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Quality Webcasts

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I'm just reminded every so often of how there is a lot of noise coming from a million different directions and you've gotta stop and talk about important stuff every so often. 

I wanted to write a quick blog entry to discuss something which is very important to us and that is our presenters and the webcast content quality.  We take pride in the fact that we attempt to bring back presenters who excel with deep technical knowledge and the audience is engaged and enjoys, and attempt to sway away from presenters who are just that ... presenters.  When I use that term in that way, I'm talking about presenters who basically could be presenting on AD and Exchange today and tomorrow be presenting on WCF and how to create a WPF Browser based application... basically powerpoint readers (I think of the Social Studies substitute teacher in an elementary school who askes the class what chapter they're on and then proceeds to just have the students each read a paragraph to the class to pass the time).  Now that's not to say that the webcasts we produce are flawless.  But more to ensure the level of commit we have to bring information right from the source (a product manager or program manager) or a partner who has exceptional knowledge in the given area.  Another great couple of examples of serious quallity and commitment to excellence would include Channel9, .NET Show, .NET Rocks, and there are several more I'm just not thinking of at the current moment in time.

You might say, well doesn't everyone have this attitude? And while they may, it seems like sometimes they don't entirely execute in a consistent manner.  I remember someone asking for a powerpoint so they could have someone else re-present it (no previous knowledge on the topic, but rather a "presenter") and I had to take a step back and and a deep breath and say "they're not part of the MSDN Webcast program, we can advise them however we need to realize that different people have different ways".

Like I said in the first paragraph, believe me, I understand that we're not perfect.  And at times, I know this ever so much, however our program and I know from our team the other sister programs (TechNet Webcasts, Office, Microsoft Webcasts, SmallBusiness, and Dynamics) really do attempt to keep the quality bar high and ensure that you're getting value from someone who knows.

If you find yourself liking a presenter, sure it comes through on the evaluation, however drop us an email and tell us.  Or if you find that some presentation really didn't seem up-to-snuff... tell us too.  But then again I'm sure that there won't be too many of those ;).

Sorry to get all serious, sometimes you just get in those moods and I did want to make sure that everyone realized while sometimes it may seem like MS is a machine, inside that machine there are people who care and attempting to bring you both business value and fun!

 Bryan

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 10, 2007
    it is not entirely about the presenters.  The content has to be more compelling.  Sometimes when I have trouble sleeping I come down to my computer and turn on one of Microsoft's Webcast.  It works instantly with no side effects.  This happens more often than not.  I believe that a good deals of the webcasts are boring and lacking in good content.  It is not the subject matter but rather the quality. Improve the content,  I don't mind paying a little for really good stuff if it helps.  What we have today is somewhat akin to cognitive constipation.  Loose the power point presentation and put together really interesting and exiting presentations.  You guys have done it in the past, guys like Scott Guthrie tends to create very compelling presentations.  

  • Anonymous
    January 19, 2007
    Hi,  I used to be able to view all the on-demand webcasts, but of late I don't see the on demand webcasts link anymore. Is there a policy change as to not provide the on-demand versions of the webcasts? I hope not! Thanks.

  • Anonymous
    February 01, 2007
    I too am concerned about the lack of access to the previously recorded webcasts.  Unfortunately I rarely am available for the live showings, so I rely heavily on scanning past webcasts and using them to keep up with current MS technologies (and things are getting slower out there).  But since late December, the list of past webcasts just stopped...  What gives?

  • Anonymous
    February 04, 2007
    ...and how come it is so difficult to download for offline/gadget viewing? Is that impossible to address?

  • Anonymous
    February 06, 2007
    ...not only are links missing, a descent Search of webcasts is also now missing! Right now I have spent time over the past week looking for a information on a particular topic (happens to be the new p&p Web Client Software factory) and have found no place to search content on just Events and Webcasts.

  • Anonymous
    February 07, 2007
    I have to agree that sometimes the content is more of a concern then the actual dilvery. I am glad to see that you all are try to improve things. My biggest concern mirrors the ones thta were already listed (i.e. difficulty in finding the webcast and the offline viewing issues.) Keep up the good work though because you guys have the best webcasts I've seen thus far.