Chris Brauer Media Project [BLOG]

When not working on finishing my PhD and teaching online journalism at City University I am kept very busy in my role as Director, Creative Industries for Clarity Capital. This involves recommending investments in the creative industries and developing web 1.0-2.0 strategies and sites for Clarity and investee companies. All of the design and development work is done through my company Smoothmedia. Clarity Capital has offices in Canada, Africa and the UK and a range of exciting and successful investments in diverse industries.

Working with Clarity Capital Executive Director Allan Dolan on the cutting edge of corporate web development we actively participate in the ongoing Internet revolution impacting operations, marketing and communications.

So far we have developed the following sites:

• Savannah Diamonds
• Saponin Inc
  
• Antech Laboratories
  

Labels: business, economics, internet

One of the most annoying things about living in a capitalist culture of consumption is the way third rate shysters can follow a successful and legal path to material success. Of course everyone loves a good spammer, filling his pockets and your inbox with trash that earns on 5 in a million. That's a sweet five for his flourishing trade. The larger question is why this spamming is a successful social and economic act. But this is not strictly an internet issue.

Television viewers almost have to shield your eyes to watch the new "quiz shows" dominating the late night UK digital airwaves. These guys take it to a whole new level by asking questions like: "Name 13 items commonly found in women's handbags". Viewers respond in mass at 79p per minute on shows like The Mint and Quizmania but miss obvious answers like balaclava and raw/Rawlplugs (trade name for plugs that allow screws to be fitted into masonry walls) . But of course only a portion of viewers can get through the jammed phone lines and most of the money is made from those who don't even get a chance to compete.

Labels: culture, economics, internet, media

With circulation figures recently topping one million worldwide, The Economist has established itself as one of the few international newspapers of record. Opinionated, increasingly full of well structured witty right-wing propaganda, each week is a worthy read and in fact might qualify as the most logical choice for a desert island paper.

It is nice to see a publication so unashamed and informed in its convictions, whether agreeable or not. See for example its stated overall editorial goal to "take part in a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress". At least you know what you are reading. Of course when The Economist speaks of progress it generally means it in the most conventional modernist way of everyone rising up together to be rich, powerful and participatory. It is not surprising that over 50% of Economist readers are in the USA, global superpower of record, who currently have the most to lose from critical questioning of the modus operandi of fiscal-focused globalization, free trade and technological progress. For example more threat to future global growth and survival is seen in high energy prices than in the potentially unsustainable environmental impact of a culture of consumption that promises to starve the earth of natural resources.

But for Economist readers it is a story of preaching to the choir and many are starving for confirmation of meaning in what they do and tired of the constant chatter of pessimistic critics. So it is useful to read predictions and observations on the state of the world from a veritable bible of the status quo.

The following are some of the highlights of the Economist World in 2006:

• Sometime in 2006 more than half the world's population will be living in a town or city. Contrast this with 1800 when only 3% of the population was urbanised.
• By 2026 China's economy will be bigger than America's and India's will be much larger than that of any individual European country. Russia, Brazil and Indonesia will be not be much further behind.
• The global housing boom is the biggest financial bubble in history. A further jump in oil prices could pop this bubble by undermining consumer confidence.
• The concept of "Granularity" will be the trendy focus of management and consultants worldwide as grand global strategies will be desperately out of fashion and business focuses on efficiencies and exploiting local markets.
• The top three business travel destinations in the world are Canadian - Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto. Canadian cities fare best because "they have the right mix of feelgood factors without being too expensive. The large expanse of the Canadian wilderness and its cultural diversity make cities cosmopolitan havens".
• Be prepared for turbulent currency markets as the dangers of a collapsing dollar, a fractured euro or a soaring yuan are feasible risk scenarios.

Labels: economics, media