SAY Media has unveiled the SAY 100, a collection of online voices that help shape opinion on a variety of subjects, including technology.
To build the list, SAY Media worked with experts in each of ten categories, such as Stuart Miles for Technology and Nick Clarke for Travel, and asked them to identify the 10 people that most influence them within their respective categories.
“The power to shape public opinion is shifting from the faceless editorial voice of The Newspaper or The Magazine to individuals with deep passions that create compelling content and build communities. This is where the true power in media lies today,” said Michael Sippey, vice president, artist development, SAY Media.
“Technology has enabled individuals with a point of view to build audience around the things that they love. We call it passion-based media and it’s an important cultural force. These are the voices that shape opinion – they have expertise and enthusiasm that connects with consumers,” said Troy Young, president, SAY Media. “We help brands find and tap into this influence everyday. The SAY 100 will help us do this more effectively.”
Instead of using an algorithmic approach to create the SAY 100, SAY Media – with its team that’s been immersed in social publishing since it first began – reached out to notable category experts to select the people that most influence them:
• Technology – Stuart Miles, www.pocket-lint.com
• Travel – Nick Clarke, www.HG2.com
• Business – Seth Godin, www.SethGodin.com
• Entertainment – Rich Juzwiak, fourfour.typepad.com
• Food – Amanda Hesser, www.food52.com
• Gaming – Jeff Katz, www.geekweek.com
• Home & Design – Tina Roth Eisenberg, www.swiss-miss.com
• Parenting – Dana Wood, www.momover.net
• Style – Jane Pratt, www.janepratt.com
• Thought Leaders – Clay Shirky, www.shirky.com
Stuart Miles, founder and editor of Pocket-lint, said: “When SAY Media asked me to curate the Technology category, I of course immediately panicked over having the job of working out which tech journalists are not only the most influential, but also the ones whose work influences how the rest of us report. These are the people breaking down the stories, working out the fact from the fiction and influencing the way many of the online and offline media is working today.”
Nick Clarke, web editor, Hg2, added: “I’m extremely honoured to have been asked to contribute to the Say 100; as Web Editor at luxury city guide publisher Hg2 I’m always using the Web to identify new travel trends across the globe. My pick reflects the diversity and range of voices online, but all of them are united in the fact that they are actively shaping global travel. It was an easy list to curate; I pulled them directly from my bookmarks. Hopefully one day I’ll see my own name up there.”
Jane Pratt, founding editor-in-chief of Sassy and Jane magazines, and editor-in-chief of JanePratt.com, coming soon, commented: “When I was asked to be the Style curator for the SAY 100, I was so excited to select 10 people who I think are making a big difference in how people view fashion. Take Tavi [Gevinson], for instance. Everything she writes on stylerookie.com is in her unique voice and comes from her singular perspective and out of her authentic passion, which is why her popularity has grown in such an organic way. Like the others on the SAY 100, we are seeing just the beginning of the influence Tavi will have in years to come. She’s what the SAY 100 is all about – genuine interest, unique point of view, and an engaged community of devotees.”
say100.saymedia.com
