Wednesday
Jul022008
Working For The Eye
Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 03:24PM
This week CNET became an official property of CBS Interactive. It has been an exciting week for those of us here at CNET but while most people are wondering how their job will change, I had the privilege of having our new CEO Quincy Smith make it clear how my job would change. Smith was quoted in a recent article saying the following:
I had done the Early Show twice prior to this acquisition but this week my involvement with the show has gone into turbo mode. On Tuesday, I did a segment about hands-free calling technologies, which you can find here. I also helped research a segment late last night, which did not make it to the air, and I am currently working on a segment tomorrow about outdoor gadgets for the 4th of July weekend. Additionally, I am working with the Early Show team to plan iPhone coverage next week when it launches on Friday.
I am having a really good time working with CBS and I am hoping that my involvement with the network will not be limited to the Early Show. Their producers are very friendly, thorough, and news-oriented. They allow me a lot of freedom in choosing gadgets and tips for the segments I am involved in, and they let me come up with ideas for future segments.
I am amazed at how quickly CBS has been able to integrate CNET into its organization. Yesterday we all received a CBS Weekly Employee Newsletter. Today we were informed that we were put on the same Outlook Global Address List so we can email and schedule meetings between companies. (This also means that I can now email my long-time hero Leslie Stahl but I will try to refrain until I have something worthy to say.) CBS also put out a press release about my Early Show involvement, which you can find here.
To make a long story short, (although it may be too late for that), things are moving along quickly for me here in New York. Perhaps not as quickly as Valleywag would have it, but this is fast enough for me to adjust. I appreciate all the nice comments from last week's blog about getting kicked in the butt. There is still butt kicking going on in my life but I think I'm less on the receiving end these days. I know that our role from kicker to kickee flips back and forth from time to time but for now, I'm enjoying the view from The Eye.
You're going to see a lot more promotion and cross-marketing of CBS brands, as well as the CBS interactive personalities: (for example) Natali Del Conte on the Early Show.
I had done the Early Show twice prior to this acquisition but this week my involvement with the show has gone into turbo mode. On Tuesday, I did a segment about hands-free calling technologies, which you can find here. I also helped research a segment late last night, which did not make it to the air, and I am currently working on a segment tomorrow about outdoor gadgets for the 4th of July weekend. Additionally, I am working with the Early Show team to plan iPhone coverage next week when it launches on Friday.
I am having a really good time working with CBS and I am hoping that my involvement with the network will not be limited to the Early Show. Their producers are very friendly, thorough, and news-oriented. They allow me a lot of freedom in choosing gadgets and tips for the segments I am involved in, and they let me come up with ideas for future segments.
I am amazed at how quickly CBS has been able to integrate CNET into its organization. Yesterday we all received a CBS Weekly Employee Newsletter. Today we were informed that we were put on the same Outlook Global Address List so we can email and schedule meetings between companies. (This also means that I can now email my long-time hero Leslie Stahl but I will try to refrain until I have something worthy to say.) CBS also put out a press release about my Early Show involvement, which you can find here.
To make a long story short, (although it may be too late for that), things are moving along quickly for me here in New York. Perhaps not as quickly as Valleywag would have it, but this is fast enough for me to adjust. I appreciate all the nice comments from last week's blog about getting kicked in the butt. There is still butt kicking going on in my life but I think I'm less on the receiving end these days. I know that our role from kicker to kickee flips back and forth from time to time but for now, I'm enjoying the view from The Eye.
Reader Comments (27)
That is really neat to hear. I have my money on you taking tech to the mainstream audience. If only I could catch The Early Show in the UK :-(
That is awesome that CBS is actually doing something useful with CNET and their staff. You were great on the Early Show and definitely had great confidence in your topic. It is great to see you getting the mainstream coverage and maybe now the Wikipedia gods will not delete your page if someone puts it back up. Keep up the great work on both Loaded and CBS now. :-)
Natali, you are poised for greatness! New York, CBS and you will form the perfect storm for success! If I could buy stock in you I would! :)
Twofold situation. Excitement with new possibilities but also the mainstream takeover that sometimes gets pulled too quickly because "what have you done for me lately" mentality is always prevalent. I wish you and CNET all the best of luck because its a brand new world and I hope this is the beginning of something special. Good Luck Natali we are watching.
Congrats chica. I truly believe that in 10 years time we'll be seeing you doing network reporting. Watch Lara Logan!
I hope you enjoy yourself,natali. Lets be honest if you were in sanfran,you would not be in the spotlit today,but since you moved to NY you are,so living in NY has It's rewards. Good luck! Robert
Congrats on the rockness. Your lunchtime is just going to keep getting earlier and earlier...
Working for "the eye"? Is this a reference to V for Vendetta?
You looked great on the Early Show!
Awesome. Congratulations to the start of something grand. Are you going home to the Bay for the long weekend?
congratulations on going network! nice to see a fellow Fremont kid make it.
Ah yes, I remember when you used to do this little show called TeXtra. What a cute little show that was. Doesn't seem that long ago. Now, you're a star! Oh wait, you haven't made it to Sunday Morning yet with Charles Osgood, let's hold back on that star title a little while longer, until you make the big time.
Seriously, congratulations, you're definitely worthy of every forward step. Good luck on what's yet to come.
congrats Natali.
keep up the good work!!! Btw, where's your trackback url? :)
http://www.myphillynetwork.com/content/san-fran-nyc
oh, found it...:/
[...] http://natalidelconte.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/working-for-the-eye/ Bookmark/Search this post with: Delicious [...]
congrats Natali, and uhm CBS is starting to look like a cool company, buying these hot web content companies, and actually doing something with it.
Hey Natalie, heard the other day you having problems with Weave syncing on FF3 closing, you can:
type "about:config" in the Location Bar
copy/paste this in the filter bar:
extensions.weave.syncOnQuit.enabled
change this to false and Weave will not sync on FF3 closing. (about:config > extensions.weave.syncOnQuit.enabled > false). Also i found "Browsing History" is the one that makes the sync slow, uncheck (until they fix it) and sync is faster.
Hope that helps, have fun (:
Keep it up, Nat ! You are the best !
Oh, P.S, hope you can come to China one day!
Hey Natalie
I'm a fan of your show, and now your blog! I've heard you mention that you Twitter and I want to follow your tips and tricks there but don't know how to find you on Twitter. Can you please tell us?
I'm not a stalker, honestly!
=O
The all seeing eye network has begun its plans of global domination starting with cnet!
Just curious... has the "eye" been watching your blog and suggested to cut back? I know you're busy but at least give us an update on the puppy you almost bought a few months ago
Very nice!!
Dear Natali:
You handled Greg and Bill very well, congratulations.... I hope you go the show again seems the eye is a theme in your life.... assuming CBS and Redeye, all the best, ben