The Wikinomics of media
Charles Warner interviews Don Tapscott over email May 14th-18th
Don Tapscott, one of the world's leading authorities on business strategy, is Chief Executive of international think tank New Paradigm, which produces research focused on the role of technology in productivity and business design, effectiveness, and competitiveness. He is the author of 11 widely-read books about information technology in business and society, including Paradigm Shift, Growing Up Digital and The Naked Corporation. His new book (January 2007), co-authored with Anthony Williams, is Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything. In this interview, he talks about how this mass collaboration fits into the world of journalism. Tapscott is also adjunct professor of management at the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.
Charles Warner: In your and Anthony Williams' book Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything, you wrote "…as a growing number of firms see the benefits of mass collaboration, this new way of organizing will eventually displace the traditional corporate structures as the economy's primary engine of wealth creation. Already this new economic model extends beyond software, music, publishing, pharmaceuticals, and other bellwethers to virtually every part of the global economy." Do you believe mass collaboration can work for journalism?
Don Tapscott: It already works for a wide range of publishing and content-creation activities, including journalism. In print media, the Wikipedia model is being extended to textbooks, as in the case of the California open source school book initiative. Expect the 'Wikipedia Guide to Rock and Roll' and many any other tomes from Jimmy Wales and his colleagues.
When it comes to broadcast media, there are initial examples where people outside the formal media structures can create content. Take Al Gore's Current TV, where anyone can create a news clip; and if it's received well on the Web, it will be broadcast on the Current TV network.
