Making space for conversation

Over the past decade journalists have had a real fight on their hands. They’ve had to come to terms with a public that is spending more and more time talking to each other and sharing with each other. The patriarchal, all-controlling media organisation is an entity that is, broadly speaking, on borrowed time.

Online communities, as fully chronicled in this magazine, are showing no signs of being a passing fancy. Valuable communications are taking place within these communities every minute of every day. Arguably there’s also a lot of nonsense aired – but that’s the nature of the beast. What’s indisputable is that people keep coming back for more.

Media organisations have reacted to online communities in two ways. Some bury their heads and plough on with an old media approach to life and some drop everything they do and hop aboard the bandwagon. However, there is a third way that is proving highly effective for both the media and, more importantly, readers. We’ve chosen to take the third way.

Since the launch of Research Live a few months ago we have been very encouraged by the level of online feedback we have received. You have contributed rich perspectives to the news, analysis and features we have carried. You have spurred debate with other readers and this has provided us with fuel for future coverage. Our editorial has always ignited industry debate and the new website has taken that debate to a new level.

We’re eager to offer you a platform for discussion that is easy to use, powerful and flexible. That’s why we’re launching the Research Live forums. A space where you can react to, or chew over, our market-leading coverage. You can also kick-start a fresh debate.

The third way is all about providing you with the raw materials for discussion and then providing you with a platform to discuss it with your peers and partners.

To become a forum member you’ll need to create your own profile which will allow you to contribute to the debate as well as create a library to save news stories and features. You’ll also be able to track the debates you’ve contributed to and comments that you’ve made. It couldn’t be easier to create your profile and become part of our new reader network.

These reader forums have been created to acknowledge and house the wealth of illuminating conversations that revolve around the research business. With our coverage and your contribution, Research Live will remain the go-to website for every research and insight professional.

www.research-live.com/forums