Enter the Age of Trusted Recommendations
I just finished reading Steve Rubel’s opinion on the concept of Digital Curator. What struck me as interesting is his comment that “curators are not editors.” I would disagree with that whole heartedly. While his premise that “the notion of an editor inherently implies that space is finite. Online it’s not” does make some sense, the role of being a curator is that the audience is expecting you to edit based on perspective. Again, this points to our belief at MediaTrust that relevance is the first and foremost point of reference to our audience. It is our responsibility to edit the amazing volume of information that is available to us and only present what is of value to the community that we are establishing and guiding.
While I couldn’t find the actual publishing date, sometime in the pre-fall of 2006, frog design’s Strategy Director Adam Richardson wrote a very forward thinking article titled “From the Information Age to the Recommendation Age” He sites many of the drivers that have created this role of “digital curator”, but positioned as a trusted advisor. “The key to recommendations are their trustworthiness - the track record and perceived objectivity and competence of the source is paramount.”
In my role as a creative director I am continually asked for my insights, opinions, and recommendations because I can edit a large variety of influencers and trends, and establish a curated view of these items to my staff, my company and my clients. It is this ability to present a collection of information that is relevant and useful that makes me a “digital curator”, as well as the trust that I have built over time with my audience and the usefulness and value of the information I present to them.
Steve Rosenbaum over at Always On seems to agree, and makes a very interesting observation about the changing role of the curator - no longer neccessarily an institutional voice, but an individual one. As he writes its “the passionate individual voice. The single editor-in-chief. The hands on editorial manager who’s taken it on as his or her mission to discovery, sort, and promote the best of the best content within an individual curator’s area of interest.”
As always, we would value your opinion and comments on this and any topics we discuss here on Relevantly Speaking.
One Comment, Comment or Ping
Crystal
Just spotted you on Facebook and can’t thank you enough for the direction and links provided here.
I’m savoring my new "job" collecting resources and blogging for the smallest businesses with the smallest budgets, but didn’t have a compelling and descriptive job title until now.
"Blogger" is a term familiar to many, but it doesn’t give the full scope of my role. "Digital Curator" has a nice ring to it, and embodies all that’s involved with the Search > Sift > Sort > Share process that rules my (and possibly your) work day.
And you’ve offered quite a start at a mission statement with this bit: "present a collection of information that is relevant and useful that makes me a ‘digital curator’, as well as the trust that I have built over time with my audience and the usefulness and value of the information I present to them"
Again, many thanks!
Mar 3rd, 2008
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