In Nov. 2011, The NAACP launched its own social network, NAACPConnect. The networking site while giving members a way to connect with each other, also offers written and multimedia content, skills training, micro-mentoring aimed at educational and professional development. To compliment that they have launched a new project called NAACPConnect Digital Collective.

Those accepted into the Digital Collective will have the opportunity to learn social media and the latest Web 2.0 strategies from the NAACP New Media Team. In gaining these skills Collective members will also generate written and multimedia content for NAACPConnect. In addition, selected members will work closely with local NAACP units and college chapters, for an opportunity to highlight the work of young people in the field and build on their own personal brands.

“This initiative was developed because we have always envisioned NAACPConnect as a site that is supported and managed by NAACP staff, but completely run and inspired by the young people of the organization. ,” says NAACP project specialist, Courtney-Rose Harris.” The Digital Collective will help this become a reality.”

Overall the program will encourage young African-Americans to strengthen and use the new media skills they already have towards their own projects and possible employment opportunities in the future.

Apply here for the  NAACPConnect Digital Collective 

Poverty and unemployment are only two out of many issues America faces, especially within the black community. The White House will host a special “Open for Questions” event moderated by The Root to address the American Jobs Act and the steps they have to take to help more Americans reach the middle class.

During a 45 minute live stream discussion, domestic policy council director, Melody Barnes, and senior advisor Valerie Jarrett will answer questions that have been submitted via email, Facebook, and Twitter.

Users can watch the entire “Open for Questions” event on TheRoot.com or WhiteHouse.gov tomorrow, Thursday Oct. 20 at 5:30 p.m. ET. Tune in and ask your questions, the official hashtag is #TheRootWH

Watch out Skype, T-Mobile Bobsled is sliding into your VoIP territory. The service — which allows you to voice call yourFacebook friends from anywhere in the world — now lets you make free calls to those same friends’ mobile and landline numbers in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, right from within your browser.

You can use Bobsled by signing into the service and simply selecting a phone icon next to a friend’s name to start a conversation. If you want to use the new mobile and landline calling options, you pair your Facebook friends with their numbers. Besides calling and voice messaging, you can also Facebook chat with your friends — although it’s not clear what the advantage this would have over simply chatting through Facebook.

Read the rest of this article at Mashable

The fight came to an end after the execution of Troy Davis in Georgia last night. People protested right up until there was word  that U.S. Supreme Court denied his last appeal.

Along with protest at the White House, Supreme Court, among other places around the world, people protested online. A clear way to reach more people, groups such as the NAACP tried their hardest taking the issue to Twitter and other forms of social media. Although many people participated and many voiced their thoughts and concerns, it still did not change the fate of Mr. Davis.

He was pronounced dead at 11:08 EST Sept. 21. According to media witnesses at the execution Davis’s last words were “may god have mercy on your souls and god bless your souls, I am innocent.” He urged his family to look deeper into the case to seek the truth.

Social media can be used for social good and change, but the goal wasn’t accomplished from this online initiative, which was to save Troy Davis’s life.  It didn’t work because Troy Davis needed much more than Twitter and Facebook.  No matter how powerful social media can be it will never over power the injustice in America. Social media will never compete with that.

Google Acquires Zagat

Google has acquired Zagat, a well-established recommendations and reviews company which operates in 13 categories and more than 100 cities. Google cites that Zagat’s user surveys were one of the earliest forms of user-generated content and the nature of their guides were “mobile” before “mobile” meant electronics. Zagat will bolster Google’s local offerings by providing a “democratized, authentic and comprehensive view of where to eat, drink, stay, shop and play worldwide based on millions of reviews and ratings.”

So, today, I’m thrilled that Google has acquired Zagat. Moving forward, Zagat will be a cornerstone of our local offering—delighting people with their impressive array of reviews, ratings and insights, while enabling people everywhere to find extraordinary (and ordinary) experiences around the corner and around the world.

via Google

Bartz Keeps it Real, But May Lose Millions

Former Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz had nothing nice to say about the folks that forced her out of the company. She tells Fortune, “These people f—ed me over.” Bartz tells Fortune that Yahoo chairman Roy Bostock fired Bartz over the phone, simply reading a script prepared by a lawyer. Most of us, working your average 9-5, might appreciate being let go by phone to avoid that unnecessary commute. Bartz, serving as CEO of a major corporation, understandably expected a bit more than just a phone call.

Bartz went on to say that “the board was so spooked by being cast as the worst board in the country. Now they’re trying to show that they’re not the doofuses that they are.” Here is the ten-million dollar comment. Apparently, Bartz has a non-disparagement clause. This mean that her remarks against her former fellow board members may cost her an extremely pretty penny. This may be one of the best examples ever of when keeping it real goes wrong.

Amazon Tablet Has Best Chance Against Apple

It’s no secret that Amazon is developing a tablet and the rumors have been circulating for quite a while. TechCrunch’s MG Siegler describes the upcoming device as a full-fledged Android tablet with a form-factor similar to a BlackBerry PlayBook. It actually makes perfect sense for Amazon to launch a tablet. In addition to selling just about everything under the sun, they also provide items that will never see the light of day, namely digital content. Amazon can use their own tablet to provide consumers with direct and immediate access to these digital goods. Combine this with the fact that they are already in the pockets of millions of consumers and you can see why this Amazon tablet poses a major threat to Apple. Contrary to the threat many Android tablets pose to the iPad, Apple could be looking straight in the face of a rival fully equipped and capable for battle.

As The Guardian points out, the fact that the Amazon tablet will run a forked version of the Android OS could shake up the Android ecosystem in general. However, it seems they may not be aware that the existing Amazon Appstore already allows for the purchase of apps and music on existing Android devices. The Kindle app allows the purchase of books from Amazon. I think Amazon wants to compete in the tablet market just about as much as Google was looking to take over the browser space with Chrome. In this case, they’re only looking to push the market in a direction that will create a less fragmented hardware environment for their Appstore to run on. This will allow them to sell more content to more users across a wider variety of tablet devices.

Twitter has unveiled its photo upload API, which lets third-party developers add Twitter’s own photo-upload service to their apps, VentureBeat reports.

Twitter has been “filling holes” on its platform, taking control of mobile apps, adding link-shortening and now photo uploading, to the detriment of third-party apps who were doing these things. This is to provide a more consistent experience to users (and also have more opportunities to show ads to users).

Read the rest of this article at Business Insider

Time Inc. is stepping into the world of tablets full throttle, announcing they plan to bring all 21 of its magazines to not just the iPad, but to all leading tablet platforms by the end of 2011.

Essence Magazine is one of the 21 magazines included as they 100 percent owned by Time Inc. Sports Illustrated is currently the only magazine publishing on multiple tablet platforms.

The tablet market will most likely grow over the next few years. It will be interesting to see what other publications will follow suit, this will be a trend to look out for. For now keep your eyes open for an Essence tablet app in the near future, as Time Inc. has said it will include all of their magazines by the end of the year, which is approaching fast.

The Race to Close the Digital Divide is gearing up in California for its statewide campaign to promote computer literacy and internet use among under represented communities throughout the state. Working with faith based organizations around the state, the race educates families about economic, educational and social benefits of the internet and helps connect them to resources that break down the barriers of cost, equipment and literacy.

The campaign has attracted the support of prominent state and national officials, as well as community and faith leaders committed to closing the digital divide. Supporters include California Assembly Speaker John A. Perez, former Mayor of San Francisco Willie Brown, Congresswoman Doris Matsui and Mark E. Whitlock, II, Director of Community Initiatives for USC Center for Religion and Civic Engagement.

While the deployment and adoption of broadband technology is steadily increasing across the nation and within California, there still remains a vast difference in access among socio-economic groups, according to a 2011 Statewide Survey: Californians and Information Technology by the Public Policy Institute of California.

Sacramento area Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) has introduced numerous bills to promote internet adoption, including the Broadband Affordability Act, which would expand the Lifeline Assistance Program for low income telephone customers to those who subscribe to home broadband access.

The Race to Close to the Digital Divide targets five regions of California with the lowest rates of home Internet access: San Diego, Los Angeles, the Central Valley, the Bay Area and Sacramento, and tackles the common barriers to internet adoption by showing people where to go in their communities to find information about discounted internet service, computers and free computer literacy training.

Supporters believe by working through churches, the campaign can break through the barriers to internet adoption by sending information to community members from a trusted messenger.  Recognizing that we are now in a society that is reliant on technology and the internet for everything from gathering information, to finding jobs, organizations and campaigns such as this are imperative not just in California, but worldwide.

The Race to Close the Digital in California runs up until October 30 and to find out more information about the campaign and how to get involved visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/#!/RaceToCloseTheDigitalDivide

General Motors (GM) are  encouraging minorities in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. They are working to create diversity in STEM and design industries through community initatives and educational programs. GM plans to hire approximately 1,000 engineers  and are looking to recruit at art and design schools and HBCUs for 2011 and 2012.

Hear more from GM’s VP of Diversity, Eric Peterson on their diversity plans and efforts:

For more information on careers at GM and how to apply go to www.careers.gm.com