Are you eating your own dog food?

Media Guerrilla has advice for companies or organizations trying to choose a ‘partner’ to help produce new media content. He has a series of questions to ask potential partners, including this one:

“How are they using new media in their business? It’s a fairly straight-forward question, right. Is the company or the consultant you’re talking to eating their own dog food? What you want to hear is of course yes, but I think what you also want to see is a degree of variety in how they’re active across the web. Having a personal blog, for example, is great, but at this point in the game, it’s practically a must-have. How else are they immersed?

Radio doing TV News

“At WDEL-AM in Wilmington, Delaware, our reporters produce stories using video cameras instead of cassette recorders,” news director Christopher Carl says in a comment on Poynter.org. “The audio is used on the radio. Reporters then produce video packages for out website – WDEL.com. WDEL.com users can then choose to watch individual video stories or a daily 10-minute video newscast. On weekends, users can watch a recap of the week’s big stories. Wilmington, DE is a a market with NO local commercial television station. [via CyberJournalist.net]

Magazine publisher launches broadband network

Magazine publisher and media/marketing company Meredith Corporation has launched Better.tv, its first-ever broadband network.

Better.tv offers a range of video programming on twenty “channels”, based on Meredith’s magazines, television stations, books, websites, and live events.

Better.tv topics include food, family, home, style, remodeling, entertainment, relationships, fitness and health. Programs and videos featured on Better.tv range in length from 2 to 30 minutes, and are targeted at “better serving younger customers,” according to President-CEO Steve Lacy. [More at Podcasting News]

Like Steve McQueen, All I need’s a fast machine

Sheryl's ShirtI posted a short video clip last month of some of Sheryl Crow’s clothing and costumes which she donates to raise money for a childrens home in Kennett, Missouri.

What I did’nt mention (for fear of ruining the surprise) was the item I discovered hanging on a rack in a back room: a slinky top (T-shirt?) Ms. Crow wore in the Steve McQueen video. I thought that would be a cool gift for my pen-pal and Sheryl Crow uberfan, Ann.

I liberated the shirt with a donation and sent it off to Ann, who lives in Belgium. After a month held hostage in Belgian customs (the shirt, not Ann), Ann has the shirt and promises a photo.

Sheryl Crow tops unlucky at love list

Rocker SHERYL CROW has topped a new Unlucky in Love list following a string of failed romances. The SOAK UP THE SUN singer, who has had flings with ERIC CLAPTON, KID ROCK and OWEN WILSON, broke off her engagement to cycling champion LANCE ARMSTRONG last year (06).

But she hasn’t given up on finding true love, confessing, “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life alone. That’s the only true fear I have.” Her optimism hasn’t kept her off the top of In Touch Weekly magazine’s new love losers list, in which she narrowly beat best pal JENNIFER ANISTON. The top 10 is:

1. SHERYL CROW
2. JENNIFER ANISTON
3. PAULA ABDUL
4. HILARY DUFF
5. TYRA BANKS
6. LAUREN CONRAD (US reality TV star)
7. MARIAH CAREY
8. CARRIE UNDERWOOD (AMERICAN IDOL winner)
9. KIRSTIE ALLEY
10. CAMERON DIAZ

Well, that kinda sucks. I might argue that splitting with Lance could go in the “Lucky” column. But I no doubt our girl will find true romance and lasting happiness.