New Report Finds More African Americans Using Self-Created Blogs & Digital Content, Social Networking For News & Information

Higher Percentage Of Blacks Rely on Television News

"African Americans are more likely to have created their own web content — by blogging, microblogging and social networking — than whites or Hispanics," according to the Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism's State of the News Media 2011 report.

As sites like The Grio, MediaTakeOut, Black Report, EUR Web and Field Negro have demonstrated, "Almost a quarter (22%) of blacks created or worked on their own online journal or blog, compared to 14% for whites and 13% for Hispanics. African Americans also use social or professional online networking sites in greater proportions than whites. In May 2010, some 71% of African Americans said they used online networking sites like LinkedIn or Facebook, compared with 58% of whites."

In another finding, "An overwhelming 86% of African Americans turn to TV for most of their news, compared to 64% of white respondents and 66% of Hispanics. Most African American media outlets either began or planned to upgrade their digital enterprises in an effort to reach new audiences. But beyond that, it was a mixed year for the sector," the report said.

Among other findings:

• The digital divide between whites and other ethnic groups is narrowing. A number of different indicators show African Americans and Hispanics turning to the internet in higher percentages than in years past.

• Despite its popularity, most African Americans do not use radio to receive news. Only 9% of African Americans used radio to get most of their news, according to a December 2010 Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey. Twice as many whites (18%) got most of their news from the radio and 12% of Hispanics did the same."

• "An estimated 71% of African Americans use the internet, according to a Pew Internet & American Life survey conducted in May 2010. This still trails whites (80%) and Hispanics (82%), but closes the gap more. . . . data show young African Americans’ time spent on the internet has almost caught up to time watching television."

Source

Why Is Barack Obama Using Social Media So Much? Well, Here's Your Answer!

New 2009 Study Examines Online Habits of Tech-Savvy African Americans

A recent survey conducted by 3BAAS Media Group that polled members of the newly formed Urban New Media Group elicited some surprising answers to questions surrounding habits of US blacks who frequent the Web.

Queried on the Internet locations they visited, You Tube by far was the most popular, followed by news sites such as CNN and Huffington Post, and then Facebook.

While blogs came in much lower than expected, the online tool the majority of respondents indicated they were most interested in learning more about was blogging. A close second was creating video content, with training on additional Facebook social networking applications coming in third.

Interesting enough, Twitter was not used by many of those surveyed. And yet mastering how to Tweet ranked in close proximity to Facebook.

When asked on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the best) how well were clergy and political representatives communicating important issues affecting African Americans, both received a score of 3. Community leaders fared worse, garnering an average score of 2.

Black newspapers and cable networks also received a 2 when the question was posed, "From a scale of 1 – 5 (with 5 being the best) how well do you think black media is doing providing important information to African Americans?" Black magazines and radio were each given a 3 score.

What was also revealing was the number of computer hours individuals spent specifically online. By far the most popular answer was between 3 – 6 hours a day.

Additional information asked included whether individuals believed Johnson Publications, creators of Ebony and Jet magazines, would be able to survive the current downturn amid advertising cutbacks and plummeting circulation numbers.

And participants also were given an opportunity to identify one issue that they would you like to see the Urban New Media Group focus on.

While the Urban New Media Group is open to anyone, most of the respondents were blacks residing in the United States. With membership having already swelled to almost 500 people, clearly a need exists to reach consumers seeking to become fully engaged in all things involving information and technology. Complete results of the survey will be provided to members and the public in the coming days.

The group was launched at the USC Annenberg School of Communication's 2009 Beyond Broadcast Conference. The 4th annual gathering of media experts, industry professionals and academia featured a discussion entitled, Urban New Media - Embracing The Digital Renaissance Movement. On hand to give their insight was Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, USC Annenberg Dean Ernie Wilson, actress and media personality Rolonda Watts, and several others.

The moderator of the event was Kevin Ross, president and CEO of 3BAAS Media Group, a strategic marketing and online branding firm based in Los Angeles. Buoyed by the response the panel discussion received, 3BAAS is already planning a full 3-day conference focusing on urban niche communities in 2010.

For more information about the Urban New Media Group, visit the website, or join via Facebook.

Prince of Social Networking Twitter, Now Worth 250 Million!

If MySpace and FaceBook are the King and Queen of internet social networking... then Twitter is the little prince who is growing fast and coming on strong. Today, reports claim that micro-blogging and social networking site Twitter is valued at $250 million as the company gets ready to raise more capital.

A report from TechCrunch says micro-blogging and social networking Web site Twitter has entered into an agreement with one or more venture capital firms that place the company’s value at $250 million. The report does not mention a specific source other than "a source with knowledge of the deal."

In November, several news outlets reported social networking behemoth Facebook was interested in buying Twitter for $500 million, although the majority of the acquisition funds would have been tied to Facebook stock. The deal subsequently fell through, though Twitter is backed by a variety of venture capital firms, including Union Square Ventures, Digital Garage, Spark Capital and Bezos Expeditions, led by Jeff Bezos of Amazon.

Twitter founder Evan Williams has raised $22 million in funding for the company, and Internet research firm ComScore reported Twitter’s traffic flow rose almost fivefold to 5.57 million in September from a year earlier.

“Rumor is Twitter hit up more than a few venture firms to pitch the $250 million valuation, and got more than one ‘no.’” TechCruch reported. “But someone’s bit, perhaps encouraged by Twitter’s breakneck growth and the interest from Facebook.” The site also reports that two sources have revealed Institutional Venture Partners (IVP) has signed the term sheet.

In an economic climate where cash is short and many companies are tightening their belts, Twitter’s rising popularity and continued increase in traffic will be essential to convincing investors of Twitter’s long-term viability. “Everybody's worth less,'' Williams told Bloomberg News in November. “The VCs have the money, but they'll just negotiate harder. I want to manage things so I don't have to raise money in 2009." Source: Nathan Eddy eweek.com

Music Scene And Black Folks Getting Their Groove On Find Latest Hot Spots On Social Sites

Brotha Raheem DeVaughn Sends Videos

From His Cellphone To Kyte

Musical heavyweights such as 50 Cent and R.E.M. can't get by with just a MySpace page and a website any more. They need a virtual fan connection.

Almost daily, the rapper sends new videos through his Kyte.tv channel to his own Thisis50.com site and to thousands of personal sites where listeners have embedded Kyte's player. Recent dispatches have included new videos with G-Unit and diatribes against rival Fat Joe.

MORE: Check out five musically inclined social networking sites

R.E.M. this week lets fans listen to the new album, Accelerate, on the iLike social network a week before it goes on sale. "We hope it will get a lot of exposure, and people will recommend it to their friends, and hopefully some of them will go out and buy the record as well," says band manager Bertis Downs.

For artists and labels, building word of mouth about an album or tour is paramount. And they're tapping into the growing music-based social networking scene to spread the word. Magazine covers and TV and radio interviews don't carry the weight of the Web, and as features evolve, R.E.M.'s website and MySpace page were not enough, Downs says.

Since its beginnings in summer 2006 as a social network for finding and recommending music, iLike.com has grown to 23 million members, says CEO Ali Partovi. As the community grew, iLike added features for artists to post videos and news; meanwhile, Partovi began approaching artists and labels about providing content to iLike.

One mid-November discussion Partovi had with Bono turned into a video interview in which the U2 frontman sang a just-finished song, Wave of Sorrow. Once posted, it was viewed and forwarded by more than 1 million within a week. Then Keith Urban signed on to post weekly videos and to offer tour ticket presales and fan events.

"The Internet basically empowers consumers to get exactly what they want and artists to put out exactly what they want," Partovi says.

Social networks' clout is growing within the industry. In May, CBS purchased music recommendation site Last.fm. In July, Warner Music cemented a relationship with community Imeem after suing the site for letting users illegally share music.

R&B singer Raheem DeVaughn seemed a perfect talent to exploit Kyte's video network, says Dave Bell of Sony-owned Jive Records. "He's a genuine person, and he's not shy." Using a cellphone, DeVaughn sent videos to his Kyte.tv channel from last month's Grammys — his song Woman was nominated for best R&B single — and from his current tour with Jill Scott. "This is so user-friendly, and as an artist you can invite somebody into your world with a snap of the finger," DeVaughn says.

USA Today's Mike Snider

If You Want More Traffic And Online Viewers, You Better Get With The Program!

Submit To The Power Of The Social Network People!

I finally bit the bullet. After about two years of major rebellion, I finally joined MySpace and FaceBook. Recently someone thought I was not familiar with online social networking.

Come to find out that I belonged to (9) social networking sites prior to joining MySpace and FaceBook. That doesn't include the Yahoo Groups I belong to.

I have nothing personal against online social networking; it's just that it can take up so much time - especially when one is focused on content creation for one's blog and if one is maintaining more than one blog. I admit that one of the reasons I've tried to limit my social networking is because at times, I feel guilty by not being able to respond to all who reach out to me.

When some asks to be your friend, or someone affirmatively answers your request for friendship, one strangely feels a sense of obligation with a bit of guilt if a response doesn't happen in a timely manner.

CLICK TO FINISH "TO SOCIAL NETWORK OR NOT TO SOCIAL NETWORK?"