to it; creates a REASON to fan it; and for some of us, a reason to @Mention, Share and interact with YOUR Fan Page here in FB
…. and last but NOT least?

Dude… get on TWITTER!!!!

ASAP!

That’s where a LOT of people are getting their “Ticker Tape” fix… remember Homer Adams watching it intently?

That’s my best analogy for it; it’s fresh, breaking, and above all, relevant information.

Me?

Check out the info tab, there’s a handful of ID’s, pick at least:

@MMSocieties
@FJPalacio

The others are ‘convo’ -specific (i.e. Oralisimo = #LATISM; Papparazzos = #TOGS, etc)

AND LEARN THE LINGO!

Want more?

Sign up for our Meetup.Com place, I post all the vids, and most relevant of all, that’s the only place to get our ‘Slides’.

http://MediaMentoring.Net.

Okidoki, hope this helps – and answers! some more questions, Mr. Graduate

F.

P.S: Coffee? SURE!… the whole point of FBF’s is that eventually we DO get to meet them FTF!…

[CACKLES!]

O Tempora, O Mores!

Ci vedeamo!

[HUMS HAPPILY... THINKS TO HIMSELF: "I have a reader! at least ONE reader out there!... yay!"]

(;OD)~

#MMS: Market & Audience Rationales: “Behind The Scenes With Newspaper Journalists”

Behind The Scene With Newspaper Journalists

(Posted on Facebook by Spero Canton on Friday, October 23, 2009 at 10:16am)

This is a synopsis of a 66 page report which can be found at: http://www.mediamanagementcenter.org/research/lifebeyondprint.asp

According to a new report: “Life beyond print: Newspaper journalists’ digital appetite” by the Media Management Center, Northwestern University, almost half of today’s newspaper journalists think their newsroom’s transition from print to digital is moving too slowly, as they have no trouble envisioning a career where news is delivered primarily online and to mobile devices instead of in print.
MMC executive director Michael P. Smith, says “For several years we have heard that it is the journalists’ resistance to change that was holding newspapers back… this study shows that they are ready, and some are even impatient, for change.”
Now it appears that America’s journalists want a quicker transformation from print to digital delivery of the news, a study of almost 3,800 people in a cross-section of newspaper newsrooms shows. Many of these journalists are heavily engaged in digital activities in their personal lives and would like to devote more effort to digital products at work. But most of their time in the newsroom is still spent on print responsibilities. Only 20% of the workforce like things the way they are or yearn for the good old days.
Life Beyond Print, a study by Vickey Williams, Stacy Lynch and Bob LeBailly, assembles profiles of six types of journalists inhabiting the typical newspaper newsroom in 2009. They range from the “Digitals” (12% of the workforce) who spend a majority of their efforts online today, to the “Turn Back the Clock” contingent (6%), who long for the day when print was king.
Fully half of newsroom workers wish to do “Moderately More” online, arriving at something closer to an equal split with their print efforts, requiring a doubling of the effort they spend today. Those in the “Major Shift” profile (11%) would devote five times their current effort to online if given their druthers.
Newspaper journalists still love their jobs: Despite industry turmoil:
• 77% of journalists are somewhat or very satisfied with their current jobs
• 67% think it somewhat or very likely they will be in the news business two years from now
• 59% think they’ll likely be with their same newspaper
Online desire in the newsroom is not determined by age, years of journalism experience, or proximity to retirement. And youth is not a factor in predicting who in the newsroom wants to move into digital. Rather, the top two predictors of digital appetite are heavy Internet use outside work and having knowledge of online audiences and their preferences.
Previous Readership Institute research has proven the importance of customer knowledge as a first step in building media use, says the report. Real customer focus also includes acting on the results and letting customer needs drive internal decision-making. This study offers a new reason why knowing the audience is important… it helps stimulate a desire to transition to online work. Other predictors of digital appetite include:
• Openness to change at work and adaptability
• Proactive pursuit of the training necessary to learn online skills
• Keeping up with companywide initiatives and industry developments
The study creates these profiles of journalists:
Digitals, about 12% of the workforce, spend most of their time working online. They’re the youngest group, with an average age of 38, and 59% believe the digital transformation is taking too long in their newsroom. They follow big-picture trends, want to quicken the pace These journalists are most likely to be online editors or producers, but about 17% are reporters or writers. Overall, they’re newer to journalism than any other group.
Digitals score highly on factors that relate to adaptability – such as openness to change and work and career proactivity. They’re similar to leaders in this and many other respects. They’re most apt to describe themselves as the first to try something new at work and as having career options.
In a key finding, digital employees label themselves markedly more knowledgeable about consumers of digital, and at the same level of print reader knowledge as their print counterparts. Overall they are much more aware of customer behaviors and needs.
Other findings:
• More than half of the Digitals have undergraduate or graduate degrees in journalism
• 23% have no post-secondary journalism training
• 42% have been in the news business less than 10 years
• 11% have been journalists for more than 30 years
• The average age is the youngest for any segment
Major Shift, at 11%, are the most dissatisfied with their current state, more pessimistic about staying in the business long-term and want the most pronounced change. This group – roughly an equal mix of reporters, mid-level editors, copy editors, designers and videographers, most of whom have been in the business at least 15 years – would like to devote five times their current effort to online. They’re deeply engaged online in their personal lives, but see a disconnect at work. They could help the newsroom adapt faster, but need a sign they should stay in newspapers.
Moderately More, the largest segment at 50% and encompassing many reporters and mid-level editors, want a roughly equal split between online and print work. Half the newsroom believes their newsroom transition has been too slow and would be comfortable seeing their job duties shift moderately more online. But by nearly a 2-1 margin, they believe the newsroom is headed in the right direction.
Some of the Moderately More defining characteristics include:
• Their ideal job would be divided about 50-50 between print and online effort, requiring a doubling of their digital effort today.
• They tend to have been in the business more than 20 years
• 43% are reporters and another 22% are mid-level editors
• They would hire more reporters and editors, improve print content and improve the Web site design, in that order.
The Status Quo segment, at 14%, believe the 30% of effort they currently devote to online is sufficient and expect little disruption to the way they work now. In newsrooms where improving digital performance is a top strategic priority, this group will need a wake-up call. These journalists believe the evolution of newspapers has gone far enough. Just less than a third of their current effort centers online and they would prefer to see no change.
Most of the Status Quos believe the pace of change to date has been “about right,” whether in respect to their own job or newsroom-wide change. They forecast more moderate or minimal changes to come than the rest of the newsroom. This group is slightly older than the overall population. Nearly half are age 50 or older and 1-in-10 is 60 or older.
If put in command, they would:
• First hire more reporters and editors
• Invest in improving print content
• Support online investment, but third after print improvements and increasing manpower
Turn Back the Clock segment represents 6% of journalists who wish it would all go away. This part of the staff would go more heavily into print if they could. They report about 30% of their current effort is spent online, nearly triple the amount they would prefer. This is a group that has tested the online environment and they don’t like it.
This group weighs toward reporters and photographers and they closely mirror the newsroom average for age and years until retirement. What particularly sets them apart from others is their low levels of adaptability. Asked to rate themselves on openness to change, how they approach change at work, and career resilience, they rated significantly lower than other print employees and dramatically lower than digital employees or senior managers.
Individuals in this group report being less satisfied than their Status Quo colleagues. They also have the lowest opinion of leaders of all the groups and are least likely, in particular, to believe executives really understand what it takes to put out the newspaper.
Leaders, at 5%, are publishers, editors and managing editors, most of whom have been in the news business more than 20 years. Most report their roles are primarily print-focused but want to shift to online. Like Digitals, they describe themselves as open to change and optimistic about their career options.
• Publishers, editors and managing editors indicate they are spending about a quarter of their work effort on online matters, but believe the emphasis should shift to favor digital (53%) over print responsibilities
• 28% of leaders think their job is changing too fast overall, which could reflect the lack of clarity around a business model to sustain digitally delivered journalism.
• Leaders tend to be more than a decade older (49), and 77% have been in the news business more than 20 years, including 42% for more than 30 years.
• Leaders are more confident in the overall direction of the newsroom, with nearly 70% saying the newsroom is on the right track, as compared to about 45% of Digitals.
• This group reports somewhat greater Internet use outside work than other journalists. On the job, they use the Internet as a reporting or editing tool, but likely not for much else. Given their druthers, they would post more, plan more and link more online.
The study concludes with challenge the leaders face:
• Journalists’ passion for the mission is there, but they need basic tools for reinvention and more engaged leadership. More than half of the journalists working primarily in print had no training in the previous year to equip them for a digital transition. One in four journalists reports having had no training at all
• There are major gaps between how leaders think they are doing and how staff view them, in such areas as fostering collaboration, seeking out input from employees at all levels, and communicating strategy in a way that relates to employees’ jobs
In addition, there are differing expectations for leaders among the segments:
• Digitals want leaders to be even more immersed in online trends and to sharpen the digital vision
• Major Shifts want more risk-taking
• Status Quos generally like what leaders are doing and advocate staying the course.

Source/Credits/More: : http://www.mediamanagementcenter.org/research/lifebeyondprint.asp

The 6th International Conference on Social and Organizational Informatics and Cybernetics: SOIC 2010, to be held on June 29-July 2, 2010 in Orlando, Florida, USA.

Sharing…

=======================================================
We would like to invite you to participate (submitting an abstract/paper and/or
proposing to organize an invited session) in The 6th International
Conference on Social and Organizational Informatics and Cybernetics:
SOIC 2010, to be held on June 29-July 2, 2010 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
(http://www.2010iiisconferences.org/soic)

The deadlines are the following:

• Papers/Abstracts Submissions and Invited Sessions Proposals: February 3rd, 2010

• Authors Notifications: February 27th, 2010

• Camera-ready, full papers: May 26th, 2010

You can also submit your abstract/paper to any of the following conjoined
and/or collocated events, which have the same deadlines:
=======================================================

• The 8th International Conference on Education and Information Systems, Technologies and Applications: EISTA 2010  (www.2010iiisconferences.org/eista)
• The 8th International Conference on Politics and Information Systems, Technologies and
  Applications: PISTA 2010  (www.2010iiisconferences.org/pista)
• The 4th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics and Informatics: IMSCI 2010 (www.2010iiisconferences.org/imsci)

=======================================================

Submissions for Face-to-Face or for Virtual Participation are both accepted. Both
kinds of submissions will have the same reviewing process and the
accepted papers will be included in the same proceedings.

Pre-Conference and Post-conference Virtual sessions (via electronic forums) will be
held for each session included in the conference program, so that
sessions papers can be read before the conference, and authors
presenting at the same session can interact during one week before and
after the conference. Authors can also participate in peer-to-peer
reviewing in virtual sessions.

All Submitted papers/abstracts will go through three reviewing processes: (1) double-blind (at least
three reviewers), (2) non-blind, and (3) participative peer reviews.
These three kinds of review will support the selection process of those
papers/abstracts that will be accepted for their presentation at the
conference, as well as those to be selected for their publication in
JSCI Journal.

Authors of accepted papers who registered in the
conference can have access to the evaluations and possible feedback
provided by the reviewers who recommended the acceptance of their
papers/abstracts, so they can accordingly improve the final version of
their papers. Non-registered authors will not have access to the
reviews of their respective submissions.

Registration fees of an effective invited session organizer will be waived according to the
policy described in the web page (click on ‘Invited Session’, then on
‘Benefits for the Organizers of Invited Sessions’), where you can get
information about the ten benefits for an invited session organizer.
For Invited Sessions Proposals, please visit the conference web site,
or directly to http://www.2010iiisconferences.org/soic/organizer.asp

Authors of the best 10%-20% of the papers presented at the conference (included
those virtually presented) will be invited to adapt their papers for
their publication in the Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and
Informatics.

Best regards,

SOIC 2010 Organizing Committees

http://www.iiis2010.org/imsci/website/default.asp?vc=11

———————

Sharing/Reposting:

CMAC-Labs, Inc (Computer Mediated Asynchronous Communication)
Media Mentoring Society, Inc (MMS)

Personally/LocallyFYI:

Professor Alex de Carvalho, Dina Riccobono, Víctor Manuel Ramos

#InCaseYouMissedIt: #Shorty Awards: What are they – and how they tighten ur #Tweeps Community

Apropos #Shorty Awards…. Saving these in a safe place, perhaps?

1. RT? “I nominate @MarkLaymon for #Shorty in #nonprofit because of his untiring work with NewTechCommunity.Com #SMCPBC!” http://bit.ly/shorty 3 minutes ago from TweetDeck
2. I nominate @cruisesource #Shorty‘s #Travel because they took care of every detail – best trade show, @SoCruise #EVER! http://bit.ly/shorty 9 minutes ago from Shorty Awards
3. I nominate @cruisesource for a Shorty Award in #travel because I wrote this for @MissyWard: http://sn.im/socruiserecap http://bit.ly/shorty 11 minutes ago from Shorty Awards

4. I nominate @cruisesource for #Shorty Award in #Travel because I met @SoCruise‘s Partner @SoFresh‘s @Jakrose! #Gr8Tweep! http://bit.ly/shorty 15 minutes ago from Shorty Awards

5. I nominate @cruisesource for #Shorty in #Travel because I got to hangout with @YvetteF & @AlexDC – unforgettable ones! http://bit.ly/shorty 16 minutes ago from Shorty Awards
6. I nominate @cruisesource for #Shorty Award in #Travel because of him I met @93Octane, @CouchSurfingOri, @DBirdy, et al! http://bit.ly/shorty 16 minutes ago from Shorty Awards
7. I nominate @cruisesource for a #Shorty Award in #travel because the #Tweetup #BonVoyage was largest #SMCSLF one! http://bit.ly/shorty
8. I nominate @cruisesource for #Shorty in #travel because I learned a lot in that First #SoCruise – @Papparazos did too! http://bit.ly/shorty 18 minutes ago from Shorty Awards
9. I nominate @cruisesource #Shorty Award #Travel because he’s putting together #2010′s #SoCruise Alumni Reunion! http://bit.ly/shorty 19 minutes ago from Shorty Awards
10. I nominate @TweetDeck for #Shorty in #Apps because otherwise this place would not make sense (nor cents!) at all! #MMS http://bit.ly/shorty 22 minutes ago from Shorty Awards
11. I nominate @MarkLaymon for #Shorty in #nonprofit because of his untiring work with NewTechCommunity.Com – and #SMCPBC! http://bit.ly/shorty 23 minutes ago from Shorty Award
12. I nominate @FJPalacio for a #Shorty in #Egocentric because he actually fell for this? and voted for himself? Oy Vey! http://bit.ly/shorty 25 minutes ago from Shorty Awards
13. I nominate @FJPalacio for a Shorty Award in #Humor because… He’s funny, sometimes? http://bit.ly/shorty 26 minutes ago from Shorty Awards
14. I nominate @ergeekgoddess for a Shorty Award in #networking because she keeps #LATISM conversation personable 24/7/365! http://bit.ly/shorty 27 minutes ago from Shorty Awards
15. I nominate @AnaRC for a Shorty Award in #smallbusiness because… [BY NOW I FORGOT; UR APP IS CENSORING ME!] #LATISM http://bit.ly/shorty 38 minutes ago from Shorty Awards
16. Why #MajorTweep @cruisesource COOL 4 #Shorty in #Travel? ‘Cuz #SoCruise #MajorFactor @Tech_Tonic‘s http://bit.ly/7WZHk2 http://bit.ly/shorty about 1 hour ago from Shorty Awards
17. I favorited a YouTube video — Downtown’s Got Talent Season 2 – Coming Soon http://youtu.be/QKLBuJ6LHks?a about 1 hour ago from Google
18. Apropos http://MediaMentoring.Org‘s launch this Quarter FYI to my #LATISM #TOGS, #SoCruise, #SMCPBC Tweeps: http://bit.ly/4Vc4F8 #MMS‘s ‘Go’ about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Via @ExaminerCom: #BREAKING LOCAL NEWS!… Downtown’s Got Talent, Winner of the Kickoff Session, Friday 01/15/10!

Related articles

What’s Twitter all about?

#SoCruise’s @MissKatieMo – Katie Morse’s – State of The Music Industry –

Downtown at The Gardens #Tweetups

DownTown at The Gardens Meetups: Media Mentoring Society’s

Media Mentoring Society – MMS: Tuesday 01.05.10 #Tweetup @DowntownGardens: Video Proceedings

(As posted on @ExaminerCom Today… Here’s for my Facebook Notes to be Updated)

…. here’s a FULL Video selection of EVERYONE who came and participated! Come and VOTE for your Favorites, too!

---

Watch Friday’s (01/15/10) performances and comment to vote for your “Facebook Fan Favorite” Contest…

http://www.facebook.com/video/?oid=269534585125

…. Winner to be announced on 01/22/10!

---

Downtown’s Got Talent

Season Two Opener

20100115

FYI:

These are the OFFICIAL videos that ALL our FACEBOOK FANS are to use to cast THEIR VOTE online.

Where? Here! http://www.facebook.com/video/?oid=269534585125

Their comments THERE (on the Event Page’s Videos) will be tallied starting this afternoon (Saturday, 01/16/010) and the winner of the “Facebook Fan Favorite” Vote will be announced next Friday!

Only one vote per fan; that said, feel free to comment as much as you’d like, interact and discuss performances with other fans, and most relevant of all, BRING YOUR FRIENDS to the conversations!

Enjoy!

[NOT HERE ON WORDPRESS.COM, AS THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE EMBED FUNCTIONALITY... SORRY!... GOOGLE'S GIVING IT AWAY!]

---

Check out the Facebook Videos on The Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/video/?oid=269534585125

---

The search is back on for the next star. Step into the spotlight and show us what you’ve got. Enjoy weekly performances as the area’s top aspiring singers, dancers, and performers compete for cash and prizes. Don’t miss what everyone is talking about….all ages welcome!

Enter for your chance to win $1,000 in cash and prizes!

Application to be found at:

http://www.downtownatthegardens.com/events-talent-form.asp

*** Follow us on Twitter: @DowntownGardens and get to hear the conversation via #Hashtags: #DowntownGardens and #DowntownTalent ***

*** Also: Watch LIVE on @UStream at:

#DowntownGarden’s TALENT Season Two!!!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/testing-webcam1

Downtown’s Got Talent Season Two – LIVE BROADCAST!

RT and share via TweetVite: http://Twvt.US/DowntownTalent

@ExaminerCom: #LocalOnLocal Initiative (#MMS & #SMCPBC Members: FYI)

Dear Local Examiner,

Examiner.com is the insider’s guide for everything local, and we are committed to being the single, largest source of locally-relevant content on more topics than any other site on the Web via local people writing locally.

Local on Local. Your subject-matter expertise combined with the passion you hold for your city and community are the cornerstone of what we stand for, and what consumers are learning to expect from us.

We have two important tiers of Examiner content: Our National Examiners, who we continue to value and support, and you, our core contributors of locally-relevant content.

Some Examiners have been vocal about the lack of incentives for writing on the local level, and we’ve noticed many slip and write topical content without local relevance. To help, we are introducing a new program to reward effective locally relevant, quality content.

And, we’re making this as easy as possible: All Local Examiners are eligible to participate in the new Local on Local Examiner Incentives program.

To qualify for incentives, you must follow four simple rules of the road:

1) Topical
Articles are written in a manner that is knowledgeable about their assigned subject matter, and provide useful, relevant information to readers who might share a passion about it.

2) Local
If it’s not locally relevant, it’s not a local article. The combination of your topic and your city is the most important aspect of your Examiner contributions.

3) Length
Articles should be 200-400 words on average, and no less than 150 words. Use Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? as a guide.

4) Credibility
Use external sources whenever appropriate; quote and reference them when you do.  Tip: Build real relationships within the community to use as ongoing source material – their credibility will build and strengthen yours.

On January 24, 2010, we will launch the Local on Local Examiner Incentives program.

Effective immediately, we will evaluate content published by Local Examiners to ensure it meets the rules of the road. After January 23, articles that do meet the guidelines will be paid a flat fee per article in addition to the normal performance-based incentives.  After January 23, content from Local Examiners which does not meet the rules of the road will not be eligible for participation, and will be subject to removal from the site.

More information will be released over the next two weeks. In the meantime, all Local Examiners should use the rules of the road as their guide whenever they write an article.

We are very excited about this added benefit, and are excited for you to join us in this extremely important initiative.

Warm regards,

Suzie Austin
SVP, Content & Marketing
Examiner.com
saustin@examiner.com