Dataminers at IBM have been burrowing through social media postings to see how Americans are feeling. Heading into Memorial Day weekend, it's sounding like the mood is improving. References to gas prices, which have been dropping of late, register postive by a five to one ratio, compared to an even balance a year ago. IBM has a new measurement--the "Desire Index"--which reflects the ratio of positive to negative comments about shopping and Memorial Day travel. These desires have rocketed up to 6.5/1 this year, from a downbeat 1.3/1 a year ago. Now, as those of you who read The Numerati know, I've spent time talking to people who pull sentiments out of data. (The company I looked at then, Umbria Communications, was later bought by ... Continue reading →

Print Posted 17 April 2012 11:22am by David Moth with 0 comments IBM has identified four new types of digital consumers that media providers should target to improve digital revenue streams. The ‘Beyond Digital’ report states that the new behaviours of connected customers - which include social viewing, distracted viewing and digesting on-demand content – have greatly impacted media providers. It suggests that content cannibalisation is reducing demand for certain types of content and “digital revenue streams have proven weaker than traditional revenue streams as consumer expectations move from content ownership models to content accessibility models.” As a result, media providers need to target specific ‘digital personalities’, delivering relevant content experiences rather than just content alone - and create new cross-channel digital revenue models. The ... Continue reading →

***What is another May 2011 backlog post for $500 Alex?” *** Blacklight and I are both readers. But there are very few books that can appeal to both of us. Maybe because I loathe Stephen Hawking and Stephen R. Donaldson with every atom in my body? Cue Blacklight standing stock still in the middle of the living room with an extra large iced Dunkee Cup in his hand saying “That’s grounds (heeheehee) for DIVORCE!” So having Blacklight peering through a stack of library books and saying “Can you write down that title? Once I’m through “Thomas Covenant is the total suck” (okay, The Final Chronicles of Thomas Covenant) and insert name of massive Tom Clancy brick here, I want to read it.” It being Stephen ... Continue reading →

Home - Viewing one post DART: Journalists who cover trauma A few hours after coming home from Paris, I went to a fundraiser in New York for the DART Center, an association that helps and journalists who venture into world's most dangerous places and risk their lives to tell us about them. It was in a lovely space on 62nd Street and Central Park West. The walls were covered with photographs to be sold in a silent auction, and the New Jersey band Thomas Wesley Stern was strumming beautifully. We came away with two photos, both by Pulitzer prize winners. The first is a photo by Carol Guzy. She took it in 2000, when refugees from Kosovo were delivering a two-year-old to his family, which ... Continue reading →

Other photo We bought at DART auction for journalists, by Carol Guzy of WashPost http://t.co/fbgbVDU9 Continue reading →

Just bought this Carolyn Cole photo at auction for DART center for journalists http://t.co/yJbn2IDb Continue reading →

Dawn and on my to the airport this morning in Paris. http://t.co/9pM3GVxG Continue reading →