This past week, Google announced that it would close Google Reader on July 1st. Nonprofit technology colleague Nancy Schwartz shared that link and it prompted a lot of angst for many who had grown dependent on this free software. More than 125,000 people signed this online petition at Change.Org and lists of alternatives to Google Reader started popping up like this one from Lifehacker and list.ly. In online discussions with nonprofit techies, Megan Keane pointed to the loss of an anti-censorship tool in places like Iran, and Nancy Schwartz noted in an online discussion, “this is a kick to independent content publishing, not just convenience on the readers side. It’s more corporate content control, but that’s what we get from relying on free (but privately held) tools.”
This isn’t the first time the nonprofit community has been screwed by using free tools own by corporations. Remember what happened when Yahoo announced it was shutting down delicious in 2010? After that experience – where I was very dependent on a free tool, I decided that in my training work and blogging that I would try to avoid dependence on a free tools and focus on the actual practice. That’s why when I teach people about RSS Readers, I focused on the practice and offered them a variety tool options — see above slide from a recent workshop.
I’ve been using Feedly since 2008, when Kevin Gamble from the Extension community mentioned it during an online workshop that I facilitated. For those who want to make the connection between Google Reader work flow and Feedly, there’s some good tips on the Feedly blog. However, I’m not dependent on feedly because as I started to do focus more on content curation, I’ve migrated to the a combination of curation and news discovery tools. So, I was spared the stress of a “Who Moved My Cheese!” moment.
Geoff Livingston had a great suggestion of using the Google Reader closing for a moment of self-reflection and to pivot and purge what you’re reading. I tend to do this one or two times a year. Like Geoff,s I often get tired of reading the same people and ideas over and over again – and like to discover new topics and thinking. Some new topics that are beckoning for me are:
- Effective teaching and learning techniques that can be used for designing and delivering training. I’ve flirted with this, but have not written about it regularly – so expect more of that from me.
- Visualization techniques – from note-taking to creative idea generation. I’m doing a session on that with Rob Cottingham and Jana Byington-Smith at NTC, so expect more that topic as well.
- Learning from Failure – I’ve been following this more deeply for a year or so, but plan to look at the practical translation
- Creativity and Innovation Mindsets — what are some of the ways that nonprofits are being more innovative and nurturing that mindset
- How to be a data nerd – I’m interested in how those of us who are not natural born data nerds can move in this direction effectively or at least partner with data nerds.
If you’re looking for a new RSS, are you also considering a moment of self-reflection about what topics you are consuming and an opportunity to seek out some new ideas or different topics? If so what are they?
Glenn says
Tastes change, the blogger changes focus meaning less relevance, etc so I find it helpful to clean out my RSS feeder every few months. Like cleaning out a cluttered closet it makes things easier to find as well.
By the way, I’m still using Delicious.
Catie Ragusa says
Judging by the uproar over Google Reader’s death, I’d say a lot of people are really upset over the whole situation. The fact that there are several other alternatives helps, but I think that people get upset about it because they don’t like certain changes in their routine–once we get used to one program, we’d rather not switch it up, but unfortunately we have to.
Do you think that closing Reader is a good or bad business decision on Google’s part?
Geoff Livingston says
I love your data nerd topic. Every time you title a blog Data Nerds, I pretty much run to read it. To the undiscovered country!
Beth says
Glenn: I got so burned from delicious closing that I vowed never again and that’s when I jumped into content curation and finding a variety of tools. I landed on scoop.it and it has shaped up to a great platform.
Geoff – I’ve been using the tag #datanerds but a typo turned into date nerds .. not quite the same thing.
Catie: Yes, that what the phrase “Who moved my cheese” refers to .. people don’t like to change. That’s why I am avoiding get to set in my ways with tools.
Kim says
I’m actually thrilled Reader is closing, because it made me look at Feedly, which I’m loving. I bet Feedly’s thrilled, too :
Megan Keane says
Beth, thanks for this. While finding a Google Reader alternative, it’s given me the opportunity to clean up my feeds and really look at where I’m getting value. One thing I love about curated content is that it often leads me to some new voices and perspectives. Not being a data nerd by nature, it helps me to periodically take a step back from the day-to-day social media yo-yo and look at the “why” and “how”.
Beth says
Megan: That’s always good when we get an opportunity to reflect and pivot and learn.
general says
My family every time say that I am wasting my time here at web, but I know I am getting know-how all the
time by reading thes nice articles or reviews.
Darnell says
WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching for google