Mixed Media (Sapphire, Vienna)

The media setup at Sapphire in Vienna is interesting.

For the analysts and traditional media, there are rows of tables and chairs facing toward the front of a large room. This is a pretty formal setup, with lots of reporters and analysts doing their own thing.

On the other hand, the “blogger’s corner” is arranged quite differently. We are in another room, with tables set up two-deep in a single row. The bloggers sit on either side of this long table, facing each other, with power strips and network connections in the middle.

Blogging mixes objective reporting with personal impressions; the blogger’s individual experience is therefore integral to this type of journalistic process. The blogger’s corner seating works well because it supports dialog and conversation among the participants.