Why Viewsflow, and why now?

The world already has powerful search engines like Google and Bing, a myriad of RSS feeders dominated by Google Reader and Bloglines, and a proliferation of market-oriented products such as Bloomberg, WSJ, Breakingviews and SeekingAlpha.  So it’s no surprise the most common questions we get asked is: why Viewsflow, and why now?

In short: condensation, context, and conversation. It is because of all of the above that Viewsflow is not merely a nice-have, but a must-have.

Condensation

Depending on your perspective and information consumption habits, the web has either greatly simplified, or vastly complicated your daily reading routine. At Viewsflow, we are humbled and excited by the explosion of online content during the past half decade.

The Internet has de-centralized the way information is distributed. But this presents a challenge, and an even greater opportunity, for more intelligent ways of filtering, grouping, and personalizing news.

At the same time, simplification of online publishing platforms has given anyone, and everyone, a voice. This is particularly relevant in economic and market related fields, where knowledge and insights has trumped old and entrenched hierarchies.

Unknown research fellows, retired Wall St veterans and junior analysts previously buried by layers of bureaucracy may have more to contribute to an issue of interest and impact to a small group of people, than a columnist in a nationally syndicated newspaper. We are not speaking cryptically either – during our research, we found a disproportionately high percentage of econobloggers whom double as faculty members in universalities across the world.

Knowing that, our goal is to capture both the low-hanging fruits offered by well-known and must-read columnists and bloggers, as well as lesser known, but equally relevant content contributed by up-and-coming phenoms.

Context

Since the financial crisis of 2008, many have examined the role (or lack thereof) financial press has played in it (Disclaimer: I am featured in this article). How can they not? Most news organizations employed financially illiterate and emotionally detached professional journalists to report on events of unbelievable complexity.

Even Lionel Barber of the titanic FT said, “financial media find itself accused of missing the global financial crisis… failing to warn an unsuspecting public of impending disaster.”

Some of the same news outlets have since tamed the “relevancy” problem, by bringing topic-literate bloggers on board.  Professional or amateur, establishment or nouveau-famous, blogs are now consumed en-masse by industry observers and participants alike.

By linking content with personalities, bloggers are not only opinionated, but sometimes obsessive in tracking and following up in topics of interest to them.  Many publications now have bloggers with name-recognition and readership surpassing some of their decade-old columnists.

The Atlantic has Andrew Sullivan and Megan McArdle, the NYT Paul Krugman, WaPo Ezra Klein.  The WSJ recognized the importance of this emerging trend by publishing its pick of top 25 econoblogs.  Agree or disagree, love them or hate them, this change in direction produces consistency and a certain benchmark for context that were previously unaccounted for.

At Viewsflow, we are looking for innovative ways to capture and present a consistent and understandable narrative on trends that impact global economics and the market in general.

Conversation

The social web is an interactive web, where multi-way conversations are taking place all the time, and on every subject imaginable.  The social web is also a postmodern web, where proliferation of opinions and views on one single event are no longer limited by one’s point of reference.

Since the market crash, investors are delving into the details of their portfolios with renewed fervor.  With more information and transparencies becoming available, many have evolved from passive delegators of investment decisions, to active participants in the market.

As a result, we see the viewership of mainstream news programs drop, while the momentum behind blogs continue to gather steam.

Sorting out the overlapping and numerous streams of conversation going on in an unmitigated and unfiltered online space can be challenging. It can feel like going to a party where you are surrounded by a table of loud, opinionated, and sometimes obnoxious guests, all bent on getting the last word in.

This is where our human filtering and curating efforts come in.  Between the unpatrolled web akin to an underground techno-rave party held at an abandoned warehouse somewhere in the suburbs, and a heavily edited space comparable to an uptown gala with dress code calling for tux and to-the-minute evening program guide, we want to find our unique hosting style.

We agree with NYT columnist Thomas Friedman: in this world of increasing complexity, if you do not see the connections, you do not see the world.  And that is why we hope Viewsflow will play a vital role.

If you are an investor, who sees the world in more than buy and sell recommendations, then we may have something for you. Please sign-up for our alpha launch and follow us on Twitter.

If you are a blogger, who writes incisively about macro issues, we would love to hear from you as well.  Please email me at dana.chen [at] viewsflow.com

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