WEB 2.0

The rise of social media

The internet has changed life. As a technology, it redefined the way we think, the way we research and the way we relate. The World Wide Web made it possible for us to connect. That is what the Web 2.0 is--a collection of personal connections. As we share more insights and publish our thoughts, we relate to each other as well as expose ourselves. Certainly the issues of privacy, censorship, copyright and other hot topics will have to be addressed in time, but we will take it as it comes.

To inaugurate this blog of media tips, technology and trends as they relate to public relations, I have decided to begin with a conceptual view of the Web 2.0. Instead of just using it as a buzz word, let's understand it. The following embedded video is from a professor at Kansas University. It does a wonderful job at describing the Web 2.0 and highlights the power of digital text over its handwritten counterpart. So, sit back and enjoy as you learn about the rise of social media.



So, what effect will the Web 2.0 have on the public relations industry? Only time will tell, but we can infer some conjectures. With the possibility of the death of the press release and the breaking of audiences into niches, public relations professionals need to become communications experts. We need to connect people and be able to find a common base, establish a relationship, offer benefits and then continue the conversation. Simply put, we need to build rapport.

The computer changed public relations forever. Now we just have to adjust before we become extinct.