Promoting America's Urban Frontier
November 11 Neighborhood Blogging event
We had the idea at the PCPGH3 Rust Belt Bloggers session to encourage everyone to blog about their neighborhood on a single day, and we chose November 11, 2008 as that day.
On another thread, someone asked how we'll promote this concept. This thread is a focused home for that discussion.
Some things we should do:
0. Come up with a short, clear name for this. Is "Neighborhood Walk" a good name? (I like it, but I'd like to hear opinions and alternatives if anyone feels creative.) At the same time, choose a short tag to label media/posts on this.
1. Create a logo or graphic to represent the neighborhood view concept -- maybe something that includes a footprint or vision theme, and using whatever name we choose in step 0.
2. Create a boilerplate announcement that explains the concept, gives the date, and links back to this Ning site for more details (we can draft the boilerplate in this discussion thread, then create a page or event that will be the linkable hub).
3. Each of us post an announcement on our sites, including the boilerplate and adding our own plans for that day plus why it's important, etc.
4. Create a press release, again working from the boilerplate, and encourage everyone to send out to media outlets with your contact info for followup details. (Need a volunteer to draft press release.)
5. Follow through and do the walk/tour/post on 11/11, tagging media and send a message with link to someone to gather.
6. Monitor all posts and media that use the tag, and provide some central place or page to make them easy to find/tour. If someone could write up a summary afterwards (like we do for Mixology Monday), that would be ideal.
Those are the basics. What other promotion ideas do we have? Who can volunteer for any of the above?
On another thread, someone asked how we'll promote this concept. This thread is a focused home for that discussion.
Some things we should do:
0. Come up with a short, clear name for this. Is "Neighborhood Walk" a good name? (I like it, but I'd like to hear opinions and alternatives if anyone feels creative.) At the same time, choose a short tag to label media/posts on this.
1. Create a logo or graphic to represent the neighborhood view concept -- maybe something that includes a footprint or vision theme, and using whatever name we choose in step 0.
2. Create a boilerplate announcement that explains the concept, gives the date, and links back to this Ning site for more details (we can draft the boilerplate in this discussion thread, then create a page or event that will be the linkable hub).
3. Each of us post an announcement on our sites, including the boilerplate and adding our own plans for that day plus why it's important, etc.
4. Create a press release, again working from the boilerplate, and encourage everyone to send out to media outlets with your contact info for followup details. (Need a volunteer to draft press release.)
5. Follow through and do the walk/tour/post on 11/11, tagging media and send a message with link to someone to gather.
6. Monitor all posts and media that use the tag, and provide some central place or page to make them easy to find/tour. If someone could write up a summary afterwards (like we do for Mixology Monday), that would be ideal.
Those are the basics. What other promotion ideas do we have? Who can volunteer for any of the above?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mark Rauterkus on -
Johnsmith wrote and said, in part:
Thanks for the note and for using my song, way cool.
I just dont have the time to do a neighborhood thing now. Leaving wed for N CA for two weeks. Just home from Guatemala.
Crazy
All the best with the project.
Thanks again
John
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Permalink Reply by Cynthia Closkey on
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Here's my take on the press release (also attached as a Word document Neighborhood-Walk-Press-release.doc):
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Cynthia Closkey
724-602-2332
Cynthia@mybrilliantmistakes.com
BLOGGERS TAKE THE WORLD ON VIRTUAL TOURS OF REAL-LIFE NEIGHBORHOODS
They’re using cutting-edge technology to revitalize Rust Belt cities
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 30, 2008 – The problems of post-industrial cities seem so complex, intertwined, and entrenched, it's hard to imagine how to start restoring these places to their former glory.
But a group of bloggers says that getting started can be as simple as taking a walk.
The Neighborhood Walk is a chance for individuals throughout the Rust Belt to recognize the place they live, work, or call home -- and to introduce it to the world. The project is the inspiration of a social network called Rust Belt Bloggers.
On November 11, 2008 (11/11/2008), bloggers, podcasters, vloggers, photobloggers and others throughout the Rust Belt region will each take a walk around their neighborhood, make media about it -- a blog post, photo gallery, video, or whatever you prefer -- and post it on the web.
These individual perspectives and accounts of life at the street level will show both strengths and weaknesses of these neighborhoods: new businesses taking root, old factories and shops closed and abandoned. By raising awareness this way, the people involved hope to build interest in simple revitalization efforts.
How can someone get involved? Take a walk around your block and photograph what you see. Sit outside and write about the people who pass and the world around you. Turn on your video camera and give a guided tour of your neighborhood.
Post your media anywhere -- your blog, Facebook, MySpace, anywhere. Tag it as "neighborhoodwalk" so everyone can seek out what everyone else has posted. Then do a search and see everyone else's neighborhood.
This is the first project of its kind dedicated to documenting and raising awareness of life, work, and culture in the Rust Belt of the northern United States. More than 20 bloggers throughout the region have already committed to the project, with more joining each day.
About Rust Belt Bloggers
Rust Belt Bloggers is a group that uses social media to discover and build upon opportunities available in the Rust Belt cities -- post-industrial cities in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Michigan, and New York. For more information, visit www.rustbelt.ning.com.
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Permalink Reply by Tea Pittsburgh on -
Sounds great. Ask Jim about the rust belt extending into Canada.
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Excellent point -- thanks for catching that about Canada. We need to show some love for our friends to the north. I'll modify and repost.
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(Updated to include Canada)
(Download as a Word doc Neighborhood-Walk-Press-release.doc)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Cynthia Closkey
724-602-2332
cynthia@mybrilliantmistakes.com
BLOGGERS TAKE THE WORLD ON VIRTUAL TOURS OF REAL-LIFE NEIGHBORHOODS
They’re using cutting-edge technology to revitalize Rust Belt cities
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 30, 2008 – The problems of post-industrial cities seem so complex, intertwined, and entrenched, it's hard to imagine how to start restoring these places to their former glory.
But a group of bloggers says that getting started can be as simple as taking a walk.
The Neighborhood Walk is a chance for individuals throughout the Rust Belt of the U.S. and Canada to recognize the place they live, work, or call home -- and to introduce it to the world. The project is the inspiration of a social network called Rust Belt Bloggers.
On November 11, 2008 (11/11/2008), bloggers, podcasters, vloggers, photobloggers and others throughout the Rust Belt region will each take a walk around their neighborhood, make media about it -- a blog post, photo gallery, video, or whatever you prefer -- and post it on the web.
These individual perspectives and accounts of life at the street level will show both strengths and weaknesses of these neighborhoods: new businesses taking root, old factories and shops closed and abandoned. By raising awareness this way, the people involved hope to build interest in simple revitalization efforts.
How can someone get involved? Take a walk around your block and photograph what you see. Sit outside and write about the people who pass and the world around you. Turn on your video camera and give a guided tour of your neighborhood.
Post your media anywhere -- your blog, Facebook, MySpace, anywhere. Tag it as "neighborhoodwalk" so everyone can seek out what everyone else has posted. Then do a search and see everyone else's neighborhood.
This is the first project of its kind dedicated to documenting and raising awareness of life, work, and culture in the Rust Belt of the United States and Canada. More than 20 bloggers throughout the region have already committed to the project, with more joining each day.
About Rust Belt Bloggers
Rust Belt Bloggers is a group that uses social media to discover and build upon opportunities available in the Rust Belt cities -- post-industrial cities in the northern states of the U.S. and southern provinces of Canada. For more information, visit www.rustbelt.ning.com.
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Permalink Reply by Justin Kownacki on
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Sounds good. Other thoughts:
* How can people opt-in to receive info about the project?
* Is this its own site ( http://1111project.com ) or is it a subsidiary of RBB?
* (Either way, is there a mailing list or group Twitter for such alerts?)
My two cents on the name: cheesy though it may be, 11/11 Project is both Google-able AND open-ended for future growth. "Neighborhood Walk" makes sense, but doesn't seem to have a lot of stand-alone branding heft -- maybe better as a descriptive subtitle?
The 11/11 Project: Look around...
The 11/11 Project: A Snapshot of a City [or "of Your City"...]
The 11/11 Project: Each One, Together...
etc etc etc
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Permalink Reply by Mike Munz on -
I agree with the cheesy name. I keep visualizing a steel cauldron, dumping liquid steel into a cast to form a beam. That lends itself to how we were forged and where we are going (robotic demand material as well as new development). The pouring of liquid steel can also signify the mixing of materials to yield One solid unit (pittsburgh) kind of a mixing of ethnic groups and religious sects and general diversity that makes up pittsburgh (polish hill, little italy, squirrel hill)
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Permalink Reply by Mark Rauterkus on
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Since 20 or so have input into the form (http://tinyurl.com/59r6rb) with their URL and intention to play -- it is fair to say in the pending press release:
+ More than 20 bloggers throughout the region have already committed to the project.
or
+ Dozens of blog sites are expected to participate, and there is plenty of room to double or triple the projects scope.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Munz on
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You can use a blog for google maps and you should optimize the videos
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Permalink Reply by Tea Pittsburgh on
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Something like this, except the W's would be B's for Blogs, and the video's would look like the pictures but somehow you could tell they were video's. Maybe the videos could be pictures with a V? How do we let people add to the map?
http://googlegeodevelopers.blogspot.com/2008/10/2-lines-of-code-mak...
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Permalink Reply by Tea Pittsburgh on
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quick third draft
(Please feel free to copy all of this and repost any edits you would like to make.)
(Are the contacts in the last line correct, Cynthia Closkey or Jim Russell?)
(Will the videos be uploaded here or to a site MIke Munz makes?)
(Could we tag everything with 1111 or 11/11?)
*How can people opt-in to receive info about the project?
Visit the Rustbelt Blogger site: http://rustbelt.ning.com. To participate in the creation of this event, request and obtain a gratis user account at Rustbelt Bloggers. Then read and assist with the 11/11 project that is posted and being developed there and among various sites throughout the region. For interviews, contact Cynthia Closkey or Jim Russell.
* Is this its own site ( http://1111project.com ) or is it a subsidiary of RBB?
There are a lot of 1111 sites; I don't think any are related to us.
* (Either way, is there a mailing list or group Twitter for such alerts?)
Not that I know of.
====================================================================================
For Immediate Release
Who: Rust Belt Bloggers www.rustbelt.ning.com
What: A neighborhood blog or video from everyone's home area.
Where: Anywhere in the rustbelt. Other areas are also welcome.
When: 11/11/2008 at 11:11AM.
Why: To create an image of the rust belt by spreading the word about the 11/11 event.
Title: The 11/11 Project: Every One, Together...
At a Pod Camp (http://podcamp.pbwiki.com/) session at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh called ("Rust Belt Bloggers and the Economy with Jim Russell") it was decided seeing the rust belt would be a good idea. Seeing the rust belt by having everyone video tape a walk around where they live. The videos/blogs would be collected at www.rustbelt.ning.com for everyone else to view. Zip codes would be used to sort the videos. A text blog can be used as well. Create your video/blog on 11/11 around 11:11AM and upload it anytime afterwards at www.rustbelt.ning.com.
More than 20 bloggers throughout the region have already committed to the project. Dozens of blog sites are expected to participate, and there is plenty of room to double or triple the projects scope.
You may ask yourself, what is the rust belt. Well, we are asking the same question. It's something like a 500 mile area around Cleveland and Pittsburgh and Wheeling. It does include parts of Canada. If you live near closed or closing steel mills or auto plants you are probably in the rust belt.
For further information, visit the Rustbelt Blogger site: http://rustbelt.ning.com. To participate in the creation of this event, request and obtain a gratis user account at Rustbelt Bloggers. Then read and assist with the 11/11 project that is posted and being developed there and among various sites throughout the region. For interviews, contact Cynthia Closkey or Jim Russell.
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Permalink Reply by Tea Pittsburgh on
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For a logo a number eleven would be a good start. It would look like an electric outlet, a connection. Two ones makeing something greater than a sum of the parts. 11 is greater than two. I don't have a graphic editor so the rectangles would have the points (lower left x,y):(upper right x,y)
(0,0):(6,4) the outside rectangle,
and
(1,1):(2,3) the first one,
and
(4,1):(5,3) the second one.
It's very simple. 11 in binary is 3, in decimal its 11, if your base is the people in the rustbelt it is everyone in the rustbelt plus one. That one could be Jim.
If you just think about it as the connection between two people, or a person and a group, or a person and the rust belt...
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