Why does Gowalla matter?

The National Center for Media Engagement explains why today (March 23), in its first of five postings exploring the use of social media by public media. Today’s post discusses location-based social network sites. Writes Bryce Kirchoff, “Imagine: A mobile user checks into your city’s art museum on Gowalla and they’re offered a clip your station produced about the institution’s Picasso exhibit. Or, a high school student visits Washington D.C.’s Vietnam War Memorial and is prompted to stream a preview of a Ken Burns film. Both are potential parts of public media’s future.”