I work so much with social media that sometimes I forget what it is like to write an article for good old print media.
 That’s exactly what I had to do this week.
I was amazed to see how much I have got used to blogging and twittering.
Writing for a newspaper, as I used to do every day in my previous life as a journalist, feels like remembering how to use the fountain pen you had in school.
Journalism has always been an integral part of me and my way of thinking. Deep down, I believe… I will always be a journalist…
But here is what I miss most these days when I have to write for newspapers or magazines:
• the ability to insert links and connect my ideas to the views and believes of other people. Print media does not allow multidimensional texts.
• the opportunity to use multipliers like Twitter and Facebook and post my text simultaneously on different sites.
 • the immediate reactions you get from posting online. With print media you have to wait for your article to come out…that might take a couple of months… and by that time you might already be on to another subject.
• The feeling of community you get when you hit the right topic and people start to create a buzz around your post.
I can’t tell you how good it feels to be blogging again today!
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Yes, it’s weird isn’t it, writing for dead trees after you’ve blogged and twitted etc. Instead of just linking to a video or other website or online info as an example of what you’re writing about, you have to describe the whole thing, which takes up way too many words!
I also love the fact that ordinary folk can produce multimedia online eg video/ podcasts/ photo stories so that those who may not be comfortable with written text can share their thoughts/ experiences in other ways. Whereas it’s pretty tough to get your multimedia content onto broadcast media!
I love the expression “writing for dead trees”. I am going to use it and send you a penny every time I mention it in a presentation. OK with you?