society

Heed Putnam's call, build social capital

Submitted by yelvington on February 26, 2008 - 5:25pm

Robert Putnam's theories about the formation of social capital are foundational to much of what I've been focusing on for the last several years, especially the 2005 launch of BlufftonToday.com. Blogging for the Readership Institute at Northwestern University, Rich Gordon describes troubling new findings in Putnam's latest research, and declares:

Putnam's research ought to be a clarion call for citizens, journalists and media companies in cities, towns and neighborhoods across the United States. "Bowling Alone" made clear that declines in social capital were harming both communities and their local media. The new research reinforces the need, especially in our most diverse communities, to build new ways for people to connect with one another. It seems clear that journalists and media organizations have a role to play in the process - and that online community-building may be at least part of the solution.

Hear hear!

Girls rule, boys drool

Submitted by yelvington on February 21, 2008 - 10:02am

"Sorry, Boys, This Is Our Domain" is the headline on today's New York Times piece smashing yet another set of assumptions about who really does what on the Internet. "Research shows that among the youngest Internet users, the primary creators of Web content (blogs, graphics, photographs, Web sites) are not misfits resembling the Lone Gunmen of 'The X Files.' On the contrary, the cyberpioneers of the moment are digitally effusive teenage girls."

I can attest to that. Not only do my girls have their own websites (Middle Daughter has posted more than 15,000 photos) but they hacked around the Myspace block that I had put on my network.

If you're in the media biz, don't take this lightly. Teen girls have embraced the Internet and they're not letting go. Project that forward ten years and think about it.

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