The Original Sims

An all too fleeting visit to “Unconvention Belfast” and http://twitter.com/unconvention yesterday.  Was hoping to stay longer, but a minor domestic crisis drew me home earlier than I would have liked.  The main reason I was there was to do a workshop on Podcasting.  I was unexpectedly (and gratefully) joined by Stephen O’Regan of balconytv.com.  Stephen does things differently from me – first balconytv is video and I don’t really do video, the second is that he uses a different podcasting system. So he was able to bring a different perspective.  But thankfully we agreed tended to agree especially taking a professional attitude to the production of podcasts.

Unconvention (read all about it) is a truly excellent event which runs on adrenaline and volunteerism.  It is a real public service which endeavours to bring professionalism to the music industry of Northern Ireland.

It is time for the rest of Northern Ireland’s business community and media to realise that individuals and small businesses that support and arrange events like Unconvention are as much part of the economic revival of our city and all of Northern Ireland as is any other industry.  The music, entertainment, creative industry have an enormous economic benefit which can been seen on the Profit and Loss account.  But it has a more subtle impact on our ecomony by raising expectations and morale.  And as any business person will tell you morale has a direct impact on the bottom line.

So where were you BBC, UTV, Belfast Telegraph and others?  Yes our desperate "traditional" media – desperate for stories and for younger audiences. You are required by your audiences (and in some cases by Charter and law) to provide a fair and balanced coverage including Economy.  This is not a “good news story” with everybody smiling and saying “Awww, shucks.” at the end.  This is a real business story even if it is by its own title and admission “Unconventional.” This is not kids messing about in front of the mirror playing tennis rackets; this is business. 

Next time send someone.  No, send two – one to cover the entertainment and send your Business Cor.  also.

So, it’s not complete stop in Stormont.  According to yesterday’s Media Guardian,

The leaders of all the main political parties in Northern Ireland have signed a joint petition urging Belfast-based media group UTV to halt proposed jobs cuts.

First minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson, deputy first minister Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and Ulster Unionist party leader, Sir Reg Empey, are among six signatories to the petition urging UTV not to go ahead with the cuts.

The broadcasting union BECTU announced on their website a few days ago that

The campaign to save UTV’s local programmes will go to the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont on 20 November 2008.

BECTU and the NUJ will make a presentation to the Assembly’s Culture Arts and Leisure Committee about Ofcom’s PSB Review and its impact on Northern Ireland.

The Slugger O’Toole Awards event was held in Belfast’s W5 centre on 7 October 2008.

Download Podcast Here

This is the first glittering and glamorous Slugger Awards and almost all of the politicos, digicenti, blogerati of any note and general hangers-on are gathered for what would have been a Red Carpet Reception. But Red, like Blue, like Green, Orange and even Yellow have political connotations, so the carpet was ignored and we all just had a night on the tiles.

Slugger O’Toole has been following Northern Ireland politics for about six years. It is the oldest political blog in and about Northern Ireland. If it is not the most read, it is certainly among the top titles. And it is read widely. Slugger O’Toole is a place where the Blogosphere and Main Stream Media meet. The web site is read by Journalists, Political Professionals and bloggers alike.

Founder Mick Fealty is no journalist in the traditional sense, but is probably more of a journalist that many news reporters. If it is a journalists role not just to report events, but to seek context and wide comment on events Mick fits that role. There were awards for External Representives (MPs, MEPs and others), Journalism, Local Council of the Year, Local Councillor of the Year, Local Newspaper of the Year, MLA of the Year, Participation and Involvement, Political Blogger, Stormont Committee Chair of the Year, Up-and-coming Politician of the Year and Jobsworth of the Year.

Get more information at the Slugger Awards site.

Other sites mentioned on the podcast include the winner of the Political Blog NALIL, Alan In Belfast and WIMPS (Where Is My Public Servant).

Download and listen to the Podcast or subscribe to the DC podcasts.

Last time I sat behind a microphone and flew a live radio programme was around 20 years ago.  But with the help and support of Maurice Jay, Ivan Martin and John Rosborough, I found myself in a self-op studio broadcasting to greater Belfast.

There was a wild surge of adrenalin during the first 15 minutes on the first night, but things balanced out over the four nights.  The big challenge for me is that I’ve got into the habit of "early to bed early to rise". So I was getting to sleep much later than usual, so there was something of a Jet Lag feeling by the third night.

So thanks to all - it was fun.

No promises; this will my first live programme in several years and it’s a strange studio, but I’m thinking about Live Blogging tonight when I’m presenter on Belfast radio station U105.  Maurice Jay has been doing the induction, showing me how to work the desk and the Selector.  I’ve been sitting in with Ivan Martin and John Rosborough.  The running order for tonight is done - and trashed.  Do it again before going on air.

So - I’ll attempt to Blog here - or Twitter here - or Flickr from here.

So if join me from 9.00 pm on 105.8FM, or http://www2.u105.com/ (you’ll be asked for a UK Post Code.  (If you don’t have on try BT7 1EB.)

And email me - studio@u105.com from 9.00pm

EB

I’ve written a couple of times about the Re-branding Belfast exercise.  It’s a most pleasant affair. People from Belfast City Council work really hard at developing the new Belfast Brand then a group of us (apparently I’m an “opinion leader” these days) get together, eat excellent food and give our opinion on the branding/ logo etc.

This morning we agreed on the new proposed logo for Belfast.  Once – and let’s face it not so long ago - the Belfast Brand was destruction, terrorism, vandalism and violence.  The new slightly cuddly and “edgy” heart on the side shaped “b” is very different and does need some getting used to.  However as one person on my table pointed out, this is the only time you see the logo in isolation; the logo is part of the total branding.

So the slogan isn’t quite "b there or b square" but it’s a big improvement on anything in the past and an improvement on the past.

Other things Belfast has lent its name to:

The Sink
 
The Airplane

The Ship