GNTV: New Media Jim Stradles the new & old world's of media

Jim Long watched with horror as he saw the price on the gas pump get raised, not by coins, but by the dollar. He decided it was time to trade in his guzzling SUV. In this 12-minute clip, Jim explains how that decision took him on a journey into a position of respect and recognition in the social media community. He has a significant following on Twitter, where he is known as New Media Jim.

A 15-year veteran NBC cameraman, Jim follows the US President wherever he goes. In recent years that has included all continents except South America and perhaps Antarctica. He's passionate and proud of his old media work, but he understands and accepts the world is changing. "I am quickly becoming a dinosaur," he reflects in our interview, and for that reason he has become immersed in social media.

Not only does he believe his social media work benefits him, he talks about how his individual efforts are helping NBC. People see him through social media as a human representation of the network. He knows at least one person who has returned to watching NBC news because of Jim's Social media activities.

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Comments

[Kosso]

Nice interview with an interesting character. Jim comes across as such a nice bloke :)

ps: You need to put http:// in front of the link to Jim's Twitter link, or you get the 404 as you do now.

K

[Adele Mcalear]

I've always been impressed with Jim's capacity to be a great brand ambassador for NBC while being real about who he is and his role in the food chain of network news. He has every reason to be proud of his work there and that of his colleagues. With his participation in social media and his unique perspective, he is working to influence the mainstream from within, speaking with great optimism on the role that traditional media can have in a era where the audience demands a voice. What better asset could NBC have than a brand evangelist with an eye to the future? I wish Jim the best of luck in helping mainstream media to embrace change instead of running from it.

[Linda Sherman]

Great choice for an interview subject, Shel. I have long appreciated having @newmediajim with us on Twitter.

Following Jim's tweets, I do get more interested in watching NBC news.

As an aside, like most investors, it is difficult for me to avoid CNBC. For all their efforts to humanize themselves and win our trust, including Jim Cramer appearing in IronMan, they face larger obstacles to ingratiate themselves with those who can spot their reporting patterns.

Jim Long has done far more to make a genuine, likeable connection for his news side of the house.

[Glen Meyburgh]

Whoops must have been a player glitch. Playing fine now.

[Kami Huyse]

Great interview with Jim, he one of my favorite new media people. And he does humanize NBC. He is really a great brand ambassador to them. I love the three blogging guidelines, very Microsoft of you Jim ;-)