Online and engaged

Mark Zuckerberg

Hollywood has brought us no shortage of characters who come off as social misfits -- unkempt hair, rumpled clothes, nerdy glasses and the glow of a computer screen lighting up their face as they sit typing away in the basement of their parents' house.

Well, it's time to put that a cliché to rest.

New research from Pew contradicts the tired fallacy that the internet fosters social isolation, the Knight Digital Media Center reports. Earlier this month, the Pew Internet and American Life Project published The Social Side of the Internet — a report which indicates that the internet has become a key part of how civic, social, advocacy, and religious groups and organizations function and flourish today…

Among the study’s key findings, the Knight center reports:

• 80% of US internet users participate in groups (including volunteering, fundraising, civic engagement, campaigning, events, and more) — compared to just 56% of non-internet users.
• Social media users are especially likely to be active in groups. 82% of US social network users and 85% of Twitter users report participating in groups. 

Movie stereotypes aside -- the latest involving Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in "The Social Network" -- these findings don't surprise me and, in fact, are quite comforting.

As I think about my peers who serve with me on various boards and councils, it's clear that we rely on the internet to keep each other informed and, more importantly, to evangelize about our groups. Those of you reading probably recall an e-mailed invitation or two to attend a particular event or support a certain activity -- along with the opportunity to  make a financial pledge. (For that, I thank you.)

But as I think about friends and family members who are not regular internet users, I'm struck by the other side of the coin, the realization that they're not as engaged in their community, or in national or world news, to the extent of others. That's both sad and sobering.

The internet can be a time-sucker, for sure. But it's also helped bring people and causes together  for the common good and I'm happy to see that trend validated in the Pew report.

Photograph: www.impactlab.net

The past, present and future of news

Sue Jepsen, Kevin Murphy and myself

No, this isn't a post about the history of journalism or a deep inside look at where we are going in the industry. Rather, it's a rather vanilla headline on a recent gathering of former and current employees of The Oregonian, prompted by a slick demonstration of a very cool idea designed to help readers and news organizations alike deal with the fire hose of information on the internet.

The past? By my rough estimate, the majority of some 50 or 60 people who gathered in Portland's Old Town last Sunday were people who recently have retired, taken buyouts or, in some cases, been laid off from the newspaper. It was a pleasure to see so many former colleagues, some of whom I see in my neighborhood or on the bus and others who I hadn't seen in months and even years. By and large, folks seem to be in a pretty good space -- and I was especially happy to learn that one of the very nicest, most talented people I'd worked with had gotten a new job utilizing her considerable design talents.

The present? Well, obviously, there were plenty of current staffers at the event, too, and it was nice to engage in non-work conversations away from the office. Not everything has to be journalism 24/7.

The future? The Oregonian Reunion Party was organized by three former staffers who are among the founders of a new-media venture called Nozzl Media. Their company builds custom, real-time, and local news streams that, they hope, will appeal to local and national media organizations that are seeking ways to organize, streamline and deliver a wide variety of content to their online audience.

As the Nozzl web site explains: "Our streams combine real-time news with public records data and social Web conversations to create a robust, easily filtered, and thoroughly mobile flow of information." Thus the fire hose reference above. It's about taking everything that's going in a different community and filtering it in such a way that it's like funneling it into a nozzle for easier consumption.

The Nozzl guys, Steve Woodward, John Hamlin and Brian Hendrickson, showed a few slides, provided light refreshments, and made a softsell about investing in their company. Knowing most journalists aren't loaded with money, they suggested that if we really liked their concept and wanted to support it, we could always put them in touch with a rich relative. All three of the guys are incredibly talented and dedicated to this venture. I truly wish them the best -- perhaps in collaboration with The Oregonian (?) but more likely with other companies -- and thank them for bringing us all together on a Sunday afternoon.

Photograph by Alan Borrud

Lonely? Bored? Or something else?

"Lonely people have a natural affinity for the internet. It's always there waiting, patient, flexible, suitable for every mood..."

"What do lonely people desire? Companionship. Love. Recognition. Entertainment. Camaraderie. Distraction. Encouragement. Change. Feedback."


So says Roger Ebert, the film critic turned prodigious blogger, in a weekend post ("All the lonely people") that is getting a lot of attention in the blogosphere and hundreds of comments in response. And deservedly so. Even if you don't agree with his premise -- that there's a fine line between loneliness and boredom -- it's a heckuva post: thoughtful, analytical, provocative, self-reflective.

I was drawn to the piece by the headline and first sentence, quoted above. Is that me he's talking about? Is that why I blog? Is that why I've joined Facebook?

I've never thought of myself as lonely, though I enjoy doing things on my own. (Which is not to say I don't treasure the companionship of my wife and family, because I obviously do.) What I'm saying is that I enjoy running, swimming, reading, listening to music -- all of which can be done by one's self.

When I set up this blog nearly two years ago, I listed "solitude" as among my interests. To me, the word means "time spent alone" and has no negative connotation. You can enjoy solitude on a neighborhood walk, on a morning bike ride or at a coffee shop with a novel -- and I've done all of these.

Yet Ebert's piece had me scurrying to the dictionary. Is "solitude" a synonym for "lonely"? This is how Dictionary.com defines the word:

1. the state of being or living alone; seclusion: to enjoy one's solitude.

2. remoteness from habitations, as of a place; absence of human activity: the solitude of the mountains.

3. a lonely, unfrequented place: a solitude in the mountains.

Readers can judge for themselves if there's a difference between the two words.

But back to the other question...Why do I blog? Why do others create posts, comment on others and link to whatever strikes their fancy? For that matter, why do people join social networking sites? Why do they tweet?

Is it just lonely people -- or those of us who enjoy solitude -- who have a natural affinity for the internet? Couldn't you make an opposite argument? That it's exhibitionists and people who like living out loud who are drawn to cyberspace? How else do you explain the millions of self-indulgent posts and photos out there, along with the hourly status updates?

I think Ebert is a great writer and thinker and I'm especially glad he took on this subject. His words have given me a lot to think about. I may be an introvert, but I think I'm going to plead "not guilty" to being driven to the internet by loneliness.

I'd sure be interested in other people's takes on his essay. 

Photo: http://www.therubicon.org/index.php?s=graffiti