The Original Sims

A note from Stuart Bailie who writes on the Radio Ulster blog-

"I’ve been shortlisted for the Best Music Blog category in the Irish Blog Awards March 1.

http://awards.ie/blogawards/

Which is nice. "

Good man, Stuart.

A call from the Irish Digital Media Awards a month or so back; bbc.co.uk/northernireland  had not been nominated for an award. I decided there was not a lot of point going to the awards ceremony which is generally a pretty good night out.  Was also told that Will and Testament was not nominated for Best Blog.

But in the event held in Dublin last week, our site bbc.co.uk/northernireland was "Commended for the Outstanding Entry".  We were beaten by a web site about Energy Efficiency in Ireland http://www.powerofone.ie/. 

Will and Testament also received a "Commendation for Outstanding Entry".  The winner was deservedly The Waiting Game.

We had only the two entries this year and over the last four years have won two Irish Digital Media Awards (including my own Hall of Fame Award) and have been short listed every year
Naturally (and properly) best wishes go to the winners.

Now waiting to hear about The Webbies and  BAFTA Interactive for the NW200 site.  Breath is being held.

New Media Bytes

Many want examples of how to get comments on blogs and create communities on blogs. The blogs listed here have done a good job doing that, for the most part.

From Pointer Online: Posted, Nov. 9, 2007

Last week, The Plain Dealer suspended its political blog, Wide Open, after learning that two of its contributors had donated money to political campaigns. The blog — which was the idea of Jean Dubail, assistant managing editor/online — will likely be re-introduced in a few weeks with new bloggers, under the agreement that they can support campaigns but not get paid, Goldberg said.

Susan Goldberg“Our mistake in looking at this in hindsight was in paying people. Just like when we hire a freelancer to review a play, we would never hire somebody who was an investor in the theater production," Goldberg said during a phone interview. "We can’t have people on our payroll who won’t play by our rules.”

It’s good to be invited to blog somewhere where thereare actual readers.  William Crawley has invited me to blog here for the next few days:

Old friend Owem McFadden spoke to me this morning about a radio programme he is producing about Blogging.  William Crawley is presenting it, and mentions it in his own blog.  I’ve suggested some Northern Ireland Bloggers who he might like to hook up with.  Any suggestions?

The Bivings Report list their top You Tube videos of the year.  Coming out on top is this from the Daily Show: .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTrIQ-pvPjM

MediaGuardian.co.uk

As companies around the world wake up to the potential reputation damage that can be inflicted by blogs, marketing services group Creston is hoping to sign them up to a brand management product.

Creston, which owns advertising agency DLKW, today unveiled details of what it claims is a unique product that scans blogs and gives companies a strategy on how to protect their brand.

Undated (pre-August 2006) Daou Report on Politics and Blogging and move to Hillary Clinton’s support team.

http://joannatidball.com/blog/2006/11/03/a-round-up-of-blogging-tips/