AUSTIN RESIDENT NAMED INFORMATION SYSTEMS GUIDE AT ABOUT.COM
New York, New York, (June 1, 1997) -- In a movement to rescue frustrated and isolated Web surfers who have been drowning in the clutter of the Internet, Russ Finney, of Austin, Texas, has joined About.com as the Management Information Systems Guide. Russ was hand-picked to be a Guide for his expertise, passion, and personality. He joins the hundreds of other Guides all over the world also working with About.com.
As the Management Information Systems Guide at About.com, Russ is responsible for mining the Web for the Management Information Systems "gems" -- the most relevant and timely information, valuable links, and lively conversations -- and presenting them in a clear, concise way at the About.com site -- http://www.about.com.
"This was a great fit for me. I was already doing essentially the same thing with the itm Web Site -- http://www.geocities.com/~itmweb. Serving as the About.com MIS Guide now gives me the opportunity to be involved in the development of two premium information technology web sites which can exist side by side, each enhancing the other," said Russ Finney. "My involvement with About.com also gives me access to some of the top Internet professionals working on the web today. I sincerely hope that my association with this group will result in both MIS sites becoming outstanding web destinations for information technology professionals."
"We are taking the Net back from the mechanical, chaotic and frustrating place it has become," said Scott Kurnit, founder of About.com. We’re putting real people back in charge of the Net." "People will no longer feel lost and frustrated by the unorganized mass of information on the Web."
Guides Do The Research, So You Don’t Have To
Guides, who are the heart and soul of About.com, mine the Web for the most relevant and timely information, sorting through other Internet Web sites, discussion groups, and chat areas to find the most valuable links and lively conversations. They present these "gems" in a clear and concise way, continually highlight the pages that are noteworthy, and sift out information that is dated, wrong, or boring.
Guides are individuals from all over the globe with a passion for a topic who have the skills to use the Internet to share that real-life passion with other people around the world. Guides have intimate knowledge of their subject matter -- either through formal training or life experience. Guides at About.com are real people ranging from medical doctors and journalists to soap-opera fans and graphic designers.
Guides offer unique perspectives on their topics through clear and engaging regular features. They also initiate timely discussions with visitors to their site, keep abreast of important developments in their fields, and conduct special events.
No Wonder People Are Frustrated!
The World Wide Web is an amazing resource, yet many users find it increasingly frustrating. That’s no surprise. Forrester Research now estimates there are more than 75 million pages of material on the Web. The Internet Archive, a non-profit group, says that in the two-and-a-half month period ending in mid-February, the Web doubled in size. The Web now has two-thirds the information included in all the books in a public branch library. But unlike a library, there’s no card catalogue, and the "books" aren’t shelved in any logical order.
"If you search for pediatrics at a popular search engine, you receive 24,174 documents," said Kurnit. "Visit the pediatrics site at About.com at http://pediatrics.about.com and you’ll be greeted by Guide Dr. Warren Silberstein, a pediatrician who has already gone out and found the most relevant links and areas that you’ll need."
About.com is a division of General Internet Inc. About.com's goal is to rescue frustrated consumers by offering a network of people-powered, special-interest sites with a consistent "look and feel," and to meet the needs and amplify the talents of independent Web producers throughout the world. About.com, headquartered one block from the United Nations in New York City, was founded by Scott Kurnit and a team of experienced Internet professionals.
You can find us on the Web at http://www.about.com or via email at reachus@about.com. General Internet Inc. can be found at http://www.generalinternet.com.
Contact: Mark Josephson
Cone Communications
617.227.2111 ext. 412
mark_josephson@conenet.com
