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The media becomes an activist for democracy
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June 3, 2013, 12:58 p.m.
LINK: mashable.com  ➚   |   Posted by: Caroline O'Donovan   |   June 3, 2013

Pinterest’s John Rauser, who was recently interviewed by Mashable, says he views the site as a “a data company,” in which it is his job to track patterns of use and networked concepts and ideas. In addition to discussing his use of data analysis in streamlining internal processes, Rausner talks about what he’s learned about how people want to consume media.

Perhaps the most substantial is an in-depth study of how pinners use both our mobile apps and the website. It’s very easy to hold these platforms separate in your mind and to try to optimize them in isolation, but I don’t think pinners see it that way. To them, there’s only one Pinterest, and their experience of it moves seamlessly between platforms as they go through their day. This is a hard but extremely important thing to keep in mind as we continue to build the service.

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The media becomes an activist for democracy
“We cannot be neutral about this, by definition. A free press that doesn’t agitate for democracy is an oxymoron.”
Embracing influencers as allies
“News organizations will increasingly rely on digital creators not just as amplifiers but as integral partners in storytelling.”
Action over analysis
“We’ve overindexed on problem articulation, to the point of problem admiring. The risk is that we are analyzing ourselves into inaction and irrelevance.”