News-Record.com

Mark Hamilton of Notes From a Teacher writes:

* Should Newspapers Become Online Ad Brokers for Local Businesses? Why wouldn’t I like this idea? After all, I wrote about a similar idea a year ago. (Looking back at that post, based on the lack of comments and trackbacks, it seems no one paid any attention to me.)

I suspect every blogger who writes about something other than themselves feels this way one time or another. I know I have. Did the subsequent writer improve on your idea? Did they better articulate it? Did they give any link credit? Harrumph. Never! So why are they getting all the attention?

Of course, this isn't a new phenomenon. Small papers routinely write stories that don't get noticed until they are picked up by larger papers or television. What interests me most is that with the explosion of media, we still feel that way. Now that everyone can publish -- and so many are -- the possibility that a number of people have the same good idea seems likely. That you might write it first, but be overlooked by others, seems likely, too. Even if you build it, they might not come.

All of which argues for taking full advantage of all of the social networking aspects of the Web. When you think you have a good idea, let people know. That part of digital publishing is easier -- and cheaper -- than ever.