Archive for the ‘Journalism’ Category

I suppose that’s what it would look like if Allan Sherman’s “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah (A Letter From Camp)” was instead tweeted from camp.

Yesterday, I was at camp, minus the s’mores – Social Media Camp Long Island, that is.  The first-ever event was held at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue, and included a day full of social media-related sessions, a panel discussion, and networking. It was perhaps the only place that someone wasn’t insulted if you were tweeting or posting on Facebook while talking to him!

The three blocks of sessions were attendee-influenced and led by local experts from all realms of social media. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, journalism, podcasting, privacy – so many topics were discussed at once, and it was difficult to choose which breakout session to attend. I settled for three on business and Twitter, event planning, and local news. What I enjoyed most about it is that no one spoke at you – even though someone was leading a session, everyone shared ideas and learned from each other. Read the rest of this entry »

Well, perhaps not the Rolling Stone, but Newsday‘s good enough for me. I was interviewed for the cover story “Their New Lifeline,” which talks about Long Islanders with illnesses and how they’ve used the Internet to share their experiences. The story came out great, and there’s even a full-page photo of me on page A4. If you’re a Newsday subscriber, you can read the story here (with a sidebar on social media). I put a request in for a reprint, so hopefully I’ll have something to share with those who aren’t subscribed.

I was also taped along with a few others for a short video clip:

Exciting!

Got the ride the pace car three laps around the NASCAR track in Charlotte yesterday at around 100 m.p.h. (after signing a relase form, of course). At some points, it just felt like driving on the Garden State Parkway. Quite fun!

Last night I went to a dinner with the CEO of an international hotel company at his New York hotel. I assumed it was going to be a press dinner to introduce his new hotel in China. The PR reps were so happy I showed up early that I got a sneak preview of the hotel. Then they tell me about dinner – it was called “Taste of New York,” a progressive dinner. I chatted up the CEO for a bit about the hotel, then they brought me into a meeting room, where the appetizers were set up.

OK, meals have appetizers. But these were amazing. There was a Peking Duck in the middle of the room, posed and looking at us, with individual plates of duck around him, and the freshest sushi I have ever eaten in my life. It melted in my mouth. Dim sum completed the spread, while a famous NYC bartender mixed his signature martini. The PR rep was quick to get me a glass of Chardonnay. I met a few other people from Dow Jones, Reuters, and an investment magazine, but the 15 or so people that were in attendence mostly belonged to the hotel group. Read the rest of this entry »

I called the news channel this morning and they rescheduled my interview for Monday. So, I’ll go in for a few hours, get a taste of my first real interview, then perhaps meet Steve after work. They didn’t seem too nosy about the “emergency surgical procedure” that prevented me from going to the interview today, so that’s good. Perhaps it’s because they know they might have a chance at stealing my soul. But I doubt it’s going to happen.

Took my bandage off today. I have a two-inch long incision on my neck. Nothing too bad – if it scars, I can just cover it up with one of my many necklaces. It just looks like someone tried to slit my throat. I also found three EKG stickers left on my body that the surgeon apparently forgot to take off – and this does not include the one Mom peeled off of the back of my neck last night. I was so happy to take a shower. I couldn’t last night because of the bandage, and I was yellowed from the iodine. It looked like I had jaundice.