Media is changing (in case you hadn't noticed).

I was struck recently with surprise at the number of empty video rental shops. Gone. While that is hard for those who have lost their jobs, and for the ripple impact on local economies - there's a number of factors.

Loads of things like family gaming (Wii), Postal DVD rental and of course, online video.

This talk by Clay Shirky, recorded at New York in May 2009, explores the shift from silo'd media, to connected, global, social and media. It's well worth the 17 minutes to watch.

I particularly liked that this wasn't mass-hysteria, but based on what is going on in our day. I guess we have to decide how we respond to that. We are moving from a mature model media (where we've had a pretty clear idea of how it worked) to the early-ish days of a new model. It's not going to be the same, which means that it might not be comfortable for people to deal with the change.

At the end of the day, people working in Communications have a choice to make - resist until you are extict, or get on board and shape the future!

(h/t Garr Reynolds)