Charlestown, MA, September 9, 2006 — Today at the PodCamp Boston "unconference" organizers declared, "we are the media." Over 200 podcasters joined an online community estimated in the tens of thousands for a community event focused on the next steps in developing the podcasting medium.

"We have a potential audience for podcasts that are larger than the single copy sales of the New York Times," said Christopher Penn, PodCamp Boston organizer and host of the Financial Aid Podcast.

Over two days, PodCampers attended sessions including "Podcast Marketing," "Hosting Podcasts in a Talk Show Format" and "Podcast 101". The breadth and depth of session left attendees convinced that the eventual triumph of user-generated content is indisputable.

Share This

An institution challenged has at least two options: respond or ignore it. Responders have passion. They have the courage of their convictions. I admire these organizations… I applaud people with grit. They believe they're right. They want to defend their position. They'd rather die on the feet than live on their knees.

Then there are those that are challenged who elect to ignore it. Maybe they're above it all… maybe they're afraid? They hope the siege will dissipate. All will be forgotten, forgiven. Cowardice? Not always. Wishful thinking? Usually.

Revolutions have a way of coming at you and at you and at you. That's how old, tired, corrupt regimes and traditions are toppled. They're wrong, they know it, and so their only option is to be voiceless. They act deaf and mute as if to imply they're too big, too important, too entrenched to care. It's the beginning of their end.

A national public relations agency says they've cracked the secret of social networking and transparency for their corporate clients. I say they have exploited trendy terms to advance the same old same old. They're silent on the issue… they are totally quiet to that challenge. Their response: no response. Afraid? Maybe. Hopeful we'll just go away? Of course. They fiddle. Rome burns. They remain concert violinists. We invent jazz.

BTW, we're not going away.

And meanwhile, dozens of their loyal employees have been on our site. Why? Because an institution that isn't honest about a challenge to its own make-believe can't be honest with its own people. Those people crave honest talk. They love the fact that someone at long last recognizes and acknowledges what they know and has the stones to say so. To those people I say, 'Keep coming.' Here, at least, you will see us going at them and at them and at them over what we believe. Challenge us and we'll come back at you tooth and nail because we believe in what we believe: that establishment, subjective, old media, expensive, high-gloss, unmeasurable PR as an annuity is over.

Share This