Tag Archives: writing

Socialist Media or Capitalist Ideology? For Both Content Rules

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By Jason Menard, 

Consider it a classic conundrum between capitalist ideals and social(ist) media – but no matter with which side you affiliate, quality content will always rule.

I saw both sides of the spectrum today: London Free Press reporter Kate Dubinski wrote a piece about the citizen journalist which I found betrayed a more-than-a-little condescending attitude towards bloggers and the like. At the very least, she is guilty of not displaying the balance that she advocates as a benefit of the newspaper industry, painting an awfully wide swath with one brush. Continue reading →

Howett Shows How It Should Not be Done

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By Jason Menard

To paraphrase Jon Lovitz, back when Saturday Night Live was good, we all just want to be loved, is that so wrong? And the answer, of course, is no – but it’s learning how to deal with those who aren’t your biggest fans that helps to define who you are.

For one author, her behaviour has made her the definition for What Not to Do. Continue reading →

Big Words Just Seem More Empty

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By Jason Menard

For the most part, business communications prefers to prefer quantity over quality. That increased volume of chatter is usually filled with hot air – and can explain why some companies ‘blow’ so much when it comes to social media.

One of the most exciting things about the social media revolution, to me, was that it seemed to be pushing companies towards a way of connecting with their clients and customers in a way that was more open and honest. It’s still a challenge for many businesses simply because, for years, there’s been a belief in the power of Biz Speak. Continue reading →

E-Gads — Lamenting a Hyphen’s Loss

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By Jason Menard

Hope you’re enjoying your uhmail.

As you can see, I’m not enamoured with the Associated Press’ decision last week to drop the hyphen out of the term e-mail. Generally, I’m all in favour of the modernization of language and I’m by no means a prescriptive grammarian.

But I think the AP – and the majority of my colleagues who support this move – got this one wrong. Continue reading →

Reading Between – and Outside of – the Lines

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By Jason Menard

Sometimes the best stories that a book can tell aren’t found in the text – it’s what’s in the margins that makes for the most interesting read.

I have a thing for old books. It’s one of the reasons why I don’t own a Kindle – there’s something about physically holding a book, turning its pages, brushing off the dust, and inhaling the familiar old-book scent, that an electronic version will never be able to match.

The one thing a Kindle will never do is give you the story behind the story. Continue reading →