I remember being kind of afraid of failing my resume project. It was in Professional Writing, sophomore year of college, where we learned how to write resumes. The professor was a nice guy, but tough and nitpicky—two of the most-often feared traits in a professor. I remember perfectly crafting my resume, spending hours over each and every little detail, because it was in the lost details where you could lose the most points. All my indents were the same, I chose an appropriate font, I had the proper size font progression (never more than a difference of two sizes between two fonts: for example, you can have a 12pt font next to a 10 pt font, but never next to an 8pt font. You know, math stuff). I went over it all with a fine tooth comb, and it paid off. I got an A on the resume, and it’s the same resume I’ve used to get multiple jobs and internships in the past.

I’ve been at Markham Media less than a month but it’s become clear that not a lot of people took a class like I did. Resumes come in and they look like a hot mess. Margins extended out almost falling off the page, awful tiny icons for cell phones and emails, miniscule fonts that nobody can read. And the worst—misspelled words. One woman came in with the word “professional” spelled as ‘profesional’. It was the third word on the page and in a large font at that. She claimed she used spell check but a visual edit should have caught the mistake. I know SpellCheck is awesome, but it’s important to remember that it’s run by a computer, and computers aren’t infallible. It’s vital to scour your resume with your own eyes for this reason. Don’t be afraid to ask a friend or trusted colleague to help you, either.

 There are other little things that can make or break your resume and tell your employer a lot about your attention to detail. One that most easily comes to mind is the simultaneous absence and presence of periods at the end of your bullet points. Because a resume technically is not made of sentences, you don’t have to put a period at the end of each point. However, it is something that’s done in a more formal document, sentences or not, so the choice is yours. Either way, pick one and stick to it. It’s a lot more apparent than you might think to have periods randomly floating on your resume. They might even look like Oreo cookie crumbs which, while delicious in a Dairy Queen Blizzard, don’t belong on your resume.

Varied indents are another common mistake on resumes that are readily visible. I notice that this mostly happens when people indent the dates of their positions on the right side of the page but don’t use the Tab button. This can make your indents appear jagged and messy, and a resume should be the height of cleanliness. Always use the Tab button to make indents because it will make them all the same and you won’t have to worry about flying dates.

No, I haven’t been in the business world very long, but it’s never too early or too late to brush up on spelling, grammar, and visual detail recognition when it comes to your resume. Not to sound like a cheeseball, but a resume is one of the most important pieces of paper you will ever present to someone. It shows all about you, who you are as a person as well as your accomplishments. Wouldn’t you want it to look as good as possible?

Having been in the working world for, oh, three days now, I’m starting to see that maybe my idea of office attire is perhaps a little outdated. At 21, I never thought I’d be saying something like that about myself, but it could very well be true.
When I pictured the working world in my mind, I’m not going to lie, it looked a little bit like Mad Men—crisp clean suits for men and women, the works. But now I am somewhat disappointed to find that, alas, so many places are business casual. Women wear flats to work (gasp!), men don’t wear ties. Maybe it’s because I was raised on all those glamorous movies from the 1930s and so on, but office wear doesn’t look anything like I thought it would.
As I prepared to enter the work world, I bought business skirts and day dresses and heels and bags only now to find that flip-flops have become acceptable office attire. Frankly, I completely disagree and I don’t regret my purchases—quite the opposite, I will happily stick to my office attire. I like feeling like I’m getting dressed up to go to work, like I’m Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday (yes, that movie is from the 1930s, but still…a little glamour never hurt anyone). I feel professional, neat and, really, kind of fabulous. I would love to encourage people to make a return to office glam, to fight the business casual powers that be and enjoy getting dressed up for the office again. After all, when you look good you feel good, so why not look your best all the time?
But as much as I’d love to say that, I know that if you dress too formally in a work environment you can look stodgy and old-fashioned. You might even look dated and might not be able to be taken seriously. So maybe for the meantime we can just keep the office glam mentality. Even if you are dressing in a business casual style, that doesn’t mean you should look sloppy. You should keep your appearance neat at all times—ladies, hide your bra straps and hair ties; gentlemen, make sure your belt matches your shoes. When you’re at work, it’s the details that really matter. A stray button can suggest irresponsibility, a stain can suggest poor manners. When it comes to work, it’s really about the little things. Few people pay attention to the smallest details anymore, so when you really focus on them you stand out above the crowd in a really positive way. People appreciate little considerations like a neat appearance. That may sound terribly outdated but, like I said before, looking good never hurt anyone. In fact, it can only help in a world where so much is based on a first impression. It’s time to start thinking glam again.

By Beverly Weinstein

Dear Bev: How do I tell my boss I’m pregnant?

Turns out, the hard part isn’t breaking the news. Coming back to the office after maternity leave and working out the delicate balancing act between work and new baby is the bigger challenge, according to several new mothers I talked to recently.

Even though it may be almost 50 years since the Women’s Liberation movement shook things up for women in the workplace, issues around new working mothers are still being debated. Major newspapers and magazines regularly address businesses balancing “boomlets” of pregnant workers. (See The Wall Street Journal, WSJ.com,  Forbes, The Washington Post for more news on modern motherhood.)

Then and Now

“When I was having babies, I felt I had to make it a secret until it showed,” said an executive at a major media organization, who began her career and her family in the early 1980s. “The first time, I didn’t tell until I was five and a half months along. I was the first person to ever get pregnant in the ad sales department at the company. I worked out the maternity policy with my boss.”

Nowadays, companies are considerably better prepared. “We have women coming and going all the time on maternity leave,” said the same executive, who is now a SVP. “We just prepare for it, and cover for their responsibilities. We do paternity leave now, too -two weeks.”

Most newly pregnant women in today’s workplace wouldn’t think of waiting five months. “I knew I’d have to take time for doctor’s appointments,” explained an ad agency media professional. “So I let my direct boss know well in advance of the three month mark, which was when I told everyone else at work.”

Today companies are required by law to provide a designated room for breastfeeding, an accommodation that didn’t exist in the past.

Breaking the News: The Law Is on Your Side

Despite laws protecting expectant mothers, some new moms are still anxious about telling their bosses and prepared themselves for negative responses.

“I waited until I was four months along,” said another media executive who recently had a child. “I knew I couldn’t get fired and was aware of the fact that laws protected me, but if the response wasn’t good, I was prepared to leave.”

Another media exec said she “agonized over it for weeks, because I had only been there for a few months.” “It was a huge stress, but my boss was very nice about it,” she admits. “Though, the second thing out of her mouth was, ‘Oh, you’re going to come back, right?’ ”

Returning to Work

Most working mothers admit the most difficult part is returning to work and defining expectations for your return. “Before you leave, have a discussion with your boss,” advises one new mom. “Just finding out about hours, flex time and job share are important. You won’t get everything, but you won’t know until you ask.”

“I phased back into work,” said another mom. “It was better than walking away from spending 24/7 with my infant to five days a week at work. My boss said she knew my needs were changing, and she was willing to discuss things.”

“When you first come back from maternity leave your hormones are still raging,” said one mother whose employer wasn’t flexible. “I was already tearful the first few days, then my boss said: ‘You need to say goodbye to your husband and son and get on the road for three weeks.’ ”

Having an understanding manager helps, but some managers won’t make concessions that change an employees’ level of involvement and responsibility. “I had one new mother ask if she could work three days a week and I said no,” explained one manager. “It’s a senior-level job and requires a full-time person. I need an employee on board for the full work load.”

“It’s almost an expectation by lots of women that they are entitled to work from home, and it may not be realistic based on business needs,” noted another senior female executive with grown children.

Dear Bev: How do I get a digital job without experience?

by Beverly Weinstein

There are two companies offering high-quality digital training. In a tepid job market where digital opportunities are as abundant as traditional opportunities scarce, they are worth considering. Neither group guarantees a job, but both supply important tools for any candidate.

The Laredo Group has been offering training courses on digital since 1996. Recently, another group, The Internet Advertising Institute, gives digital job seekers an extra edge. Both provide a comprehensive view of the digital landscape and the language that’s unique to that sector. They are staffed by trainers with hands-on industry experience. IAI is focused on advertising sales and is designed more for entry level and junior candidates; The Laredo Group courses appeal to people working in ad sales as well as in ad agency and client-side marketing jobs.

Open Admission or By Invitation

The newly launched IAI has a limited class size, no more than 15 students per 6-week session.  Classes are from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. four days per week. All applicants must apply first and go through an interview process to be accepted.  IAI has relationships with a large pool of employers and works with applicants to get them successfully placed.  When I checked with lead trainer and CEO Steve Bookbinder in early January, nearly all of the first graduating class had been placed in jobs.

Bookbinder, who also runs an SEM agency, knows about the importance of digital: “No matter what your job is, it either has or will soon have a digital aspect.”

Leslie Laredo, president of the Laredo Group, offers one-day courses geared primarily to ad sales or to individuals that buy or plan media. In addition, she does more customized digital training for companies. “I’ve trained up to 700 employees at a single company,” she noted. Her courses are taught throughout the year in New York, Chicago or Los Angeles.

The ages of her students range from entry level to senior executives. Classes start at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. Students start with Level I classes. They can opt to continue with Level II and finish with Level III. According to Laredo, most attendees opt for additional levels.

Content

Both Laredo and IAI stress the importance of understanding the digital language.  “For decades, it was all about GRP. Online changes daily. We’re always on top of the digital ecosystem and evolving our course content,” explained Laredo.

She has developed and constantly updates a digital glossary with over 500 terms that she gives each student. The courses also have a 250-page manual and a resource list of 125 digital companies. Some of the information is available for free at laredogrouptools.com

In talking about IAI’s course, Bookbinder said, “It’s impossible to fake that you know what’s going on in digital. You have to learn the language and the terms. We use a variety of teaching techniques, ranging from flash cards to jeopardy-like games to role-playing. This is not a college course. It’s 100% practical and will give you what you need to know how to succeed in an interview and at a job.”

Costs

IAI charges students $10,000 for their course. There’s an initial $2,500 payment. A payment plan over two years is available for students. You can apply for their course at their Web site. Currently, all courses are in New York. Future plans are to extend to other markets as well as to offer evening sessions.

The Laredo Group has a variety of plans, and it’s best to check their site for the most current information. If you opt for an early bird sign up, the cost for two, one-day courses might $1,300. Public courses generally have 20-40 students, with 40 as the maximum size.

Why take a class?

Laredo sums it up nicely. “Keeping up-to-date is critical. You need to know what’s going on. We stress the importance of understanding performance, how the numbers work and accountability. You should know how it all works together online, off line or cross platform. You can’t keep your head in the sand anymore.”Dear Bev: How do I get a digital job without experience?

Read the column on MediaPost.

Dear Bev: What are some good books media executives are reading these days?

By Beverly Weinstein

Some books don’t fit neatly into categories, but offer some universal truths. Here are a few that may be familiar, and some that will offer a fresh perspective.

Green Eggs & Ham by Dr. Seuss
“The tale of Sam-I-Am: a successful salesman who overcomes his client’s initial objections with persistence, enthusiasm for his product and a customer adoption strategy premised on user trials.” –Mark Piesanen, director, strategic partnerships,
Google TV Ads

The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World- By Eric Weiner
Weiner set out on a yearlong quest to find the world’s unheralded happy places. Having worked for years as an NPR foreign correspondent, he’d gone to many obscure spots, but usually to report bad news or terrible tragedies. Now, he’s traveled to countries like Iceland, Bhutan, Qatar, Holland, Switzerland, Thailand and India to determine why residents tell positive psychology researchers that they’re actually quite happy.
Recommended by –Susan Malfa, SVP national advertising sales at Bravo and Oxygen and Media, Women @ NBCU

The Creative Habit: Learn It & Use It for Life- by Twyla Tharp
A personable tone is carried throughout the book and within the text is a goldmine of advice. Tharp not only promotes tried-and-true habits, but also encourages readers to dig deep within themselves and come up with their own answers.
“Creativity plays a role in everything we do. Tharp offers some great advice on how to make creativity work in all aspects of your life.” –Beverly Weinstein, president, Markham Media Executive Search

Scott Adams & Lynn Truss
“Frankly, Dilbert never ceases to amaze me: Many is the time I have been convinced that Scott Adams must have attended one of our meetings or received one of our policy memos. As a grammar “stickler,” I still love Lynn Truss’s Eats, Shoots & Leaves and her sequel on public rudeness, Talk to the Hand.” –Betsy Frank, Chief Research and Insights Officer, Time Inc.

On Advertising by David Ogilvy
“Imagine a career in politics and not bothering to read the Constitution of The United States or a career in religion and not bothering to read the Bible. That is what you are doing if you make your living in advertising, but can’t be bothered to read David Ogilvy’s On Advertising. The sense that aspects of this book have become dated is beside the point. The book is the foundation on which everything else got built.”
–Mark McLaughlin, president of McLaughlin Strategy

The Fourth Star: Dispatches from Inside Daniel Boulud’s Celebrated New York Restaurant - by Leslie Brenner
Reporter Brenner spent a year in New York’s elegant restaurant Daniel as its staff labored together to earn a coveted fourth star from The New York Times’ powerful restaurant critic. Brenner’s account of how the restaurant takes (and refuses) reservations offers many an object lesson for anyone striving to do public service right.
Recommended by Leslie Picard, Time, Inc.

Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins
“Eighty years ago, Claude Hopkins wrote: “The time has come when advertising has in some hands reached the status of a science.”  Right on!” –Mike Steib, director, Google Emerging Platforms & TV Ads

Book summaries taken from Amazon.com

Read the column on MediaPost’s MediaDailyNews.com

By Beverly Weinstein

Dear Bev: I’m looking for some great business books on change. Any suggestions?

Whether it is change in business, technology or your job responsibilities, one thing is certain: change, though sometimes good, is not easy. Here are some great books on tackling and understanding change from media executives at companies ranging from Google to Time Inc. and CBS to OMD.

Everyware: The Dawning Age of Ubiquitous Computing - by Adam Greenfield

“Although not a new book (2006) and not strictly a business book, this is a totally

absorbing work. It explores the implications of a not-too-distant future where

computers will be embedded everywhere in our physical space, including our homes,

our vehicles and our bodies.  Greenfield is a great writer and he discusses both the

scary and encouraging aspects of this inevitability with complete authority.” — Peggy Kelly, EVP, Universal McCann

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference — by Malcolm Gladwell

The premise of this facile piece of pop sociology has built-in appeal: Little changes can have big effects. When small numbers of people start behaving differently, that behavior can ripple outward until a critical mass or “tipping point” is reached, changing the world.

“All of Gladwell’s books are great. This is a classic.” –Gail Stein, group account director, OMD

Only the Paranoid Survive by Andy Grove & Leading Change by John Kotter

“We live and work in a time of rapid transformations. There are two business books which are complementary for succeeding in the midst of change. “Only The Paranoid Survive” by Andy Grove (retired CEO of Intel) is the best book ever written on the subject of external change — how to view it clinically, understand it and get out ahead of it. Leading Change by John Kotter (Harvard Business School) is the best management book for leading internal change — how to organize it, lead it and make sure it becomes institutionalized. Taken together, these books are my touchstones for leadership strategies that halt the feeling that your company is a victim of circumstance. Instead, they create the direction by which any company can be empowered to embrace change as a competitive and cultural advantage.”

–Mark McLaughlin, president of McLaughlin Strategy

Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More - by Chris Anderson

A New York Times bestseller and winner of the Gerald Loeb Award for best business book of the year, Long Tail introduced the business world to a future that’s already here.

“It really changed the way that I thought about how to aggregating the consumer in different media forms.” –Gail Stein, group account director, OMD

Curse of the Mogul: What’s Wrong With the World’s Leading Media Companies- by Columbia University professor, Jonathan Knee

The media industry is facing multiple financial and operational crises on an unprecedented scale, and Knee focuses in on the usual suspects to analyze and discuss the dilemma.

“It’s controversial. He attacks their business models–acquiring rather than building, not paying attention to shareholder value etc. It’s kind of cool.” –Nick Loria, media executive

The Shift: The Transformation of Today’s Marketers into Tomorrow’s Growth Leaders by Scott M. Davis

“The Shift is a must-read to help marketers and their respective organizations move ahead and thrive.” –From the foreword by Philip Kotler, S.C. Johnson and Son Distinguished Professor of International Marketing, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

Recommended by Mark Hosbein, former SVP marketing at Nielsen Business Media

Book summaries taken from Amazon.com

Read the column on MediaPost’s MediaDailyNews.com

By Beverly Weinstein

Part II: Dear Bev: I’m looking for some great business book for holiday gifts. Any suggestions?

Media execs I talked to at companies ranging from Google to Time Inc. and Forbes to Ogilvy had plenty. Today, I’m offering a selection that focus on leadership. Watch for upcoming columns featuring recommendations for books on change and negotiating.

Leadership Lessons Learned from business pros, classic fiction and even antarctic explorers…

Leadership Is an Art – by Max DePree

Rather than offering a how-to manual on running a business, DePree, CEO of Herman Miller Inc., a manufacturer of office furniture, details in deceptively simple but imaginative language, a humanitarian approach to leadership.

“This is a classic. It’s pragmatic as opposed to most business books, which are too theoretical. It gives you things you can do immediately.” –Gary Schuman, Owner CDL Consulting and Management/Leadership Consultant and Coach

The Feiner Points of Leadership – by Michael Feiner

“The how-to manual of leadership!  With anecdotes about softball and family interwoven with simple guidelines on how to lead up, down, left and right, this book is never far out of my grasp, especially in today’s increasingly flat organizations.”

All the King’s Men – by Robert Penn Warren

“Newspaperman Jack Burden struggles with the right balance of respect and criticism for his larger-than-life, sometimes misguided boss, Governor Willie Stark. In a media populace filled with big egos, All the King’s Men has lessons relevant for today’s media manager, 63 years after the political novel’s first publication.” –Both Feiner and King’s Men recommended by John Saroff, head of strategic partner development, Google TV Ads

The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels – by Michael Watkins

“When I was transitioning from MTV Networks to Time Inc., I was given a copy of The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels. I still find it extremely valuable to help reset or “course correct” after new responsibilities, a new organization, or a new manager.” –Betsy Frank, Chief Research and Insights Officer, Time Inc.

Leading at the Edge: Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition by Dennis Perkins

Although their experiences may sometimes seem torturous, most managers aren’t facing dangerous or life-threatening conditions. Even so, argues consultant Perkins, they would do well to learn from both triumphant and failed expeditions. Perkins introduces 10 key concepts he believes are essential to productive leadership with lively anecdotes from the adverse but ultimately successful expedition to the South Pole led by Ernest Shackleton in 1914.  Recommended by Christopher Simon, EVP sales, CBS Television

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller

In Joseph Heller’s classic satire on the murderous insanity of war, the novel’s undiminished strength is its looking-glass logic. Again and again, Heller’s characters demonstrate that what is commonly held to be good, is bad; what is sensible, is nonsense. Recommended by Paul Rittenberg, SVP at Fox News

It’s OK to Be the Boss: The Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming the Manager Your Employees Need – by Bruce Tulgan

“It offered really helpful advice as I was growing out my team, and we had to become more professional.” –Jeremy Steinberg, VP, digital sales and business development, Fox News Network

The One Minute Manager - by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson

This book is a concise, easily read story that reveals three very practical secrets: One Minute Goals, One Minute Praisings, and One Minute Reprimands. “It’s a book that tells you how to get time back in your life. It’s simple, but if you do it, it works.”-Rich Sutton, SVP consumer markets, WebMD

Words that Work – by Dr. Frank Luntz

“This book is not about what you say, but what people hear. This is a great, great book.” – Brian Fisher, VP digital sales, ABC.com

True North – by Bill George

In this important book, acclaimed former Medtronic CEO Bill George shares the wisdom of over 125 outstanding leaders and provides a comprehensive and personal program for finding you own True North and leadership success.

Seven Lessons for Leading in Crisis – by Bill George

George’s just-in-time guide for anyone in a leadership position facing today’s unprecedented economic challenges. Both True North, Seven Lessons recommended by Gary Schuman, Owner CDL Consulting and Management/Leadership Consultant and Coach

Hardball for Women – by Pat Heim and Susan K. Golant

In this constructive, no-nonsense guide, business consultant Heim addresses women executives who, despite technical proficiency, hard work and managerial skills equal or superior to those of their male co-workers, have been passed over for promotions.

“I can’t say enough good things about “Hardball For Women.” The title unfortunately, is a misnomer, since the content is extremely eye-opening for both men and women regarding how to communicate better with one another at multiple levels in the workplace.” –Marie Svet, director. pricing and inventory at RHI Entertainment

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable – by Patrick Lencioni

Once again, using an astutely written fictional tale to unambiguously but painlessly deliver some hard truths about critical business procedures, Patrick Lencioni targets group behavior in the final entry of his trilogy of corporate fables. Recommended by Leslie Picard, SVP corporate sales and marketing at Time, Inc.

Read the column on MediaPost’s MediaDailyNews.com

Book summaries taken from Amazon.com

By Beverly Weinstein
Media execs I talked to at companies ranging from Google to Time Inc., CBS to OMD had plenty. Following are a selection that focus on strategy. Watch for upcoming columns featuring recommendations for books on leadership, change and negotiating.

Lessons in strategy from the playing field, the battlefield and even the operating room.

Moneyball by Michael Lewis

“Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane disregards conventional wisdom, embraces insights from data and wins a lot of baseball games.” -Mike Steib, Director, Google Emerging Platforms & TV Ads

The Art of War by Sun-Tzu

The Art of War, compiled in the 6th century B.C., is the world’s oldest surviving military treatise. Long revered as the definitive guide to strategy and tactics on the battlefield, it offers timeless wisdom to today’s managers.

Recommended by Christopher Simon, EVP Sales, CBS Television

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande

In riveting stories, Gawande takes us from drowning victims to deadly hospital infections, explaining how checklists actually work to prompt striking and immediate improvements. He follows the checklist revolution into fields well beyond medicine, from homeland security to investment banking, skyscraper construction and businesses of all kinds.

“The author may be a doctor, but the bottom line is all of these lessons apply to everything you do, regardless of the business you’re in.” -Arlene Manos, President National Advertising Sales at Rainbow Media

Warfighting: The US Marine Corps Book of Strategy -by US Marine Corps Staff

“Argues that organizations should grant a high degree of decision-making to people low on the chain of command. If you decide quickly, act fast to implement, and interpret responses immediately, you are on your way to success before competitors can react.”

- Mark Piesanen, Director, Strategic Partnerships, Google TV Ads

Rules for Revolutionaries – by Guy Kawasaki

The former chief evangelist at Apple Computer and an iconoclastic corporate tactician is back in print with his seventh book, a  “Capitalist Manifesto for Creating and Marketing New Products and Services.” It lays out Kawasaki’s decidedly audacious (but personally experienced) strategies for besting the competition and triumphing in today’s hypercharged business environment.

Recommended by Leslie Picard, SVP Corporate Sales & Marketing, Time Inc

Nelson’s Trafalgar-by Roy Adkins

“In 1805, only the British Royal Navy stood between England and invasion byNapoleon’s armies.  Lord Nelson combined unorthodox tactics with the fundamental superior fighting skills of the Royal Navy, crushed the combined French and Spanish fleet, and saved England from invasion. I prefer reading military history to business books, now more than ever. Threat, innovation, and focusing on what you do better to win is always a great business lesson.” – Avery Stirratt, President-Advertising, Forbes Media

Book summaries taken from Amazon.com.

Read the Column on Media Post’s Media Daily News.

Our lack of attention to this blog in recent weeks is a small testament to the improvement of the market place. We’ve been busy recruiting for several digital media companies and while the economy as a whole still has a long way to go, we’re starting to see job opportunities pop up and are starting to feel hopeful for the new year ahead.

In working with several cutting edge digital media companies, it’s hard not to pay attention to the interesting divide between the digitally connected Millennial generation and the Baby Boomers who manage, them while simulatenously learning a thing or two themselves. The  New York Times  recently had an interesting column by James R. Gaines, Editor in Chief of the online publication FLYP. Gaines is over 60 and a seasoned journalist and editor who headed major print publications including, People, Time and Life. FLYP is an online magazine of sorts that is exploring new forms of multimedia journalism. But the loads of experience and expertise Gaines has to offer to his staff of young writers, tech experts, and multimedia gurus, he finds, are often matched by the insight into emerging technologies and new media that his staff provide him with.   It’s an interesting balance for a long-time manager. And one that sometimes reminds him of how much he has to learn. It’s humbling and thrilling, he says. And he is mostly excited to help these younger players conquer this new frontier as he calls it. He likens his roll to that of a parent, helping and providing for but not being a friend.  Gaines seems ok with this unusual management roll he finds himself in and he reminds us at the end of the column that while he might be the novice when it comes to the technology, the core of his company, and of all digital journalism, is still to tell a story. And that’s where his expertise really comes into play.

“MEDIA will change as radically as technology allows, and right now the Internet is moving over the media landscape like a tsunami. But the job I learned to love when young was to tell stories, and the story has lost nothing in this transition. It is as elemental and as riveting as ever.

Everybody’s worried about the device. Could Microsoft’s Courier be the answer, or the iTablet? Good question, but not the most important one. It’s less the device than the devices — the crafts and the art of storytelling — that need updating most urgently for the digital world.”
Gaines’ story is reminiscent of a topic we touched on in the past: this divide between generations and how the future of media will be shaped by it. As we recruit for many digital companies on the brink of becoming leaders in the digital space, helping to form and create their teams and interviewing the candidates that will make these companies successful, it’s interesting to see the strengths and weaknesses parties from both ends of the spectrum bring to the table.

How do you think the tech boom has affected the leadership now expected from the baby boom?

And how will the younger set fair when business requires more of them than their computer savvy?

Read Gaines’ story on the New York Times.

One cool thing about blogging and social media is the sense of community something so impersonal as virtual communication can actually create. I found out about Blog Action Day on Twitter and decided to participate and join almost 10,000 other bloggers in posting about Climate Change today. While climate change isn’t really what Dear Bev is all about, a big part of what we talk about on this blog is the importance of social media and social networking. So why not put my money where my mouth is and take part in a social media effort for the greater good and show what a powerful force this new medium can be. If you have a blog, start some conversation on yours about climate change, too. Or like me, just start some conversation on the power of social media to get these communications flowing. Any thoughts on climate change? Any ideas on making the media industry more eco-friendly?