Lively "Be the Media" conference in Boston

Posted December 21st, 2008 by Steve Backman
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This year's "Be The Media" mini-conference gathered both experienced social networking activists and those just getting started with the new media. Sponsored by Project Think Different, Boston Women's Fund, Resist, Press Pass TV and Third Sector New England, this day long conference targeted communications staff and organizers from smaller, under-resourced organizations.A series of lively workshops explored "Challenges and Opportunities in the Age of New Meda for Grassroots Organizations."  

Where will you get your news?

Posted April 6th, 2008 by Steve Backman
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From the opening scene of Blade Runner, you know you are in for a more personally challenging vision of the future. Harrison Ford’s monologue interposed with messages from oversized personal billboards (“a new life awaits you…”) still come to memory first for me even after all these years. Visually alluring ads clash with the degraded city.   

Back from the Nonprofit Technology Conference

Posted March 23rd, 2008 by Steve Backman
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I'm just back from this year's NTC (Nonprofit Technology Conference) in New Orleans.  The most striking and welcome thing for me was the richness of experiences in organizing campaigns and building constituency on the web today. Lots of detailed, honest sharing of experiences in blending email, one's own web site, and the social media to accomplish meaningful goals. By social media, I mean public resources such as FaceBook, mySpace, care2, blogging, social tagging.