What We’re Planning to Discuss on 9/16

This week, Google introduced Fast Flip, a portal that presents content in a format that looks and feels like a newspaper or magazine. More than three dozen major media outlets are participating. (See Tim’s Foolish take on Fast Flip here.)

We like the technology but we’re curious of its implications for writers and editors hoping to build communities of readers. Why? Fast Flip is self-organizing. Each experience is custom to the reader. Is there such a thing as community when every reader gets a 100% unique experience? Or are we entering a new age of hyper-focused media where communities are built around articles and threads rather than publications?

Let’s continue last week’s conversation about community. Specifically, we’re wondering:

• Editors: Does community-building always have to take place at your site?

• Writers: Where do you encounter readers most often? Has the venue changed with the arrival of social media?

• Book publishers: Do social media outperform book tours when it comes to community building?

Join us on FriendFeed from 8:30-10 pm tonight as we discuss these questions and more. Those who prefer Twitter can follow the #editorchat hashtag to see the questions as they’re posted. (Yes, Fail Whale, we still love you.)