If shameless self-promotion is alright by my crisis-comms-senseii , then hopefully I can get away with posting the first official premiere clip of the Digital U series, “The Power of the Citizen:  Politics 2.0,” which is being presented by Get Involved & TVO online & over-the-airwaves.

Big thanks to everyone involved in the filming, production & promotion process (the lovely ladies of Q Media Solutions!), I’m learning so much from these speakers who are ridiculously better prepared, experienced & articulate than I could ever wish to be

A very special thank you goes out to Zenia at Canada Helps, without whom my appearance (& the thought-provoking interview with Ryan Taylor of Fair Trade Jewellery Co.)  would not have been at all possible.  The day of filming James from WarChild, Ryan, & I delivered a presentation on real advocacy-related social media case studies & best practices for the Canada Helps‘ ‘My Charity Connects‘ conference.  Seems like only yesterday…

What sets ProPublica apart from many up and coming online news outlets (or MSM using citizen journalists to round out their roster of writers), is its success rate partnering with mainstream media outlets (NYTimes, Washington Post, NPR, PBS, 60 minutes, etc) at the early stages of investigative journalism or at the final hand-off/distribution stage.  They are able to undertake ambitious research from their “independent, non-profit newsroom” thanks to a foundation grant, which sustains the basic operating costs, and are now looking to create a more sustainable financing model with various funders and small individual donations.

For example, last summer ProPublica investigated the high rates of re-hires among negligent nurses in the state of California, and paired up with the LATimes to expose the lax oversight in tracking potentially (& often fatal) staffing decisions.  Between the two outlets’ teams, they researched every Californian nurse disciplinary case from 2002-08 (over 2,000) and revealed that the average lag-time on action by the Board of Registered Nursing was over three years, & many cases were left forgotten.  One day after the story was published, Governor Schwarzenegger replaced almost every member of the Board, citing the newspaper & online organization’s coverage as bringing the issue to light.

Examples abound of long-form investigative journalism affecting change by exposing negligence, corruption and fraud - so the question isn’t exist/disappear…but one wonders if only addressing the shrinking budgets/staff of MSM, a larger issue is unaddressed - our shrinking attention span. (Insert obligatory ‘Google makes us stupid‘ link, &/or pop-stat used by many UX’ers that the average user’s attention span is now whittled down to 5 seconds)

Encouragingly enough for online news outlets, yesterday the Pew Internet & American Life Project released new online news usage data with internet news listed above print and radio in popularity, with 61% of Americans reading news online vs. 50% reading a local paper & 17% reading a national paper.  Of the online-ers 1/3 were reading on their mobile device.  But when we say ‘reading’ are people really reading?

One ProPublica fact that threw me was the proud statement that they’d launched an iPhone app and had a Blackberry version in the wings.  While I’m the first to strongly encourage clients to reach their audiences on as many platforms as possible, eschewing the ‘If you build it they will come’ attitude & instead respectfully joining communities that are interested in your offering, silver-bullet-izing the mobile platform for long-form journalism cannot jive without major mods.

In the same way we couldn’t create a hit radio programme walking into a studio & recording a ‘Simpsons’ script - reading a full-length long-form investigative piece on a 3”x2” screen is a tough slog for the online crew.  Are there any online outlets doing a good job of serializing content so that it’s broken up into manageable mobile-friendly chunks, while also grabbing the audience’s attention with cliff-hanger-style endings every couple days, or embedding multi-media content to supplement the copy?  Any way to use audio to create subscription-based podcast versions of the stories - if there was ever a sustainable online revenue model for journalism, it might be long-tail-able via iTunes - or at least worth a shot…

This disinclination to attend the ‘usual’ seminars isn’t because I’m too ‘advanced.’ Honestly, it’s the embarrassing behaviour of more than 1/2 the audience…the eye-rolling, gum-popping, pen-clicking “Getta-loadda-Captain-Obvious” routine is even getting old even for me…

Like it or not, this internet thing’s caught on - one person’s ‘obvious’ is another person’s paradigm-shift.  Instead of acting like a too-cool-Anglo teen trapped in an ESL course, if you’re ever in an unsatisfying session at an unconference (or anywhere except for a client meeting for that matter…) try this remedy: quietly grab your $#it, stand up, politely pop out of the room & find something else to enlighten you.

Trust me, the content is almost always there in spades, you just need to seek it out.  Even if the actual tools being discussed weren’t relevant to my life/work (audio podcasts are not my thing, outside of Stone’s Throw’s irregular mixes and DJ sessions), it was a perfectly-timed integrity-recharge to be around so many people passionately plugging away on their sites & sounds.

Some great summary blog posts are already floating around the interwebs, so I’ll keep this short…One session that struck me with its thoughtful layout, great research, good use of storytelling and composed, humble presenter was  Totally Filmi’s Katherine Matthews case study-style presentation of the YouTube premiere of Bollywood film ‘Striker‘. ‘@KayMatthews,’ as she’s known on Twitter, opened my eyes to the sophisticated vast communities assembling around cult film genres in spaces that I’d ignorantly assumed could only be built by/for music nerds (tho not so ignorant as to think that Bollywood is a niche genre, *insert Parry Sounder joke here*, Striker’s part of a sub-genre called ‘hacka’ (sp?) <- thanks to quick fact-check by Kay, it’s spelled “Hatke,” which broadly means outside of the mainstream)

Listening to Katherine describe the smaller studio’s use of its limited promotion budget to invest in social media outreach, how actors engaged fans/viewers in conversations about the film on Twitter & how everyone keeps these conversations afloat despite Striker taking a nosedive at the domestic box office checked off the usual fuzzy case study ingredients for social media conferences…What was especially interesting in her session was her mention of the download tracking, traffic screening, monitoring of commenting patterns, which will better inform international distribution of the Studio18 films (& likely films released by competitors, too) in the future.

Any thoughts on (booming voice) the future of podcasting?  It’s still highly unlikely that I’ll subscribe to any of the awesome content I was exposed to this weekend because I love my iPod for songs, not for chats…but I have no qualms about subscribing to an awesome frequently updated YouTube channel, programming it into FrontRow & checking it regularly…Which has led to recent musings about dabbling in serialized video content.  Do many of you subscribe to ‘indie’ YouTube channels?  Do you bother to upload the content to your iPod/iPhone? Desktop only? Very interested to hear back….

Like every year, a virtual tip of the hat is directed Waub’s way for starting the best annual tradition among our crew.  Extra thanks go out to everyone who contributed to those list emails or posted lists on their respective sites.

I have been agonizing/procrastinating for over a month.  Had a Top 20 list burning a hole in my draft folder & I think I have whittled it down properly…So in no particular order, I give you:

Zeus - Sounds Like Zeus EP - Tho last year’s promise of a full-length won’t materialize til February, this tiny perfect pop confection arrived just in time for Zeus’ pint-sized, yet triumphant, takeover of the Arts&Crafts NXNEshowcase.  Neil’s tune ‘Marching Through Your Head’ is my personal fav, but the Phil Collins cover of ‘That’s All’ is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

Joel Plaskett - Three - 3xs the usual amazing JP output but surprisingly (unlike almost every other concept album in the history of rock music after Sgt Pepper’s) strung together with a cohesive theme, both lyrically and melodically, featuring beautiful guest vocals and insane hooks.  This undertaking stands on par with Down at the Khyber

Gentleman Reg - Jet Black - He’s Reg.  He can do no (faux)albino wrong.

Cats On Fire - Our Temperance Movement - Frosty Finnish climate makes for toasty warm indoor fireworks.  I am entirely biased because they are Finnish. (Insert Kayne interruption joke *here*)

Sprengjuhöllin - Bestu Kveðjur - What can I say?  I love Scandinavian dudes.  These psych pop lads are what The Coral would sound like if they were fronted by Sondre Lerche - borderline saccharine-sweet, but genuinely heartfelt. Now that they’re penning English-language lyrics, they’ll hopefully have 2010 North American success to match their string of homeland #1s.

Do Make Say Think - Other Truths - This record makes me wish I was still in school so it could be my go-to-instrumental background writing s/t. If you have a chance to catch DMST/Happiness Project on tour - PROMISE ME you will attend.  Happiness Project is such a phenomenal experience live, I cried. (& I only cry for Rufus or when someone drops a delicious gooey cookie from Le Gourmand)

Bahamas - Pink Strat - This record is more of a ‘07-09 souvenir for the zillions of treks to the Magpie for Paso Mino or some other brilliant indie incarnation of Afie Jurvanen (here I go again with the Finns…).  I can promise with a clear-conscience that this record will make you smile - it’s perfect.

Dan Mangan - Nice, Nice, Very Nice - This is the only album that overlaps with the year-end list by almighty music guru Frank at Chromewaves.  So I’ve got that going for me…Although it’s ridiculously earnest/shockingly adorable, Dan’s gravely voice balances it out & it turns into this laddish singer-songwriter masterpiece.

PJ Harvey & John Parish - A Woman A Man Walked By - Pretty sure if I had to pick a #1 that this would be it…not necessarily due to its musical merits, but mainly because I’m a *little* stubborn.  I’ve been so disappointed that throughout the year, & especially now, this LP hasn’t gotten any love.  People take PJ for granted! I’m convinced if some new YouTubeing/Twittering waif in Portland put this haunting, sexy, gutsy, intense, raw, intelligent record out, you’d hear it in every pseudo bohemian cafe from here to Timbuktu.  But what the hell do I know?

Noah And The Whale - The First Days Of Spring - Every couple years you need a new ‘break glass in case of sad bastard emergency (heartbreak, boredom, general malaise, crap manager who accuses one of job hunting whilst on medical leave, etc)’ record.  This is your new one if you get sick of your old Belle & Sebastian LPs.

Honourable Mentions:
St. Vincent - Actor
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It’s Blitz!
Bruce Peninsula - A Mountain Is A Mouth
The Wooden Sky - If I don’t come home you’ll know I’m gone
Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP
Julie Fader - Outside In
M. Ward - Hold Time
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Robert Francis - Before Nightfall
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

A highlight of the autumn was Dan Mangan’s in-store at Criminal Records two weeks ago.  The Sure Things opened up for Dan at the Rivoli later than night, & their blowout CD Release party was last night at the Dakota - so get that CD already!

While my Sure Things bootlegs turned out regrettably furry (arg! & they played SO many great originals & hilarious covers…spoon solos…Dani’s cuteness…Martin’s slide guitar prowess…frak!) You *can* enjoy two Dan Mangan Mp3s recorded at the lovely intimate session in Paul’s shoppe with a packed rapt house…you could’ve heard a pin drop between his husky growls & breathy phrasing for ‘We’re not us’…trust me, download it, it’s just gorgeous… & you’ll have to settle for a fan’s giggle instead of a pin:

Mp3 - We’re not us - Dan Mangan

Mp3 - Indie Queens Are Waiting - Dan Mangan

& here’s the newest Mangan video for ‘Robots’:

Dunno if Fader approached SoCo or if this just came out of their existing advertiser/publisher arrangement, but IMHO this is a great campaign.  Fader said in July that an upcoming SoCo tour with Polyphonic Spree (meh) & The Hold Steady (yea) is happening along these all-cover-song-lines….

As anyone knows from most major music fests, absorbing some sponsorship/logo/branded stuff is a given to book decent acts & turn a profit.

Here’s a sample of the vids - Daredevil Christopher Wright in Madison, Wisconsin covering Megafaun’s Drains. & to all the pristine prissies who accuse musicians of selling out for doing stuff like this…don’t even get me started…

p.s. Canuck <3s’ll go aflutter for Born Ruffians‘ Luke Lalonde covering the Boss at the best mojito joint in TO, Souz Dal.

Now I’m the first to grab the popcorn when things get spicy on the political scene, and don’t get between me and my indierock drama…BUT when it comes to jumping down people’s throats in an online/professional context…I get a little…empathetic.  By the luck of astrologically-aligned-nerd-stars, my salty slangly casual language whilst pitching bloggers, writing content & generally floundering through life has not put in me in this position.  According to the law of averages, until I am drafted to the WNBA, I will soon play the role of the  ’social media practitioner’ or ‘community member’ receiving a thorough ego trouncing from the peanut gallery.  {In fact, if those web gremlins continue to highjack a lovely microsite/app-project we’re eager to seed/launch I might be in this position early next week :)}

We all make mistakes.  If we’re doing right by our clients, we aren’t just going through the same-old super-safe motions developing & executing campaigns.  Ask any stellar standup comedian.  Some jokes kill and some jokes bomb.  That’s life.

So on this turkey weekend eve, let’s be thankful that there are social media peeps still taking risks, let’s remember that when this happens with ad campaigns we think it’s unique & quirky & let’s consider the embarassment of riches we have in terms of attending awesome events.  Before you pile on to critique someone going out on a limb or trying something new or having an opinion…ask yourself if you really want to end up like these dudes:

*Massive full disclosure - A staffer at Social Media Group is my basketball bud & I have been known to enjoy cheap soft-serve ‘ice cream’ with Refresh Events‘ founder.

Oops Oh My (Tweet Cover)

Where Can I Go Without You?

H/T to dooflop01 for the video.

It’s been a long non-blogging stretch, which included live music (natch), a bday (piñata & nacho-enhanced), driver’s ed (2^nd time’s a charm, right?), domain registration lapse (ack!) & details emerging on what could be the wildest winter ever…

Thankfully, the key sanity check (outside of running/air-drum solo’ing) has been reading.  One of the best nerdy reads in a long while has been the Hatcher Group’s recent report ‘New Media & Social Change: How Nonprofits are Using Web-based Technologies to Reach their Goals.’ Despite the sins of unnecessary capitalization, this is a punchy report worth downloading regardless of whether you or your clients are in the nonprofit sector.

Why is the Hatcher report, which is filled with some good ‘how-tos’ & tip sheets, different than the usual freebie ebooks or ‘top ten’ digg/delicious-bait blog posts?  It’s the data peppered throughout the report, which was culled from a relatively recent survey (May 2009).  The survey asked 70 key questions to gauge 30 NGOs’ new media interest & experience.  Most telling were these statistics confirming NGOs’ attuned state regarding the online world:

• 53% ‘infrequently’ & 30% ‘frequently’ perform blogger outreach (& 57% spend at least 1-2 hours a week doing so)
• 73% frequently monitor blog references to their organization &/or issue
• 60% increased their fanbase, 40% increased web traffic & 20% increased media coverage thanks to Facebook

It’s valuable to stay on top of this sector’s digital communications habits because it’s planting social media seeds in the most fertile ground.  This fertility is thanks to two factors - the necessity of very cost-conscious tool-use & a youngish workforce with a seemingly limitless supply of passion for their cause.

About this time last year, I drafted an interview list for a winter interview circuit of New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles & San Francisco.  A large percentage of the almost 30 interviewees were working for social change either in-house at non-profits or at agencies dedicated to the nonprofit sector.  While almost all of the interviewees were at or near the cutting edge of online tool adoption & seamlessly integrating digital communications into their organization’s overall plan, the Hatcher Report is a valuable sample of an average NGOs’ habits.

To demonstrate the more realistic snapshot & less experimental respondents, check out this survey response about the aims of an organization’s blogger outreach:

• 91% of organizations hoped to reach media
• 83% wanted advocates, legislators &/or staff to take note
• 70% sought the general public’s engagement through this unique digital channel

Perceiving online communications & blogger outreach as primarily a ‘means to an end’ for mainstream media coverage is a somewhat disheartening response from almost all 30 groups the Hatcher Group surveyed.  While blogs can break or popularize stories before they are reported in newspapers or on television, the 91% wish to affect MSM left me worrying that blogger outreach wasn’t being executed with the best intentions, & as a consequence, without the most tactful approach.

Am I being completely paranoid?  It seems odd that there was a 20% gap between NGOs who considered the ‘general public’ as a separate entity worth speaking with via blogs vs. feeding messages to the masses in a backdoor fashion via blog authors.  Regardless of this concern, the report is a great short read & in addition to the data offers short & sweet reminders about best practices in conducting campaigns online.

This weekend was no different - nerdery included a docu-binge, interesting new client/sector reading, and indulging in a thorough leisurely read of the Pew Internet & American Life Project report on The Internet & Civic Engagement, which was released just last week.

If the impact of the internet on political participation is at all of interest, download the entire report - it’s less than 70 pgs (incl. big’ol’graphs!) - not a massive undertaking, I swear

A gem gleaned/interpreted from the report is that once someone becomes involved in politics online - not necessarily partisan - they are on a slippery slope to nerdsville.  Posting a blog comment is practically a gateway drug for full-on civic engagement - next thing you know they’re signing petitions, writing their local representatives, writing & posting material themselves…& even donating cash.  Who knows what they’re doing in the streets to get this money to pass on to organizations & campaigns.

• 19% of Americans online had posted material about political &/or social issues or used a social network for civic/political engagement
• This crew was disproportionately young, of course, & also don’t show as much of an old/rich/educated socio-econo slant compared to other engagement measures such as donations & volunteering.
• 61% of politically active online Americans signed petitions (vs. 32% of all adults)
• 50% of online politicos have contacted an official directly.  (Very cool to note that satisfaction rates for contacting political officials was equal online/offline)

The authors posit that social media could alter the vast majority political participants being well off/educated.  The catch is ensuring that newly recruited online politicos start affecting change IRL.  We all know how easy it is to comment on a Facebook/blog post, or ping off a petition - but ratcheting up the free-time donation to include face-to-face canvassing, volunteering & other vital parts of being a ‘real’ citizen are tougher to nail down.

Now this is usually the part of the blog post where I complain about not having similar report from a Canadian thinktank or pollster, but that’d be unfair.  In April’09 Elections Canada published a Working Paper on ‘Youth Electoral Engagement in Canada.’ Thankfully I CAN complain about the age of the data - most recent year in the report was 2006.  The authors have similar conclusions regarding age/income/education as being the three determining factors in political participation as Pew.  The highest engagement levels create this familiar demographic combo: Older religious married born-in-Canada men who earn more than $40K with post-secondary education in rural communities.  Of these factors, being born in Canada was the #1 influencer, with post-secondary education a close runner-up.

Although I whinge about the age of the Elections Canada data, (even Pew study authors admit that without cell-phone owners included in their survey they’re not getting a true glimpse of the younger cohort) there’s a great section on ‘Why is youth turnout so low?’ that has a fantastic summary of previous political science theories on declining engagement.  Citing Cart & Eagles, among many other political scientists, the authors state:

“…the way election campaigns are run may be partly responsible for the turnout decline…traditional door-to-door canvassing has a powerful impact on turnout…evidence that direct candidate contact with voters has been decreasing over time, as parties have devoted more attention to the media…may have contributed to lower turnout, although it is not clear why this should have affected the youth more than older people.”

I couldn’t agree more.  Although online content is a great source for spreading information/sparking discussion/priming donations about politics & social issues, until the user becomes engaged with an issue to the point of ponying up volunteer-time - online engagement is a series of soon-forgotten empty gestures (green avatars, anyone?).

This ends tonight’s nerdcast - I’ll be online less this week because of an especially short work week for less than awesome reasons.  Heartfelt thanks to everyone who’s helped thus far (whether you know it or not ).  Equal gratitude goes out to a flexible employer & helpful IT crew who’re eager to lend wireless routers, webcams & laptops during a time of coccooning.