Newscoma

I’m learning new things. This, of course, means that my brain is full. I blame sadcox. It also means that if Alka Seltzer made a product that would get the gas bubbles out of my head, I would buy a year’s supply.

I’ve been trying to study things foreign to me. I think it’s important to educated myself about issues that I’m not familiar with and that scare me.

I’ve been watching Christian Grantham’s online show in the morning. He honestly does a great job with it. The idea, however, of me sitting in my mummu with sleepy face on video while Mabel licks her naughty bits gives me a visual of completely horror. CG is a cutie. I have a face for radio (Hey, that’s where I started.)

But the concept intrigues me. So I watch in the morning, interact a bit and I’m finding it’s actually a lot of fun.

News, media and the like can be fun, you know. I’ve been told this several times recently by people who know more than I do. If it becomes a burden, then there is a problem. And, yes, it is a responsibility that needs to be taken seriously, but there is nothing wrong with maintaining one’s sense of humor.

There is an ongoing dialog right now about traditional journalism and new media tools. I think there has to be a place for both of them.

I guess this should have gone up at Newstechzilla, but it ended up here.

Sadcox wants to podcast at NewsTechZilla. I need to get busy studying.

I’m pimping. I’ve never been a pimp before as I never went to pimp school, but I’m very proud of NewsTechZilla so there. It’s good to be proud of something and I am. (I guess I should break out and start singing “It’s hard out here for a Pimp.”

My mind works in funny ways. That song is for Scout, who loves Hustle and Flow much more than she likes cheese. Well, she hates cheese but she loves Hustle and Flow/Terrence Howard.

Our featured article that went live this morning might have some resonance for those folks who loved, and still love, Nashville is Talking.

Mike Sechrist wrote an editorial for us and I’m just beaming. He’s moved on from the first incarnation of NiT, (here’s a video clip from Rex Hammock of Sechrist from 2006 if you want to take a time machine) but he took some time to pontificate about his opinions on the future of the news business.

Anyhoo, I think it’s cool and I hope you do to.

Now, go look at this picture of Chuck Norris, who will (put Chuck Norris cliche here.)

Sadcox and I’s new project called NewsTechZilla started off very well and we’ve been very fortunate. Lots of folks have been very encouraging and we are both mightily excited.

I offer my humble gratitude to everyone, especially Michael Silence, for helping us launch this on January 1st.

He wrote a column at KNS this morning and it’s just wonderful.

Sharp offers the bottom line of the endeavor: “Our plans are to write about what we know, what we want to learn and hopefully be a guide for other journalists trying to be viable in new markets. There is some fantastic information out in the blogosphere that we will spotlight all in one convenient location.”

Adcox called it, simply, “citizen journalism for journalists.”

Here’s what Sharp told me in an e-mail: “We will most likely banter with each other (Scott and I) to keep it sort of personal but one of our objectives is citizen journalism for everyone. Scott knows technology (I’m the news hack), and he is really good about making tech lessons simple. I’m the grand encourager.

“With this, plus linking to interesting sites, our hope is that it will become a go-to place for ongoing conversation about what’s happening, what has happened and what’s next.

“A good example of the most recent power of citizen journalism would be the TVA Sludge Spill. It’s average folks that fueled that.”

Umm, I’m Sharp. Adcox is sadcox, if you were wondering.

This has been a lot of fun and it’s also extremely challenging. We also are encouraging guest columns from folks who might have something to say about citizen journalism, how to use video (I’m still a novice on that one) and social media networking. Drop us a line if you are interested in being a part of this new community.

As everyone feels an ownership and personalizes their own experience when it comes to news, I truly believe everyone is entitled to their voice.

Think of it as writing a letter to the editor. Send me a shout at newscoma at newstechzilla dot com.

So my news ranting will be there now.

And, just to let you know newscoma isn’t going to change, look at this picture at LOLCelebs.

On this first day of Aught Nine, I introduce you to something that Sadcox and I have been working on. A new site on news and technology in a blog/magazine format called, you got it, NewsTechZilla. As my lack of technical ability is obviously apparent, he and I are talking about how old school geezers like myself are preparing for the new digital age because he’s the man on these things. I also am writing about things happening in the news biz such as social media tools, a bit of history and the industry news of the day.

We are officially launching today and I hope you visit.

Incidentally, we have been honored with Michael Silence from the Knoxville News Sentinel who has written the first guest column.

This is pretty groovy.

Happy New Year. Now go subscribe to that puppy!