Seems to me, community media and social media are natural partners.
When I asked for a 140 character definition between community media and social media on Facebook, my Friends (from a variety of backgrounds and experiences) engaged in a spirited discussion. As a group, the following was created:
Social media = interactive, participatory digital media.
Community Media = tools, training & transmission owned & operated by/with citizenry.
Ben Sheldon of the CTC VISTA Project stated, "Community Media emphasizes the *purpose* behind the media: to provide people the opportunity for self-realization through free expression. Social Media emphasizes the *media* in a shared process: producing it, distributing it, consuming it, the tools involved, etc. Community Media doesn't have to be Social Media (attending a desktop publishing class at a CTC isn't very group-oriented), just like social media may not be community media (Comcast's Twitter account). Social Media is a production strategy. Community Media is the expression of a free and democratic society."
I am certain community media folks and social media folks need each other.
Why Community Media Centers Need Social Media Folks
A good number of community media centers were originally created as public access centers. These centers are in the midst of a transition. Due to state cable franchising, many are seeing their funding disappear (because the funding was reliant upon local cable franchising agreements). They are also adjusting to our culture's reduced reliance upon TV and increased dependence upon the Internet. According to the April 2009 report From Luxury to Necessity - And Back Again released by the Pew Research Center, American's view of the television as a necessary appliance decreased by 12% points since 2006 while our view of broadband as a necessary appliance increased by 2% points.
In order to survive, community media must:
1) Create alternative sources of funding. I recognize this is not an easy task. Its a crazy hard task. Many centers will not survive.
2) Revise services provided. This includes integrating online content distribution with televised content distribution and providing social media trainings.
Community media needs social media expertise and social media passion. My crystal ball tells me social media folks will become volunteer trainers, members, donors and possibly board members at community media centers. Social media advocates will help community media centers redefine themselves.
Why Social Media Folks Need Community Media Centers
Social media proponents and advocates want to share their knowledge. Most believe in the value of online conversations, believe in the value of independent journalism and get all excited about the potential provided by social media. As a newly developing industry, sharing knowledge is usually limited to talking to each other and convincing hesitant colleagues/friends to give social media a try. At a Columbus Social Media Cafe meeting in early 2009, attendees expressed interest in teaching non-profits and others who want to learn how to shoot, edit and post video, how to create, edit and post a podcast, how to use use social networks, etc, etc. They suggested a physical center be created to help others learn social media. Hm. A center with computers and audio video equipment available to the public that includes free/cheap classes? Sounds a lot like a community media center.
Social media folks also search out and create opportunities to meet offline. Not only do they understand the benefits to having a strong network that is developed both online and offline but for folks who work online, there is a need for in person interaction.
Before the social media folks get all excited, note that not all cities have community media centers. Many have community technology programs that have computers and a variety of technology providing classes within a broader context (workforce development, senior centers, after school programs, etc). Many community technology programs will also welcome involvement from social media folks.
Social media needs community media. Social media needs an outlet for their intentions to bring social media to all who yearn to learn. In sharing their expertise, they will get to know each other and a larger community in a meaningful fashion (ie. network, an activity very much appreciated by social media folks).
A partnership between community media and social media would be good for us all.
Taking Action
Recommendations for social media in search of local community media:
Start local. Social media folks should certainly have no problem finding community media folks in their region. If they do, then maybe they should not be calling themselves social media advocates ;-). To connect with a national organization, chat with the Alliance for Community Media.
Recommendations for community media in search of local social media:
Search social networks (such as LinkedIn and Facebook) for "[your city name] social media". You will find groups organizing in your town around social media. Introduce yourself online to the meeting organizers, attend a meeting, open up dialogue.
And be sure to tell me what happens.
Let's not foget the funding and infrastructure
Nice post Angela. . .. one thing about community media is that it has leveraged mega dollars and bandwidth (if you count all of the communities) to support training and access to tools . . . changes in franchising affect that. In fact, discounting Internet services in the revenue calculations have undercut it. If support, training, and noncommercial bandwidth are to remain, it would help for social media folks to get on the bandwagon to save these resources.