Cyndi's Two Cents

Communication evolution

Commentary.

Communication is the most talked about and written about subject I’ve seen in any professional or personal development program.  It is the key to getting along and getting ahead at home, at work and at play.

Why is it so darned hard for most of us to do well?

One of the definitions for communication is “a means of connection between people or places, in particular.”  (Places such as cities or countries.) That connection, made only by the written word or face-to-face communication not so very many years ago can now be made using dozens of new gadgets and technologies.

The advent of the Internet (which we jokingly refer to as “The interwebs” at Brownfield Ag News) created an evolution or a revolution in how we communicate with everyone else.   I’m not quite sure which word best describes what has happened.

Instead of calling someone on the phone to schedule a meeting, we can send a text or instant message to that person on Facebook and take care of our business without picking up a phone or getting out of the office chair where we’ve been planted all day. Using Skype and Twitter, text messaging, Snapchat, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, Facebook and a bunch of other social media tools available today, I can reach out and interact with almost anyone at anytime, anywhere.  Groups of people from different time zones can meet and interact online in a virtual setting without ever meeting in person.

As an agricultural communicator, these new tools have played an important role in how we deliver the content we create to the persons who want and need to receive it. People go a lot of places to get their news and information today. In addition to the tried-and-true formats (radio, print publications, television) consumers are seeking out e-newsletters and You-Tube videos, Twitter and Friend Feed to pick up nuggets of information.

Armed with this new technology and cool gadgetry, suddenly anyone can be a reporter. All you need is an iPhone and abracadabra, you are a journalist.  Because mainstream media has acted shamefully so many times, choosing to sacrifice unbiased journalism for what seems to me to be a blurring of lines between truth and deception to build an audience; the public seems to have more readily accepted these personal interpretations of what might or might not be “news” events.

YouTube is the new boob tube.  I hope everyone understands that video recorded using a smart phone is as easy to manipulate as that shot by any other camera.

I am by no means opposed to the tools of communication available. I am online daily. I tweet.  I text.  I shoot video and post it to YouTube. I have a Facebook page. I am a member of several social media communities.  I utilize these modern technology tools in my work as well as in my personal and social life.

Like so many other things in life, these gadgets and technologies can be overwhelming and addictive.  A tweet or text will do in many cases, but never underestimate the value of a good face-to-face conversation.

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