Miami Mini Maker Faire, a Flickr set by Michael Bolden Creativity, technology and innovation overflowed The LAB Miami co-working space in Wynwood recently during Miami’s first Mini Maker Faire. The event, supported by Knight Foundation, offered the opportunity for South Florida makers and do-it-yourself innovators to showcase their products and ideas. The Faire attracted throngs of people of all ages and backgrounds, showing the growing interest in Miami as a place where ideas are built. The turnout of more than 1,700 thrilled organizers. “This is hugely successful,” said Mike Greenberg, a producer of the Faire, as crowds gathered for product demonstrations, to play games and to see the creations from dozens of exhibitors. “I can tell you that there [are] going to be Maker Faires more often in the area.” Maker Faires have been held all over the world since the first one debuted in California in 2006. The largest faires, held in cities from Tokyo to Rome and New York, bring tens of thousands of people together to show off and appreciate technological and artisanal creations. Independent Mini Maker Faires, such as the one held Nov. 16 in Miami, are more community-based.

Above: Arianna Huffington. Photo credit: Anusha Alikhan.  Arianna Huffington kicked of the 2013 abc* Foundation Continuity Forum Wednesday at Miami Beach’s New World Center with some “straight talk” on the future of media. The two-day forum brings together high-profile speakers and social entrepreneurs to present their ideas and use their influence to address social challenges across the Americas. Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post, started the discussion by focusing on the importance of gatherings like the Continuity Forum that bring together innovators around issues of economy, politics, the environment and media. “They all connect,” she said. “Both for the future of media and for the future of our world.” She then launched into her topic, sharing her vision of the future of media and how to be successful in a rapidly changing environment. Three important insights emerged from her talk for both journalists and those investing in media to keep in mind: 1. Shining a light on the “good news” pays off First, she said that media companies have a responsibility to spotlight the good news and not just the bad.  She pointed out that journalists tend to live by the motto, “If it bleeds, it leads,” focusing on the dysfunctional. “At the Huffington Post we do plenty of coverage on what’s not working,” she said. “But increasingly if we look at the future of media it is important to realize that we need to focus on what is working, on what is succeeding and how we can scale the good things that are happening.” This shift is necessary, she said, not only “to give people a fuller picture of the world,” but also to spark innovation and inspire them. A desire to inspire was the impetus behind creation of the successful Huffington Post section titled “HuffPost Good News,” which focuses on positive developments in health, innovation and job creation. Huffington equated the power of positive news coverage with a small business that is given attention, money and mentoring to scale.  “People, believe it or not, prefer to share good news, and prefer to share advice and information about how to lead their life in ways that are more productive, healthier and happier, then to share news about the latest burglary or murder,” she said. “So what I’m saying here, for those who are in the media making decisions, it’s not just good for the world; it’s good for business.”