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February 8, 2004
Conference Blogging
Posted by Ross Mayfield
Blogged lots of conferences lately. Of course, part of it is my
business. I have observed a couple of different modes of conference blogging:
- Dedicated Transcription -- word for word. Usually conference bloggers will cede this mode by the second session to someone who does it really well, who then feels obligated to keep it up. Perhaps the most helpful for readers. For some bloggers this helps them absorb what is being said. Archetype: Heath Row (example)
- Impressionistic Transcription -- paraphrase with flair. Usually makes the speakers sound better than they are. Adds a little context that makes particular sense if you have been following related memes in blogspace. Great for the writer because the informality excuses waning attention and need to quote accurately. Archetype: Cory Doctorow (example)
- Running Commentary -- paraphrase with opinion. While blogging in real time, interspersing the opinions or views of the blogger. Perhaps the most value added activity of one person. Takes real skill to capture the essence of a session and add your own. Archetypes: Mitch Ratcliffe or Doc (example)
- Poignant Reflection -- pure commentary. How most people blog conferences. Listen, reflect and post. What drives the post is usually a key quote or a contrary opinion. Archetype: Jerry Michalski (example)
- Coverage -- producing a report. This isn't really conference blogging, but there are pros that cover events as journalists. Now they have lots of competition, but are also sourcing blogs to help their production. Archetype: Shel Israel (example not available because you have to pay for it)
- Backchannel -- chat without content. Of course, you an always not blog, but what you say may end up in someone else's blog. Archetype: #joiito
- Remote Participation -- fact check and amplify. Particularly with webcast or Chiki conferences, remote participants add greater context and commentary. In-room participants watch these remote posts and sometimes bring activity at the edge back into sessions. Archetype: Kevin Marks (example)
- Refactor Me -- group voice. When the conference is augmented by an Eventspace or wiki. For each session, people take different notes in different forms as blog posts. Within a wiki, the group then refactors into a single session page. Opens contribution up to non-bloggers and shy domain experts who would rather intersperse important facts with relative anonymity. The result is an amalgamation of the above modes. Also leads to the creation of more diverse content, conversation and networking. Archetype: everyone (example)
The above are obviously generalizations, interested if others have observed different modes. I often drift from mode to mode in different conferences. Usually I start with Impressionistic Transcription to get my juices flowing and communicate as much as possible for remote participants. But as the conference progresses and key themes emerge, I'll shift into Running Commentary and Poignant (hopefully) Reflection.
My 7th grade biology teacher suggested an approach to note taking. Its the first year where most kids take notes, or are told to without teaching them how. Most kids went straight to transcription, but that obviously can impede learning for most. His suggestion was to write down the things you DON'T know.
Having an audience for your notes, something bloggers are accustomed to, means you have the burden of what others don't know. As conference blogging picks up, this will be less of a problem.
Comments (6)
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1. Gary Turner on February 8, 2004 1:35 PM writes...
Another couple of faux categories, "Conference blogging blogging" and "Conference blogging blogging blogging".
e.g. http://weblog.garyturner.net/archives/000564.html
Permalink to Comment2. Stowe Boyd on February 8, 2004 4:04 PM writes...
I have found that I am useless to others as a conference blogger, since I only write down what surprises me... which lamentably turns out to be not very much.
Permalink to Comment3. AJ Kim on February 8, 2004 4:17 PM writes...
Re note-taking: my husband is a skilled, fluid graphic designer, and his notes are essentially a stream of labelled pictures. It's an inspiring and memorable style of note-taking -- but hard to do with a laptop :-(
I do think a mix of pictures and text is ideal. Moblogging, anyone?
Permalink to Comment4. John Wilbanks on February 9, 2004 4:10 PM writes...
Just to make sure he gets some credit, Ben Edelman (Berkman Center for Internet & Society) designed a remote participation system with a semi-blogging function back in 1998 for use at ICANN meetings. He called it "scribing" and the scribe notes got refreshed every 10 minutes or so, in conjunction with webcast audio, video, and chat.
Permalink to Comment5. John David Locking on February 27, 2004 10:33 AM writes...
Calling all Bloggers working under San Diego residence Holly McClure - hollymcclure@aol.com's blogging superbrass and Listowel Ontario Canada resident Jean Elizabeth Locking's blogging superbrass subsidiuary with Holly McClure's blogging brass as here are san diegian's assistants on brass terminals are:
audiocubes@hotmail.com, andy@andymcclure.com, angstromengineering@hotmail.com, viewsonic@hotmail.com, PlanetKrypton@aol.com, mcclure@hotmail.com, hollymcclure@aol.com, forbes@hotmail.com, kinetico@hotmail.com, jessicamcclure@hotmail.com, johnlocking6666@hotmail.com, lorrie@hotmail.com,
domaininfo@netincome.com, sharonstone@aol.com,
amazon@hotmail.com, sony@hotmail.com,
dreamlg@hotmail.com, icebox@hotmail.tv,
lavazza@hotmail.it, mcclurefarms@hotmail.com,
hmcclure@charitableinc.com, hmcclure@creativegiving.com, crosswalk@hotmail.com, grundigradio@hotmail.com,
holly.ibelieve@hotmail.com, xmradio@hotmail.com,
angelamcclure@aol.com, billmcclure@hotmail.com,
dmcclure@usiia.org, garymcclure@hotmail.com,
georgemcclure@hotmail.com,
georgemcclure@hotmail.net,
love@georgemcclure.net, markmcclure@hotmail.com,
mattmcclure@hotmail.com, melissamcclure@hotmail.com, nancymcclure@hotmail.com, pamelamcclure@aol.com,
patriciamcclure@hotmail.com, samclure@home.com,
samuelmcclure@hotmail.com,
samuelmcclure@hotmail.net, hitachi@hotmail.us,
angelastone@aol.com, angelastone@hotmail.com,
drewbarrymore@aol.com, drewbarrymore@hotmail.com, hollyoak@aol.com, hollyoaks@aol.com,
info@rhondamcclure.com, jacivelasques@aol.com,
jacivelasques@hotmail.com, jacivelasquez@aol.com, jacivelasquez@hotmail.com, jmcclure@hawaii.rr.com,
mac@macmcclure.com, mcclureatty@aol.com,
mcclureflorist@hotmail.com,
morganstanley@hotmail.com, sharonstone@hotmail.com , timmcclure@hotmail.com,
atsautomation@hotmail.com, gitaylor@hotmail.com,
jeanlocking2@hotmail.com, keepahead@hotmail.com.uk , mcclureassociates@hotmail.com, photonics@hotmail.com, rahradiology@hotmail.com,
rjlocking@hotmail.com, sandiegozoo@hotmail.com,
torah@hotmail.org, mac@macmacmcclure.com,
elizabethmcclure@hotmail.tv, sprint@hotmail.com,
treo600@hotmail.com, mcclureco@hotmail.com
thanks, ttyl...bye...PS: wondering if Holly McClur
Permalink to Commente are allow to go fundraisingabc shopping too on e
xhibition day for purchasing Jean Elizabeth Locking's new home supercomputer and mainframe eServer to slip thru the Jean Elizabeth Locking's narrow two wall hallway stairway entrance eh?
???
6. John David Locking on February 27, 2004 10:41 AM writes...
Holly McClure, so for the record wouldn't mind those positivetalkradio.com/mcclure studio subsidiuary as shopping for Johnny's sister's home supercomputer thereafter eh, thanks, ttyl... bye...
Permalink to Comment