Not a complete list. Impressive nonetheless

Back last May, the public radio show Marketplace ran a piece about coworking. They visited some coworkers in New York City, had a good time with the whole, “why don’t you want to work at home” thing and that was that. I was thrilled since I love that show, but it didn’t go very deep. This week, they did another which makes me even happier. Coworking on Marketplace twice in about six months? We’re a full-fledged trend now.

This piece is much the same as the other one, which I must admit makes it a bit strange. There’s not much new in it, other than the space they visit (North Carolina’s Creative Coworking). Instead, it’s full of the same kind of confusion on the part of the reporter about why people would want to come to an office (she talks about corporate offices populated by “people wishing they could work in their underwear,” for example. She should talk to Chris.) and quotes from coworkers who explaining the sense of isolation and frustration we’ve all felt when confronted with another day spent with just our cats for company.

One bit that’s new this time is the mention of the recession and how it might actually help coworking spaces to thrive. In a down economy, the reporter points out, office space that costs less might be very attractive to those who have their own. Goes along with the theory that in a down economy, entreprenurs are likely to thrive.

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, coworking and those of us doing it are well positioned to make it through this recession with flying colors. It may be a bit nerve wracking right now, but I’m pretty sure we’ll be fine when it’s all over because we have each other to lean on and fertile environments that generate tons of marketable, sustainable ideas.

That whiteboard is right here in our office. The picture was taken by our friend Matt Westervelt who added it to our Office Nomads Flickr pool. If you have any shots from here you’d like to add, please do! Tag them with OfficeNomads

Though I’m a writer for print and online outlets, I’ve got a deep love for radio. That makes me particularly thrilled to report that one of my favorite radio shows did a piece on what they termed, “Something called ‘coworking’” this week.

Marketplace covers all aspects of business. Wait! Before you yawn and turn the dial, give it a listen because Marketplace covers business in a very colorful way. Somehow, even as they stick to the roots of business reporting (numbers, business trends and the like) they craft interesting and intricate story arcs that regularly engage my imagination.

Marketplace’s coverage of coworking, may not be a prime example of their best work because it is so short. Still, it’s an engaging piece with a few good quotes that, I think, really helps illustrate the feel of being a coworker.

At Nutopia, in New York, people are there “sharing the workspace, but not the work.”

The reporter also visited one of the most popular Jelly meetups (and possibly the originator of the concept) in New York City where he reported that people were “working together thigh to thigh” (that’s hot!) and even sitting on the floor to be a part of the scene.

Finally, he interviewed one person at that Jelly meet up who had an interesting take on that version of coworking: “I’m not more productive, but I’m happier.”

Nice.

The picture is courtesy of Flickr user petroleumjelliffe. Thanks!