News Release
10/25/09
Minneapolis/St. Paul: Justin Ware is going to now consider Sunday afternoons and early evening as “part of the weekend” in an attempt to get more out of weekends, easily the best part of the week.
“We took a hard look at how we’re dividing up our time and decided there’s more we can do with the hours we have on the clock,” said Ware.
Early evening Friday will continue to be considered the beginning of the weekend and Ware says he’ll continue to observe the weekend at an earlier day, should vacation allow. The moves are something Ware believes will provide himself with more enjoyment and is pretty sure can also help other people.
“I just think a longer weekend is something America could use at this point.”
To contact Ware visit: twitter.com/warehousemedia
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Social Media Lets Athletes Talk to Fans on Their Own Terms
Looking for some real, scientific research on the impact of social media? The University of Minnesota (my employer) might soon have some answers to questions about just how effective (or, gasp, ineffective) social media is when you're trying to bring about societal change.
The University of Minnesota's Tucker Center - a research center that examines how sport and physical activity affect the lives of girls and women, their families, and communities - is using their Fall Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS) to tackle some of the big questions about social media and what it means to women's sports. Read more about that event here. Meanwhile, many of the researchers working at the Center are busy putting social media to the scientific test and asking "Will this technological paradigm shift challenge or reproduce the ways in which female athletes are traditionally portrayed in mainstream sport media?"
One great point of view comes from Ann Gaffigan, Co-Founder of the Women Talk Sports Network. She argues that social media enables athletes to go directly to the fans: "Social media puts the power in the athletes' hands so that they can better control the message they want to send and the image they want to project. It also allows them to connect personally with fans and be available as a role model, which is what the fans miss out on when mainstream media fails to cover women's sports." In sum, as WTS Co-Founder Jane Schonberger points out: "Social networks allow female athletes to play the 'media game' on their own terms."
What do you think? Angela Ruggiero, Olympic hockey star, U of M grad student and DLS panelist, wants to know (and asks you in the video below) ...what impact on female athletes can/will social media have?
The University of Minnesota's Tucker Center - a research center that examines how sport and physical activity affect the lives of girls and women, their families, and communities - is using their Fall Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS) to tackle some of the big questions about social media and what it means to women's sports. Read more about that event here. Meanwhile, many of the researchers working at the Center are busy putting social media to the scientific test and asking "Will this technological paradigm shift challenge or reproduce the ways in which female athletes are traditionally portrayed in mainstream sport media?"
One great point of view comes from Ann Gaffigan, Co-Founder of the Women Talk Sports Network. She argues that social media enables athletes to go directly to the fans: "Social media puts the power in the athletes' hands so that they can better control the message they want to send and the image they want to project. It also allows them to connect personally with fans and be available as a role model, which is what the fans miss out on when mainstream media fails to cover women's sports." In sum, as WTS Co-Founder Jane Schonberger points out: "Social networks allow female athletes to play the 'media game' on their own terms."
What do you think? Angela Ruggiero, Olympic hockey star, U of M grad student and DLS panelist, wants to know (and asks you in the video below) ...what impact on female athletes can/will social media have?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Super-duper-falling-over-spasm-inducing excited for this Saturday...
...because, after three long years of waiting, TCF BANK STADIUM OPENS FOR BUSINESS AT 6 PM! As a fair disclaimer, I do work for the U of M, but I'd be all slobbery-excited over this thing whether I was an employee or not (perhaps even more so if I wasn't:)
Just in case you haven't heard, it's been 27 years since the Gophers played a football game on the University of Minnesota's campus. 27 years since 50,000 fans, alums, students, passers-by -- Minnesotans -- got together on a beautiful fall day and walked through Northrop Mall, down University Avenue, to a massive, outdoor event. That, my friends, is community. The Star Tribune did a nice job of capturing what was lost (and will soon be regained) with their spectacular coverage leading up to this Saturday.
Words, as eloquent as they are, only do this facility so much justice. If you'd like to see (and hear) what the Stadium is like, here are a few videos we've thrown together at the U of M. The first, a tremendously passionate Tim Brewster-driven pep rally:
...and the second, President Bruininks' and A.D. Maturi's welcoming Minnesota back to campus:
As for me, I'll be floating around some parking lot near the Law School on Saturday, grinning ear to ear and soaking up the sun (or rain), celebrating our return to football the way it's supposed to be played ...outside.
Just in case you haven't heard, it's been 27 years since the Gophers played a football game on the University of Minnesota's campus. 27 years since 50,000 fans, alums, students, passers-by -- Minnesotans -- got together on a beautiful fall day and walked through Northrop Mall, down University Avenue, to a massive, outdoor event. That, my friends, is community. The Star Tribune did a nice job of capturing what was lost (and will soon be regained) with their spectacular coverage leading up to this Saturday.
Words, as eloquent as they are, only do this facility so much justice. If you'd like to see (and hear) what the Stadium is like, here are a few videos we've thrown together at the U of M. The first, a tremendously passionate Tim Brewster-driven pep rally:
...and the second, President Bruininks' and A.D. Maturi's welcoming Minnesota back to campus:
As for me, I'll be floating around some parking lot near the Law School on Saturday, grinning ear to ear and soaking up the sun (or rain), celebrating our return to football the way it's supposed to be played ...outside.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Social Media Pros Wanted-- Just one thing ...what makes a SM Pro?
I’m starting to notice a shift in the world of social media employment. While many organizations are still trying to get by with an intern running their social media efforts, others are coming to the realization that this Twitter/Facebook/YouTube thing is more than a fad. For example, check out this recent post from Agency Babylon. As you can see, a lot of the jobs listed on the Babylon post are not targeting fresh-faced college kids – these are posts from big shots like Target and Cargill, looking for experienced communicators who know how to leverage social media.
So now that it appears organizations are looking for experience in their social media hires, it would be interesting to learn what flavor of experience they’re looking for when selecting candidates. There are some clear success stories with social media (I love this recent example from Sears), but still a lot of disagreement about what makes a good social media strategy, even though most would agree having such a strategy is important.
Since a big part of my world is higher education, I’d point anyone asking “how should we use social media?” to this list from othersidenotes.com. It’s university-focused, but the general themes could be used by anyone in any organization – get personal with the people who matter to what you do.
What do you think? If you were hiring a social media pro (with a few years of communications experience under their belt) what criteria would you use to differentiate what I’m sure would be a big stack of applicants?
So now that it appears organizations are looking for experience in their social media hires, it would be interesting to learn what flavor of experience they’re looking for when selecting candidates. There are some clear success stories with social media (I love this recent example from Sears), but still a lot of disagreement about what makes a good social media strategy, even though most would agree having such a strategy is important.
Since a big part of my world is higher education, I’d point anyone asking “how should we use social media?” to this list from othersidenotes.com. It’s university-focused, but the general themes could be used by anyone in any organization – get personal with the people who matter to what you do.
What do you think? If you were hiring a social media pro (with a few years of communications experience under their belt) what criteria would you use to differentiate what I’m sure would be a big stack of applicants?
Monday, August 3, 2009
Wolf Shirt Motherload
Much thanks to @Drewcswain for submitting the first (and likely the last) wolf shirt photo to Minnesocia. As promised, it will be posted. So feast your eyes on one of the most epic displays of wolfshirtdom in all the Midwest (Wisconsin, in this case).
Friday, July 24, 2009
Three Wolf Moon over Minnesocia
Three Wolf Moon is the number one apparel item on Amazon.com ...and social media (mostly YouTube and comment sections) is a big reason why. Maybe you haven't heard of the Three Wolf Moon sensation yet? No worries, we got you covered in episode 6 of Minnesocia.
For that Three Wolf Moon musical I mentioned in the video, click here
The wolf-shirt sensation all started with a comment on Amazon about how the Three Wolf Moon shirt made its owner a "babe magnet". Since then, more than a thousand others have posted tongue-in-cheek comments, Facebook groups have started in support of the shirt, YouTube videos have been posted ...I haven't seen a twitter handle for Three Wolf Moon yet, but would love to follow if you know of one.
So, great ...if you're the folks at The Mountain (the Maine-based company that produces 3WM and many other ferocious nature shirts), you're all over social media, but what's it worth to you? I know the answer is obvious, but just in case, The Mountain's employees are now working over time, churning out shirts for thousands of orders a day. Click here for a link to the complete story.
I mean, c'mon ...the number one apparel item on Amazon? ...and it's a shirt that most people associate with low-grade amusement parks? 3WM is just another in a long line of examples of how a smart social media campaign (even though this one was accidental) is marketing at its best.
For that Three Wolf Moon musical I mentioned in the video, click here
The wolf-shirt sensation all started with a comment on Amazon about how the Three Wolf Moon shirt made its owner a "babe magnet". Since then, more than a thousand others have posted tongue-in-cheek comments, Facebook groups have started in support of the shirt, YouTube videos have been posted ...I haven't seen a twitter handle for Three Wolf Moon yet, but would love to follow if you know of one.
So, great ...if you're the folks at The Mountain (the Maine-based company that produces 3WM and many other ferocious nature shirts), you're all over social media, but what's it worth to you? I know the answer is obvious, but just in case, The Mountain's employees are now working over time, churning out shirts for thousands of orders a day. Click here for a link to the complete story.
I mean, c'mon ...the number one apparel item on Amazon? ...and it's a shirt that most people associate with low-grade amusement parks? 3WM is just another in a long line of examples of how a smart social media campaign (even though this one was accidental) is marketing at its best.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Beer with your Buddy
If you like dogs and beer, then you'll love this episode of Minnesocia!
Thanks to the folks at K9-Connection, every other Thursday there's a Twin Cities-area happy hour event where dog owners can bring their pooches with them and enjoy a beer with other dog owners. My wife and I brought our new best friend Tupper to the last event and had a blast. Sound like fun to you? Click here for upcoming "Beer with your Buddy" events.
In this episode, there are pictures from the June 25th BWYB at The Nomad, plus a new doggie Facebook page trend that is guaranteed to make you go "awwwwwwww".
Thanks to the folks at K9-Connection, every other Thursday there's a Twin Cities-area happy hour event where dog owners can bring their pooches with them and enjoy a beer with other dog owners. My wife and I brought our new best friend Tupper to the last event and had a blast. Sound like fun to you? Click here for upcoming "Beer with your Buddy" events.
In this episode, there are pictures from the June 25th BWYB at The Nomad, plus a new doggie Facebook page trend that is guaranteed to make you go "awwwwwwww".
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