Whats Your Favorite Way to Get Information?

I find I read a great deal of my information from the internet. I read Associated-Content and Yahoo particularly. So I decided to discuss Associated-Content.

I encourage you to study your own information gathering habits and look at just what kind of information you are consuming!

Our Mission statement at AC is:

"Associated Content is a platform that enables everyone to publish their content in any format on any topic and then distributes that content to engaged audiences through its website and content partners. Those who contribute to Associated Content's ad-supported collection of original text, video, audio and images gain exposure and often earn cash for their participation.

Since AC was founded by Luke Beatty in 2005, The People's Media Company has grown exponentially. Today, with its vast library of unique multimedia content, diverse community of Content Producers and scalable platform, Associated Content provides consumers, brands and publishers with a wide range of quality content."

In addition to our commitment to quality and cash payment for our writes we have an award-winning lineup of board directors that carefully guide AC. Look at their bios from the AC website:

Tim Armstrong

Tim Armstrong presides over Google's North American advertising sales and operations teams. Armstrong's teams are located in cities across the US and Canada, providing customers with local partnerships, as well as centralized sales and services. The team works with some of the world's most widely recognized brands and advertising agencies, as well as some of the fastest growing medium-sized companies.

Armstrong joined Google from Snowball.com as that company's vice president of Sales and Strategic Partnerships. Prior to his role at Snowball.com, Armstrong served as as director of Integrated Sales & Marketing at Starwave's and Disney's ABC/ESPN Internet Ventures working across the companies Internet, TV, radio, and print properties. Armstrong started his career by co-founding and running a newspaper based in Boston, MA, before joining IDG to launch their first consumer Internet magazine, I-Way.

Armstrong has been named one of the top "100 People to Know" for global media by Media magazine and was awarded a Media Maven Award by Advertising Age Magazine in 2004. Armstrong sits on the boards of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), KnowledgeStorm Inc., and Associated Content Inc. Armstrong is a graduate of Connecticut College with a double major in Economics and Sociology.

Luke Beatty

Luke Beatty is the founder and President of Associated Content. Before starting Associated Content, Luke was on the executive management team at WAND, Inc., a closely held corporation located in Denver, Colorado. WAND is a leading developer of online directory, search and advertising taxonomies and technologies. WAND's ontology-driven search applications power some of the world's largest business to business and business to consumer online directory and search platforms, many used by Fortune 500 companies.

He has offered his expertise in consumer diven multi-media content, social networking, contextual advertising models and online media collection and distribution strategies at numerous conferences and events held by InfoCommerce, YPPA, Venture Capital in the Rockies, CSIA, among many others. In 2007, Luke was selected as one of the Denver Business Journal's "Forty Under 40". This list celebrates 40 Denver top business leaders under the age of 40. Luke serves on the Board of Directors of Publish2, a social network and web 2.0 platform for journalists.

Luke is an avid fly fisherman, youth lacrosse coach and sits on the Board of Directors for the Denver Chapter of Bread for the Journey, a non-profit organization that nurtures neighborhood philanthropy. Luke holds a bachelor's degree from Connecticut College and a master's degree from Harvard University.

Ron Conway

Ron Conway is the founding general partner at Angel Investors, LP. Angel Investors LP has two Funds with committed capital of $175M and invested in the early stages of Google, Ask Jeeves, Brightmail, PayPal, Loudeye, Red Envelope, Opsware, Good Technology, Metamatrix, SNOCAP, and many other high technology startups.

Ron worked with National Semiconductor Corporation in various marketing positions (1973-1979). Altos Computer Systems as a co-founder, President and CEO, and as a member of the Board (1979-1990). He led Personal Training Systems (PTS) for five years as President and CEO (1991-1995). PTS was acquired by SmartForce/SkillSoft and Ron served on their Board of Directors until September 2002. Ron has served on Boards/Advisory Boards including: The Red Herring Magazine, AtWeb (sold to Netscape/AOL), SNOCAP, SendMail, Bright Mail, Ask Jeeves, Supportsoft, Plaxo, Soliel Securities, Marimba, AVP, ROJO, Associated Content, RightsLine, FaceBook, SnapJot,and The Band of Angels.

Ron is involved in community activities as a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer for The Altos Foundation (1993 - 2000), which has contributed over $10M to Bay Area Charities. He is on the development committees of UCLA, St. Francis High School, Sacred Heart Schools, The UCSF Medical Center in SF, Packard Childrens Hospital, Legacy Ventures, and Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. Ron co-founded the UCLA VC Fund whose investments benefit UCLA, and was a member of the DAPER VC Fund that benefits the Stanford Athletic Department (1999-2002). Ron is also on the Benefit Committee of the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Eric Hippeau

Mr. Hippeau has been involved in various capacities with SoftBank Capital's investing activities since 1995, and joined SoftBank Capital in 2000 from SoftBank's former subsidiary, Ziff-Davis. He has served as a media industry CEO, having spent over 25 years in senior management positions at large media companies. Mr. Hippeau joined Ziff-Davis in 1989, and he became Chairman and CEO in 1993. In 1995, SoftBank acquired Ziff-Davis, and Mr. Hippeau continued in the role of CEO until 2000, when the company was sold.

During his career at Ziff-Davis, Mr. Hippeau was early to recognize the trend toward on-line media. Under his stewardship, ZDNet became one of the few successful examples of a strong on-line business model evolving from traditional magazine content, and he was instrumental in SoftBank's first investment in Yahoo! in 1995. Mr. Hippeau was also responsible for founding ZDTV, a cable channel dedicated to technology and the Internet, and an early success in integrating television and the Web. He also directed several successful magazines and marketing service launches in the technology and Internet field.

Mr. Hippeau was President of SoftBank International Ventures, where he established SoftBank's international private equity funds and expanded them into Europe, Latin America and Asia. He was also SB Capital's board representative for its direct investments in industry leading companies, such as Yahoo!, Geocities and CNET.

His experience prior to joining Ziff-Davis includes senior executive positions at International Data Group.

Mr. Hippeau serves on the boards of several public and private companies, including Yahoo!, Danger, Odimo (diamond.com/ashford.com), Insider Pages, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, National Leisure Group, Perpetual Entertainment, Beliefnet, Purevideo, and Thumbplay. He is also on the investment committee for the SB Asia Infrastructure Fund.

He graduated from the Lycee Francais de Londres and attended the Sorbonne University in Paris.

Warren Lee

Warren brings significant operational experience and proven investment talent to Canaan Partners, with expertise in communications, digital media, and software. His current investments at Canaan include Associated Content, Motionbox, Tremor Media and Vivox.

Warren joined Canaan in August 2005 from Comcast Interactive Capital, where he led its investments in and served as a director or observer on the boards of Arbor Networks, Arroyo Video Solutions (acquired by Cisco in August 2006), Broadbus Technologies (acquired by Motorola in July 2006), CommunityConnect, Counterpane Internet Security (acquired by British Telecom in October 2006), netForensics, ReefEdge (acquired by Symantec), and Tripwire.

Before joining the venture community, Warren worked as an engineer and project manager at Solectron Corporation, a corporate development manager at Sun Microsystems, a management consultant at The Boston Consulting Group, and an investment banker in Alex Brown's technology group.

Warren holds a B.S. in Computer Science and B.A. in Economics with honors from Stanford University, and an MBA from The Wharton School.

Warren also sits on the boards of Motionbox, Tremor Media and Vivox.

Rich LeFurgy

Rich LeFurgy is the founder of Archer, an online and brand advertising consultancy based in San Francisco. Rich is the Founding Chairman of the Interactive Advertising Bureau, the Chairman of the Bay Area Interactive Group, a Venture Partner at Walden VC and a Director of Web Clients. Current and past Archer clients include: America Online, Feedster, Google, Iconoculture, MeeVee and Real Networks. Rich holds a BS in Advertising from Syracuse University's Newhouse School.

Mike Perlis

Mr. Perlis joined SoftBank Capital in 2000 from SoftBank's former subsidiary, Ziff-Davis. He has served as a media industry CEO with over 20 years experience managing a wide range of content and multi-media brands. Until its sale in 2000, Mr. Perlis was President and CEO of Ziff-Davis Publishing. He was responsible for the worldwide management of these pre-eminent technology publishing properties and related products worldwide. Mr. Perlis dramatically repositioned the core Ziff Davis brands from a PC focus to an Internet-centric position. He also directed the partner relationship for content and brand development with ZDNet.

Before joining Ziff-Davis, Mr. Perlis was President and COO at TVSM from 1996 to 1998, the largest publisher of customized television listings and guidance in print and on-line. He directed all strategy and operations, culminating in the sale of the company to NewsCorp.

From 1989 to 1994, Mr. Perlis was the President of the Playboy Publishing Group, overseeing all publishing and related product activity worldwide. The Playboy brand was actively exported overseas during these years, resulting in operations in 17 countries. He also was responsible for the launch of the Playboy new media initiative (playboy.com) and managed the company's direct marketing businesses.

Mr. Perlis was previously the President and CEO of IDG Peterborough, publisher of Gentlemen's Quarterly and built the Rodale Active Sports Network (including the founding of Men's Health and the acquisition of Runner's World). He began his career in media as the co-founder of New England Publications in Camden, Maine.

He serves on the boards of several public and private companies, including Webhire, GSI Commerce, A.V.M. Software, Viacore, Enpocket, World Publishing and Zinio. Mr. Perlis is highly respected as an organizational and marketing professional and is a regular speaker at media and related industry gatherings.

Mr. Perlis graduated from Syracuse University with a BA. He also serves on the board of the Newhouse School of Public Communications and is a trustee of Outward Bound.

Geoff Reiss

Geoff Reiss is the CEO of Associated Content. He joined the company from ESPN Original Entertainment (EOE), where he was an executive producer. At EOE, Geoff identified and developed new programming initiatives, established a partnership with the Tribeca Film Festival, and created Ali Rap, a Muhammad Ali documentary that was nominated for three Emmy awards. Prior to EOE, Geoff held several positions within ESPN, including senior vice president, ESPN consumer products; senior vice president and general manager of ESPN The Magazine; and senior vice president, programming, production and operations for ESPN.com.

Geoff first attracted ESPN's attention while at the Starwave Corporation, where he managed the team which developed ESPN SportsZone, today's ESPN.com, and ran the operations for NFL.com, NBA.com and NASCAR.com, when it was produced by ESPN Internet Ventures. His media experience also includes six years at Spy magazine as vice president and general manager.

Geoff graduated from the State University of New York at Stony Brook with a B.A. in Political Science.

It is a vigorous process to submit to AC. You have to submit all your private information and write a sample piece that is checked over to make sure you can actually write. Then your application is reviewed by the editorial staff for acceptance. In this way the people writing for AC are screened and censored. The content however is less vigourously screened. It is only screened if someone is submitting it for upfront payment consideration. Then the editors will go over it with a fine tooth comb. They make you cite sources and sometimes delay news stories so long they are out of date by the time they finally get through the editorial process. In many cases they are so busy looking at sources the forget to read for grammar causing errors (even of my own) to get through and live on the site. If the article is for page view earnings only (1.50 per every thousand) then the only time it is seen is when it goes to layout and they don't read the article they just match the ads to what its talking about.

AC is often criticized for not having good content or bad writing but those criticism are decreasing especially as our readership has increased to 1.5 million page views a day with amazing non-intrusive ads. Not only is our content increasing in number it is also increasing in value and quality. They are now putting out calls for content to make sure that our site covers everything from what is bothering people today and the major news stories. This is better because Yahoo usually pulls there news from Reuters or AP. Our writers are everyday people that cover stories from the benal the most pressing news of the day. That being said, if it isn't up for upfront payment review it isn't rigorously edited the upside is that people don't usually write news stories without intention of payment. The only things that are questionable are the personal POV (point of view) stories. At which point you have to consider your source to see if they can speak credibly. I think to some degree the fact that people already distrust the internet make people work harder at making themselves credible. Sometimes newspaper writers hide behind the mystique of their paper rather than doing old fashioned pavement pounding, calling and research.

Ownership of the News

AC is not a publicly traded stock as far as I know and therefore I do not own any stock. However, in the recent past I owned several shares of GE preferred stocks, so by association I own some of NBC. Being an owner of preferred stock when I wrote a letter of protest against something they were doing I was heard with a little more gravitas than someone who only owned common stock. Unfortunately, GE ended its preferred stock program and paid me for my shares. Currently, I own several shares of common Disney stock and I am continually disgusted at the Disney's treatment of ABC and their entire attitude towards news. Both organizations have emaciated their news organizations and many times I think do not reflect the true opinions of people and clearly have an agenda of their own that is easy to see if one thinks about what one is watching. I think a great deal of things are controlled by those who own the news and some of us can't help but notice how those networks committed to journalistic integrity look the other way when sponsors or their own corporation do the wrong thing or go the wrong way. The fact of the matter is, it just doesn't go on and I wonder how many stories or dangerous things get passed over because it's not in the interests of the organization to report them.

At the same time it is very hard to make money with the news and that is why all the TV news channels and networks are owned by larger corporations. Not only does that provide the resources to investigate long-term stories it is supposed to make for more honest and less sensational reporting. Unfortunately, neither of presumptions are true. Networks always run their most pressing stories around ratings time and the corporation is good for almost nothing except capital. Considering the ad revenue they bring in however, couldn't they survive on their own?

Agenda of the News

Sometimes I wonder, despite ownership how the views of the purveyors of media spin the news differently from what really happened. It's fairly easy to report a fire and the persons displaced but to report a war? A political event? Now that is different! Often times the facts get twisted in subtle ways, the words used, the events covered reveal a great deal about the people behind the news. Hence that is why I encourage people to look outside of their one source of media. Despite my love of AC I continue to watch the networks from time to time just to get that perspective of information that we need. Personally, I think that agendas, while bad, are a vicissitude of being human and that with the internet and citizen journalists we can enlarge the information getting to the people and thereby our democracy, way of life, and our lives are enriched. It is good that you can get news in several mediums.

Conclusion

In conclusion, AC is a good news medium because of the variety of news perspectives gathered and the pay for writers. It has a gatekeeper system by only allowing real writers to post there and controls information in that small way. There are no central corporate owned agendas and no one controls the over view of the content, just its quality, regardless of what that content contains. Corporations to some degree provide an atmosphere for the expense of television and radio news, but as I pointed out, if they do such a good job of bringing in revenue why don't they survive on their own? Information will continue to flow in all its means and the debate on Corporate versus independent will rage on for years to come if not get worse.