There's an intriguing story with some sexy density maps in today's NYTimes, "Mapping the Cultural Buzz: How Cool Is That?" The article presents research that locates cultural hot spots based on the frequency and draw of events like concerts, fashion shows and theater openings. The authors of the research used photographs of parties and events over the course of a year to qualify the events as "buzzworthy," then mapped the location of the events in Manhattan and Los Angeles. The results are maps of the density of different types of cultural events in those cities.
And this got me to thinking that we do much the same sort of thing when we do media analysis in public relations research. We map the density of mentions of companies or products in the media. Then, instead of comparing fashion shows to concerts, we compare products or companies. Would be nice to have some cool density maps, though.
-- Bill Paarlberg, Editor, The Measurement Standard
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many… Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders... But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” 
Dear Bill, thanks for mentioning this NYT article which I probably would have missed otherwise. Couldn't help commenting when I read your last paragraph about density maps for the web. And coincidentally, there's a panel at Ad:Tech Paris *today* which will show exactly this type "Information Visualization" work: a visualization of buzz propagation over web networks similar in design to those Manhattan buzz maps. Here's a sneak preview if you'd like: http://linkfluence.blip.tv/#1943202 (full disclosure: I work for the research firm which created this animation)
Posted by: Stan Magniant | April 07, 2009 at 09:42 AM