Forging a New Culture?

A recent article on the BBC about Blog World Expo got me thinking. They talk about the fact that there’s an overall desire to share in the new media world, and the fact that companies are more open to discussing their own ups and downs, failures and successes as they go through life than they were in the past. (image source: Dawn Endico)

The BBC reporter says:

How well these techniques would translate to the larger sites of traditional media companies remains to be seen, but there are a number of profitable new media companies, such as b5media, that not only show that it can be done, but are actively sharing how they have achieved their success and are more than happy to help others to do the same.

This culture of sharing that runs through the blogging scene is one reason that this new medium is such a breath of fresh air to many.  [source]

Is this openness just a facet of the new media/”web 2.0″ world (and have we found a good phrase for all this social networking stuff yet? i hate both those terms) or is it a new form of culture that we’re creating here?

Personally, I lean towards the fact that it’s likely a new kind of culture that we’re creating here. Things that used to be “trade secrets” are now open. Companies are allowed expected to make mistakes in the business world, and the fact that they admit to them and share the lessons learned is even more important.

Is your company part of the new culture or part of the most recent version of the “Old Boy’s Club”?