Uno Sguardo

The communications field has changed remarkably since I first set off for Italy in the early 1990s. I confess that I have always felt behind in terms of my internet savvy. I blamed the fact that I was in Italy for my backwardness but the truth is surely that I was fearful and that there are plenty of tech savvy Italians, some I know very well. I eventually embraced the Internet and have been blogging away for a stretch. Now that I am back stateside, I have found that I need many more tools in my Social Media kit than ever before. We all know that we need to stay competitive and relevant, especially in tiring economic times such as these. Luckily, I have access to experts such as Sree Sreenivasan, Columbia Journalism School Professor and Dean of Student Affairs. While I can’t count Sree among my friends, not even in Facebook speak as of yet, I have had the opportunity to hear him wax poetic about using LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, not once but twice this week. It was very enlightening and helpful. First at a Columbia Journalism School reunion and then at a meeting of the New York Press Club, he outlined the professional uses of these three social media websites. He also reassured his audience, remarking that we shouldn’t feel behind. He likened the new social media tool set to radio in 1912 and television in 1950. In addition to experts such as Dean Sreenivasan, one can also consult useful websites such as Mashable, a social media guide on the internet and Muck Rack to catch your favorite journalists. A speaker at the meeting, said he learned to “tweet” so he could keep getting his “treats.” I couldn’t agree more.

In other news, coverage is largely about President Obama’s first 100 days. the Swine Flu outbreak and Arlen Specter’s conversion to the Democratic party. While too early to say yet what impact his defection from the Republic party will have, both sides of the aisle are weighing what it might mean for the future. Italy’s earthquake victims in Abruzzo continue to be front and center in Italian news. Pope Benedict XVI recently visited the devastated area.

Photo of the Day – Spring Arrives