The Campfire Project

What is the web? I mean, really, what is it? With the rise of smart devices and sprawling social networks, never before has the average person been able to tell their story so well, to their friends, family and the world. On the other hand, all this constant sharing of information makes for a marketer’s dream, with people telling you who they are, what they like, and how badly they want it. This raises one of the biggest question’s of the day – who’s story is winning? Is the internet a place for public sharing, or public relations?

This week’s episode will be a little different. Rather than look at one thing, today we’ll be exploring the stories being told by three major projects: a state’s advertising campaign, a new social network, and a software company that wants to help companies cut through the noise.

Earlier this month, Apple released its new iPhones, to much fanfare and a record number of pre-orders. But those devices weren't the stars of the show. Instead, it was the unveiling of a totally new Apple device that has people buzzing. Today, in Part 2 of our roundup, we look at Apple Watch, wearable devices, and how the next big story will be on your wrist.

Finally, fall is upon us. And with the shortening of the days and the changing colour of leaves comes another seasonal hallmark – iPhone upgrades. This week, like clockwork, Apple hit its annual refresh of its flagship device, to oohs and ahhs and even a few people exclaiming “That’s it?" Today we look at the history of iPhone announcements: the hype, build up, the rumors and leaks, before the big release. Apple is a company that knows how to tell a great story, and the iPhone is its bestseller.

With every new piece of technology, with every new format, comes hope. Hope that whatever the new thing is, it will bring with it the solution to a seemingly intractable problem – will this, the site or the tablet or the phone, be the thing that saves the publishing industry? As revenues and subscription rates continue to fall, newspapers shutter and social networks gain followers, people have raced to find a way to take advantage of new publishing opportunities, provide a better experience and earn a profit. So far, the challenge has proven difficult, to say the least. Today, we’re joined by special guest Jim Dalrymple of The Loop to talk about how stories get circulated on the web, and what, if anything, can be done to help publishers and writers the world over.

Sports, whether football, basketball, hockey or soccer, has the power to bring strangers together, bring cities together, even bring countries together, as people revel in the thrill of competition, bask in the glory of victory, to blunt the agony of defeat. In this episode, Matt and Chris focus not on the sports themselves, but how sports stories, through real life and pop culture, find their way into the public square and reshape the narratives of entire cities.

What's happening in Ferguson right now is many things: tragic, infuriating, even defeating. In the past, this would be something that could be contained to the area. But technology is allowing the world to peer into Ferguson, and let residents tell stories for themselves.

Gaming has come a long way since the days when kids would pump quarters into dust-covered boxes at the arcade. With incredible hardware and powerful software, game designers are now able to go far beyond two-demension spaces and create 3D worlds so lush and immersive they can take your breath away. Those beautiful environments, though, aren’t enough. With all this power and speed at their disposal, game companies have begun to push their creations deeper into pop culture. How? By using virtual worlds to tell new stories.

What’s great about the world today is that if you have an idea, no matter how big or how small, there’s a chance you can bring it to life. Sometimes, the idea is a simple one, like making lunch. Or it can be something much greater, like launching a sitcom. For these projects and everything in between, all it took to make them real was a willingness to say yes – by the creators, designers, and the public, who voted with their dollars. Its lead to an explosion of curiosity around the power of crowdfunding.

The car isn't what it used to be. Once the ultimate possession, a symbol sought after for its freedom, now owning a car is less a necessity than a questionable investment. Born at the advent of the internet and saddled with an economic recession, an entire generation has discovered itself through experiences on the web, forging its identity via laptops and smartphones, through Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr posts. Slowly, the car is losing its hold as a signifier, opening in arena to new players to talk to the new generation in a new way.