The Reach - Podcasting and other Portable Media Strategies

I realize this post has nothing to do with podcasting or social media per se, but I cannot resist the opportunity.  Oprah is telling us that we should vote for Barak Obama.  Now, here is the woman who’s due diligence was SO lacking that she recommended that we should buy James Frey’s book “A Million Little Pieces” and then had to issue an embarassed apology to the world for not doing her homework.  I wonder if she’s upgraded her homework this time or do we have the same risk this time of following her emotions and not the truth?

I realize that this news (on both accounts) is not new, but the reality of the potential conflict hit me today as I read the above headline on CNN Online.

Working Late, originally uploaded by Ed Weaver.

This guy was always working (as a part owner of his MP3/MP4 manufacturing company, it should come as no surprise). This picture was taken during dinner around 10pm after a long day. The restaurant was the only place I saw a rat the whole week in Shenzhen.

Tatum Anderson, writing for the BBC, delivers this article today from Delhi. Half the world that currently doesn’t have cell phones is getting creative in finding ways to afford them, use them and profit from their use. Farmers are even getting better prices for their crops due to greater access to information.

While in this blog, you’ve read me postulating regarding the advent of media on phones as the new “iPod”, but this is fundamental change that ulimately can enable worldwide use of phones for media. If farmers don’t get better prices by using their cell phones, there is no perceived value for the phone. This alone will make a huge change in adoption rates and the interest in the carriers and manufacturers serving these geographies.

To a certain degree, one must have a fairly sizable ego to blog.  Hence, when that ego is not assuaged by something symbolizing readership, it can be discouraging.

Nick Carr writes a thoughtful blog entry wondering if anyone will ever read - or comment - or enter into a dialogue.  Great question - well written. Essentially discusses A-list bloggers being a self-perpetuating dynasty until they quit or die.

He promptly gets humliated by A-list bloggers here, here, here and the subsequent discussion certainly is numero uno on TechMeme.

While I’ve never entered this debate before, I find that I have something to say about it.  Andy Warhol’s “15 minutes of fame” comes to mind.  Starting to blog is a lonely place.  Most of the A-listers were probably there at one point and now are not sure how they “got lucky”.  They’ve just forgotten how lonely it was at one point and now may think they have all the blogging answers. 

I think whatever readership and “fame” is generated to a person via blogging is somewhat short-lived.  To think otherwise is to believe that every startup from Silicon Valley will succeed because of its location.  History would prove otherwise and will do so again.

As Dennis Miller used to say after his rants - “But that’s just my opinion.  I could be wrong.”

GigaOM reports a new online TV launch for Tibetans.  This continues to give life to the concept of reaching out to various cultures, regardless of their geography.  Obviously, in past 100 years or so years, many cultures have been spread around the world, largely due to ease of travel.  The Internet, probably more than any other tool, can be leveraged to create ties back home, wherever home is.  The culture can thus be preserved.  If the country in question is not a safe place to live, these people can at least have a “taste” of home, while they are living in safety and freedom.