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A fantastic post by Steve Gillmore on the disruptive power of RSS and the fear the blogosphere can engender in normally rational people. But equally importantly, it touches on a nerve I have about how RSS can change the way we communicate, share knowledge and grow our knowledge bases collectively. All at the same time distancing further the digital haves from the have-nots (the RSS-savvy versus the RSS-unsavvy).
In a lengthy article on the possible decline of the mainstream media (MSM), Gillmore gives this telling quote:
“…the deep subleties about media and technology mean a lot to me. RSS (just my opinion, but likely true) has unleashed forces that are rending media into new, ever more powerful, targeted, strategic, and disruptive packages that are rebuidling information transfer in profoundly powerful and personal ways.”
Gillmore touches on an important point that Elizabeth Albrycht (courtesy of Allan Jenkins) makes:
“Over the past few years, I have watched and participated in the changes confronting communications practitioners due to the Internet, the web, mobility etc. — all of the new networked communications tools. I think something more is going on here than just a bunch of new tools added to our professional communicator’s tool kits I believe a fundamental shift in the entire model of communications is now possible.”
And it’s true (or for me it is, anyway); RSS and the philosophy(ies) behind it undermine and challenge the existing structures not just for media empires, but for knowledge management.
How it shakes out is anyone’s guess, but since we are internet speed it will no doubt be an exhilarating ride.
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