Listening to these two men on consecutive days really gave me a perspective of where we’re going and where we’ve been.  Newspapers, as we all know, are struggling.  I agree with Mr. Proctor’s statement today that newspapers will exist in the future in print form, but I question their relevance and just how many of them will actually remain.  Who can honestly say that in 10 years they expect to be reading a print newspaper regularly?  I don’t read them very often *now*.

While it makes me a little sad, I suspect local newspapers such as the RTD will go the “way of the wind”, replaced by digital delivery (via RSS and/or other formats) and localized websites such as our local Richmond.com (which the RTD recently purchased) and Richmond BizSense.

As Mr. Shankman said yesterday, newspapers that remain will be available anywhere and any time you want them … not just in print form.  Mr. Proctor did reference the RTD’s digital edition, which less than half of the room knew about.  He also said that the paper is revamping its web strategy … which is an extremely good move.  I don’t know many people who comment favorably about the RTD’s website.

I wish I had the time to go point by point comparing and contrasting more of what the two men said, but I’m sure you can imagine how surreal these two listening opportunities must have been.

The high points of the talk were:

• The traditional press release is nearly dead with the exception of publicly traded companies
• Very soon, all of your online profiles (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) will merge into one profile that you can use in various places.
• Very soon, your online contacts or friends will be ranked.  For example, on Facebook, your mother will “rank” higher than the girl you met at the bar and friended but never talked to again.

Just a quickie overview.  All in all, a great talk.  Thanks to Peter for coming to see us!

Peter is the social media and public relations guru responsible for HARO, or “Help a Reporter Out”.  It’s a free mailing list that connects PR folks with reporters who need sources.  He’s making an appearance in Richmond to benefit Fight SMA, which, coincidentally, is one of my clients!  EndGame PR provides PR, social media, SEO PR, and website management for the nonprofit organization.  Fight SMA is working to rid the world of spinal muscular atrophy, which is the leading inherited killer of infants.  The neuromuscular disease slowly robs its victims of their ability to walk, talk, breathe, and even smile.  In its harshest form, it usually kills babies before they turn two years old.

Peter Shankman’s appearance is being organized by The Hodges Partnership, a PR firm run by a couple of good friends of mine who is also a good friend of Fight SMA.  The event is on January 27 at 7:30am at the WCVE studios (address: 23 Sesame Street in Bon Air).  The cost is $25, with money going toward Fight SMA’s quest for a cure. For more information, please call Julia Webster at 804-788-1414.  You can also visit the Facebook event page built by The Hodges Partnership.  I plan to be there, so look me up if you attend!