Thinking digitally

Digital media is exploding. As someone educated in the use of analog media (videotape, audiotape, vinyl records, etc) and used to handling paper, I have had to make a conscious effort to view communications digitally. In addition, working for a church whose founding relied so heavily on the newly-invented printing press to help spread its Reformation message throughout Europe, thinking digitally does not come easily. But we really have no choice.

I love the analogy I once heard about those of us who had to learn about compters and the Internet after our formative years being labelled as "digital immigrants" and those who grew up with computers and Internet as "digital natives."

When immigrants arrive in a new country they face the challenge of learning a new language, local customs, social mores and etiquette. It's the same with digital immigrants. If we are to navigate the dynamic digital communication environment we have to learn the ins and outs of the new digital world — Facebook, Twitter, Google (in all its incarnations), messaging, Youtube. All these are part of the language and nothing is more embarrassing than using a wrong word or term in any "new world" situation.

Immigrants also learn how to "go native" from the natives. The best way to find out what's going on in the digital world is to go there, surf around, read blogs, join Facebook subscribe to Twitter.

And when it comes to making decisions about any communication "think digital first." Those of us in the print oriented world always look for solutions using the media with which we grew up. That doesn't cut it anymore. If we want to keep talking to ourselves, then stick with paper. But you are cutting off a lot of a new audience.

That's the point of this blog. We need to think digital first, not as a second thought or something supplementary. To relate to our world, digital has to be top of mind, not bottom of list.