At the ASBPE (American Society of Business Publication Editors) Conference, I attended two breakout sessions to help me understand a little more about the sorts of things we're starting to do for some of our clients—creating, editing and sharing video and audio custom content on the web. The sessions—one on video and one on podcasting—were pretty basic; but they were thorough enough that if given a camera, a microphone and a cord to connect both devices to my computer, I could have a video and audio file posted in 20 minutes. Seriously, that's how easy it is. And no, the end result would not win a Grammy or an Oscar, but it'd be good enough for the Web.

And that was the lesson (besides "Always use a tripod" and "Don't upload wav files to your Web site"): It's so easy—and inexpensive—so why not give it a try? In both sessions, someone raised their hand and asked for data on how popular the videos or podcasts were and how they measure their effectiveness. I don't recall the answer (there's a breakout session tomorrow on being a better reporter) because I was too busy thinking: If it's so cheap and easy, why not give it a try. If it doesn't stick, no big deal. If it does (and it will, according to what I've been hearing today), all the better.

Live from Kansas City, Mo., it's Lena!

I'm halfway through Day 1 of the ASBPE (American Society of Business Publication Editors) conference, and thought I'd check in and share what I've learned.

This morning, I heard from Paul Conley, a media consultant who is probably most famous for his blog. He talked about how people working in print publications need to wake up and realize that online is the future in media.

It felt good sitting there thinking to myself that the things he was saying I already knew—entirely from working here at Hammock.

Conley was a little too "if you don't change the way you think about the Web you will be out of a job" for my taste, but the underlying message was clear and compelling.

Later we heard from Katy Tomasulo, the editor of two construction magazines, about how to prioritize the Web when you already have a full plate on the print side. I came away with some great ideas, including asking experts or interviewees (right after you wrap up the interview) to provide a guest column or related content for your magazine's Web site. What a great idea! And there were so many more!

Anyway, better run. This afternoon, I'm going to learn how to shoot video and do a podcast. And tonight? I have the honor of collecting the probably very heavy awards (yes, plural) that MyBusiness won in the annual Azbee Awards of Excellence.

Most of the interviews I conduct are by phone, sometimes by e-mail, depending on how busy the person I'm trying to interview is, and, on three occasions since working at Hammock, in person. But after today's interview with my colleague Summer Huggins for a Hammorati post I'm working up, I can add another medium to that: Instant Messenger.

And I'd have to say, I wish I could do every interview by IM. The reasoning?

• During the interview, as I was waiting for Summer to craft her superbly thought-out quotes, I got up from my desk twice and was back by the time she was ready for her next question.
• IM cuts down on noise distractions. This past year, I scheduled a phone interview for 8:30 a.m. the morning of the Hammock Halloween Costume Contest. Yes, very bad idea. Had I been interviewing via IM, I could have joined in the fun of asking, "Barbara, what's that on your head?"
• With IM, there's no cutting people off and having to apologize awkwardly while simultaneously asking them if they could repeat what they said because you were talking over them and not listening. Just wait for their response and type your next question.
• You don't have to transcribe everything they say and worry about whether you're getting all the details right. With IM, it's all right there in front of you.

Of course, using IM is a great idea only if you don't accidentally "X" the box before you save it. Is there anything worse than having to tell someone, "Umm, I just lost your interview. Could you repeat everything you said? No, from the top. Like, let's start with your name and how long you've been in business."?

My hands just got sweaty thinking about that...

Click over here to read about the other ways we use IM at Hammock.

On Tuesday morning, I rode the elevator with my head raised high—and this awesome trophy in my arms. For those who don't know, in addition to making killer magazines, we at Hammock also have a knack for spelling.

In fact, we're the 2007 champions of the Nashville Adult Literacy Council Corporate Spelling Bee. Oh yeah, and the 2005 champions of the Nashville Adult Literacy Council Corporate Spelling Bee. (Don't ask about 2006.)

I used to regularly participate in the spelling bee, but now that I'm a board member for the NALC, I spend my time doing things like helping draft a three-year strategic plan for the organization so we can win more grants.

No, definitely not as exciting as being a spelling bee champion, but so much more important, don't you think?

Lena met the King while in Memphis.

In the months leading up to December, there hadn't been many days when you could catch me in the office after 4:30 p.m. I'd always have to run-literally. I mean, sometimes it was on treadmills, but I spent most of my afternoons after work running, preparing for the St. Jude Half Marathon, which finally, after months of training and at least one sleepless night, took place this past weekend in Memphis.

I crossed the finish line in 2:23:38, which was 3 minutes and 20 seconds better than my last half-marathon and like 13 minutes better than my first one, so at this rate, I'll be able to run as fast as fellow Hammock runner John Lavey in 9.2 years.

In addition to running (and occasionally fast walking and then frequently strolling) my way to the finish line, I also helped raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital—the lion's share of which came from the generous people I work with.

So what's next? I'll spend the month of December being incredibly lazy and then start training for Nashville's Country Music Half Marathon, which takes place each April.

Or maybe I'll finally go for the full 26.2 miles. That article I read in People magazine about how Katie Holmes trained for the New York Marathon in just two months AND wore stilettos the night of the race was very inspiring.

Lena came to Hammock in 2003 from, well, right down the street at Vanderbilt University, where she graduated with a degree in Human and Organizational Development. We don’t really know what that means, but it probably taught her how to juggle multiple tasks and different kinds of assignments, because that’s one of her strengths.

On a typical day, Lena’s managing MyBusiness, proofing an NFIB state publication for the umpteenth time and figuring out what historically significant dates to highlight in the next issue of American Spirit. She also manages the production process for Pharmaceutical Commerce, a monthly newsletter that covers the commercial side of the pharmaceutical industry.

Lena hails from the small eastern Kentucky town of Paintsville (the birthplace of country greats Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle!), so it’s no wonder that she ended up in Music City USA. When she’s not at her desk, Lena enjoys honky-tonkying, training for half-marathons, reading People magazine and watching reality TV (what writer's strike?).

She also aspires to be a hip-hop dancer, but let’s face it: Hip-hop dancing is inconsistent with writing about small business and early American history.