Public Speaking Lessons from New/Digital Media

Digital Media.  New Media.  I find the terms confusing but I love learning about this concept.

Wayne State University has a minor in New Media and here's a short description of the coursework from their website:

Interested in new/emerging media and technology? The new media minor may be perfect for you. The Department of Communication created the minor in new/emerging media for the consideration of all students at Wayne State. Expertise in new and emerging media enhances any major. Expand your comprehension of contemporary communication practices — including digital, mobile and social media — while learning some of the most effective ways to interact in this continuously evolving environment. Focus on both critical and creative tools across disciplines to build upon your specific goals and interests.

How does this relate to Good 'Ol Public Speaking?  At the very least, it seems that we are much more likely to rely on new media to obtain information than in attending a live public presentation.  On the other hand, new media gives us access to live public presentations from all around the world either live or shortly thereafter.  In turn, if we pull off a smashing public presentation we now have the capabilities to self publish that online and it could even go viral.

So when Jason Kristufek, a digital editor at the Post and Courier in Charleston, was available to speak to my class, I jumped at it.  Yes, he works at a newspaper.   But it seems that when he looks at stories for publication, he looks at them the same way I do when I look at a presentation topic.  He asks himself:  how can we get the audience to interact with this story?  He talked with us about the importance of story telling and of finding a variety of ways for our audience to interact with our stories. In other words, it's all about making the story relevant and compelling to the audience.  While he may consider whether that's through an online documentary or a podcast, I pester my students to find ways to make their live, spoken words come alive for their audiences.

If a digital storyteller is thinking of ways to interact with the audience, shouldn't a live and in person storyteller do the same?  Many times presenters shy away from asking for a show of hands.  Or requesting a volunteer from the audience.  Or inviting someone to offer an example.  But if audiences can have more interaction on a digital platform than in a live setting, do we run the risk that audiences will stop showing up?

Communication is as old as time.  But whether writing on a cave wall, standing on a box in the town square, delivering newspapers door to door,  or scrolling through your Facebook, in many ways it hasn't changed much at all:  the audience wants to be involved and to feel relevant.