Social media news and TV – Current.com Blog – Your guide to Current

Last week I laid out details about our editorial team and guidelines when it comes to finding and featuring content on Current.com. Today we’re launching a brand new community-based experiment built on top of our editorial practices which, for lack of a better name, I’m calling “Developing Stories.”

What is a Developing Story?

This doesn’t always hold true, but quite frequently we notice that stories we feature on Current.com actually speak to a larger, ongoing story in play. Sometimes these stories are stretched out over longer periods of time (e.g. the ongoing discussions around public options in healthcare reform, or the debates surrounding gay marriage), and other times these stories are developing rapidly over the course of hours (e.g. Elections 2009, Afghan presidential elections, or Michael Jackson’s death).

Starting today, we’ll begin identifying certain featured stories that we think have the opportunity to be “developed” further. These stories will be added to our Developing Stories group, and we’ll clearly mark it as such on both the story page and whichever image is picked to accompany the story.

What does it mean to have a story picked as a Developing Story?

This is the cool part. Getting your story featured as a Developing Story is like having the stage handed over to you. We’re looking to take a closer look at the underpinnings of these stories, and we’re giving you the opportunity to take on the role of online investigative journalist in the process. As long as things continue to progress in a relevant way, your story will remain featured on Current.com.

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This might feel a little like a Mashable round-up, but even still it’s an interesting subject. There’s no question that social media is on the rise. Consider the recent research from database firm Drake Direct which shows Facebook now accounts for 25% of all US page views. Period.

The rapid growth of Twitter is also evidence in this, and the recent deals the company has made with both Bing and Google insures that those who search for content on the web are bound to run into more tweets in the not too distant future. Social search is quickly becoming a reality.

Let’s face it folks, the bubble is expanding.

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, sit for a family portrait in the Green Room of the White House, Sept. 1, 2009. (Official White House Photo)

And then you have President Barack Obama. His use of social networks and social media were unprecedented during his campaign. We now live in a world where an Annie Leibovitz family photo shoot results in an update to the White House photostream on Flickr. It’s the same world where University journalism students at Australia’s Griffith University are now required to take a Twitter class.

Social data has never been more widely available, publicly. Facebook has every update you post, what you eat, what you like based on polling apps, and more importantly who you are connected to. The connections gap is narrowing as well. Sure, celebrities on Twitter are one example — with one click you can follow you’re favorite celebrity. But consider that by following the White House photostream I can get updates on our president. The degree of access is multiplying. It’s certainly not the most profound form of transparency, but it’s a trend. And the trend is going to continue.

What do you think, should the government be more open? Should Twitter be required reading for the future of journalism? Is social media the key to unlocking this, or just more noise from the Internet?

Yay! October 14th is finally here, and tonight we’ll unleash season 3 of our documentary series Vanguard, followed by the first of our six part music special, Embedded.

Here is everything you need to know about our Current TV premiere night:

1. Tell Your Friends!

   Tonight is as good as any to gather a group together and turn the dial to Current.

2. Get Directions

   Make sure you know where to find Current TV on your cable/satellite service. Here’s a list of channel numbers where you can find us: DIRECTV 358 | COMCAST 107 | DISH NETWORK 196 | TIME WARNER (check local listings).

3. Have A Backup Plan

   What? You can’t make it? Well, alright. There are plenty of ways to watch. Here are a few: Set your DVR! No DVR? Join the Vanguard and the Embedded groups on Current.com and the full episodes will be available shortly. You can even login using Facebook!

4. Be Prepared

   Pop some popcorn, but also have some tissues on standby. Seriously, tonight will be a rollercoaster ride. I expected tears (and was correct in doing so) while watching Mariana Van Zeller’s “The OxyContin Express” during our Current SF screening party, but I was also surprised by the humor, too. Conversely, I anticipated laughs during Embedded with Mos Def, but was taken aback by the layers behind the mask. With both of these shows, you never know where you’re going to go — emotionally and philosophically.

After Vanguard and Embedded Air

1. Share!

   Did you like the episodes? If so, you’re definitely on the inside track, so why not show off a little? We have plenty of options to help spread the word, here are a couple: Share Vanguard (requires login) and Embedded (requires login) on Current.com. You can also find our shows on iTunes, and tell a friend from there.



2. Interview Mariana Van Zeller

   Did “The OxyContin Express” leave you with a few biting questions? Or, do you have a general interest in the nuts and bolts of our Vanguard journalism team? Well, you’re in luck! We’re planning an interview with Mariana right here on the Current.com blog, and we want YOU to provide the questions! Get all the details here.



3. Embed Embedded

   We need your help getting the word out about our new Current Music Special, Embedded. Each week, we will release a clip from the upcoming show. If you choose to help out, you will get first look at this exclusive clip, and a chance to score some limited edition Embedded swag! All you have to do is embed the unique embed code for the exclusive clip (found here — requires login via Current or Facebook) on your blog, MySpace, Tumblr, or other site that allows embeddable video content. (NOTE: Posting to your Facebook stream will not work, as your unique embed code will not be used in the Facebook news stream). You can get the full scoop here. Help us please? Thanks in advance!

More importantly, thanks for tuning in tonight, and let us know what you think (Leave a comment, or shoot us a tweet with the hashtags #Embedded and #Vanguard!

Everyone on this side of the fence has been working hard in preparation for next week. Vanguard returns to Current TV next Wednesday October 14 10/9c for a third season chock full of all new episodes. Kicking it all off is Mariana van Zeller’s investigation of the prescription drug use in Florida, “The OxyContin Express.”

Today on the Hulu blog, Mariana chats with Editor Rebecca Harper about the episode. She answers questions about Vanguard, how she got started in journalism, and the decision to investigate prescription drugs for the season premiere.

Of course, the best part of all of this? Well, sometimes pictures speak louder than words.

Mariana and Vanguard featured on the Hulu homepage

A few members of our Vanguard team (Adam Yamaguchi, Mariana van Zeller, and Christof Putzel) joined producer Joanne Shen in Current SF today to give us a sneak peek of the upcoming third season of Vanguard.

Don’t forget, the new season for Vanguard premieres on Current TV on October 14th 10/9c. Based on what the team has been passing around, you definitely won’t want to miss this season.

I snagged some video during the presentation, and thought you guys might like to get a look at some of this stuff. While it was really nice of Current to feed us during the presentation, it did make it a little tough to eat while watching Adam and Joanne get attacked by leeches in the Cambodian jungles.

Fair warning, these videos were shot from the front row on an iPhone, so they’re a little shaky.

Adam Yamaguchi introduces the Vanguard team

Adam Yamaguchi introduces a clip from Forest of Ecstasy, an upcoming Vanguard episode

Christof introduces a clip from Cocaine Mafia, an upcoming Vanguard episode

Mariana introduces clips from The Oxycontin Express, an upcoming Vanguard episode

A couple of interesting stories stuck with me from the presentation.

The first is this, the Vanguard team is 100% unflinchingly committed to spending copious amounts of time researching and telling the stories that no one else is touching. It’s one thing to say this, but it’s an entirely different thing to actually live it. They do.

The team opened the floor up to Q&A, and when asked how they get people to share their stories, Christof had this to say:

“That’s the biggest challenge we face. When you’re telling the stories that no one else is telling, a lot of times those stories are not being told because people don’t want them to be told. so the struggle is, how do you get people to talk to you”

Mariana insightfully compared her recent experience on the set of Dr. Phil, during which he attempts to engage guests on a deeply personal level in front of large audiences with huge cameras and lights, to Vanguard’s own approach — small teams, small number of cameras, and extremely personal and private scenarios. They go out into the field and engage people one-to-one, which is a completely different environment altogether.

Amusingly, someone asked Adam what was next in the “eating bizarre things” repertoire. Christof joked that they’d had an intervention with Adam, who then responded that he’d had to curb the trend because when you intentionally start seeking out gross things to eat, you have to up the ante with each new accomplishment. He confessed, “I’m afraid of what might be next.”

So there you go, I know the teams in the Current SF offices were pretty floored with what we saw, and I personally cannot wait to see the new season. Oh, and just in case you haven’t had a chance to see them, here’s a list of episode titles from the upcoming season:

1. The Oxycontin Express : 10/14/09
2. Cuba: Waiting for a Revolution : 10/21/09
3. Forest of Ecstasy : 10/28/09
4. Sri Lanka: Notes from a War on Terror : 11/04/09
5. Porn 2.0 : 11/11/09
6. Prison Contraband : 11/16/09
7. Remote Control War : 12/02/09
8. Cocaine Mafia : 12/09/09

You can find promos, episodes, show schedule, correspondent bios, and the official Vanguard blog on our Vanguard page on Current.com.

Here’s another Current TV host top favorite stories countdown. This time around we pulled together Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller’s top 14 Current TV videos, and gathered them here, for your delight.

Mariana’s countdown is going to air today, at 6pm E / 3pm P on Current TV, so be sure to tune and join Mariana as she walks you through each story. What? You can’t make it tonight? Don’t worry, her countdown will re-air on Monday 9/21 at 1pm E / 10am P, so you could always set your DVR(s) to record.

For now, get a sneak peek at what she’ll be covering in the special. These are some pretty memorable stories, and they’ve obviously left an impression on Mariana. Feel free to add links to some of your own favorite moments in Current TV in the comments.

Living Library

Here’s Mariana’s top 14 — enjoy!

1. Living Library
2. The Internets Dumbest How To Videos — Viral Video Film School on infoMania
3. Sierra Leone AAA from Vanguard
4. Kenya from Vanguard
5. F*ck My Facebook on Tech Report on infoMania
6. Ode to a Toothpaste from Vanguard
7. Toxic Seas from Vanguard
8. Medicine from Target Women on infoMania
9. War Wounds from Vanguard
10. Suicide in Japan
11. Camel Milk Bar from Vanguard
12. Old Lady Hip Hop
13. African Gun Market — Wanna Buy an AK-47? from Vanguard
14. African Exodus from Vanguard

Current TV on Hulu.com

Your eyes aren’t deceiving you, Current TV shows are now available on Hulu!

Vanguard’s Laura Ling investigates the post-economic fallout of Las Vegas, the once booming Sin City in Lost Vegas

We’ve been making Current content available in many different ways (including dedicated channels on YouTube and iTunes), and we’re happy to announce that fans of Hulu can now cozy up to the latest episodes of SuperNews!, The Rotten Tomatoes Show, Vanguard, and infoMania, presented in that awesome Hulu viewing experience. If you’ve never checked out some of our shows or watched TV content on Hulu before, head on over, give it a spin, and then let us know what you think.

SuperNews on Hulu.com

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Hulu.com

Vanguard on Hulu.com

infoMania on Hulu.com