The Original Sims

Story Finders and Audience

Sometimes you just need to slap people on the back and let them know they’ve done a great job.  When BBC NI set up the Story Finders project I had one simple idea.  It was to get one or two people trained up to help provide stories for community websites like YPAM - part of the group of sites for which I was Editor.  With support from BBC (NI and Nations and Regions), Department of Finance and Personnel, BT and NICVA there were enough funds to set up six Story Finders’ centres around Northern Ireland.

BBC NI Controller Peter Johnston, PFP Director Bill McCluggage and Basil Davidson’s back

Each of the groups were given kit (PC or laptop, digital stills and video cameras, audio recorder) and training to help them explore the stories - often oral history - of their locality.  Evelyn Ellison is the co-ordinator and mre recently Cathy Moorehead has been assisting.

Cathy Moorehead trying to get the damn thing to work

So on Thursday 19th people from five of the centres came together to show and tell.  it was my last formal event before leaving the BBC.  I’m very proud of the work they have all done and grateful for their enthusiasm.

My newest Online name (or handle if you are deep into 70’s CB) is Qikker80388. Not as quaint as some in the online nomenclature, but now I’ve joined qik.com (pronounced “quick”) and I can’t work out how to give myself a name more human, I’ll stick with Qikker80388 in the meantime. 

So what’s it all about?  Earlier today I was standing on the shore in Holywood streaming live on the internet a panorama of Belfast Lough from my Nokia.  OK the picture quality wasn’t that good and the slight breeze sounds like a storm.  but let’s not start with the “quality” issue until we get over the technical miracle.  That’s try than sentence again “Earlier today I was standing on the shore in Holywood streaming live on the internet a panorama of Belfast Lough from my Nokia.” http://qik.com/video/105304

Only a few years ago I needed thousands of pounds of kit fast connections and expensive cameras to do much the same. Qik might be miniature quick and dirty, but if the recent history of social media technology is anything to go by, not only are we all going to be broadcasters, we’re all going to have our Outside Broadcast Units, too.

Starting today, I’m doing some voluntary work for the Digital Content Industries Group in Northern Ireland.  The Facilitator’s job has been advertised and until we make an appointment, I’m doing some of the donkey work which is great.  Shortly we will be re-named Digital Circle and launch the web site.  It’s more a manifesto published online rather than a full interactive web site.  But once we get going properly, I can see fantastic potential.

The best thing about it being voluntary is that when the sun comes out, I can escape to the garden in good conscience!

It’s all getting a bit real, now.  Exciting, but real.  One final meeting at 16.30, drinks at 17.00 then Elvis will leave the building.  Everyone asks me what I have planned.  Nothing is planned - apart from two months long service leave and regardless of the weather, lots of walking along the beach.

Then time to make plans.