I'm Joining Scoble at FastCompany TV
In November 2003, I put up my first blog post: "Old dogs & New tricks." I had not a clue how my life was about to change. Maybe I should call this one: "Older dog. Newer trick."
I am about to become a video blogger. As of today, it is my main gig.
I'm joining Robert Scoble at FastCompany.TV. My show will be called GlobalNeighbourhoods TV (GNTV). I'll be covering social media's impact on culture and business. I hope to speak with people from all over the world, people in start ups and in the enterprise, people who are changing the world or are being changed by what is happening. While my primary focus will be business, I'll also look at government, academia, education, youth and assorted institutions.
GNTV premiers March 3, the same day as Scoble TV. Between now and then, starting tonight at the DEMO conference, I will be interviewing people for my new program. Beyond that, I'm looking for people everywhere who can address any aspect of social media's impact on culture and business. If you think you can help, please email me.
It's going to be great to once again to work with Robert Scoble. Naked Conversations is the child of the best professional collaboration I've had. Scoble is an online video pioneer who has twice opened my eyes and imagination to its incredible potential.
The first time was when we were working on the book. Robert's day job at Microsoft was to walk around with a video camera, talking to geeks about their jobs. The result showed how video could find and extract humanity where none was perceived to exist.
Then he did it again last week at Davos. Holding a tiny Nokia in his hand, we could watch him chat with significant makers of contemporary history.
Scoble's video is the opposite of what broadcast TV news has always been. I was a newspaper reporter in the 60s when I saw my first mobile TV news van intrude onto a news set. I was interviewing a politician in a parking lot, when the van halted about six feet from us, lights shining on us. Out stepped some guy in a suit and tan followed by an entourage of sound, lighting and even a makeup technicians.
Even I could feel the excitement. I wondered if newspaper reporters would soon be obsolete. I knew I could write well about events. I could tell you what it was like to have been there. I could write circles around this suit with a tan. But that camera.That camera could actually show you what it was like and I simply could not beat that with mere written words.
It didn't turn out that way. It might have but it did not. Broadcast news was to intrusive to the scenes that it covered. It's very presence changed the event. A reporter with a spiral notebook and a Bic pen just walked in where news was happening. The scene changed little or not at all.
Not so with the TV camera. It's arrival changes the scene. Real people stop conversing and they start performing. The camera became the event.
Now comes online video. Video reporters hold tinmier less obtrusive tools. We shoot in natural light. Our microsphones do not resemble construction site equipment. We don't cover our wrinkles because you'll probably miss them on the tiny screens where we will be viewed.
We are bringing reality back into video, at least in many cases. We are more like the reporter of my youth than the TV guy. But we add yet another asset. We don't intrude on the scene but we participate in it. We use our cameras to extend it. To let others who are geographically seperated participate and as I am about to demonstrate, almost anyone can do it. Some of you already do. More of you will.
For Scoble and me, this is still about Naked Conversations and I am extremely excited about the possibilities.
Wish me luck.
Sounds like a great new venture. Have fun and enjoy it! I look forward to seeing great things.
Posted by: Sarah | January 28, 2008 at 07:09 AM
Shel, congratulations! I wish you all the best with GNTV and look forward to seeing what emerges out of your collaboration with Scoble!
Congrats,
Dan
Posted by: Dan York | January 28, 2008 at 07:10 AM
Con'grats on this Shel !!
Looking forward to the next evolution of social space from you and Scoble's !!
Posted by: /pd | January 28, 2008 at 07:11 AM
Awesome news - congratulations, Shel!
Posted by: TOdd Defren | January 28, 2008 at 07:12 AM
Very excited to hear your news, Shel. You will bring an expertise and point of view that will definitely be worth watching. I'll be in the audience for the debut, waving my boa! -- LLWBB :-)
Posted by: Connie Reece | January 28, 2008 at 07:15 AM
Very cool Shel. Congratulations!
Posted by: Laura "Pistachio" Fitton | January 28, 2008 at 07:15 AM
Congratulations on your new venture and wish you the best of luck at Fastcompany :)
Posted by: AJ | January 28, 2008 at 07:18 AM
forgot about me again! Good luck.
Posted by: Rocky Barbanica | January 28, 2008 at 07:19 AM
Congratulations!
... and yes, please don't forget academia :)
Posted by: Mihaela V (prprof_mv) | January 28, 2008 at 07:20 AM
Great news ! I enjoy both you and Mr Scoble , as a 71 year old Blogger with excellent taste ! I approve of this message ! I have a friend in Israel Monte Silver he created the World Podcast Forum ! I hope your media venture becomes world wide ! Here We Go !
Posted by: mARSHAL SANDLER | January 28, 2008 at 07:21 AM
That's a very cool look at video blogging. Has changed the way I perceive it anyhow. Good luck with GNTV, I'm looking forward to it!
Ps. As for video blogging not intruding on the scene, when was the last time you watched Scoble in action? ;)
J.
Posted by: JayFresh | January 28, 2008 at 07:21 AM
Shel, CONGRATULATIONS! Great move on your part (and Robert's!) FastCompany TV will fast become a leader in this enticing and exciting new (and social) media world. Looking forward to your show!
Posted by: Jeff Sass | January 28, 2008 at 07:24 AM
Congratulations, Shel! I think you said it well: it's still about Naked Conversations. Good luck with the venture.
Posted by: Neville Hobson | January 28, 2008 at 07:25 AM
Congrats Shel! Wishing you all the best.
What a treat I have to look forward to on my birthday - Scoble and Shel vidcast premieres!
I hope you do keep the focus global as you've done so well on your blog, it should be fascinating to watch the interviews with individuals around the world.
Posted by: Tamera Kremer | January 28, 2008 at 07:26 AM
Tons and Tons of luck
Posted by: pat phelan | January 28, 2008 at 07:36 AM
Shel there is an error in your thinking.....you're not an 'old dog' :-)
Posted by: Josh Hallett | January 28, 2008 at 07:37 AM
Congratulations! I look forward to your new venture.
Posted by: newmediaMike | January 28, 2008 at 07:41 AM
Very nice, Shel. Sounds like a perfect fit. I'll definitely be staying tuned! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Scott Monty | January 28, 2008 at 07:45 AM
ZOMG...this is awesome! Shel, you totally deserve it and all of your future successes. :) I can't wait to watch you on my iPod.
Posted by: Tara Hunt | January 28, 2008 at 07:47 AM
I hate to chime in as number 48, but congratulations Shel, and what a great reason to wait with anticipation for FCTV to hit the 'air'.
I think this is just great. Good luck.
Posted by: Bob LeDrew | January 28, 2008 at 07:50 AM
Congrats Shel. Ought to be of great value to the Internet community. You've come along since playing with video a few months ago. ;)
Posted by: Kevin OKeefe | January 28, 2008 at 08:03 AM
Congrats, Shel!
Wow, looks like your book has now taken the fast track to TV status. Nice!
Posted by: Mario Sundar | January 28, 2008 at 08:05 AM
Shel - that's great news, and I have no doubt that you will make GNTV one of the best sources out there for social media information and inspiration.
Posted by: Ryan Anderson | January 28, 2008 at 08:09 AM
Great news. What's the best way to share an idea (or an interview candidate) for your show?
Posted by: Tom | January 28, 2008 at 08:11 AM
Wow! what a adventure story this is going to be. Congratulations. This is awesome news.
Posted by: B.L Ochman | January 28, 2008 at 08:16 AM