Sunshyne's Couture

http://sunshynscouture.blogspot.com/

Practicality becomes a trend....

Half an age ago- I had no idea I would become a PR specialists let alone go at it digitally. But today, I am setting the trend in new media- a.k.a "Social Media" with a twist. Gone a the days I used to dodge my father's punishment of writing ten articles and summarizing twenty hard covers- GOSH- daddy was a terror. He made me hate writing a review even before I knew I could forge a career as a critic let alone set the trend as a digital publisher. One might begin to wonder- did I ever have the chance of becoming a Doctor? I don't think so...maybe I could have been born as sidekick to Oprah Winfrey and still daddy would never have been satisfied if my first book made the $1,000,000 sales mark. Help it or embrace my jibrish- but it is good to become practicable in what you know best. ...Today I launched a new blog and the + sign refused to pop up in my blog. So I couldn't show off within my post- there goes the chat with Oprah. Who knows maybe someday- I could be sitting on the same desk with Eric Schmidt and we could talk about Larry Page and Sergei Brin....Typical: I just dropped some names. But I will say this- they are all not as important as the young lady who has commissioned me to edit and manage her blog http://sunshynscouture.blogspot.com/......I am thinking- I should just clear my digital life span and be called- "THE PR-ogger"HAHAHAHAHAHA" that's some name. No laughs. I have been practicing for 30 years how to become a PRO writer. Tell me, how am I doing?

Most Popular Press Release in two days from EMM! online.

... Press release: Three months mandatory management for newbies that want to either be with Eche: Male Models International or with Munachi Models. We charge for a three months mandatory management up front and this cost N25,000 for female models and N15,000 for male models. To get a professional portfolio can be as expensive as N100,000- but once you are registered- we would direct you to a photographer that is in our network and this can be done quickly and moderately cheap- ranging from N15,000 to N50,000. Every job we get for you after the three months mandatory management that allows us to train you and build a fan base for you which is what the money is for- After the 3 months- we will begin to deduct 40% from every job earning and you will keep 60%...for instance a billboard job can earn the model at least N150,000 to N1,000,000- we take 40% of that and you keep 60%. All figures remain the same- but currencies could change for international models and in case of models scouted by photographers- the percentage will then be shared in three places between the agency, the models and the photographers- but the photographers have to be working with or for Èché: Male Models. ....Going Viral now.

Mr. Gwarinpa- Male Model Competition

Are you a male model living in Gwarinpa Housing Estate? Are you interested in been part of the future of advertising in Gwarinpa Housing Estate? Would you like to be part of the all new re-vamped ecHe: Male Models International, Gwarinpa Branch? Would you like to become Mr. Gwarinpa- 2013 and win a one year modeling contract with ecHe: Male Models International, Dubai Branch? What do you know about Gwarinpa? Are you socially responsible? Are you business minded? And can you walk the runway? Register now...send photo briefs to echemalemodels@mail.com to be part of the Mr. Gwarinpa Male Model Competition. Nna Sam Inc...in house press agency for ecHe: Male Models International

JULLIET MORGAN: FRANCIS NWODO AND KIMMIE ADAMS SIGNS WITH ISIS MOD...

JULLIET MORGAN: FRANCIS NWODO AND KIMMIE ADAMS SIGNS WITH ISIS MOD...: Now this may not seem like news but of late models have been seen at the headquaters of ISIS models in ikoyi. All in a bid to sign on the th...

Leveraging yourself to succeed further.

"SIX FIGURE DAILY DISCIPLINES TO MANIFEST A PROSPERITY BASED LIFESTYLE" HANGOUT STARTS 8PM EST, MAY 15, 2013. REFRESH THE PAGE AT 8PM THEN CLICK PLAY - See more at: http://prosperityhangout.com/?id=mpower36#sthash.zHluZTWG.dpuf ...I was bored because I was doing everything right to succeed but seemed to be doing everything wrong in front of close friends. Then I decided to go online and found an online event to broaden my horizon. Paul Hutchings said nothing can happen unless you take actions. I have never been inspired by an online event as this has done for me. Hanging out with been seen has actually made a real impact for me today.

What if eagles were a Angels?

What if eagles were angels?- a script in work...an online work in progress by Eche Nnamdi Onwugbenu My name is Spyder and I am an eagle hunter. I chase eagles every day at the dawn of the morning. It is a habit I thank God for. What do you do? I hope we can work together on a project called X. I have a team of four and we all are the best at hustling people. I am an original hustler and best of all: I am Spyder. Get to know me soon. ...I am a connector on a mission and the mission is so real it will make you dead or alive. What is the meaning of this statement you might ask; frankly I don't give a shit. My name is Spyder and I am a con artist. One of the best in my class and now, this present moment- I am planning to rob the man who stole from my family. Chapter One ...I have a girlfriend called Sexby; she is sexy! She never allows her hair maintain one single color and for this she is a remarkable beautiful woman everyday. She was already in complete insanity at the thought of seeing or been admired by another woman. She was once questioned by my sister who she told she would marry or die/ I wished she would do the latter, that way allow me pick up the shadows. ...I wonder, does a thief show mercy when he dies? Not at all, leave me in the chains, I will still become greater than that ridiculous character for an uncle.....

The Drums of Africa- a short novel by Eche Nnamdi Onwugbenu

The Drums Of Africa A short novel by Eche N. Onwugbenu Earth, condonlences, Earth, condolences, Earth and dust, The Dependable One, I lean upon you: Earth, when I am about to die, I lean upon you: Earth, while I am alive, I lean upon you: Earth that recieves dead bodies, The creator’s drummer says, From wherever he went He has roused himself, He has roused himself! ...Ghana. ..... Rex Cinema- Accra, Ghana- 1976 The drummer let it all hang on the floor; his message was not to evoke or awaken the sleeping dead, it was a message of life. He slapped the goatskin hard enought to make it echo loud through the cinema hall; he wanted to gain notoriety. He let it bare the whole place with 3 things his brother had told him, One of which is that the wonderful things the new city had in store for talented drummers like himself. He beleived and knew someday he would be celebrated. The manager had a great week; it was a hit and no one but himself, knew how hard it took to organize this marvelous show. A near scandal had almost occured a week ago; he had beeen caught in the back projection room cheating with the sales girl. The cinema owner had been very disappointed in him and threatened to sue him; that is after letting him go, without pay. And above all things; it was important to him, to keep this particular high flying job, even though his wife at home couldn’t stand the fact that he smelt of expensive perfume around their poor shabby parlour. The crowd; many of them rich Ghanaians and foreigners, stood in appraise. They had never seen such a show before; especially one put together by an unknown stage director and local drummers. Everyone stood around the end pavillion in retrospect of a wonderful cast; waiting to see the realness in these bodies. The real question posed: Are they really blacks? And if yes, were they truly Ghanaians? The head of knowledge and learning for the British Council, a stern old woman stood firm behind the cast: she been the true star, a discoverer of talents- To read an editorial copy- go to-

Innocent Reading

I am not incline to follow +ecHe: Male Models. But the truth is that once a model scout; always a model scout. Am i been followed at +Nna Sam or are people even leaving comments at the end of reading this blog? One thing is certain- it is all about innocent readers and how they react to the growth of this wholesome blog.

How to find the right career when all seems hopeless!

Weather the world wants to believe it or not; there are people who would never work in their lives. I don't mean the rich ones born with privileged opportunities; I mean those that have nothing in their pockets and unforeseen opportunities. In a space of time; we all would understand what it truly means to be un-employed, self-employed or just plain old employed. The key to finding the right careers lies in the blue prints of your heart....what lurks inside will surely materialize itself someday.- Eche Nnamdi Onwugbenu

...Just when you think it is over; God begins with your case. A lot of people always believe they would be rich someday. True- they could be. But what happens when you never become rich due to the fact that you have spent your best times working for some rich a**hole who doesn't give a shit about your future? Note: there are times when all is hopeless; and at these times- the devil wants to play chess with your life. You have to refuse it and aim for the best inside. Confidence stems up from context and context deals a lot with our reflective state of mind. How can you find the right career when all seems hopeless? I will give you three pointers that you might have been missing.... 1. Surf the web: The internet is a vast playground for intellects. It has a lot of information been posted by people who are unique with their expressions or passionate with words. You can forge a career in writing by creating an owning a blog. Some notable bloggers in Nigeria are: Linda Ikeji and Bella Naija. 2. Pick up a hobby: Ever wondered why there is a column for hobbies in your cv? This is because you can always forge a very lucrative career through discovering and enhancing a hobby. Some hobbies include writing and playing football....get the point! 3. Move your vision: Vision is very important in our lives; but many of us ground our visions by remain in one position. It is very possible that you never want to work for anyone because you have a strong vision- but you have no idea why you are still in the same position. News flash-MOVE! Get on a bus or on an airplane and move your vision. Your vision is your blue print and it is inside your heart!

Social Media& African Parenting!

...Facebook has become the norm for parents and relatives alike to really catch up on what most of us do online...the only tragedy is that they don't understand the need for social media and its relation to networking small business owners with clients and customers. As far as they are concerned- once there is a post that reflects badly on them- you have become the black sheep of the family. I think it is high time for Facebook to roll out a platform educating parents on why many people click on likes and what are the impacts of posts for multiple usage. ...Twitter has become a total avenue for voiceless youths across Africa and other continents to say something loudly. Whatever the stakes; check up many twitter handles and you will be amazed how many Africans or Indians twit about going to the "coffee shop" or watching "Erin Brokovich"...all that is totally American or European...Those of us on the Sub continents and Africa always twit about how we wish we could change the world. Some of us at least. ....How can social media help African parents embrace the voice they never hear at home. Many still leave in fear of been found out if they had closet issues or were secretly married to a millionaire. Social media is not just the next best thing for ICT users worldwide; it has become the best business tool for small business owners as well.

From a friend on blog-os-phere!

http://www.cnbc.com/id/41967495/ These 'highly effective habits of millionaires' are tips that I consistently see when reading about successful people. If so many pieces of advice are repeated, there has to be logical reasoning behind it. And, by the way, reading about successful people is already a start if you are trying to be successful yourself. Whether that means being rich, or happy with your life, your job, the people that surround you, or just being generally satisfied with the world you live in. Start by paying yourself first. The article states: "The average millionaire household saved over $39,000 last year, and plans to save the same or more this year." The minute that you receive income, put it into a savings account first. Before any other debit orders go off, or before buying anything with that money. Most of us spend the money first, and by the time something is left over, you feel that you don't have enough to save. The other important discipline is managing your time. In the article it's written: "Millionaires only have 24 hours in a day, just like the rest of us. What separates them from us is time management. While the rest of us go home and flop on the couch in front of the TV, the wealthy are reading and doing things that contribute to their success." It continues by citing examples of millionaires like Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple) and Warren Buffet (Berkshire Hathaway), who spent hours 'after-work' refining their skills by reading, researching, and doing extra groundwork. Ultimately this resulted in being a cut above the rest. In the same manner as applying discipline to your health/training routine, or your day-job, the same should be applicable to your wealth. Else, it will never change! Wishing you a very productive and blessed day

U R D Social Media!

Since each social network is unique in its design and its features, each tends to attract a certain type of user. Taking this idea a step further, you are the social media you're using. It's sort of like food: you eventually become what you put in your mouth and swallow. So whether you like to stalk people on Facebook, follow intellectual discussions on Twitter feeds like IloveBieberCause and myLovelyKitty, use Foursqaure as a diversion tactic, butcher scenery with Instagram, or just reminisce about the good old days on Myspace, there is a social network that is right for you!

10 Sexiest Nigerian Models All Over The World!

Interested in owning a piece of heaven in Abuja?

[THIS IS NOT THE LOTS] ...One of the fastest growing cities in the world is Abuja. Amazing; right! I have a few friends who are real estate moguls in the making and I must say that Abuja has some of the shrewdest Realtor in the world. This is not a bid to hype any of them; but I should tell you about George Opuada or Abdulfatai Adelaja or even the smooth operator- Supreme Ekpo...these are some of the best men in Gwarinpa real estate to watch as they rise to stardom in the coming future. Ok, enough about them- You can own a piece of the soon to be developed- "The Lots". It is a pricey piece of land that can make you an instant millionaire over and over again; especially when you pay some cool millions for it. Interested? You would own your own pool, a fabulous view and a very commercial location for your home based business- each equipped with top of the notch technology. For more details- contact- +971507587732

Gulf Photo Plus

I am ICONIC!

......I have always stuck out from the crowd and it has made me quite Fashion different. A few years ago; I made a bold statement by ditching my profession as an ICT consultant when I was clearly thriving to focus on a career in Male Model Scouting. Man; did my parents think me crazy! Everyone said; he has completely lost it- it is does late nights of writing codes- they have taken the best of him. Maybe; they were right- but something inside of me gave me great HOPE. ....So I did what every dreamer does. I packed up my suitcase and took the high road towards attaining success. The only problem I had was that I was dead broke and without money I won't get much achieved. What do I do now; I asked myself. I will not go back home; Daddy will laugh at me- He would say out loudly through his cigar smoke rings- "Male Models".....Crazy you- you thought you could forge a career with male models? .....I will not give up. So I made a plan- and prepared myself for the worst. And boy; did I find the worst of them. Lots of guys all over Africa, some I met online and so many I discovered on the streets in hidden alleys in war zones and beautiful boutiques across Motherland. I made a vow- to remain Fashion Different till I meet success. ....Fast forward fifteen years later. I am still broke; but I have grown stronger in deciding what I want quickly. I have also become a lot along the way. I have become a self taught Fashion Photographer, A Blogger, A Magazine Editor & Contributor, A Male Models Scout, A Men's Fashion Week show creator/organizer, A Menswear & Accessory Designer, A Business Developer, A Social Media Consultant and A Male Model Agency Creative Director- A lot of hats that have made me skillfully talented and sought after by many- I know I am becoming an Icon because I made a conscious decision to follow my dreams. I became Fashion Different because now I am relevant in a world that is presently booming with thriving Menswear designers and a lot of Men's Fashion Weeks. ....The next thing I decided in a flash to do; was this. I made a quick move to a different place in other to make myself more relevant in what I find passionate. Looking for a creative job as a visual merchandiser would be ideal for someone with my skills. Not to look so main stream- I took the high road towards attaining my main goals. I like it- and I feel it. It is so rewarding to be fashion different. I am ICONIC! ...From H creative director ecHe: Male Models International and owner of www.nnasaminc.blogspot.ae.

Sharp!

....Life makes us smile when things go wrong, because only at the time of complaining do we remember that the plants always look happy and remain SHARP!

The Boring State of Sleep

The Boring State of Sleep…by Eche Nnamdi Onwugbenu ….I am an achiever; I find sleep very boring because I love to work late hours all the time. Working late as 4am helps me understand what life is all about and I get satisfaction knowing that this makes me truly unafraid of death. My life is so forward that my only worries are the things that I haven’t done yet. What is the essence of living in a remarkably fast lane if we will never get everything done? …I am in a state of disorderliness; I am sleepless and all that is on my mind is how to get things done fast, for a brighter future. I want a lot of success; but I have been failing to reward my past successes. Life needs us to keep rewarding her when she succeeds and to encourage her when she fails. Is my lack of sleep a total chaos? …I am so restless when I am idle. My mind does not tolerate it when the whole day goes by and I didn’t give her enough to think about. She is always in control and reminds me constantly that there is a lot of creative things we should be doing. I lost a great lover because I was in a deep state of sleep; and while I was asleep she packed up her life and gave it to the destroyer. What exactly should I fear? ….I am a bad beginner in things I am uncertain about; starting very late at arriving early to work. The greatness of my restlessness is that I love to work late into the night, making sure everything is perfect. Will I continue to deny myself the happiness of going to bed early; just because I think I would be at rest when I am gone off to work? Yes or Maybe- I am uncertain. Why? I am not a perfectionist. I said already: I am an achiever. I will work when others are asleep. I will go the distance in helping others achieve success; whether they are certain of my contribution or not. This is my state of achievement- my statement of orderliness. Why? So that when they are working; maybe then- I will sleep!

AFRICA.....Regaining its imagination through creative financing.

...Entrepreneurs make up the majority of Africans and a lot of them thrive and live in its heart; a place called Nigeria. For years we have failed Africa and haven't delivered on our promises and worst we have been losing our human resources as some of our neighbors lose their natural resources. Some where on twitter land today-a well know Venture capitalist asked a very intriguing question- How does #africa move from "From Prototyping to Production?" ...Here is what I think. Africa needs to understand that without industries- all the prototypes we make will end up looking like rag dolls in an antique shop. We should either invite VC companies that will invest in Entrepreneurs that are ready to set up industries or we should be willing to invest in our own Human Resources ourselves and provide them with creative financial schemes to help them launch successful start up manufacturing stations that will become the backbone to a future Africa with working industries.... There is virtually no reason for every promising Nigerian to travel out and live in places like Dubai or New York or even Paris. But now- this is the case- and many end up been in trouble for no reason other than the will to survive. Where are we going to now and what are we going to do about the youths that have dreams of owning production houses or even better owning industries. We need to use creativity as a means to succeed in business and the only way to do this is by believing in the vast human resources known as African youths.....

Not a single tear!!!

...I am too modest to cry right now. I am supposed to be the happiest person in the world. I am living the life I was born to live. Each phone call triggers my mind to my family back home and I miss my close friend and associates very much; I ask my loved ones to be very patient and alert- we have to act our faith in this time of actions. As Nigerians we think we have it very bad inside Nigeria; but when we travel out- unless you have a very defined dream; you will be frustrated about the way foreigners treat Nigerians. And to make it worse; our girls are not doing what they told their parents they were traveling out to do. The guys are not left out- some believe it is only deals that will save the day- while the innocents ones are seen as handsome or beautiful faces without brains or low business skills because they refuse to do shady deals. It is hard- but I thank God I am Nigerian and I will not shed a single tear for it- It is a wonderful time to be Nigerian; because we are not just in demand- we call the shots and the whole world listens!

Nothing Personal- I am just tired!

....I have been outside 9ja for a while and frankly I don't know why. It is no longer free for a talented Nigerian to live in Nigeria as there is nothing for them to do back there. I miss Nigeria though- but every once in a while I ask myself-WHY? I know- is it my family behind there or is it my best friend behind there- even they want to leave. I have the slightest solution but it turns into problems when you travel abroad and find out as a young Nigerian- no body wants to work with you abroad. Are we tainted? What exactly is the problem? In Accra; Ghanians hate Nigerians. In Dubai- Nigerians find it hard to get work. In America it is damn hard for a Nigerian to stay on top. What is this thing; and the Government have nothing to say to the youths in Nigeria or even the one's outside Nigeria. It is nothing personal against any regime- but shame on our fathers for not building a better future for us. Shame on them for making it damn hard to be called....I wont even repeat the name. I am proud to be Nigerian and I say it everywhere I go- even when it sounds like a lie...I mean it well with all my heart. There has got to be a change from the top to the bottom- we all need to take this seriously- or else: we won't have citizens to call our precious Motherland, home!

Purchasing Magazines as a form of Retail Therapy---a trend?

...I have been going through the motions since I lost it all- am I loosing my marbles or am I simply a lonely duckling sitting on the fence? I have no idea; but I do know this fact- I am now officially a magazine junkie and somewhere inside these magazines- what do i search for? Apps. What is this? Am I closely moving out of fashion and back into the arms of ICT? I am in need of a Summly increase- I need an App developed to make me feel better and yes, I do need the money. My mind bugles and all I want to do is become a rich billionaire that has it all and in the process- keep my calender rich as well. I am not aiming to be a Robert Kardashian impersonator- but it would be nice to meet the guy someday and bond. Male bonding----I knew it- I am losing it altogether- and the only way to get a cure is to embrace retail therapy and shop till I drop on my knees weeping. Am joking- I am not loosing sleep over anything- I am just restless and bored- I need to be ignited to do something spectacular...I will embrace it all inside- I will not just become a magazine addict- I will have my own glossy pages sooner than I know it.

Dubai World Cup...and the effect of SEAL!

....Pressed off NSInc.... ...The first thing that caught my attention is the fact that SEAL will be performing. Funny! I swore I would never be caught dead in a suit and yes; I have seen the impact it has had on my life in general. I have lost a lot of promising jobs because I wear a jean and teeshirt like a cowboy on a high. Am sorry; don't mean to sound condiscendal or is that a word? You know what I mean- i hate to say this- but I will wear a suit and a damn effing good one at that to go and see SEAL at the Dubai World Cup. Who knows maybe this migth be the next big leap for me...Dubai- oh my- That's so Dubai to host a mega event and invite a MEGA STAR..... ....Will you be there? Let see who wears what...sounds like fashion police and I am Joan Rivers!

Social life at Black Iris Publishing

Pressed right off my digital ad agency NSInc. .....If I ever wanted to have a wonderful social life;which I do- then Black Iris Publishing is the best place to live it. I picked up a copy of their youthful magazine- one8one at Make Business Hub and found it very nourishing. In a matter of hours; I had digested the whole read in a social sitting over itzza pizza and a large coke zero. OMG- amazing what people can do with a little support. So I decided to give it a try- call the name I saw on the MAKE card at the Big Start event- MARIA! WOW- what a conversation- One phone call over and some days later- I am living the social life. You know this is not a prank text for socialism- it is a very honest and respectful note of understanding a workspace dedicated to creatives. My hats are off to the creative individuals behind Black Iris Publishing- the print house behind one8one magazine- empowering youths for youths.

Tuface wedding in Dubai...

...Happy Married Life!!!

The Big Talk is The Big Start!

...Ever wanted to own your own business? Are you a young entrepreneur living in Dubai? This is the right moment to make that move from un-employment to self employment. Go on; you know you have what it takes to change the future. You know you can achieve that dream inside. You know that someday soon; you will be your own BOSS! It all sound so simple; I know- that is why I am here to inform you of the Big Talk tonight. ....When you get there- be open MINDED and absorb it all inside!

The Easiest Way to Make Money From Social Media....

....Do you find it super challenging to make money from social media? Yeah, everyone does.
There are actually many ways to make money from social media. However, most of them require an established business before they can work. If you have a product or service you’re selling, then you can make use of social media to market it and get it in front of potential people who might be interested in it.
             I don’t have any existing business, how can social media make me money?
....With the exploding demand for social media service providers, it’s becoming a no-brainer for many people, especially who want to establish themselves in this market to start offering their services to potential clients. According to a study published on WantedAnalytics.com, there have been about 13.000 social media related jobs posted on the web in January 2012 alone. This is an 87% increase in demand comparing to January 2011.
....For instance a social friend of mine- +Richard Branson is a multi billionaire; but nevertheless anything he puts on the world wide web still makes a buck or two- if not thousands of Dollars.
>I for one have started carving a niche for myself as a social entrepreneurs and a social speaker- I have even spoken on subjects like "Social Business" and "Social Events."

...
The easiest way to make money as a social media service provider
There are actually many social media services that thousands of thirsty clients are searching for. However, many of them require some experience as well as education. Although services like social media consulting could land you as much as $500 an hour (if you’re just a decent social media consultant), they mostly require a person who have been in the field for some time. On the other side, social media management doesn’t require a lot of education or experience as you may already have the skills to start doing it right now.
They say that if you know how to posts status updates on Facebook and tweets on Twitter, then you can consider yourself a social media manager. While a part of this statement is true, there is a little more to social media management that most people miss.
A social media manager is the person responsible for managing a company’s social media presence. This is in the case of a fixed job. In case you’re doing it in a freelancing basis (which is even better), you’ll be managing your clients social presence across all the social platforms that they intend to use like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest…etc.

...
So what social media managers do?
Social media managers could have many duties that go from simple management to strategic social media marketing planning. However, what most of them do is:
1- Posting engaging status updates on Facebook.
2- Tweeting interesting stuff.
3- Managing Twitter inbox.
4- Replying.
5- Interacting and building audience.
6- Deleting spam.
7- Reply to comments.
8- Follow/Unfollow, Accept/Decline requests…etc
...Some of the other duties that you’ll be able to offer when you have some more experience and which they will offer you a free pass to luxury are:
1- Quality/Viral content creation and distribution.
2- Creating an effective social media marketing plan.
3- Doing consulting for clients.
4- Conducting contests and PPC campaigns…etc
As you’ve seen, I bet that you already know how to do most of the tasks listed above, and that’s what makes you a potential social media manager. The question is: would you join the bandwagon and establish yourself in this lucrative market, or get left behind struggling with the competition that will arise?

Social Journalism On The Move

Hotel Social Media - 24/7 Social Media Management. Hire Your Team Today! BCVevolve.com
Woody Lewis is a Social Media Strategist and Web Architect. He authors a blog at woodylewis.com about social media strategy for newspapers.
Social media has changed journalism. The Web is now the sole distribution channel for newspapers that can no longer afford to publish hardcopy, and those that don’t follow the best practices of social media may see their brands marginalized in cyberspace as well. Social journalism, an extension of those practices, is now an essential component of any news organization’s strategy.
Citizen journalists post photos of fast-breaking events, and cover stories from a different angle than legacy news organizations, but it’s the premeditated watchdog or advocacy role that defines a social journalist. Another factor is the network effect: people using social media to communicate and collaboratively produce content. Editors are still important, but the pieces are shaped by crowd dynamics and the velocity of information.
Here’s a look at the past, present, and future of social journalism:

The Past

As Mark Glaser of the PBS site Mediashift points out in his summary of Dan Gillmor’s “We the Media,” a book about grassroots media, the people who recorded the Los Angeles police beating of Rodney King nearly thirty years later did so out of a sense of social duty: they could have turned off their cameras, but kept them rolling, and contacted mainstream media with the results. This was a crowd of social journalists who broke the story before any editor could slow it down.
The Independent Media Center, formed in 1999 to cover the World Trade Organization protests in Seattle, was an early aggregator of social journalism. Run by a collective of alternative journalists and activists who provided minimal editing, the IMC allowed individuals to upload their own coverage of political events. Today, Indymedia hosts a network of IMCs serving cities around the world.
In 2005, social journalists responded to Hurricane Katrina by filing coverage from the field that was more detailed, and often more accurate, than that seen on mainstream media. Sites like the Interdictor, self-described as “A small pocket of New Orleans web guys blogging, running off a generator, with a web cam,” provided a firsthand account of the disaster. One person even declared a Katrina Blog Relief Day in an attempt to start a groundswell movement.

The Present

The Huffington Post might not be the first organization that comes to mind when talking about today’s social journalism, but it’s actually a leader in this area. Last year, it co-sponsored OffTheBus, described by director Amanda Michel as a “citizen-powered campaign news site.” The idea was to offer alternative coverage of the presidential election by ordinary people, but the process uncovered a market that Michel describes:

“Our market was defined by our access to on-the-ground information that other news outlets lacked, and collaborative, crowd-powered methods of newsgathering that made some traditional journalists uncomfortable. Private fundraisers, official campaign conference calls, volunteer meetings, and rallies—where mainstream reporters found themselves stuck in pens—were our specialty. We wanted to tell stories inaccessible to the national press. This required replacing objectivity with an ethic of transparency…”

Recently, HuffPost announced The Huffington Post Investigative Fund, a nonprofit that will produce investigative journalism created by staff reporters and freelance writers. One of the Fund’s advisers is Jay Rosen, who directs NewAssignment.Net, the NYU research project that co-sponsored OffTheBus.

The Future

Rosen’s Flying Seminar in the Future of News cites Dan Conover’s piece “2020 vision: What’s next for news” as a definitive source for predictions. Conover, a reporter turned blogger, offers a number of observations about the next decade of journalism. He talks about the continued demise of newspapers: the metro dailies in major cities, not the “web/print nationals” (New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal), or local papers serving communities of up to 30,000 readers. His assertion that the Semantic Web and open-source technologies will drive revenue from sources other than advertising and paid subscriptions anticipates data-mining and machine-readable news feeds, and he even mentions the trend of newspapers opening up their APIs, correctly pointing out this won’t mean much unless developers and end-users are given more freedom.
Conover offers a cautionary statement about crowdfunding, citing Spot.us,  a Bay area site where writers and individual donors can collaborate to fund stories. He says that “volunteers” who are paid neither directly nor substantially will produce much of the next decade’s writing, editing and producing.
The future of social journalism will be driven by disintermediation, the replacement or removal of middlemen in the supply chain. This has already happened on the revenue side, with Craigslist- Craigslist reviews and other online resources taking classified ads from newspapers. As the newspaper industry consolidates, and social media matures, journalists will increasingly work as independents, forming transient relationships with multiple publishers. A handful of national brands will survive, and hundreds, perhaps thousands of new microbrands will flourish. The public good will be preserved, and society will be more transparent.

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