Mark Blevis

One of the great underlying themes at PodCamp Ottawa 2008 is that communications — particularly anything released within social media and new media — is a process, not a result.  Some great examples were shared throughout the day to illustrate this point including Jeff Parks‘ story about finger painting with a little girl, Maurizio Ortolani relating how the NACOcast is reaching patrons (young and old) of National Arts Centre events including as an augment to orchestra performances and Hugh McGuire‘s session in which he played a deeply personal excerpt of Scarbrorough Dude’s reflections on the death of his son’s friend as published on the DicksnJanes podcast (the room then proceeded to discuss and disect the elements that made the piece so compelling).

While the discussions at pcott08 centred around the publication of content and not the interaction through social media, digital dialog is why most people participate.  Publishing content online is just the beginning of the process of engaging with other people and further developing one’s thoughts.

The grassroots often refer to the ethos of social and new media.  What they describe sounds like the current of an ocean; the energy that makes online content and engagement exciting and ever evolving.

To me, the communications process begins with selecting content, developing it (even if only in one’s mind as part of a stream of consciousness), delivering it (including the context in which the content is delivered), recording it, editing it (if you so choose), mixing it (not just for levels but adding music and additional audio for audio backdrop), producing it, publishing it and promoting it.

Perhaps it’s the process-mindedness of many in the community that causes them (myself included) to become squirmy when they hear others use the word monetizing, not so much with turning hobbies into businesses.  The way most people drop that word and idea into a conversation is very final — an end, not a process — and they seem genuinely disinterested with quality of content, context and conversation in a way that emphasizes their interest in slapping a price tag on it.  They seem unconcerned and impatient when it comes to discussing and learning the skills that make people effective communicators, great storytellers, thought leaders and capable content producers.

You can’t build a house without a foundation and a frame so you may as well enjoy the process of design, materials selection and construction.

Photo: I has…part of a roof by BoneDaddy.P7.

UPDATE:  Other current discussions on this theme…

• It’s all about skills, baby! by Bob Goyetche
• Building a Business, Not Monetization by David Peralty