From time to time, there interviews on TV or quotes in newspaper and magazine articles , excerpts from books or magazines that are worth waving.  The following quotes and excerpts are from a diverse group of individuals, including Internet Billionaire and Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban to golf superstar Tiger Woods.

 Discuss. Ponder. Debate. At the end of the day, enjoy.
Jeffrey Pfeffer, author, “The Human Equation:  Buildinq Profits by Putting People First”
“When times are qood, a jackass can run a successful company, and we’ve seen that lately. It’s when times are bad that you really have the opportunity to gain some competitive leverage. You should ask yourself, “How can I get and retain the best people? How can I build customer relationships, introduce new products, and really gain competitive advantage?”
 Red Herring - May 1-15,2001 , p. 141.

On Convergence

 “Convergence is dead,” says Cuban. “There is no more analog. It’s just digital. Because of that, content can be anywhere, go anywhere and do anything, and that changes everything.”
MediaWeek, “A Convergence Zone – Cable’s Niche Brands Perfect ForMultiple Platforms,” April 24, 2006.   — Mark Cuban

 Forrest Carr, news director, WFLA, Tampa, FLA

“Convergence frightens many people who wonder whether their current  skill sets have prepared them for — or will even be needed in — that great undiscovered country, the future.”

WEB TRENDS – Feb 2006
Immediacy:  Today’s newspaper readers and TV watchers live in the land of immediacy: they want the information/news NOW and don’t want to wait for the 6 0′clock news or tomorrow morning’s newspaper delivery.  Media orgs are trying to get news and information to readers as fast as they can using multiple forms of media.

The password is “user-driven content”:  Blogs are among the hottest item that are along reporters as well as readers/viewers to not only read the news headlines, but to discuss them; to post their theirs.
Blogs are online diaries where writers can post their random comments. Many news sites are now incorporating them in their websites…. but they are the hottest thing among the 13 – 25 year old demo… (Check out http://xanga.com to check out the millions of blogs out there or go to Technorati, http://technorati.com to get some stats on bloggers)

Podcasting:  You, too, can be a broadcaster.   If you have a computer, a microphone, you can produce and post your own newscast, commentary, advice column … you name it …  Got to http://podcast.net  .. These downloadable audio programs can be uploaded via iTunes and posted in the Podcast Directory, allowing users to subscribe to them for free and download them to their iPods or other
Mp3 players.

Mobile mania: Cell phones have become ubiqitious.  So now media orgs and cell phone companies are joining forces to provide content – from headlines to mini-newscasts – accessible via your cellphone.  e.g. Verizon’s V-cast…. Miami Herald’s ‘5 minute news cast’.

What Students Need to Know To Succeed in the Digital Age
The Fundamentals:  Strong writing and reporting/researching still prevail.

•  Become tech savvy: beyond the PC, today’s reporters will have a huge advantage if they know how to use pen and paper, but have to be comfortable using a digital recorder, a digital still and/or video camera and a scanner.

• Become a student of the web: know what the trends are and understand how the content is laid out, what are the tools are being used to encourage interactivity…

• Learn Spanish, Chinese or Fars

What Black Colleges (Historically Black Colleges & Universities- HBCUs) Need to Know:

• Hold onto to foundation, but open your minds to the new world….the  digital era is here, and your students needs to become armed if they are going to get employed at a media company.  Remember, the days of  just strictly ‘newspapers’ or ‘television’ stations are over!

•  Invest in your students by investing in upgrading your students’ equipment ….. consider corporate sponsorship to revolutionize your academic environment

• Invest in your faculty:  Send them to conferences that deal with issues beyond traditional journalism

• Attend the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas to see where they’re going

Tiger Woods on winning
CBS’s ‘60 Minutes’  - March 2006
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ED BRADLEY (voice-over): For Tiger, the greater the  pressure, the bigger the rush. He won three of his first six tournaments this year, all of them on the final hole, two of them in  playoffs.  No one handles the stress of competition better.

(END VIDEO CLIP) How do you explain that?
TIGER WOODS: I think it`s just concentration. I mean, your concentration is so high and so keen because all this pressure`s on you. Your senses are more heightened. Everything seems to flow better. It’s a great feeling.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BRADLEY (voice-over): When he’s in that zone, it can be so unnerving that his opponents sometimes self-destruct.
(END VIDEO CLIP) You’re aware of that intimidation that you have?
WOODS: I’m aware if I’m playing at my best I’m tough to beat, and I enjoy that.
BRADLEY: So when you go out, do you expect to dominate, do you expect to win?
WOODS: I expect to win, yes — always.
BRADLEY: Every time?
WOODS: Yes. It’s just a belief you have to have. I mean, as an athlete, as a competitor, you have to have that belief in yourself.
BRADLEY: And what separates the great from those who are just very good?
WOODS: Be able to repeat it again and again and again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BRADLEY (voice-over): For Tiger, practice is the key, and his work ethic is legendary. He`s up at dawn and can stay out on the course for as long as 14 hours hitting balls again and again and again off the tee, out of the sand or on the green. It’s a never-ending quest for perfection.
(END VIDEO CLIP) When your game is that good, there’s still that many things to work on

WOODS: Oh, God, yes.
BRADLEY:  & that you can stay 14 hours out there?
WOODS: Oh, yes. You’re never there. You never ever get there. You never ever arrive. But is sure is fun trying.