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Metaphors to explain my social media job: Cruise Ship Director
Where did I get my Cruise Ship Director metaphor? I was inspired by a 2008 Caribbean cruise on the Grandeur of the Seas (pictured).
I’m sort of addicted to metaphors, similes and analogies.
They help me conceptualize my own work — and they help explain it to others.
When I was named “Dayside Delivery Editor” in 2009, I thought of myself as a cowgirl — trying to herd random bits of information.
After about 6 months, I changed my analogy to Cruise Ship Director.
I was inspired by a 2008 Caribbean cruise on the Grandeur of the Seas (pictured). Each evening, we returned to our cabin to find a towel folded into some sort of animal — and one sheet of paper on our pillow. This was our cruise agenda for the following day, filled with everything to help you make the most of your vacation: The weather forecast, any safety alerts from the captain, the yoga schedule, available excursions, which restaurants were open — and the drink of the day.
I started using our social media in similar ways: In a sea of information, I was helping our readers with up-to-the-minute safety information (weather and traffic alerts, breaking news) along with useful updates and discussion starters on the more entertaining side of life (restaurant news, rich feature stories, etc.) — all with the friendly tone and sociability of a cruise ship director.
The editor in chief mentioned my metaphor as part of a newsroom award I received in 2011.
Even now, I see Page 2 of the newspaper as that one-sheet cruise ship agenda: Weather at the top, important contact information on the side, our Daily Deal at the bottom — and teasers for online content that also double as timely reminders. Developing that page — along with a related blog (tentatively titled “Engagement Station”) — is one of my top priorities in the coming months.
More metaphors:
» Social media editor … or Cruise Ship Director?
» What to Tweet / post on Facebook? Look for the Lucky Charms
