More on the cognitive surplus

Alfred Hermida found some very interesting information about the BBC’s blogs. Usage of the blogs, maintained by editors and management to explain their decisions and to interact with viewers, outstrips the use of the BBC’s corporate site and ‘have your say’ message boards. Users like the informality – the conversational tone resonates with users.

All very interesting…but the main message to me was that so many people are motivated to express themselves online, so willing to contribute their own perspectives and insights – in preference to just passively consuming the usual corporate blurb. The BBC’s blogs are entertaining as well, complete with embedded YouTube videos and links all over the place.

This is exactly what Clay Shirky was on about when he said “media targeted at you but that does not include you” is history.