Will Knott

Its been a while since I’ve been here.

And how many things have changed.

This is a personal blog, just saying. That means, to me, that I blog because I feel like blogging. But when life offers you options that make blogging hard to do, it makes blogging hard to do. Simply put, I’m not too sure what to put here.

Anything that stops the merry-go-round of a need to write will stop it. Part of this is of course that I write on Culch.ie and I’m doing some work for WRF2.com. And part of it is that this particular itch hasn’t needed scratching.

I haven’t even been photo-blogging (most of the photos  taken over the last few months were either for relations (and not to be disseminated beyond cousins) or for friends to put on Facebook (usually under their accounts).

But the itch is returning. There will be cross postings (of course) , but expect to see this blog rise up.

Part of it is, its Summer. I feel a little bit better. My life is still in a state where I don’t want to write about it, but I’m looking around more. Feel like writing more. Getting my fngers to write for me anyway.

There will be shuffling. But I think this blog is going around once more.

My last post has generated a lot of comments, and mails.

Some have asked why I did the transcript.

Sometimes, when I do a search there is a video clip. A stale non-functioning video clip. it may be the nature of the internet, but things change.

Sites, links, images and embedded objects move about like stones on a beach. They will stand unmoving for years, but the right tide or the right storm, and all the markers shift. The links change, the sites are reorganised and embedded videos point to an empty page on their parent site.

Text survives.

Text can be copied and pasted. Text can be put in e-mails, on t shirts, in books and survive by being spread out across the world. Nowadays text is the viral source of a meme.  It can remain silent in an old print out for years, only to unfold the flower of an idea years later.

Text isn’t strong however. Often if needs a voice to be spread, a video to be seen.

Text however is the king of the internet. It drives the search engines to make an idea findable. Until technology gets to a point where it can determine an image or a video or a sound clip without surrounding text to explain it to the search engine, it is what remains after all else has moved on the ebbing tide of time.

And some tales need to remain to be told through the years just like some songs need to remain to be sung after the singer has moved on.

Will

So the PR / Bloggers conference took place in Edelman PR. And I’ve seen Alastair McDermott blog post on how a PR pitch should be a social exchange, Rick O’Shea blog on the difference between his media head and his blogger head when approached, Peter Donegan on how blogging is about passion and why you need to be careful with passion. Eoin Kennedy gives a nice concise summary of the event, Christian Hughes’ is even shorter and different, while future PR star Thomas Brunkard gives a different account of the night.

Much thanks need to be given to Damien Mulley and Edelman PR Dublin for orginasing the night, and to Donnchadh O’Leary, Piaras Kelly and Alexia Golez who blogged on how its better to learn about bloggers by trying it out for yourself. In fact most of this post began life as a comment on her blog (so sorry if you’ve read it before).

The unasked advice I would give to PR people is:

Think of bloggers in the same way a journalist thinks of contacts. This contact is the go-to girl for tech related matters. This contact is the go-to guy for music.
That type of thing.

While forming a media list may be “monkey work”, a targeted media / house list is worth its PR weight in gold.

Remember : For us its a hobby, not a job. Few bloggers want to become journalists, those that do already are journalists in their day job.

The professional media expect to be contacted with something thy are not interested in. Some spent their careers writing about stuff they aren’t interested in.

Bloggers have the freedom to write about what interests us. Its “our view”.

Things that may help both sides.
1) Introduce yourself and ASK.

If we bloggers were looking for a contact in X then chances are we would tweet it first and see what happens.

Of course we are following a lot of conversations.
Join in.
Babble.
I’d suggest you mention Collision Course in your first tweet before you “follow” anyone. Most (all) of us look to see “who is this person following me”. Of the 15 there on the night, I think most of us will follow back.
Just let us know who you are first.

Then ask…

E.g.
Would anyone like to go to the launch of the new Orange Tea Box on Tuesday at 8pm.
Or
Could you suggest any bloggers interested in Orange Tea
(I hope that there isn’t an Orange Tea at this point)

You’ll get a few time wasters, but not too many. And you might get a good contact for that one.

But joining Twitter and just tweeting without following anyone will not get noticed. Look up “Network Effect” to see why twitter seems to work.

Get to know twitter clients (software applications) and search.twitter.com.

By the way, Bloggers aren’t looking for freebies. Most are looking for information. If blogger X writes about Tea, they will want to know all about Orange Tea. No freebies needed (unless you count images they can used and information as a freebie).

On that note, if you find that a blogger has blogged about Red tea, see if (s)he has contact details on their blog ans ask, if the blogger would be interested in the forthcoming Orange Tea. No press release, no clips.
Just your details, and why you’re mailing them.

It doesn’t smell like spam, because it isn’t. They may e-mail back abuse, they might accept.

Time consuming. Yes. Cost high.
Potential rewards, higher.

2) Don’t spam…
If you got someone for Orange Tea, they may be interested in Yellow Coffee.
ASK.
But that does not mean they want to be contacted for Blue Cars.
The Blue Cars mail would look like spam. A mail with “I see you were interested in Tea, could I interest you in coffee” wouldn’t. (It does sound automated, but you get my point).
Besides, you’re asking.
You’ve formed a relationship with the blogger, don’t destroy it really quickly.

However…
If you have formed a relationship, asking if they know someone interested in Blue Cars isn’t that spammy. Bloggers tend not to hoard information, if we did, we wouldn’t blog.
I’ve passed on info to people I know who blog about stuff (or are just friends interested in things).

But ask.

3) Read Blogs.
If you invite bloggers to do something, you should have read their blogs first.

Read other blogs. I know, long and boring work but look at what you are interested in only (at first). There are blogs about everything under the sun (and a few things that aren’t). Blogs on Make up. Blogs on Man U. Blogs on cars. Blogs on caravans. Blogs on rashers.

Blogs on PR.

Look at things. Get to know a feed reader.
This is a slow step. If you need a hand to hold, see step 1 to find one.

4) Audio blogs / podcasts
Listen to how others have done it.
F.I.R (For immediate Release, the Hobson and Holtz Report) is the big daddy in this arena. It’s also 90 mins long and twice a week.

For lighter listening, I’d suggest
“Media driving” or “Marketing Over Coffee”
Yes their focus is different, but they are short. Media Driving is 10 mins, Marketing over Coffee is rarely 30 mins. And only once a week. Think commute times.

They suggest others to listen to as well.

5) Join in.

You might be happy with twitter/facebook/linkedin/justsomerandomsite but by blogging (maybe blogging on PR/Shoes/Cars/Tea) you’ll see why.
For us its a hobby, not a job.
It’s called passion.

Do it yourself. If you can, say what you are working on. If not, blog on what you care about.

And finally…

The Irish blogging community is, surprisingly, a community.
I don’t know anyone who would visit me in hospital via blogs; but its happened (remembering tweets and people dropping food parcels off to people stuck on Casualty trolleys). Wandering up to a random person in a community centre and pitching to them is, well, silly.
Remember that when you want to talk to us.

Its better to ask for permission as a backlash is too late to ask for forgiveness (examples were given in the meeting).

Once we get to know you, we’ll let you screw up.

take care,

Will Knott

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• Collision ahead

If you sit down for a group meal at 5pm, is it a lunch or a dinner? Some insist that it’s not a dinner until 6pm.

But no matter. If you sit down with good company and good food, then it’s a good time.

Our master of ceremonies, in theory, Joe Scanlon lead the meal. The story is that Joe left the Cork Open Coffee Club for a few moments and on his return discovered that he was the one organising the meal.

He did a good job.

He selected the (surprisingly dark) Market Lane on Oliver Plunkett Street. Good food, and in the company of (deep breath, in seating order) John Handelaar, Ciara Crossan, Walter Higgins, Joe Scanlon, Randy Jordan, Margaret Jordan, Catherine Wilson, Marion O’Sullivan, Matt Kane, Michael Kane, Aedan Ryan, Pat Phelan, Damien Mulley, Enda Crowley, Gordon Murray, Sabrina Dent and myself, a good time was had by all.

And given that there was an outbreak of santa hats, Walter, thanks to this Pixenate, or rather Twixenate project to add Santa hats and snowflakes to Twitter avatars efforts. This last shot is for him. (I think he took the joke well).

and finally, I am apparently a jammy git. There was a little raffle. Sponsored by Dell and Puddleducks. I won a Dell Inspiron Mini 9 netbook. There will be unboxing photos (and probably a Loudervoice) review once I get it.

So a very happy thank you,
Will Knott

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• Fun Cork Mash Ups
• Bloggers Dinner in Cork.

Exams and projects are getting in the way of me updating this, but there are a few things I need to cover before their deadlines expire.

On November 27 (that’s Thursday folks, see what I mean by a deadline?) Jason Roe is organizing a blogger /web meeting /tweetup/meetku in the Porter House Central in Dublin. A fine venue (with Murphy Ice Cream for those inclined to sweetness) . Given that its very near the Soundcheck night on , South William Street, Dublin 2 where pop culture blogger Rick O’Shea is doing a DJ thing, there is every chance of a moving meet.

And dancing. There will be dancing.

As you’re a blogger (if not, pretend) , would you like to take part in a cross Ireland Christkindl?
This is a mixed idea between LeCraic and enormous. The idea is that a bunch of Irish people all register, and at random you are assigned another person to buy a gift for (with a limit of €15). It works well for bloggers as you could read their blog and find out what they are like. But is should work for anyone. Give a little fun this Christmas.

The fair lady Sabrina Dent (probably accompanied by Emer the I wonder dog) is actually a Master. She is going to give a masterclass in blogging on December 2. The difference between a masterclass and a class is that the pupils get to stand before the rest and show off their wares while the master (or mistress, or master mistress in this case) is going to critique and correct.
Currently the times is listed as 1 to 5 pm, but chances are it will either be shorter, or two linked classes. Cork City Centre in a yet to be determined venue. (I’ll update when I hear).

Don’t know about dancing, but Sabrina has assured the class that there will be smoke breaks.

And finally, Food. On December 17 Niall Harbison is putting together a Christmas lunch for bloggers and also for people who run their own business and have only a couple of employees and wouldn’t be able to organise a very spectacular event on their own. He might also allow a few bloggers who have had their Christmas party cancelled.

There you go. Dance, give (and receive) type and nom.
take care,
Will Knott

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This post has changed direction several times in the last three days.

At first I was going to write about green issues. What happened was that I bumped in to a pair of representatives for Change.ie, a government run site for creating a plan of action for environmental change and reducing Ireland’s (and maybe the world’s) carbon footprint. I told the reps that I was surprised that there hadn’t been blogger outreach to other blogs concerning green issues, and pointed out a few that I knew of.

One rep asked me to e-mail in the details of the sites, the idea was to get something of an aggregator going.

The first person who came to mind was Ms. Phoebe Bright…

who seems slightly miffed in this photo about what happened next.

Phoebe presented at the recent Open Coffee BBQ about energy, energy demand and a technological solutions to change the thinking currently driving our consumption habits. Well worth a read if you weren’t at teh presentation.

Also, how can I forget Greennav. Actually I did, which is why I e-mailed in the links. Greennav is an odd mix of a group blog in that anyone can add to it. So its one better than an aggregator, is something of a community. And yes its full of green hints and tips.

Even the landscape gardener Peter Donegan has added a collection of green hints and tips to his site.

And now a change in direction.

Ladies and gentlemen. Get them together, as the response from the government sources was “that’s nice, anyone can blog, go ahead”. Or a “we’ll do nothing thank you”.

This is one of those areas where we should collaborate, and double, nay triple the voices to get the messages, and actions out there. A green meme. Not just an internet meme but a get off our backsides and do something about it meme.

I’m just not sure what.

But its this tendency for collaboration which brings me to to the next change of directions, sponsored by Twenty Major and Adrian Weckler.

They have complained about the fact that …

1. We’re not angry and fighting enough. (But Mr Weckler things me are too angry).
2. We aim for consensus
3. We don’t do enough investigative journalism
4. Bloggers seem to be people who are fake

Well lets see.

I know that I don’t intend to ever get close to Granddad without a stab-proof vest, but the Irish blog-sphere is a small place. If you don’t count Bebo blogs, you could fit most of the Irish bloggers in a medium hotel for an awards ceremony. Because we are a small group, the chances of prolonged bickering are few. Grudges can be held, but so can tongues. And the word “community” tends to hold sway. (Besides, Twitter is the place for small short-lived Irish fire fights). And besides, Barcamps, Tweet-ups, Open Coffee clubs, photo-walks and general get-togethers happen enough to prevent full blown flame wars that lead to bits going missing.

As for a consensus. Well, the early Irish bloggers were either techies, or non-technical people in the technology industry (sometimes in the one person). In this world, standards mean a lot. Consensus gets the job done. And could a barcamp exist without consensus?

As for people who aren’t and don’t aspire to be investigative journalists not doing enough investigative journalism for Mr Wreckler’s liking. Well, circular logic only gets you so far. Maybe you would be willing to teach us the way, and teach us, using your blog or course, on how to do these investigations. I think a few hundred well trained (even if we are bored, lonely or angry) bloggers might do you some justice. (Besides you forgot about Maman Poulet teaching journalists how to do their jobs when it came to Michael Lynn).

And finally, “bloggers are fake”. Now he’s not talking about fiction blogs, nor blogs maintained by a fictional (or pseudonymous) character. He’s talking about people who create great blogs, to get employment, and once employed, stop blogging. I can only assume that he means people who want to write for a living, and are using their blog as a portfolio in the same way that an artist creates work for themselves, to get their own style (or voice) and use that portfolio as a way to become a writer.

Well, if they exist, and I actually expect that they do, then more luck to them. If the only reason they wrote was to get someone to pay for the writing, then isn’t it better that they stop blogging?

Can we all agree to that?

take care,
Will Knott

Dear Ms. Marianne Mikko Member of the European Parliment,

I’ve been reading reports that you have called for a registration of bloggers.

Given the importance of the Internet in Estonia, I suspect that you would get a lot of, er, assistance in answering an explanation of what you mean.
Or at least a high level of details on what you are actually requesting.

Most blog posts are highly personal by nature, be it personal observation, on the ground reporting of a war in their local neighbourhood, on the antics of their cat (depressing there are a lot of these) or the rote by which a blogger investigated the dealings of a disgraced public official.
They are closer to opinion pieces than investigative reporting.

There are also blogs which by their very nature need to be anonymous. Those detailing illegal activities by officials for instance. A registration of such a blogger is likely to lead to intimidation or death.

Do you wish to clarify your wording.
Say in a blog of your own for instance?

Yours sincerely,
Will Knott

http://WillKnott.ie

In the database world, locks are a bane and a blessing, depending on what you want to do at the time. On monuments, they can looks really nice.

As you can clearly see, according to this diagram the male brain can be found below the waist.

Sunday photographs. I just like the way it looks like the “melting” paint on the chain link could have been caused by the fire.