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An Open Mind ……..

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Brittany – funny I feel okay to share her name now (I asked) – has been released from jail. All her charges were dropped. Her “friend” showed up and confessed to an armed robbery that Brittany did not commit but was involved in.
 
Sometimes it’s difficult to keep an open mind. Sometimes we have beliefs and convictions that we know are right and refuse to let anything change that. One thing I have learned from working in social media is you never know who may have the next great idea, what project you may work on, or who may become a close friend. The same goes for “real life” as well but is often not as apparent.
 
I’ve talked about Brittany before, and her struggle. They were some of the hardest posts I’ve written because they were the most personal. Interestingly enough, they were also the posts I received the most feedback on and the ones that actually gave me hope and kept me persevering. Thank you for that.
 
Before her release I had been running into wall after wall advocating for her in an attempt to get her into a rehab. I am still doing so and still running in the same circles; passed around and around. I will not give up. 

Brittany has a criminal record of over 50 convictions, many are breaches of probation orders, but the majority is theft-related. Drugs are an expensive addiction. Jail does not help people with addiction issues – jail warehouses many who need help.

Brittany is a wonderful, funny, intelligent, insightful, witty, and beautiful nineteen-year-old woman. She loves to read, write, exercise, eat well, hang out with friends, go shopping, and have fun. We have a lot in common. 

She asked me once if I had met her as an addict in jail and heard of all the crimes she had committed would I still like her? I answered that I honestly didn’t know but probably would not. But I can honestly tell you right now that I love Brittany and am proud to know her and call her my friend. If I had not had an open mind and an interest in her story, I would not have the honor of learning with her and calling her my friend. 

We keep in touch by text now. She’ll contact me when she has a craving, a good day, bad day, or to see how I am. I call on her when I’m discouraged or need a boost. She listens, she laughs, and she gently speaks an insightful truth that makes me think. I have learned from her and leaned on her. I value her friendship and judgment.  

I hear a lot of talk in all circles I am involved in of this person doing this, or how could this person possibly be thinking of that action or, one closer to home for many of us, people criticizing those who do things on social media platforms, which we don’t agree with. I hear people criticizing the marketers, the celebrities, those who run the businesses, and I frankly wonder why.  What I have learned from Britt, and from social media, is that there is something to be gained and something we can learn from everyone. It often comes from the least expected places. We just need to keep an open mind, and heart.

from : Kathryn Jennex aka @northernchick

photo credit: Brittany

Imitation

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“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
Coined by Charles Caleb Colton in 1820 in his ‘Lacon.’

“Imitation” happens all the time on the web and is the source of much frustration for newspaper and other print media. The concept of “fair use” and “scraping the web” are terms mostly used when talking about copyright infringements for print media producers. The idea that citizen journalists can now report on news and other happenings with information taken from news sites it a disturbing phenomenon for many journalists to deal with, not to mention print media in general.

But is this type of imitation really flattering? Is this plagiarism? You’ve worked hard on your post. You’ve taken the time to think about it and possibly, do some research. You’ve carefully written and posted it on your blog. It’s your content based on your idea. Later , you discover through Twitter, or a friend that the very same content has been taken, copied and posted on someone else’s site! Sound incredible? It happens.

I’ve even seen it happen even on Twitter! We all know, or learn quickly (there is a LOT of twitter advice out there) the idea of the RT. You see something of value from someone else and you share. The RT is the attribution, the link back. Twitter has been called micro blogging – when you see something you’ve found and shared go by two seconds later from one of your followers with no RT, do you feel flattered by the “imitation”? I don’t.

I think it’s important to protect you work, your ideas, your content. The very idea of taking the time to think about, write and post your ideas deserves respect. That respect should allow you the right to not have your work copied without permission. Creative Commons is an excellent resource to help you with this. There are different licenses you can apply to your work that will protect it. A great resource for questions regarding this issue is Jonanthan Bailey, @plagiarismtoday on Twitter. He would be happy to discuss anything related to “imitation” with you.

Have you had experience with this and your writing? Do you see this as a problem?

from Kathryn Jennex aka @northernchick

photo credit: The Green Album

Video Blogging – Try Something New

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Do you ever want to try something new with your blog? How about video blogging or vlogging? I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Every time I visit a blog where there are video posts my first reaction is always, “Wow that took courage.” There’s something very inviting, very personal that I like about it. It’s like a welcoming invitation to get to know someone a little better. Not unlike that message on Twitter that turns into a DM, then to an email exchange. And sometimes a phone call and, if you’re lucky, a face-to-face conversation.

The film person in me screams, “You need good lighting, you don’t have the right camera, etc. etc.” The vain part of me screams, “You don’t look on camera – you sound okay, but you look funny.” Truth be told, some people just do look better in front of the camera than others, but I when I settle into watching a good video post, it’s like good writing: I become engaged – I’m listening. Processing and thinking. So, having said that, here are a few hints that will help your video look better:

– First and foremost, be you. Don’t change the way you communicate just because there’s a camera on. For instance, if you need to laugh, use your hands when you talk, use a certain turn of phrase, do it. Be you.

– Think background – it matters. Point your camera at where you’ll be talking from, then stand behind the camera and have a look. It’s called setting the frame. Anything distracting there? It could be as simple as a picture on the wall, bulletin board with something flashy pinned on it, a mirror (always a definite no) or anything that causes your eye to drift from where you’ll be talking.

– Think lighting – it matters. If you’re using natural light streaming in from outside, uncover all those windows and let in as much as you can. Shoot a little test and see how it looks. You may have to change to get the best positioning for the optimum lighting advantage — lighting that makes you look good. If you need to add light, move some lamps, etc. around to get the best effect. Lighting from behind usually does not look the best. Light your face from the front, point a lamp at your face from beside the camera or on the floor in front of you. Move things around, experiment and play with it – have fun.

–Think sound – You really do need to have it quiet when you record. You can have a bad background and poor quality lighting and still have an ok post. If you have poor quality sound you have nothing. Viewers automatically disengage when they can’t hear. You can look like a rockstar but if they can’t hear you it doesn’t count for anything!

– Think timing – Most people watch videos that are between 3:00 and 4:00 long. After that, unless you’re giving an informational talk or doing an exercise video you lose people’s attention, sad, but it’s true. Think about a regular post you would write and how long it would take to read it. Maybe you’re doing a vlog as something special or just for fun. Stick to what you’re hoping to convey.

– Think articulation – If you’re nervous, you may have a tendency to rush your speech. Think about being clear and delivering your words effectively so others can make them out. This doesn’t mean drone on in a monotone. It just refers to being aware of how you are talking. Sometimes when speaking in public or on camera it’s helpful to think of reading a story to a child out loud . It helps to slow you down a bit.

Last but not least, have fun!

Have you tried a video blog? If you have, please leave a link — I’d love to check it out. I need inspiration too! If you haven’t, what’s stopping you?

from Kathryn Jennex aka @northernchick

REACHING OUT – EDUCATION & COMMUNITY

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Are you sharing what you’ve learned ? All forms of educational institutions attempt to create community. From grade school through to post secondary education, communities are created through classrooms, activities and sports. Many educational institutions have websites where school information and directories are located. I found two examples of social media being used to foster community and take it one step further. The interesting thing about this is that both individuals are documenting and sharing the process of using social media to strengthen community. 

Rachel Reuben is the Director of Web Communication and Strategic Projects at State University of New York at New Paltz. Rachel launched an online community for students based upon a cafe like context. She created a Ning group and invited potential students to join. Although not a new endeavor, other universities have done the same thing, Rachel is  documenting and sharing the process with her community so more can learn from the experience.

Diane Collier, a PHD student at UBC started a community to encourage dialogue about the readings in advance of discussion in class. Instead of emailing everyone it was a simpler forum. The students could also respond quickly, easily and in simple terms. “The idea was partly to take away the voice of the prof too so that students engage in freer way.We also encouraged students to add personal and professional stuff. videos, pics…Also, it’s ongoing. We didn’t shut it down after the course so students could continue to talk as they move into teaching.” When she gives lectures to future teachers about methods she uses this example to demonstrate the power of community through social media. 

Sharing valuable information about using social media to foster community growth and increase ROI is what sets these two examples apart.

 

Kathryn @northernchick

Photo credit:FJ Gaylor

Storytelling Hits Home

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“The way to make a movie is to understand that you’re speaking to one person at a time, in the dark.”        

As bloggers we write to tell stories as a way of sharing information in a personal engaging way. A filmmaker takes the same approach and looks for feedback to gauge the response of viewers. We see the fruit of our efforts as individuals respond to our work and, in doing so, allow us to to become part of their community.

This week,I was struck by how powerful the failure of a community can be on an individual. My most recent film project, (Yes, I’m a multi-tasker!) is a documentary about a teenage drug addict. I have built a relationship with my subject and she has let me into her life, her family and, I like to think, into her heart. We have an understanding and although, she relates to me through a lens, figuratively and literally, she trusts me. Recently, we met to shoot some footage. We spent a day together hanging out, talking about her life, her plans and how she was doing. She seemed okay.

The next night I received a call late in the evening. She was sobbing and explained she had been arrested for a robbery. She needed money for drugs and was desperate. She was sorry she let me down and was scared. When I hung up the phone all I could think about how was her community had let her down. She had been in trouble with the law before and had just been released from a facility – no follow-up, no counseling, just released. Her community let her down. When the “fruit” hit the fan, she called me, her filmmaker, her storyteller, not the people I might list on her bio. 

I think this is a very striking example of what happens in the online community, we tell a quick story, we watch for a response, and we may even respond to a few comments. I’m working to let the people know in my community when they make “that call”, I’m on the other end of the phone – are you?

Kathryn aka northernchick

Merry New Year to You!

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The week that just passed was a week of celebration, visiting with family and friends, old and new, feasting and fun for many. It was also a time for reflection about the year drawing to a close and planning for the year ahead – the year that begins with this day. I hope you had a positive week and took some time for rejuvenation and some time for yourself.

There’s been a lot of talk in the blogosphere, on twitter and other platforms about what not to do, how to increase SEO, suggestions about what to write and how to write it and lots of advice. I hope in your time of reflection and planning you thought about your original intent with respect to your writing. I’d like to think you incorporate all you have learned but keep true to those intentions and continue writing in a genuine way that reflects what you really want to say.

I wish for you a peaceful and creative New Year.

Kathryn @northernchick

Thanks to Maura McGovern for the wonderful picture.