[Nfb-editors] Reaching this generation through social networks
Bridgit Pollpeter
bpollpeter at hotmail.com
Sun May 1 20:45:25 UTC 2011
In my experience, social networking is used as a casual means of
communication. People flock to social network cites for entertainment,
but when it comes to using cites like Facebook and Twitter to
communicate real news and information, very few people are interested in
this.
In Omaha, NE, our chapter has a Facebook that was created 2 years ago,
but it is never used. As part of a PR plan, I am making recommendations
for the chapter's Facebook page, but I do not see, at this point in
time, social network cites being a huge asset in terms of a true
information source.
First, in order to truly make this work, you need someone, preferably a
couple of people, who will be dedicated to updating the cite. This
means including new info in timely fashions, addressing questions and
comments as they are made, creating and sending event info to people and
seeking new members to the cite. Depending on how active your page is,
this could require daily updates, but I would say weekly or biweekly at
the least. You should probably include some visual element, though
Facebook and Twitter are not like a website or personal blog where you
can develop an entire artistic aspect.
They are limited to what visual you can create since the websites
themselves already have graphic designs meant to keep the cites
consistent and recognizable. This may not be the best analogy, but it
is similar to how a newspaper or magazine creates everything to be
recognized as material from their source. You may use certain material
unique to you, but ultimately it will follow the design of that
publication.
With Facebook and Twitter, and I'm no expert, you can create some
specific graphics-- some of this is accessible, most not-- and of course
you can upload pictures.
I am familiar with Facebook, but not as much with Twitter. Facebook
requires a "following." You must either "invite" people through the
website to your page, or people can request your page as a "friend."
Otherwise, people are limited to what information they can access on
your page. I think the same is true for Twitter, but I'm not sure.
Also, for updating and informing about dates and times of events and
activities, these cites can be good, but if trying to communicate info
similar to what is available in a newsletter, or even email, Twitter and
Facebook are not the routes to go. Twitter only allows, I believe, up
to 140 words per post, and Facebook, though lengthier post can be done,
is not really meant for this kind of info.
Now, using either as a tool to pique curiosity, this could work. People
can initially be drawn to your group to learn more. You may offer small
tid-bits of info such as event advertisements, or some sound-bite of
interesting info that may wet minds, but as a true source of news,
social network cites are not intended for this purpose.
Websites and blogs would be the route to take if you are looking to
create an online news source. I have no clue how to create websites and
blogs. I know Wordpress is a common blog-creator and it is accessible,
but beyond this, I have no answers. Your best bet is to find someone
who has experience in creating websites and blogs. Blogs, I've been
told, are pretty easy to create, but websites are more involved.
It will also cost to create and maintain websites and some blogs.
Websites can be costly so you will have to research.
Blogs and websites can be as advanced and sophisticated as you are able
to make them. You have complete control over the visual design and what
kind of content you provide.
Again, you will require people who will keep the cite updated, and with
a website or blog, this will require more diligence than social network
cites. In order to maintain an active website, your webmaster will have
to be on top of things checking if material is current, relevant and
appropriate.
Here is my opinion. If it isn't flashy and fun, the younger generations
won't pay attention. The sad reality is that the days of revolution are
coming to an end. There was a time when the younger generations felt
the fire, were eager to march and take up the fight. They paid
attention to those who came before. They anticipated speeches and news
sources. They actively participated alongside veterans. I think my
generation is when the break happened- those of us born in the late 70s
and early 80s.
The same fervor and passion that drew people together and left a stamp
on past generations-- Harlem Renaissance, voting rights, Civil Rights
era, womens lib, hippy movement, etc.-- We are now creating a society of
people who require instant communication, but it must come in as small,
but pretty, package as possible. The fire is not dead, yet, but the
attention span no longer exist.
Even ten years ago when it was students speaking the loudest about the
war in Iraq and genocide in Africa, this has changed. I think we are
becoming sterile. It once was students leading us into revolution, but
I see this happening less and less. In my experience, I see very few
younger people eager and excited to take up arms. When there are fun
activities that do not require work, they will flock from all over, but
they are asked to do anything that even remotely seems boring, you hear
crickets chirping.
Our state has a walk for independence each spring. We usually have all
of 5 younger people show up to participate, and usually they are on the
board of the student division. However, the NE student division takes
an annual trip to Worlds of Fun and let me tell you, they have
difficulty providing enough transportation.
This is not meant to be a call to give up. I'm just saying that the
traditional methods of involvement, communications and information no
longer work to draw a younger audience.
Even if we create blogs or social network pages, we have to rethink how
to present ourselves. To be honest, if younger people-- and some older
people too-- don't feel as though you are doing something for them,
offering them something, many have no interest.
We are not a social organization, though this is an element, and we
can't change the goals of the Federation to be fun, social activities
only, but I think the entire organization needs a wake-up call. While
many of our veterans are still active and going, we will be okay, but
once more and more of the younger generation starts taking over, I
wonder about the future of the organization.
As those of you from the 60s said, The times are changing." It doesn't
take a rocket scientist to observe the turn the world has taken. The
problems we face in the NFB are problems the entire world are dealing
with.
And this brings me back to what is the purpose and direction of our
newsletters. Yes, I said it, I am still beating that horse! *smile*
And I'm probably inadvertently starting another controversial debate!
LOL I am a menace and should be stopped! *smile*
In a nutshell, which this communication certainly has not been, I do not
find social network cites to be a valid tool communicating the kind of
news and info we are attempting to provide. Facebook and Twitter can be
great supplemental tools that provide some fun and new ways to update
with morsels, but at best, they will only be ways to advertise and
remind-- not inform and educate.
Website and blogs have a better chance of expressing this type of
material, but again, I think we are coming to the end of the age when
the written word had the same kind of power and sway it once did. Which
sucks since I'm a writer by traide!
When people can communicate via live chat, or You Tube, or in 140 words,
articles and other longer print sources no longer have the same affect
as they once did.
Bridgit
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2011 21:49:54 -0700
From: "Tina Hansen" <th404 at comcast.net>
To: "Correspondence Committee Mailing List" <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Nfb-editors] Reaching this Generation through Social
Newtorks
Message-ID: <09FDDF9C97AF4D968A09D39F24EA200C at tinad85eb5cc31>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I know that the current generation is very much up on the social network
sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Linked In. They also love to blog. I
had a discussion with a good friend of mine last night, and this friend
argues that we ought to use these new tools to communicate our messages.
I know that while some other states now have a blog, Facebook page or
Twitter account, ours doesn't. My thinking is that if we were to create
a blog, Facebook page or Twitter account, we could use that for
podcasts, testimonials from members, and possibly our newsletter.
Personally, I plan to make it a personal project this year to get over
my fears and do something about this myself, possibly with some help
from others in my affiliate.
If any of you have done this in your affiliate, I'd like to hear what
you've done to make this happen. How do you ensure that blind and
sighted visitors find the site both accessible and visually attractive.
I know that I'm not that good with graphics, and much better with words,
but I also recognize that our visual culture likes attractive graphics.
If you've created a blog, what platform is the most accessible? If
you've created a Facebook page, how did you go about it?
If you have any thoughts on this, I'd love to hear them. Thanks.
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 1 May 2011 06:16:36 -0500
From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "'Correspondence Committee Mailing List'" <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Nfb-editors] Reaching this Generation through Social
Networks
Message-ID: <00a401cc07f1$3c775cb0$b5661610$@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Tina
A super current thought --- a question that we will address at
convention during the Newsletter Publication committee meeting.
Discussion here and now would help to solidify the scope of this trend
needing to be addressed. What do we hear on TV --- "Face Book 600
million and counting --- Twitter 200 million and counting!" "Newspapers
are failing and hard-copy issues are being over shadowed by on-line
presentation." "Cell phones that are computers in your pocket!"
-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Tina Hansen
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 11:50 PM
To: Correspondence Committee Mailing List
Subject: [Nfb-editors] Reaching this Generation through Social Newtorks
I know that the current generation is very much up on the social network
sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Linked In. They also love to blog. I
had a discussion with a good friend of mine last night, and this friend
argues that we ought to use these new tools to communicate our messages.
I know that while some other states now have a blog, Facebook page or
Twitter account, ours doesn't. My thinking is that if we were to create
a blog, Facebook page or Twitter account, we could use that for
podcasts, testimonials from members, and possibly our newsletter.
Personally, I plan to make it a personal project this year to get over
my fears and do something about this myself, possibly with some help
from others in my affiliate.
If any of you have done this in your affiliate, I'd like to hear what
you've done to make this happen. How do you ensure that blind and
sighted visitors find the site both accessible and visually attractive.
I know that I'm not that good with graphics, and much better with words,
but I also recognize that our visual culture likes attractive graphics.
If you've created a blog, what platform is the most accessible? If
you've created a Facebook page, how did you go about it?
If you have any thoughts on this, I'd love to hear them. Thanks.
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------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sun, 1 May 2011 09:58:45 -0700
From: Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "newmanrl at cox.net" <newmanrl at cox.net>, Correspondence Committee
Mailing List <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Nfb-editors] Reaching this Generation through Social
Networks
Message-ID: <04BF4903-331D-426A-8BAD-A52062445695 at panix.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
And yet I'm not convinced people truly read and carefully consider all
the "information" that comes at them thru social media.
Mike Freeman
sent from my iPhone
On May 1, 2011, at 4:16, "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
wrote:
> Tina
>
> A super current thought --- a question that we will address at
> convention during the Newsletter Publication committee meeting.
> Discussion here and now would help to solidify the scope of this trend
> needing to be addressed. What do we hear on TV --- "Face Book 600
> million and counting --- Twitter 200 million and counting!"
> "Newspapers are failing and hard-copy issues are being over shadowed
> by on-line presentation." "Cell phones that are computers in your
> pocket!"
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Tina Hansen
> Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 11:50 PM
> To: Correspondence Committee Mailing List
> Subject: [Nfb-editors] Reaching this Generation through Social
Newtorks
>
> I know that the current generation is very much up on the social
> network sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Linked In. They also love to
> blog. I had a discussion with a good friend of mine last night, and
> this friend argues that we ought to use these new tools to communicate
> our messages.
>
> I know that while some other states now have a blog, Facebook page or
> Twitter account, ours doesn't. My thinking is that if we were to
> create a blog, Facebook page or Twitter account, we could use that for
> podcasts, testimonials from members, and possibly our newsletter.
> Personally, I plan to make it a personal project this year to get over
> my fears and do something about this myself, possibly with some help
> from others in my affiliate.
>
> If any of you have done this in your affiliate, I'd like to hear what
> you've done to make this happen. How do you ensure that blind and
> sighted visitors find the site both accessible and visually
> attractive. I know that I'm not that good with graphics, and much
> better with words, but I also recognize that our visual culture likes
> attractive graphics. If you've created a blog, what platform is the
> most accessible? If you've created a Facebook page, how did you go
> about it?
>
> If you have any thoughts on this, I'd love to hear them. Thanks.
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-editors mailing list
> Nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org
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> Nfb-editors:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org/newmanrl%
> 40cox.
> net
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> anix.com
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