I have a strong suspicion that what's just popped up on our new, improved MyFootballWriter/NorwichCity, will be prompting many a 'What's that thing, there…?' tonight.
It's all a bit of a 'Geek Salad', as LeeMC79 so rightly puts it.
Well, if you want the new-media-luvvie-ponce version of what 'backchat' is all about you can find it here, on my new-media-luvvie-ponce blog, http://outwithabang.rickwaghorn.co.uk.
For those who can do without the theory and want to know what it means in practice, it means that you can now chat back.
Or rather, 'backchat' as we've christened it.
And with the help of our new friends at Channel Four and their 4iP digital innovation fund, it means that you – this passionate, niche, Norwich City community, you – are right at the very forefront of new media innovation in this country and beyond.
You are the shock troops of a new age of journalism. 'The Age Of Participation' as the digital queen of the Guardian Media Group, Emily Bell, has christened it.
Another way of saying: 'You're in charge…'
Not that we're saying this is the future. Potentially; this might be one future….
Because we have no real idea of how well or otherwise this is going to work; how it will settle down; whether it holds any appeal.
It is one, tiny pilot project out of 4iP – and like all good pilot projects will be subject to the odd, technical glitch; the odd smart a*se who wants to take the proverbial. So there will be an element of patience required.
But in many ways, this is your toy; because you, the audience, call the shots now.
And this is where 'backchat' comes from; this nagging suspicion that unless any of us in 'old' media – be it MyFootballWriter, the BBC, ITV Anglia, Radio Broadland and, indeed, Archant – radically re-think the way that we communicate with you, then we are all faced with a very, very challenging future.
Particularly, in these credit-crunched times.
Many, many moons ago I wrote a piece in the Pink Un with regard to 'citizen journalism' – and how that was influencing and, at the time, enflaming the way that the fortunes of your favourite football club were being reported.
Some three years later and, for me, journalism remains a trade, a craft, a skill – just as teaching is, just as policing is, just as plastering is.
What has changed is the fact that we're all citizen publishers now. You've got a mobile phone in your hand. That means you're a publisher.
And what's more there are now web applications out there that allow you to publish texts off your mobiles straight onto the web. The two most popular are www.twitter.com and www.jaiku.com.
That's all we're doing; hooking up with those two service providers, streaming the two 'feeds' together and turning them into a rolling conversation. Creating a 'community conversation' which us, as journalists, are increasingly obliged to join.
And whilst we all know that football is a passionate subject – one that prompts many a robust opinion – what we also know is that the best conversations occur when people's opinions are respected; and that will be your challenge… to only speak to people in a manner in which you, yourself, would expect to be spoken to.
That's the first, and almost the last, rule of the house.
That way, we get the best debate; the most engaging banter.
What's not engaging is 'news' that you're off to make a cup of tea; or what did anyone think of the babe in BigBrother.
The passion here is Norwich City. And football. And what we will try and do is steer the conversation along those lines; spark new trains of Norwich City thought.
So, welcome to 'backchat'. For those of you who already have a 'Twitter' account, just prefix your thoughts with #ncfc and we will pick it up automatically; for those without, step through the door and for the 'price' of an email address, you can join the conversation.
It's that simple.
Enjoy.
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