Since early 2005, when I started working with Colin Daniels at the New Media Lab, my thinking about the web has been saturated by the language, principles and ideals of Web 2.0 and specifically the sub-set of uses we call “social media”. So I had to laugh at the provocative piece written by Paul Jacobson […]
Vincent Maher
Vincent Maher was the Mail & Guardian Online's digital strategist. He has worked in the web industry for 12 years, was the head of the New Media Lab at the Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies and writes columns for Enjin and Intelligence magazines. He is a judge of the Telkom ICT Journalist of the Year Awards and the developer of Amatomu.com.
His current area of focus is Web 2.0 and social media strategy for the traditional media.
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Counter-media: Alive in Baghdad
A group of American and Iraqi reporters has launched a blog, website and YouTube video channel called Alive in Baghdad that “formed to counter the sound-bite-driven, ‘live from’ news model”. The videos on YouTube, predictably, have inspired a lot of comments. The interesting aspect of this project, and many others like it, is its counter-media […]
Posted inTech
Are web development companies still the best place for web advice?
I doubt that I am completely wrong when I say web development companies in South Africa have missed the Web 2.0 boat and are watching us steam away as we break out the caviar on deck. Can someone please show me where this caviar is exactly, when I’m done writing this? Caviar or not, there […]
Posted inSport
SA vs Scotland: Nervy signs for the RWC
I’m no rugby tactician and I don’t follow the game off the field much, so I must confess that I take things at face value. At face value, what I saw last night was a South African team that spent most of the night defending against Scotland and taking some heavy tackles in the process. […]
Posted inGeneral
Really, we’re a society of illiterates?
Someone told me the other day that we live in a society of illiterates, that kids don’t read any more and that the quality of our interaction with words is declining because of TV and tabloid newspapers. All I could say in response was: “Huh?” It’s so easy to talk about corruption of journalism and […]
Posted inGeneral
Really, we’re a society of illiterates?
Someone told me the other day that we live in a society of illiterates, that kids don’t read any more and that the quality of our interaction with words is declining because of TV and tabloid newspapers. All I could say in response was: “Huh?” It’s so easy to talk about corruption of journalism and […]
Posted inLifestyle
Under the Mountain, but inside the subconscious
I know quite a few people in my age group — early thirties — who remember, very vividly, a TV show called Under the Mountain. I was probably about 10 years old and it scared the bejesus out of me and, I’m sure, if I was still wearing a nappy it would have been quite […]
Posted inMedia
Is the SABC’s expansion into the rest of Africa neo-imperialism?
A hot topic of debate on the first day of the Africa Media Leadership Conference in Cape Town yesterday was the role the SABC plays in the pan-African media space and whether its African expansion project amounts to neo-imperialism. Ironically, the matter was brought to the fore by Phil Molefe, the head of SABC’s international […]
Posted inGeneral
Is the SABC’s expansion into the rest of Africa neo-imperialism?
A hot topic of debate on the first day of the Africa Media Leadership Conference in Cape Town yesterday was the role the SABC plays in the pan-African media space and whether its African expansion project amounts to neo-imperialism. Ironically, the matter was brought to the fore by Phil Molefe, the head of SABC’s international […]
Posted inLifestyle, Tech
Super Columbine Massacre RPG – computer gaming at its worst?
The Virginia Tech shootings prompted Danny Ledonne, the creator of the controversial role-playing game Super Columbine Massacre RPG to issue a statement. Four months later Ledonne found my blog post about it and replied, and this time he is making a documentary about the game.
Posted inLifestyle
Late night obsessions with Asassin’s Creed
There is something about Assassin’s Creed, the up-coming game from Ubisoft that has me salivating, shaking and smiling a toothless grin all at the same time, even though I only drool at night and I do actually have teeth. Not only has the Middle East been politically volatile for the past couple of thousand years, […]
Posted inGeneral
Late night obsessions with Asassin’s Creed
There is something about Assassin’s Creed, the up-coming game from Ubisoft that has me salivating, shaking and smiling a toothless grin all at the same time, even though I only drool at night and I do actually have teeth. Not only has the Middle East been politically volatile for the past couple of thousand years, […]