Arjun Singh...

Better Citizen Radio launches at C2D2 Conference

Proud to be launching a new podcast all about how we can all be better citizens. Will be at the Canadian Community for Dialogue and Deliberation conference in Toronto starting today through Sunday. Say hi - would love to meet you here. www.c2d2.ca

Initial 2009 Blogworld and New Media Expo Thoughts...

Just arrived home from the 2009 Blogworld and New Media Expo in Las Vegas, and wanted to jot down some initial thoughts on the experience.

• So Diverse: I considered myself pretty plugged into what is going on in the blogosphere, but blogworld made me realize how impossible it is to be plugged in anymore. Everywhere I looked, there was someone else I had never heard of doing very well with their blog, podcast, or other social media activities. The world of social media is starting to mirror the diversity of the real world, and that is a good thing.

• Great learning: I attended a lot of different sessions at blogworld, and picked up some great tips. I also learnt from the different presentation styles. 

• Great, great people: This deserves a separate post. At blogworld, I met some amazingly interesting, friendly, and good people. People who inspired me to keep working at my own social media activities. I sometimes feel there is a bit of a "class hierarchy" in the social media world, but I was just gobsmacked by how friendly people were and how easy it was to get into a stellar conversation

• Very responsive organizers: On twitter, I was really impressed to see how responsive blogworld organizer Rick Calvert and his co-organizers were to people's questions and concerns. This gave me a lot of confidence pre conference in my decision to attend.

• More information please: one suggestion I have for next year is to provide more information to attendees pre conference. I was not sure where to register the first day, I was not sure what of the details of some sessions that seemed interesting but had not explanation on the conference web site.  A complete list of networking events was also not posted on the web site.

• More diverse networking opportunities: I also would like to suggest that blogworld offer social events outside of those that cater to the drinking and dancing crowd. I like the idea of going to nightclubs, but almost never go in my middle age. Offer social events that mirror the diversity of the attendees.

• I gotta stop making stupid assumptions: I was somewhat apprehensive about saying hello to some of the social media celebrities at the conference, or even to people who looked like they were in the young drinking and dancing set. I just assumed I was too "uncool" or something like that. I had a few experiences my first night I guess that put me in this mode. I didn't even realize I was limiting myself in this unusual way until 5am at Las Vegas Airport, the day after the conference. As I was sitting on the airport monorail taking me to my gate, a youngish attendee I recognized struck up a conversation. He was just so friendly. And I had another amazing, rich conversation. I really got to remember to take each person as an individual, and not stereotype.

Hey folks, #beatcancer world record attempt

We, attendees of the 2009 blogworld conference, are trying to set a world record: the most social media content posted online in three days.

In support of cancer research, use the tag #beatcancer in all your posts, tweets, facebook msgs, videos etc.

Hello Blogworld and New Media Expo Friends!

Here is a bit more info on me...

And here is my tentative schedule:

thurs

8:30am: keynote address -232
9:45am: kick cancer's ass - 219
11am - social media success stories - 233
12:15pm - scott monty over lunch - 222
1:30pm - internet marketing for smart people - 221
2:45pm - keynote - 233
4pm - facebook & twitter: 221
5:15pm -Keynote
8pm - Falls Mall - Fat Tuesdays
10pm - photowalk outside Bellagio

fri
7am - podcast breakie - peppermill
845am - keynotes
1030am - exhibit hall
11:30am - Money out of your blog - rm 233
12:45 - creating great visuals for your content - 230
3:00 pm - sustainable online community
4:00pm - Audio workflow rm 220
5:15pm - keynote
7:30pm - Opening night party - Jet@mirage
10pm - citizen journo meetup

Sat
9:30 - keynote
1030 - exhibit hall
1130 - measuring online influence: 219
12:45pm - video production tips - 229
1:15pm - 3pm - exhibit reception and ask the experts
3pm - blogging super panel: live feedback
4:15 - 60k through membership - rm 233
5:30pm - closing keynote


KA - 7pm
9pm - MGM Grand Tweet-Up
11pm - techkaroake / shenanigans