IBC 2017: VR, Big Data and Other Trends

IBC 2017, Amsterdam. That should have been the dateline. But the night before I was supposed to leave, I checked my passport. Surely it hadn’t expired. Arghh…it had. After an hour of checking on a quick renewal, I cut my losses and canceled. (Thank you, Expedia travel insurance.) So no Schiphol Airport or time at the RAI Convention Center. Too bad. But live and learn. And you can still learn,...
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Pitch to the Press: 8 Tips from RVA TechJam

How to pitch news to the press. That was the topic of a panel on the final day of Tech/Jam week (July 24-28) in Richmond, Virginia. (Venue: the historic Main Street Station.) Moderated by local news anchor Juan Conde, the panel consisted of four practicing journalists. As the former editor of a trade journal, I like hearing from those in the trenches and thought the advice delivered on this...
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NAB 2017: UHD, IP and Workflows

The week after my trip to San Diego, I flew west again. Once in Las Vegas, I checked in to Circus Circus. Cheap and within walking distance of the Convention Center. And not without some aging charm. From my window, I had a good view of the dome that caps the hotel’s amusement park. A few days is long enough to take the pulse of an industry. It was also enough time to catch up with clients, both...
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Sales, San Diego and a Hat Tip to Zig Ziglar

Credentialed professionals tend to disdain those in sales. (Having grown up in an academic family, I’m somewhat familiar with this syndrome.) Salespersons often defend their role by talking about how everyone sells something. A lot rides on the terms. I like how one old sales pro defined them. “I have always said that everyone is in sales,” wrote motivational speaker and celebrated sales...
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Don’t Just Score – The Clemson Win Applied to Business

“When they scored, I just looked at the clock, it was 2:01 & I smiled & told myself, they left too much time on the clock.” – Deshaun Watson Having lived in Clemson until I was 15, I can’t help but comment on the Tigers’ win in the NCAA championship game earlier this month. After all, I found something to say last year when they lost. Let’s start with Clemson quarterback...
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Trip to Philly and Cable-Tec Expo

This year’s trip to Cable-Tec Expo required no planes, only trains and automobiles. Trip summary: Car ride to/from the Amtrak station, trains between Richmond and Philly, and uber to/from the hotel. There for less than 48 hours, I still had enough time to connect with friends and clients and make some new connections. The floor included not only booths, but also (much in the style of the...
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