Patrick Kitano

• Manage |RSSConnect SF 2008
• Manage |RSSReal Estate Bloggers
• Manage |RSSReal Estate Trends

Welcome to the Left Coast... you're a perfect fit Matt... Pat Kitano

It's telling that the three commentators Kris, Jay and Tim are the veterans of this new real estate media (once called "blogging" lol). I think the next evolution of this "media" will be an adoption stage during which the media becomes more accessible to both the broadcasters (real estate professionals) and the readers/user/consumers of the media. Where blogs were hard for agents to develop, Facebook chatting with friends of friends is much easier. Note that chats that once were between two people are now broadcast out to the 100's and 1,000's in the network, whether it's FB, Twitter or Friendfeed, and can thus be labeled "community media". With the massive growth of social networks (there are now more 55+ old seniors on FB than high school students - http://twurl.nl/cjd8v1), we're now at the brink of that next evolution where the hybrid - personal media / community media, real estate commentary - will become an accepted means of marketing and communication. BTW, community media hasn't really happened yet... you see some harbingers in the community forums on Craigslist or Yelp, where neighbors actually talk with and exchange actionable local information. Just wait until whole communities engage within local gardens now being formed in Twitter and Facebook, where every local participant is given a mouthpiece... then you'll see how powerful being the HUB of that community voice will be. That's the direction Tim White is implying he is headed.

Matt, your copy really differentiates why journalism will always be important. You're able flesh out stories that bloggers can't delve deep into. This is a refreshing and revealing read.