The brief: Pinterest, hyperlocal disputes and new live blogging tool
I find myself reading loads of stuff via Twitter, blogs and more but despite trying numerous bookmarking services I figured I should start sharing them - and a few thoughts - in a regular fashion.
So I introduce, the brief, a mix of media news, hyperlocal news and other journalism news condensed into a handy guide of what I've been spotting that day.
Pinterest - why you no make some money
This piece on the Telegraph technology section from Julia Green focuses on whether the new social media darling, Pinterest, will actually generate some serious dollars.
If you've missed it, Pinterest is like browsing through one of those really fancy fashion/style magazines with loads of stuff you can't afford plastered all over it. Green is right when he says they've got the 'pinning' bit sorted out, so you can make something look beautiful very quickly - and people like doing that. But whether it's because he's involved in some other tech start-ups which are a little similar, but not as slick, he doesn't think it will pull in the revenue needed.
Story from the States: Residents group threatened with legal action over name of Facebook group
Really interesting piece about how a resident of Maplewood Homeowner's Association in the States got a lawyers letter from the owners of the complex telling her not to use the title of the Homeowner's Association in the title of a Facebook group - so she changed it to 'Residents of Maplewood'.
The group was just a place for people to trade information, tips and more - nothing contentious and the company showed a blinding lack of understanding how social media works by forcing the owner of the group to change the name. Not by asking nicely but by sending a lawyers letter, sometimes picking up the phone is easier and quicker (not to mention cheaper!)
Sad post from an online community consultant saying hyperlocal is a tragedy in the UK, although he points out only four are a success and all in London.
I think what we're seeing with hyperlocal sites in the UK is a growing definition between those who do content, such as the one I run Blog Preston, and those which are focused more around community info and traditional forums, such as Ning, online messageboards and Facebook groups. The comments on the FeverBee post paint a very different picture, showing the diversity and strength in the UK's hyperlocal scene.
New live blogging tool launched by students
Makes me proud this, but I've been road-testing a new live blogging tool tonight for Blog Preston - which involves students at my former university.
Joseph Stashko, co-editor of Blog Preston, is one of those behind the tool called Ocqur and we're going to give it on Blog Preston for the Preston Passion.
Hat tip: I shamelessly nicked the idea for the format of this post from David Higgerson