Curate This!: The Handbook For Content Curation by Steven Rosenbaum Summary

1. Human curation outperforms algorithms by prioritizing relevance over viral popularity.
2. Video curation boosts brand trust through authentic customer storytelling.
3. Effective curation requires selecting, organizing, and presenting with human insight.
4. BuzzFeed’s 150 million monthly visits prove strategic curation drives engagement.
5. Ancient curation practices evolved into modern web filtering systems.
6. Future-proof curation adapts to emerging tech while maintaining human judgment.
7. Trusted curators transform data overload into personalized, coherent experiences.
8. Curation Nation positions curation as essential for modern information management.
9. Curate content like museums—add context to amplify meaning.
10. Manual content highlighting avoids algorithmic content black holes.
11. Customer-curated videos create dynamic brand authenticity.
12. Successful curation balances audience needs with evolving trends.

About the Author

Steven Rosenbaum, author of Curate This!, is a pioneering entrepreneur and media innovator widely recognized as the father of user-generated content (UGC). A two-time Emmy-winning filmmaker and creator of MTV’s groundbreaking series News Unfiltered, Rosenbaum blends hands-on media expertise with visionary insights into digital curation.

His work as CEO of Magnify.net and holder of patents in video curation technology underscores his authority on content discovery strategies. Rosenbaum’s earlier bestseller, Curation Nation, established him as a leading voice on organizing the digital deluge.

Rosenbaum's role as New York City’s first Entrepreneur at Large and founder of the Sustainable Media Center highlights his commitment to ethical media evolution. A frequent contributor to Forbes, MediaPost, and TED platforms, Rosenbaum’s practical guidance in Curate This! reflects decades of reshaping how institutions and individuals harness curated content. His books remain essential reading for marketers, journalists, and technologists navigating the attention economy.

FAQs About This Book

What is Curate This! by Steven Rosenbaum about?

Curate This! explores the critical role of human-driven content curation in the digital age, arguing that algorithms alone cannot replicate the nuance of human judgment. Steven Rosenbaum provides frameworks for selecting, organizing, and presenting content effectively, with examples from platforms like BuzzFeed and YouTube. The book emphasizes curation as a skill for cutting through information overload and building trust with audiences.

Who should read Curate This!?

Marketers, content creators, entrepreneurs, and professionals navigating information overload will benefit most. It’s ideal for those seeking strategies to enhance brand authority through curated content or to streamline digital workflows. Rosenbaum’s insights are particularly valuable for individuals aiming to balance automation with human creativity in content strategy.

Is Curate This! worth reading?

Yes, particularly for its actionable advice on content curation. Rosenbaum blends theory with real-world examples, such as BuzzFeed’s viral success and YouTube’s user-generated content model. The book offers timeless principles for building audience trust, though some tech examples may feel dated (originally published in 2014).

What is the main argument in Curate This!?

Rosenbaum argues that curation requires a human touch to contextualize content meaningfully. While algorithms gather data, humans excel at identifying relevance, emotional resonance, and narrative flow—critical for engaging audiences. He positions curation as a solution to the “signal vs. noise” problem in the digital era.

What are the key concepts in Curate This!?

• Curated Content Strategy: Selecting high-value content and presenting it with context.
• Audience-Centric Curation: Tailoring content to audience needs, as seen in MTV’s Unfiltered.
• The Three C’s: Collect, Organize, Share—a framework for effective curation.
• Video Curation: Leveraging user-generated video to enhance brand storytelling.

Who is Steven Rosenbaum, and what expertise does he bring?

Steven Rosenbaum is a media entrepreneur, Emmy-winning producer, and author of Curation Nation. He founded five media startups, including Magnify.net, and pioneered user-generated content with MTV’s Unfiltered. His work focuses on the intersection of technology, storytelling, and audience engagement.

How does the book differentiate human curation from algorithms?

Rosenbaum highlights humans’ ability to adapt to cultural context and emotional nuance, unlike rigid algorithms. For example, he critiques automated newsfeeds for prioritizing engagement over accuracy, advocating instead for hybrid models where humans guide algorithmic outputs.

What actionable strategies does Curate This! provide?

• Use video testimonials to showcase authentic customer experiences.
• Build niche-focused content hubs (e.g., The Huffington Post’s verticals).
• Implement “curated storytelling” by repurposing user-generated content.
• Regularly audit content to align with audience interests.

What are common criticisms of Curate This!?

Some readers note the book’s tech examples (e.g., early social media tools) feel outdated in 2025. Others argue it underestimates AI’s evolving role in curation, though Rosenbaum acknowledges this limitation in later interviews.

How does Curate This! compare to Rosenbaum’s Curation Nation?

While Curation Nation (2011) focuses on curation’s economic impact, Curate This! (2014) offers a hands-on guide for practitioners. The latter includes case studies like the Guardian Datablog and actionable frameworks for content strategists.

Why is Curate This! still relevant in 2025?

As AI-generated content proliferates, Rosenbaum’s emphasis on human judgment aligns with 2025 trends prioritizing authenticity. The book’s principles underpin modern strategies like LinkedIn’s “expert curation” badges and TikTok’s creator-led trends.

What does Rosenbaum mean by “curation is the new magic”?

This phrase encapsulates curation’s power to transform chaos into coherence. Examples include the 9/11 video archive Rosenbaum curated for the National Memorial, which wove disparate footage into a cohesive narrative.

What is a key quote from Curate This!?

“Algorithms are tools, not storytellers.” Rosenbaum uses this to stress that technology should enhance—not replace—human curators’ ability to craft narratives.

How can Curate This! principles apply to real-world scenarios?

• Marketing: Curate customer stories to build brand loyalty.
• Education: Create topic-specific resource hubs for students.
• Media: Use hybrid human-AI systems to filter misinformation.