I’m curious, did you find this blog post from a Google search for “ground zero mosque”? If you did, then my little SEO test worked.

This post isn’t about the proposed mosque near Ground Zero in New York City. It’s about how Google can be manipulated and a message be inaccurately spread, quickly.

The truth of the matter is that the so-called mosque at Ground Zero is really two blocks away. It actually is an Islamic Center that includes a pool, community rooms, and offices. And the proposed site isn’t Ground Zero. It is in Lower Manhattan, but it’s two blocks away from where the World Trade Center once stood.

Manipulating the news

Media ethics professor, Kelly McBride, wrote an interesting article entitled, “SEO Makes It Too Late for Truth for ‘Ground Zero Mosque’“.

But now that the story has peaked, now that we know the real facts, can anyone possibly correct the record? Not if Google has anything to say about it.

That’s because accurate or not, people are searching for the term “ground zero mosque.” So if you want to reach people who are looking for information, you have to use that term.

It’s easy enough to do in a story meant to debunk the phrase. All you have to write is, “It’s not a ground zero mosque.” But, what about ongoing coverage? Must you keep using the inaccurate term?

Sadly, the answer is yes, according to people familiar with SEO practices.

We’re partly to blame

We often jump on the bandwagon, retweeting, liking and sharing sensational stories we hear. We don’t fact check before we spread the “news”, we are all responsible for this.

Google’s mysterious algorithm shapes the news based partly on what we make popular, we need to do our own fact checking first. I’ve been guilty of this too, sorry Gordie. Blame should also be turned to the mainstream media who are suppose to be researching the stories before reporting them.

CBC Spark host, Nora Young, interviewed McBride recently. Have a listen for yourself, it’s an intriguing interview.

I want to take a moment to thank some people for the inspiration of this topic: Nora Young, Derek K. Miller, Renee Wathelet (RIP) and Adele McAlear. Thanks also to Gavin Richardson for recording the video.

This is how I described it on the BarCamp Nashville site:

Yes, that’s right folks. You heard it here first. It’s true. We’re all going to die. We don’t like talking and thinking about it, but it’s inevitable.
What happens to our content when we leave this place? Who will manage our blog posts, photos, videos, audio, tweets, etc.?
How will future generations find and access your digital estate?
It’s time to start giving this some thought kids. Death waits for nobody.
Hey, don’t let the topic get you down. We’re not dead yet, right?

Below you’ll find the video from my presentation and the slides. I hope it sparks some thought and conversation.

Here’s some feedback from Twitter during my presentation.

What are you doing to ensure your online content is preserved for the future?

UPDATE: RIP Derek K. Miller.

I remember downloading many episodes of Dawn and Drew, who helped keep me awake and laughing during a long drive from Toronto to Knoxville. They even inspired my wife and I to create our own show (also podfaded).

Today I still tune into a few of the old shows that I use to, that are still around. I also tend to listen to a few mainstream podcasts, those that are made by actual broadcasters.

Here’s a list of my ten current favorites (in no specific order):

1. Canadian PodCast Buffet – helps me keep up with the antics of my podcasting pals back home.
2. Dicks N’ Janes – the Scarborough Dude has always touched me, his stories and commentary are both hilarious and sincere.
3. The Hollywood Podcast – I’ve been listening to Tim Coyne’s tales of acting and looking for work in L.A. since he began his journey (we even teamed up for a short lived podcast of our own).
4. CBC Spark – Nora Young is a Canadian journalist with a flair for sharing great technology tales from Canada and abroad (hat tip to Dan on the producing too!).
5. Search Engine – Original a CBC show, it has recently moved over to TVO. Jesse Brown explains the show well, it’s an internet affairs show. It’s about politics and culture through the lens of the internet.
6. Media Hacks – An uncensored round table hosted by my personal friends and peers who discuss social media in a no holds barred style.
7. Managing The Gray – Nobody has the energy and charisma that my buddy C.C. Chapman has. This show could be about fly fishing and I’d still be ready to hook a worm by the end of it (do fly fishermen use worms?), lucky for me the show is about New Media Marketing.
8. The Bugle – Is a weekly “audio newspaper for a visual world” hosted by Brits, Andy Zaltzman and John Oliver (from The Daily Show). It’s hysterical.
9. The Film Talk – If you’re a film geek like me, there’s no other place to turn to for real commentary and reviews on new and classic films.
10. Real Time With Bill Maher – It’s the audio ripped straight from the HBO show. Some folks love Bill Maher, some hate him. I love him.
11. Bonus: CBC The Current – Best described from their site: Anna Maria Tremont talks …about the issues. We poke and prod them and look at them from new angles, shedding light on what needs to be exposed and taking delight in the surprising twists and turns our stories take. Nothing’s off limits—politics, business, culture, justice, science, religion—if it’s pertinent to Canadians, it’s on the Current agenda.

I realize that I have left a bunch of my favorite podcasts off this list, I keep thinking of more to add. Please don’t take it the wrong way if you’re a podcaster I missed. Now I have an excuse to do a follow up list of more shows that I recommend soon.

Are you new to podcasts? Let me know if you have any questions.

For you podcast listeners, what are some of your current favorites?

A friend of mine recently started her first blog. She was asking me for some advice on getting traffic. Then I remembered some amazing segments on my friend, Nora Young and Dan Misner’s awesome CBC tech podcast, Spark.

During a few weeks Merlin Mann from 43 Folders was a guest. He shared some amazing tips that every blogger (including this one) should use.

Check out the tips and audio here. There’s also some homework for you aspiring and veteran bloggers.

Photo by: heather

I was listening to a great topic on Spark today. Nora Young was speaking to Jackie Sharkey about the Internet in Nunavut, Canada (that’s in the north, WAY in the north). Sharkey explained how they have limited bandwidth at high prices, and often have to deal with dial-up speed connections. The Nunavut people depend heavily on using the web to shop for items that are far less expensive than they are in any brick and mortar store.

I also read an article recently claiming that 20 million Americans only have access to dial-up.

Nora Young and her awesome team (hi Dan) at Spark have created Spark Lite, a low-bandwidth version of the excellent podcast. This is a great solution for people trying to download podcasts, but it begs a bigger question.

How can we help give everyone cheap, hi-speed access to the web?

This would help people in rural communities tell their stories to the world, it would help connect them with similar people. Seeing news and stories from around the world help shape our minds.

When all you have is local media, all you have is… local media. While local media does it’s part, it’s important to get the story from different sources too. The web isn’t just commercial or social, it’s educational too.

How can we help? How can “I” help? I’d love your thoughts.

There were several different versions of our interview played across Canada. This version was aired in my home town, Toronto. The interview was pretty heavily edited, so my clips are pretty brief, but the topic holds true and is a great point for discussion.

What would happen if you were suddenly locked out of your personal data? Is cloud computing everything it’s cracked up to be?

Download click to listen.

I was interviewed by the good folks at Ethos3 for their blog. Anyone interested in social media, evil or Pink Floyd should check out their seven questions (and my seven answers).

The Analytical Impressions podcast was officially launched last Sunday. It features an interview with me about social media, with an emphasis on how musicians can use the web to interact and engage with their fans. Analytical Impressions – Episode 1: Dave Delaney

A few weeks ago I joined the Digital Nashville members at their first mixer. The New Mediology podcast was present conducting interviews with a few folks. I was happy to chat with Nathan Moore and Bill Seaver about the growing technology scene in Nashville. It’s truly an exciting time to be living in such an up and coming tech-savvy city, watch out Silicon Valley! Episode 12 of The New Mediology – Digital Nashville

On Monday I was featured in a Canadian national radio interview with Nora Young on the CBC. I’ll be posting a link to that here when I get a copy to share with you. Stay tuned.

Thanks to everybody for their interest in my two cents, I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you. Please feel free to contact me if you’d like to chat.

Photo by: localsurfer on Flickr

Where will your content go when you die? If you have nobody paying your hosting fees once you’ve passed away, then it’s likely your work online may disappear – forever.

Part of the thinking behind our podcast, Two Boobs and a Baby +, was to create an audio baby book. While our show helps and entertains new and expecting parents, it is also an important part of the Delaney family legacy.

The theory is that Ella and Sam will be able to hear our voices again once we’re dead and gone. Future generations in our family will better understand why they are so strange after listening to their great, great, great grandparents rambling.

One thing I didn’t consider is how this content will remain online after we die. Nora Young’s brilliant CBC podcast, Spark did just that today. Her interview is with Derek K. Miller, it sparked the thought that I need to address this before Heather and I hit the road.

In Derek’s case he’s not sure he should leave this to his wife, because his direct family will already have enough to be concerned about. Perhaps this should be left to a close friend, or could Google create an eternity plan for an amount of money to be left in our will?

Do you have someone with instructions on how to continue your legacy after you’re gone? Do you have a package in your will which includes your login and passwords to access your content?

Please let me know your thoughts. I also highly recommend you learn more about Derek K. Miller, he’s one of the toughest people I know.

You can listen to the interview here: Spark interview with Derek K. Miller.