Dear Today Show, Here’s Why You Need to Know Social Media

Posted in Mashable, News by

One of the wonderful things about working for Mashable is, after twenty-plus years as a journalist, I get to have and voice my opinion on items in the news. So it happened that after the Today Show segment in which the anchors expressed their very real lack of knowledge about Facebook privacy settings and social media, I felt the need to send them this message in the form of an Op-Ed.

Would love to hear your thoughts too.


Dear Today Show, Here’s Why You Need to Know Social Media

It’s not OK to know nothing about social media or the Internet anymore. It’s especially not OK if you are an anchor for a major network TV news program.

This happened after a segment about Randi Zuckerberg’s private family photo being shared publicly. Today’s Willie Geist, Savannah Guthrie and Natalie Morales — three TV journalists at the top of their profession — laughed about their lack of knowledge about Facebook, Twitter and privacy on social media.

“What’s the takeaway here?” Guthrie asked after several minutes of banter about technological ignorance. “We don’t know either.”

It was meant to be cute, but it came off as plain dumb. Such banter is not only an embarrassment to journalists everywhere, but a slap in the face for the Today audience. (Really, is it that hard to explain that a subscriber to Randi Zuckerberg’s Facebook feed saw her photo then posted it to Twitter?)

Here’s a wake-up call, morning crew; your audience is not that dumb. They watch TV news to keep up with what’s happening in the world. It is your job to inform them. Reading the news and then proclaiming you don’t understand any part of it is the epitome of failure.

Social media and digital technology is no longer news; it’s part of the way we live our lives, how we communicate, how business is conducted. Kids use technology to learn in school, to get their entertainment, to compete in the world. They don’t call it technology; they call it life. Saying “I don’t get it, so I will just skip this part of a global revolution” is like saying “I don’t know how to drive a car so I’ll keep riding my horse and buggy to work.” Technology is not something we can choose to ignore.

Savannah Guthrie was a White House correspondent for four years. If she were still there, would she turn to her audience and say “show of hands if you understand how the fiscal cliff actually works?” No, she would need to understand it and explain it to her viewers. That’s what being a journalist is all about.

In a recent interview with USA Today, Guthrie talked about why her favorite alarm clock is her iPhone, and why she has a distinctive ringtone. Clearly she understands some of the ways technology has entered her life.

Before I came to Mashable, I was a network newswriter and producer for ABC News for more than 20 years. During that time, I covered everything from the politics to the economy to technology. While I may never have a full understanding of how gas prices rise, for example, I always made sure I was prepared to interview an expert in the field and ask knowledgeable questions in order to better understand it. It was my job to explain it in a clear and concise way. If I don’t get it, neither will the audience.

Plenty of people older than the Today crew can wrap their brains around new things. Last night I spent two hours with my mother, an eighty-something-year old (I can’t say the exact number, or she’ll disown me) who is addicted to her iPad. She emails, shares pictures, watches YouTube videos and Skypes with her relatives in Canada. She’s not letting the pleasures of technology pass her by.

Today’s Willie Geist, who’s apparently “still trying to figure out (his) fax machine,” has two young children. I’m sure he plans on teaching them many things as they grow up. Among those should be digital safety and social media etiquette. If he doesn’t get it, he can’t explain it.

Today may not have a takeaway from Randi Zuckerberg’s privacy debacle, but I do. The need to understand our privacy settings illustrate why we can’t stop learning. We can’t say it’s too hard. We don’t let our kids get away with that. As adults, we shouldn’t either.

Money-Saving App Shop Savvy on Anderson Cooper Live

Posted in Tech review, Video review by

Last week I taped a segment for the Anderson Cooper show, talking about money-saving apps. I showed a demo of Shop Savvy and aside from slow wi-fi in the beginning, it went well! I was also able to use Airplay on an iPhone 5 to send the phone output to the big screen. No wires!

Lots of fun, and it certainly didn’t hurt that Ben Affleck and the cast of Argo were there as well.

For more apps make sure to check out the Lifestyle channel on Mashable.

Women in CE-Take Risks, Proceed Until Apprehended!

Posted in News, Tech by

During CE week last month, I had the opportunity to join some incredibly accomplished women in a career-enhancing discussion, much of it focusing on being a woman in a male-dominated industry. However, panel moderator extraordinaire Cathie Black spent much of her keynote speaking about taking risks and rising to challenges, so of course she began by asking about my recent decision to leave my job at ABC News for a new position at Mashable.

You can read about the panel here: http://www.dealerscope.com/article/rising-top-women-ce-style-25033984/1 or pasted below, but suffice it to say it was engaging discussion prompting lots of audience questions. Wish we could have kept going!

Rising to the Top: Women in CE Style

Panel Answers Burning Career Questions

June 27, 2012By Stephanie Adamow

The first Women in CE career-enhancement forum comprised of several presentations and panel programs illustrating keys to success for females in this industry. One of these panels focused on “Insights on Success: An Exploration on Rising to the Top.”

The panel, moderated by the day’s keynote speaker, Cathie Black, former chairwoman and president of Hearst Magazines andNew York Times best-selling author of “Basic Black: The Essential Guide to Getting Ahead at Work (And in Life),” included Sandra Benedetto , director of Field Engineering for THX Media Director technology at THX Ltd.; Karen Chupka , senior VP of Events and Conferences at the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA); Andrea Smith , channel editor, Mashable Lifestyle; and Kristine Welker , VP, chief revenue officer for Hearst Digital Media.

Black directed career questions to the panel, beginning with the topic of risk-taking, specifically asking is taking risks scary? Stupid?

Andrea Smith was the obvious first respondent, having recently left a 25-year career at ABC to join Mashable. “It’s scary, stupid, smart, challenging—all of it! No matter how fulfilling and challenging your current position may be, when something comes along that pokes at your passion, you have to take the risk. There may not be another opportunity.”

Hearst’s Welker also jumped ship from print to digital media at the company. “It was a scary decision,” she admitted. “There were people who told me I was crazy, but there were people who said that I could build my career and the company’s brands.

“It took me six months to realize that I didn’t know digital at all, but I am learning every day.”

When asked what being in the CE industry had taught her, THX’s Benedetto responded that she had found supportive men, even though as a woman she felt the need to prove herself.

“It does help to cultivate alliances with men and women in the CE industry,” Benedetto said.

“Women may stand out in this industry,” added CEA’s Chupka, “but that’s a good thing.”

Is it exciting to be in the CE industry? Would you recommend it to a young college grad?

“I would absolutely encourage a young woman to join,” said Benedetto. “It is an exciting time; we have a lot to offer the industry. We offer purchasing power but also what we need—our perspective is vital to this industry.”

“I have fallen in love with tech,” added Welker. “There is great opportunity for women. We are online more, we are the consumers, we have the ability to come up with new perspectives. We have become comfortable with being uncomfortable—to be ok with being the only woman. We are the early adopters of blogs, social media, mobile—a ton of opportunities there.”

One of the most resonating themes that pervaded the day came from Smith when asked about the most important lesson she’s learned. “Proceed until apprehended,” she said, meaning that she opened many doors for herself ABC by doing things she was interested in until someone told her to stop, which they never did. Smith admits it was her husband who gave her the advice, foreshadowing a topic that would come up later in the day’s program—how thinking like a man in your career can be beneficial.

Joining the Amazing Team at Mashable as Lifestyle Channel Editor

Posted in Announcements, News, Tech News by

Here’s the news I’ve been waiting to share:

Since 2005, Mashable has looked at the world as a digital experience. New products, technologies and ideas smashing together to create great new things. That’s still happening, but now that technology has grown legs and marched into every part of our society. It’s at work, on the road, in revolutions and at the forefront of modern innovation. It’s a part of our lives. We are living a digital lifestyle.Lifestyle is about the parts of our lives that are, perhaps, maybe a little more personal than everything else. It’s how we make our homes, relate to our loved ones, raise our children, save our energy, and manage our health and the well-being of those around us.While community has always been at the heart of everything Mashable does, this new channel will be more of a conversation than any other we’ve launched. We plan on learning as much from you as you do from us.

Andrea Smith headshot

Leading this conversation is our new Lifestyle Channel Editor, Andrea Smith. Andrea is a media industry veteran who has been talking directly to you (she was technology producer ABC News Radio and delivered tech stories on ABC TV) for more than a decade and has been covering families and technology since computers first started to invade our homes. Joining her is Associate Editor Sarah Kessler, who has been a startups reporter forMashable since 2010. She has a deep interest in education and technology and has written numerous landmark articles on the topic.

This new channel will be a destination for the latest news on changes affecting our digital lives and also a wellspring of smart, practical guidance on topics as wide-ranging as how to work with your children to set up their first Facebook Page, how healthcare technology will impact our rapidly aging population and how digital can help us all stay in shape. We’ll find the best apps for your favorite hobbies, like cooking and travel, and the leading tools for transforming your family’s education experience.

Want a smarter home? We’re looking at the gadgets. Trying to figure out what to wear? Our digital fashion advice has got you covered (literally!).

Digital is a part of our lives. Now you can use Mashable’s Lifestyle Channel to get the most out of it. You can keep in touch with Mashable Lifestyle by following Andrea Smith and the channel on Twitter and Liking us on Facebook here. Also, be sure to watch for our Pinterest boards where we’ll post digital lifestyle topics that interest us and where you can show us what interests you.

Full article is here: http://mashable.com/2012/05/24/introducing-mashables-lifestyle-channel/

Great news, right? And so excited to be part of the Mashable team!

You can follow Mashable Lifestyle here: @mashlifestyle

You can Like our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/mashable.lifestyle/posts/305296822890392

And you can reach me at: andrea@mashable.com

Goodbye Pix-Saying Bye to the Newsroom Family

Posted in ABC, Announcements, News by

Yes the ID pictures are from the year I began working at ABC and were never updated, so I have no idea how security was supposed to recognize me. Luckily, I’ve barely changed since the 80′s ;)

And the last picture? That’s called tape. We used to record on it, and cut it, and splice it, and search the floor for missing breaths. Really.

New Adventures and Challenges: Leaving ABC News

Posted in Tech by

Today I sent this email (below) to my friends and colleagues at ABC News. I sent a similar email to the huge collection of contacts I’ve amassed in my years here. The heart-warming good wishes I’ve received from my colleagues here at ABC are overwhelming. Nice to know everyone thinks I have such a sunny disposition!

The responses from those in the PR world make me smile: WOW!, Ack!, No Way!, Shocked, but excited! Can’t believe it!

I’m looking forward to my next adventure…this one has been incredible.

-Andrea

**********************************************************************************************************

After some 25 years at ABC News, tomorrow is my last day. Some people may call me an institution. I call me incredibly lucky. I began my career at ABC News fresh out of college at a time when staying at your first job just didn’t happen. I started as a desk assistant and have worked my way through pretty much every position that exists at Radio, and even invented a few for myself along the way. I was there for the big move to West End Ave., the transition from typewriters to computers, and helped launch our technology broadcast, which has inspired my career and my passion.

Leaving ABC after all these years is difficult. I will miss checking my BlackBerry and knowing what’s going on in the news when the rest of the world, and Twitter, are all guessing and speculating. I will miss doing my tech segments with the fabulous crew at WNN who always marveled at whatever gadgets I brought over. I will miss calling my friend and mentor, Jim Hickey, and asking for his parking space. I will miss being a part of an incredibly talented, hard-working team of journalists who persevere, no matter the circumstances. Most of all, I will miss the people I have come to think of as part of my family. No, I will not miss the 5am and weekend shifts.

I am headed to a digital media company where I’ll continue to write and report on consumer technology and preach the gospel of living a digital life. I’m sure our paths will cross somewhere, but please keep in touch.

Thanks for all the incredible years and memories.

Andrea Smith

Grad Gift Ideas for Class of ’12: My ABC World News Now Segment

Posted in ABC, News, Tech, Video review by

ABC’s Tech Contributor Andrea Smith (@abcandrea) has a round-up of today’s latest gadgets for those ready to take on the world post-graduation.

APPLE TV $99

Your grad is already living in an HD world and technology is doing its best to keep up. Apple has released the third generation of its Apple TV, bringing full 1080p HD and a new user interface to the tiny box that lets you stream video content from various sources.

For those apartment-hopping or possibly moving to a new city for a new job, there’s really no reason to sign up for cable, or make a huge commitment when you can stream movies and TV shows from iTunes, Netflix, MLB.TV and other subscription services. YouTube is available, of course as well as the ability to stream your own HD videos from your mobile devices using AirPlay over your Wi-Fi network. In fact, the Apple TV makes a great companion for your iPad as it will send movies, music, photos and video games to the TV screen using Apple’s AirPlay technology.

You’ll need to buy an HDMI cable separately.

< Click Here For More Info >

Logitech UE Air Speaker $399

Gone are the days of moving stereos and receivers and speakers, all your grad needs today is an AirPlay-enabled speaker and an iOS device and the music will flow. There are a few on the market but Logitech’s UE Air Speaker with dual tweeters and woofers is so stylish and elegant, it will fit nicely on any bookshelf or table.

AirPlay speakers let you take advantage of Apple’s ability to send uncompressed music from iTunes or an iPad/iPhone. You just need them both connected to your Wi-Fi network to get great-sounding audio that can fill a room. A built-in docking station lets you charge your device and play music at the same time.

< Click Here For More Info >

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 8GB $249

If you’re looking for a budget-priced tablet, the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 for $249 is a great option. It has a 7-inch-screen, of course, front (VGA) and rear-facing (3MP) cameras and it’s running Android’s latest Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. Unique to the new line of tablets is a built-in IR blaster that turns the tablet into a smart remote for your TV. The remote is powered by the Peel app, which, after learning which home entertainment products you use and who your provider is, provides a guide to help you find your favorite shows. For those who like to play along with a second screen, the Smart Remote also lets you share what you’re watching with friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter.

The Galaxy Tab 2 is W-Fi only, which keeps costs down, so you’ll have to provide your own connection now that you’re off the wired campus. Though the tablet provides only 8 GB of storage, it does feature a slot for a MicroSD card to expand up to 32 GB.

< Click Here For More Info >

MARCHON EX 3D GLASSES $22-$75

If your grad is a movie buff, don’t let them get caught with geeky movie theater 3D glasses. Stylish glasses make a great gift that can be used over and over.

Whether you choose the wear-over model, the kind that fits right over your prescription glasses, or clip-ons that do just that, you’ll look great taking in a Real 3D movie or staying home to watch a passive 3DTV.

Marchon’s glasses are made with patented curved-lens technology, which allows for a wider field of peripheral viewing, giving you optimal 3D viewing. They’re Real 3D certified and compatible with most passive 3D technologies, such as TV’s and gaming systems.

HD PENCAM – MINI 720P VIDEO CAMERA & RECORDER $99

Here’s a high tech take on a tradition graduation gift. It’s a pen, but it’s also an HD video and audio recorder. So you can play James Bond, or take it with you to grad school to record notes and lectures. The Swann HD PenCam Mini 720p looks like an elegant ballpoint pen, with ribbed casing and gold trip, but it’s also got a teeny lens that lets you shoot video or stills at the push of a button. For students wanting to devour every minute of a lecture, you can add a 16GB MicroSD card which Swann says will hold up to eight hours. Data is uploaded via USB to your computer, which is also how you recharge the pen. Ink refills come the old-fashioned way.

< Click Here For More Info >