Creative Expression or Mere Mischief? Team Reck's Vlogs

by Maureen Googoo
A group of teens in New York's Washington Heights who call themselves Team Reck have posted around 40 videos on YouTube, from relatively sedate dance routines to practical jokes that some say go too far. The energetic youths are taking advantage of readily available technology to share their camaraderie and antics with the world. But what is the result? "Sometimes, you cross the line and you don’t realize it. There’s a point when it’s funny and there’s a point when it’s not. And what they did was not funny at all," said local community leader George Espinal. Critics worry about the effects of what they call such anti-social behavior, and fear content-sharing sites may exacerbate the problem.
-Interested in Maureen Googoo's article? Contact her at mag2169@columbia.edu

The Unpredictability of Online Social Networking

by Paulo Kluber
Considering the meteoric rise of YouTube and MySpace, it's not surprising that people use online networks for various reasons. But, it is the challenge posed by trying to ring a profit out of these vast networks that has many business analysts worried. To be sure, problems lurk on social networking sites, from privacy concerns to cyberstalkers. Still, the strong interest shown in this technology by major business players--as evidenced by recent blockbuster purchases--suggests this unpredictable segment of the web is off to an exciting start.
-Interested in Paulo Kluber's article? Contact him at pfk2104@columbia.edu

Anne Sachs Leads a Fresh-Faced ElleGirl.com

by Jennifer Lai
In July, Elle Girl shut down its print operations to focus only on the web. This decision seemed to confirm what older folks have long feared—the beginning of the death of print, at least for the younger generation. Though most people over a certain age will always prefer a print magazine to its online version, it’s apparent that teens prefer browsing online to flipping through the pages of a glossy magazine. So for Anne Sachs, who was promoted to executive editor of ELLEgirl.com, this presented an opportunity to produce a publication that fully utilized the Internet’s capabilities—starting with a redesigned site and new types of content.
-Interested in Jennifer Lai's article? Contact her at jl2879@columbia.edu

Journalism in the Age of Second Life

by Brian Howard
At his office in San Francisco, Daniel Terdiman spends an average of one hour per day as his character GreeterDan Godel in the online “metaverse” program Second Life. However, Terdiman doesn’t have to worry about getting in trouble with his boss because his time spent in the increasingly popular virtual world is part of his job as a reporter for CNET, the technology-focused media company. While Terdiman says he does enjoy visiting Second Life for fun, he primarily logs on to do work-related research and interviews.
-Interested in Brian Howard's Story? Contact him at bch2108@columbia.edu

MySpace and Facebook keep Twixters from moving away from home

by Victoria Baranetsky
In January 2005, TIME Magazine published an article on twixters, the obscure generation of 20-somethings who typically live with their parents because they are still financially dependent on them. Twixters have generally been criticized for not becoming independent and moving out of their parents' homes. But being at home has been more than a burden on their parents' pocketbooks, Twixters have become more dependent on socializing through community sites such as friendster.com and more ubiquitous sites like facebook.com and myspace.com. With friends scattered across the country and the globe, community websites facilitate the twixter generation with keeping in touch.
-Interested in Victoria Baranetsky's article? Contact her at vdb2003@columbia.edu

Internet Multitasking Syndrome

by David Cohn
The overflow of information on the Internet can cause distractions--in the workplace, at home and within relationships. In an age of instant communication people are accustomed to getting news from multiple sources quickly and constantly. But with so much information on our plate, are we all developing Internet Multitasking Syndrome (IMS)? In this article, Cohn explores the ubiquitousness of the internet and the symptoms of IMS. Do you suffer from Internet Multitasking Syndrome?
-Interested in David Cohn's article? Contact him at dc2298@columbia.edu

Confessions of a Journalist Digger

by David Cohn
David Cohn explores the democratization of the media through Digg.com, a social bookmarking website that lets users vote and essentially determine the best news of the day. He explores the concept that readers, not an editor, determine what should be highlighted on the front page and tackles the ethical question: Can a social bookmarker be a professional journalist? Cohn speaks with the CEO of Digg to help answer this question.
-Interested in David Cohn's article? Contact him at dc2298@columbia.edu

MySpace Comes of Age

by Joy Polanco

At first glance MySpace.com looks like a social networking site for the young. But, as Joy Polanco discovers in an article on the site's changing demographic, today MySpace.com has more adult users than ever before. In an interview with Jack Flanagan, the executive VP of comScore Media Matrix, an Internet audience measurement service, Polanco uncovers that adults are turning to MySpace.com for more than just marketing and business purposes. The answer is simple: it's purely social--a way to stay connected with family and friends.
-Interested in Joy Polanco's article? Contact her at jap2144@columbia.edu