[...] to enumerate them, but I’ve put my suggestions out there pretty consistently (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10), as have my fellow bloggers here at Nieman and elsewhere.  At Eric Schmidt told the NAA [...]

[...]   “Social networks: “News organizations ignore them at their peril” and “A café-shaped conversation“).  Start by appointing a Chief Social Networking officer.  Connect actively with readers [...]

[...] into discussions. (Martin Langeveld of Nieman Journalism Lab made a great post last week called a “A cafe shaped conversation” that helps clarify the distinction I’m trying to make between a conversation and a [...]

I think it is working for a couple of reasons:

1. The original post was thought provoking.
2. Power was in the room.

I only now know that in the room were “The president and publisher of “the most widely-read magazine in America” (a 32-million circulation newspaper supplement), based in New York City” and
“The CEO of a Alabama newspaper holding company operating in 150 communities”

But the fact that the topic was about an online discussion the launch of a website by publishing executives, it was a reasonable conclusion that at least one or two of them would make the time to participate.

Access to power is the most precious commodity there is. Consider how much the lobbyists spend tojust to gain an audience. Or the effort that the Obama campaign has made to scale listening.

Imagine a congressperson who spent just a little time listening to her constituents, not during office hours for 10 minutes,but at the convenience of their constituents. The web makes it possible. What’s missing is the focus of the powerful.

For newspapers imagine the buzz that would be created if participants have a reasonable basis for assuming that the Editor in Chief or the Publisher is in the room.

In any case, thank you for hosting and buying the drinks. I look forward to meeting more people when next a cafe chat breaks out.