Should We Be Shocked?

According to digital marketing firm Performics, 40 percent of Americans polled admitted they feel more comfortable interacting online than in person.

The firm polled roughly 2,000 adults who actively visit one social networking site at least once a day.

Which networks were cited? Unsurprisingly, they were Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, YouTube and Pinterest.

Read more HERE.

Google Plus Hangouts for Journalists

Love or hate Google Plus, it's a safe bet to admit it's probably not going anywhere. While engagement in their circles may not be as deep as on Facebook or Twitter, but millions have come to love it's ease of use.

And those Google Plus hangouts are pretty cool. Why? Their video chat tool has fueled somewhat of a journalism renaissance by some news organizations. While so far it's mostly television-driven, it's easy to imagine how newspapers can easily hop on board by using the exciting feature.

Sarah Hill (pictured above), a nine-time Emmy award winning reporter and interactive anchor at KOMU-TV 8 in Columbia, MO is leading the charge and has weaved Hangouts into her daily newscast.

Enjoy this video where she explains everything you need to know about the tool.

More Google Plus reading:

• The 10 Commandments of Hangouts

• How Journalists Should Set Up Google+ Profiles

• How News Brands Should Set Up Google+ Pages

• The Basics of Using Google+

Reynolds Journalism Institute Talks Google Plus Hangouts

This presentation to the Reynolds Journalism Institute delves into how television journalists are using Google Plus Hangout On-Air to connect with viewers. They're using it as a free satellite truck and it's redefining traditional TV markets.

* While this is mostly television-centric, there are plenty of nuggets to take from this.