Bloggers -- Kids in the Candy Store

Bloggers bring an excitement that has been been missing in the coverage of the CAD industry.

I am reminded of this as a room of journalists sit silently and impassively during a demo of Autodesk's MCAD software at World Press Days 2008. I have arrived late so I am sitting in the back row and I have to look over several rows of heads, many of them bald or gray. Several are diligently taking notes -- quite a few on special reporters notepads they must require at journalism school.  I see a digital recorder has been turned on. Some of the demo jockeys giving the presentations are are visibly bursting with excitement. So much to show and so little time. I'm sure they are dying to know if the audience likes what it sees. But it looks like they are going to have to wait for the articles to appear to know.

It's a far cry from the recently completed SolidWorks World, where bloggers were invited to all press events. When new software was introduced, I could tell immediately if a new feature was going to be a hit or a miss by their the bloggers' reaction. "Cool," or "sweet" was heard more than once. A lack of reaction was significant -- a polite indifference if not a condemnation.

By contrast, bloggers -- or should I say pure bloggers -- were not invited to Autodesk World Press Days, despite the incredible number of blogs devoted to Autodesk software as well the support Autodesk has shown bloggers in the past. A number of us journalists had blogs, to be sure, but those that only had blogs had to stay home.

If Autodesk does not see bloggers as real press, they are not alone. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers, which hosts a number of trade shows including WESTEC, makes it pretty clear that bloggers need not apply for press status (needed to get free admission) by requiring "proper press credentials" such as position on a masthead. I suspect many bloggers don't even know what a masthead is.

But what bloggers do know is how to apply CAD software. Almost all of them are full time users. How many journalists can say that? It may surprise readers to learn some journalists and editors never use CAD software. Some of the journalists I've met at CAD press events write for technology publications but may only have a fleeting knowledge of what CAD does. I wonder if they can make any sense of some of the stuff they are being shown -- or why they are not bored out of their minds! However, more than a few pure bloggers can write well and write often. At its best, blogger coverage of press events can be detailed, thorough, even insightful, and by its nature, fast.

It seems obvious a good CAD blogger would be worth inviting to a CAD press event. Am I missing something here?

Comments

[Steve Johnson]

@Mati: "journalists are not full time CAD users and they are likely to copy most of what the demo presented"

Really? All of them?

Steve Johnson (journalist, blogger and full-time CAD user)

[John Nolin]

I think it is a mistake to separate the new media press from the traditional. As traditional press has declined some have tried to cut cost by putting inexperienced writing staff out in front, which dilutes content and reader interest and further accelerates the downward spiral. Meanwhile, improved technology has allowed large numbers of bloggers to rush in a fill the quality content void. A known way to improve at anything is to follow someone more experienced, be that downhill skiing or designing.
Typical users and readers will go with the voice of experience and it does not matter which media platforms deliver that voice to them.

[Dana Probert]

the hard core bloggers were all under NDA and didn't need to be invited, because they saw what 2009 was all about months ago in a real way and were ready to pull the trigger as soon as they were given the green light.

[Sean Dotson]

"By contrast, bloggers -- or should I say pure bloggers -- were not invited to Autodesk World Press Days".

I was invited and no one would mistake me for a journalist. Unfortunately I did not attend.

[Mati]

Roopinder Tara, you really are missing the simple point here but you drew the lines that this point should commect: journalists are not full time CAD users and they are likely to copy most of what the demo presented. The demo always is done by sales oriented guy.
If everyday users were allowed to Autocad demos then world would get already "chewed" information as first coverage and usually bells and whistles are laughed at by everyday users.
So we can see that Acad wants only their demo talk published as first coverage in order for that to start spreading. Whereas SoliWorks seems not to have so many bells and whistles that they should be afraid of technical users blogs with blogger personal oppinion.

[Kevin Robinson]

I agree, wonderful concept.

[dswavely]

The value of the written word is provided by the quality of the writer, whatever the source. Each reader must use their experience to place the writer's quality on their own spectrum of usefullness.

Adding new perspectives and new voices almost always adds value to a discussion. Control is giving way to openess (almost) everywhere in our world. Bloggers bring a level of irreverence that I find exciting and refreshing.

There are very few journalists whose work I look forward to reading, but many bloggers that I can't wait to see what they say next.

[MistressOfTheDorkness]

We're definitely enthusiastic. But, I do acknowledge one thing that my boss (an engineer with minimal cad experience) tells me... I get too in depth and don't explain enough how or why I get there. Perhaps that's the real strength of a professional journalist who isn't as 'into' the application as the bloggers who use them every day? The ability to communicate the highlights and only the highlights, so as not to overwhelm.

So, maybe it's just a matter of the intended audience. Maybe the journalists are aiming toward the semi-casual user who has to make some decisions, while a blogger is (consciously or not) aiming toward other users of their own level?

I do have a hard time understanding how a technology writer could listen to a list of features and realize which ones will have the most impact with their audience, but, I suppose I'm really just generalizing in my statements.

[fcsuper]

I would say I disagree with the idea presented by the one commenter here that stated that the press provides depth. In my opinion, the press is incapable of providing any depth at all on any topic other than journalism itself. This is because they don't know enough about any topic (except Journalism itself) to be able to sort out the BS from the facts. They read/write/regurgitate both as equally presentable. (There are some that do take the time to learn about what they speak, but they are rare.) The reporting of the Roger Clemens Affair is a classic example. I have seen two separate journalists take the same “facts” and present them as exactly opposite stories. Both of them were so wrong in their reporting that truth isn’t in the middle between them. Why does this happen? They didn’t even take the time to watch the Congressional event for themselves. They were spoon feed the words of someone else’s agenda. I knew those journalist were wrong because I saw Roger Clemens being grilled for myself.

Do Bloggers have agendas? Sure. But, at least Bloggers talk about their own field or experiences, so the agenda is routed in some base of reality.

It is interesting that the subject of blogging and ‘Architectural Inventor’ have appeared at the same time. If ever there was an area that fires me it is the specialization that has occurred, the verticalization of software products. Probably the most time wasteful and financially destructive change in the software industry, pushed and promoted by vendors and the ‘main stream press’; the costly after effects of which will be carried by many CAD users for years. It is also where the major CAD company will make still more money off the back of, and cost customers more money and lost productivity, as a consequence of what can only be considered a complete failure in understanding of a market place and a major mistake in direction.

I have long argued Autodesk failed to see the true value of MDT’s abilities – for the entire design industry - because they were too busy looking for the next step to increase their revenue and over their shoulder instead of concentrating on their customers needs and revenue with more effort than lip service.

This ridiculously late and inaccurate statement, “why not use the best tools for the job? Certainly, all the really cool new building designs are curvaceous -- a stretch for traditional AEC applications but very possible with MCAD tools.” Demonstrates Autodesk still do not understand the ‘discipline’ of design documentation and still have an understanding to shape that is rooted in the relative complexity of a sphere or shoe box.

CAD vendors live in a bubble of belief that CAD is required to design and manufacture: they need to lose this perception and move their egos back to the plane they belong on as tool suppliers. They need to stop trying to steer and control design and start servicing it!

Just as I have been able to make statements similar to ones above earlier in my web pages so the importance and value of blogging is highlighted both for vendors and “pro’ journalist”. Both can either choose to ignore blogger/users comments or they can use them as a source.

I think the real professionals, both vendors and press, will do the later the others will just continue to do what they have been doing: publishing what is feed them by vendors and giving CAD products irrelevant ***** star ratings in their publications when we users, of those same products, know only too well that what the informed blogger says is often more accurate and useful.

R.Paul Waddington.

[matt]

Are bloggers the unwashed comic relief?

Journalists provide depth and detail? Possibly when seen from the 30,000 foot level, but not when you get up close. CAD users are up close looking for tips to help them use the tools better. CAD journalists never provide that kind of detail.

CAD vendors are used to handing out unmitigated sales BS to members of the real press, and the press turns around and parrots it in print or elsewhere. It's a great way for a CAD vendor to get their canned sales message in front of people for free.

Bloggers can't be counted on to parrot the company line. And frankly, we don't need to be invited to an event in order to comment on things. I personally don't really want to be part of the establishment, I'm more comfortable as counter-establishment, but other bloggers may feel differently.

To me, the main trait that distinguishes powerful blogging from other writing is independence. If you can write thoughtfully and have a strong independent voice, you might make a decent blogger.

I have been doing a bit of non-blog, non-journalistic writing, including the SolidWorks 2007/9 Bible, some training manuals for SW Corp, episodes for SolidProfessor, a new surfacing book, and other independent projects. For me, this is very constrained fact-based writing, and honestly, it wears on me sometimes. It's more detailed than what the press writes, and even more detailed than stuff on my blog. Blogging is a great release from this constraint, an opinion-based essay that allows me to let my hair down a little.

What would I do if I were invited to an AutoCAD event as press? Personally, I doubt I would go. I have no interest in the topic.

[Jon Hirschtick]

Bloggers have been a great addition to the SolidWorks press community. Not a replacement for the press, but an addition to it. And they have a great fun factor...it's nice to get a little entertainment with your readings on CAD.

Journalists still produce more depth and detail, and probably always will.

It's great to have a little diversity in the community.

[Stefaan Boel]

I couldn't agree more, we spend a lot of time behind the wheel and it's always fighting to get attention from the source. A good briefing would already be very welcome.
Maybe they are afraid of getting some critics of people who use the program day in and out?
Wishing you and fellow bloggers like Jürgen and I much succes!
And what's a masthead? :)

[Jürgen Wagner]

100% Agree!