What Would Google Do? by Jeff Jarvis (2009) Part II

Democratization of information on the Internet has implications for other businesses. Google’s model could have far reaching implications. The news might best be created by community curators who share relevant information for local audiences. The local restaurant has a similar opportunity to be “Google-y” by using local constituents to drive selection. This concept of measured curation for local audiences is a new business model.

These were some of the issues raised by Amy Martin and Catherine Whittaker, who took on Bill Gary’s earlier claim that only the first half of the book was worth the read (What Would Google Do? Part I). But, they say, these ideas may go against human (or at least American) nature?

We have a desire to protect our intellectual property and artistry. A chef may not want to turn over artistic control of her menu to the local diners. A professor may not want to share his instructional tools on the web.

Information sharing, openness, and transparency breed trust, says Jarvis. But at the same time, we are trusting others not to misuse the information shared. Is the Internet a community of trust?

• Overall Response: The second half raises fundamental issues for businesses and offers new thinking about ownership and trust in a digital age. Could businesses really make this shift?

About Digital Media Book Club: In the growing field of strategic communication, social media rockstars, academics, and digital thinkers are investing time and energy to share their learning with others. In my Digital Strategic Communication class, students in the Master of Arts in Organizational and Strategic Communication program at Queens University of Charlotte are sifting through a variety of texts to discover the embedded wisdom. These are their thoughts and reactions.