Home and Away goes beyond the regular news reporting, showing real data that is now becoming a platform for participation, with “people using the map to post memories and share stories about their lost loved ones”.

I’m no Jay Rosen or Jeff Jarvis, but the future of journalism will be relying a lot on information visualization and social experiences, acknowledging that readers are not only consuming information, but they want to actually participate (beyond the regular comment box).

Source: Stamen Design

Illustration by Matt Hamm under a CC License

Some highlights:

Don’t just talk at consumers — work with them throughout the marketing process.
The conversations consumers have with each other, result in “some of the most interesting insights,” including gift ideas for specific occasions, such as a college graduation, and the prices consumers are willing to pay for different gifts.

Give consumers a reason to participate.
Other companies provide more-direct incentives: cash rewards or products, some of which are available only to members of the online community. Still others offer consumers peer recognition by awarding points each time they post comments, answer questions or contribute to a wiki entry

Listen to — and join — the conversation outside your site.
monitor relevant online conversations among consumers and, when appropriate, look for opportunities to inject themselves into a conversation or initiate a potential collaboration.

Resist the temptation to sell, sell, sell.
When consumers are invited to participate in online communities, they expect marketers to listen and to consider their ideas. They don’t want to feel like they’re simply a captive audience for advertising, and if they do they’re likely to abandon the community.

Don’t control, let it go.
“You have to let the members drive. When community members feel controlled, told how to respond and how to act, the community shuts down.”

Like it or not, the old way of doing (push) marketing is on its final days. Or has i heard yesterday on the Campus Party panel about Advertising and social media, your homepage is now Google.

• TV goes “down the rabbit hole“. That is,
  

  CSI:New York is now in Second Life.

  
  Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfXb6zb6Upc

• Global social networks outlook by comscore. Or why the world doesn’t revolve around US.

• Financial Markets 101

  
  Source:Marc Andreessen

• Lufthansa launched RumorTravels, where you can play around with traditional prejudices on countries. Hmmm, the rumors arena is getting a bit crowded after Guy Kawasaky’s venture?
• Mixa, one more retro gadget.
  
  
• Fireblogging: or why Twitter isn’t useless.

• Nico Market, the new website for tobacco lovers.

  Just don’t take the headline serious, since it’s a dark humor European no smoking campaign.
  

• The new Pet Shop Boys video is using QR codes

And just in case i’m still feeling lazy on Monday, i can always use the services of The Excused Absence Network.

On a less serious political claim, check Obama girl.