The New Media Mogul: 10 Questions For Daisy Whitney of The New Media Minute

Daisy Whitney is working it. She co-produces and hosts her own show The New Media Minute which is produced in partnership with NAPTE (National Association of Television Program Executives) and can been seen on NAPT'Es site, Beet.TV, TVWeek.com, on ABCNews.com, Jugular's Advertising’s blog, James McQuivey’s blog, ChicagoConvergence.com, Midwest Media Now!, and United Pixels.

She also writes for a slew of online publications and has just published her first e-book, Keeping You and Your Content Out of Court which we'll get into later. As an industry expert, Daisy has been interviewed by CNN’s Showbiz Tonight, CNBC’s Closing Bell and G4’s Attack of the Show. She has also been interviewed by NPR and the Wall Street Journal. Not to forget, she is also the host of the podcast, This Week In Media.

Parlaying her knowledge and experience, Daisy has been consulting to organizations and companies on entering the the new media on-line space.
 
Here's her latest show:

 
Where is the best place to to upload your webisodes and why?

Daisy W: This varies widely depending on your business or brand. Sometimes it’s YouTube, sometimes your own site, sometimes a service like blip.tv, sometimes niche sites. It truly depends on the content, audience and release strategy. Generally, I advise posting to more than one place though so you have a better chance of being found.  I picked blip because I know the founders, because they take care of me and their other producers, because they are always accessible and helpful and can solve all problems quickly.  Also, many of the most popular episodic web content uses blip so that seemed a good fit.
 
If you're not on YouTube, why not (I did a youtube search for you and got some old new med. minute shows from long ago)?
 
Daisy W: Um, I should be! I have a YouTube account and I admit sheepishly I need to be on there because I just did a New Media Minute on how every brand needs to be on YouTube, so I better follow my own advice and update my YouTube videos!

How did you go about finding sponsors for your shows?

Daisy W: One came as a result of an ongoing relationship with the CEO of the sponsoring company. I asked if he wanted to try a charter sponsorship with the New Media Minute and he was game, so we struck a deal over email in a day or two. The second sponsor is also a company I know well and follow. The marketing director approached me at NAB and we talked more and I put her in touch with NATPE, my presenting partner which now sells the ads for me in the New Media Minute.

Do you use a teleprompter? If you don't, then you're amazing. Even if you do use one - you're still amazing. Very natural. Any secrets?
 
Daisy W: Thank you. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t! It depends. Originally I did not and just memorized each script. Then I had access to a prompter and loved not memorizing. Now I have found that I actually prefer simply writing the script, reading it a few times and then going off memory, rather than a strict memorization. It makes it more natural, I think. I feel comfortable with this “technique” now because I’ve been hosting the audio podcast This Week in Media for more than a year and because I speak frequently at conferences and these opportunities have helped me hone my ability to “riff” so to speak and just talk without a prompter.
 
Tell me a little about your new E-Book. How did you happen on this subject matter? What will buyers of the book find that's important to making video on the web?
 
Daisy W: I wrote an e-book on fair use of online video and other internet content because I received numerous emails from creators wanting specifics on how to adhere to fair use guidelines. My hope with the ebook (daisywhitney.com/ebooks) is that media producers can learn for $15 the basics of how to avoid getting sued for violating fair use and NOT have to pay lawyer fees!
 
Your work flow for your New Media Minute... Do you have ideas stored away or take it week by week. Do you have a crew helping with shoot and edit?
 
Daisy W: My husband shoots and edits the show. I usually save ideas and batch shoot 2-3 at a time for efficiency reasons. If I am at an event, I do a “live to tape” version and run the next day. Otherwise they are usually shot a week or so before they air.
 
Video is impactful. But many times I'd like to link to some of the stuff you talk about in your pieces (that piece of YA writers for instance). Do you feel like there should be some interactivity within web video? I'm a big fan of youtube annotations but of course you're stuck in a youtube world.
 
Daisy W: Yes, interactivity and links are good things in Web video.
 
Posting a weekly show is grueling. But what has it done for your career?
 
Daisy W: It is grueling! But it’s done a few things. It’s become a revenue stream! And it’s also helped me finetune my presentation skills, reach new audiences, win new clients, earn speaking engagements, and become an important voice in the new media world. I’m delighted that media executives and indie producers alike find it valuable. A talent agent once actually thanked me for doing the show and said he found it informative and useful every week – that’s why it’s worth doing.
 
You consult companies on their online video branding. Should companies think like you do in terms of creating a sustained series or should they call the perlorian brothers and get some eyeballs by making insanely funny viral video that speaks to their unique selling proposition?
 
Daisy W: It totally depends on the company or brand! Making video needs to be tailored to your company and your brand and it could be a series or a viral video. But a viral hit is tough so I generally advise aiming to build a sustained and targeted audience over time with ongoing videos germane to your area of expertise.

Where do you see New Media Minute going in 2010?

Daisy W: I hope it continues to be a profitable show for NATPE and me and that I can break stories, provide analysis and help educate media execs and producers.

Thanks Daisy!

My favorite line that she said was this one about her paid advertising on her programming, "I asked if he wanted to try a charter sponsorship with the New Media Minute and he was game." It's a good lesson to remember: if you don't ask, you don't get!

If you enjoyed this post, become a regular subscriber to this blog through email or RSS. It's the one way to ensure you won't miss a post. Click here for details.