Participating in regional conversations

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Participating in regional conversations

• Ruby Sinreich
• OrangePolitics.org

ARS National Forum November 16, 2006
Netcentric Campaigns
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Ruby Sinreich

• Hometown Chapel Hill
• High school Miami
• Planning Transportation Boards
• 13 years in nonprofit sector
• Web Maven _at_ Netcentric Campaigns

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Blogs are

• Not a replacement for or competitor to mainstream
  journalism
• Part of a community
• First-person, authentic
• Open (archives, feeds, tags)
• Live and interactive

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Orange County, North Carolina
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OrangePolitics
As of Today 1,146 days948 posts22,212 comments

• Where did we come from?
• Who are we talking to?
• What have we done?

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stats - 2 week overview
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stats - by US geography
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stats - by NC geography
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Reacting, organizing, sharing info
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Sharing information in real time
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Making a story newsworthy
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Changing public policy
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2005 election guide
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2006 election analysis
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and lots and lots of discussion
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stats - 2006 visitors
5/2 primary
11/7 genl election
3/3 Taheri Azar
August Footloose Bruce
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Elected officials

• OrangePolitics catalyzed an ecosystem of
  bloggers, spurring activists, candidates, and
  elected offficals to start blogging.

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Sally Greene, CH Town Council
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Mark Kleinschmidt, CH Town Council
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Mark Chilton, Carrboro Mayor
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Mike Nelson, Mayor - Commissioner
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Barry Jacobs, County Commissioner
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Laurin Easthom, CH Town Council
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More local blogs
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NCblogs.com
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BlueNC.com
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Local media context

• We have a symbiotic relationship with the media.
  We rely on them for information, but we also
  provide valuable content and accountability.

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The Independent Weekly
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Chapel Hill News/News Observer
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Raleigh News Observer
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Other places

• Local blogging isnt coming to a city near you,
  its already there.

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H20town - Watertown, MA
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Daily Gotham - New York City
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Portland Communique (R.I.P.)
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Metroblogging
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Also

• Ed Cone (journalist blogger)
• Metroblogging (probably in your region already)
• Gothamist, DCist, etc.
• Technorati to find your local blogs

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Recommended reading

• Evolving journalism
• We the Media, Dan Gillmor
• NewAssignment.net, Jay Rosen
• Government politics
• Sunlight Foundation
• Personal Democracy Forum
• The Cluetrain Manifesto by Doc Searls, et
  alMarkets are conversations

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Thank you!

• Ruby Sinreich
• editor_at_orangepolitics.org

ARS National Forum November 16, 2006
Netcentric Campaigns