Tag Archives: blogging

See Jane Write panel looks at blogging and community journalism this Thursday

See Jane Write logoThere are very few slots left for this Thursday’s See Jane Write Birmingham panel on blogging and community journalism at Innovation Depot. It’s a topic of particular interest to us as 2013 begins.

The panel will look talk about whether or not community news will flourish as we move forward and how bloggers can use their sites to cover issues that may not be getting the exposure they deserve. It will include Staci Brown BrooksAlabama Media Group/The Birmingham News; Emily Lowrey, Magic City PostErin Shaw Street, Southern Living magazine; and André Natta, The TerminalEdward T. Bowser, community engagement specialist for the Birmingham Hub of Alabama Media Group,will moderate.

For those not familiar with See Jane Write Birmingham, Javacia Harris Bowser started the “organization for women writers and bloggers in the Birmingham area” in March 2011. It now boasts an email list of at least 200. Additional plans for this year include Tweets & Sweets, a tweet-up and birthday party for Bowser that will serve as a fundraiser for the organization next month.

Those looking for help to jumpstart their blogging in 2013 may also be interested intaking part in the 31 Days to a Better Blog initiative she’s organized on her blog, The Writeous Babe.

Some Snow Day reading options

Thawing Out. acnatta/FlickrIt’s a fairly quiet day in The Magic City and the surrounding metro Birmingham area today due to yesterday’s winter storm. We’re hoping that most folks are resting comfortably at home.

If you can’t get to Rojo or Crestwood Coffee right now by foot (or you’re needing something to get your mind off how much time is left before the BCS championship game), we’d like to suggest a few blogs post for you to take a look at:

Erin Shaw Street recently interviewed her father as part of the current visit by StoryCorps to The Magic City. They’re here until January 29 & their reservations link is still active. She shares her thoughts about the experience on her personal blog; Maybe it’ll get you thinking about reserving a slot.

Shaun Chavis is one of the organizers of FoodBlogSouth, a foodie-centric blogging conference scheduled for next weekend (January 21 & 22). NOTE: I’m scheduled to facilitate a blogging 101 session that Saturday morning. Read her passionate account of why she felt the need to create this event – then go and register for it!

Finally, there aren’t many places that Jen West hasn’t been profiled recently (including this interview with Birmingham Bombshells’ Angela Karen for B-Metro. If you haven’t checked out her blog, The Jen West Quest , you’re missing out on an opportunity to be motivated to accomplish whatever you want. Back in November she was finally able to talk about her upcoming appearance on the Rachael Ray Show and what it meant to her.

These should help warm at least your heart on this fairly cold day in central Alabama. You could also step away from the computer (or add a few links of your own in the comments section below).

Photo: Thawing Out. acnatta/Flickr

How crooked is Birmingham?

Local blogger Wade Kwon is tackling this question via a month-long series on Wade on Birmingham, taking a look at some of Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks. The site describes the series as “a celebration of Birmingham’s most notorious crooks, whether they be liars, thieves, extortionists, swindlers or thugs.” If you’re in love with RSS feeds, you can even subscribe to one just to follow along.

The series’ calendar ends on August 31, the same day that Birmingham’s mayor, Larry Langford, is scheduled to go on trial on federal bribery and conspiracy charges.

Join Stephen’s 5K team in February

wambheaderStephen Vinson started Who Ate My Blog? in February of this year. The purpose of the blog is simple – a friend challenged him to lose 300 pounds between February of this year and April of 2010. If he’s successful, his friend has promised him an all-expense paid trip to the Talladega 500 (complete with limo).

One of Stephen’s goals is to walk a 5K; he’s chosen to participate in the 2010 BE&K 5K benefiting Kid One Transport. He’s even saying that there may even be some t-shirts made up for those willing to be part of the WhoAteMyBlog.com team… Leave a comment on his post and let him know if you’re interested.

Check out Some New Trend… today

Some New Trend stickersBlog fiction has remained, as described in its Wikipedia entry, an “isolated… fringe activity” area of the blogosphere. Well, there are a few writers here in Birmingham, AL that are hoping to change that with their latest collaborative effort, Some New Trend

This full length fiction story blog also doubles as a collection of posts in which contributors review books, music, and movies geared toward young adults. The site started in February, with the first chapter of the story being posted earlier this month. They have a presence on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

Elisa over at Bike Skirt did a write-up earlier this month on SNT and some of the folks contributing to it. After you’re finished checking it out, go over there and read the first two chapters (or at least consider supporting them by buying some schwag)!

WordCamp Birmingham 2009 is on!

PhotoMatt @ BlogWorld 2007 OK folks, It’s on; WordCamp Birmingham 2009 that is!

I’m happy to announce a bunch of things related to our second annual conference for WordPress users and bloggers of all ages, currently scheduled for Saturday, September 26. The first WordCamp Birmingham 2009 planning meeting will be next Thursday, March 12, at 11:30 a.m. at o kafés! in Pepper Place. Please let me (André) know if you’re interested in helping plan this year’s edition via email.

I’m also happy to confirm that our keynote speaker will be none other than WordPress’ founding developer (and all around nice guy) Matt Mullenweg, pictured here with his very own black Terminal T back in 2007. Nashville’s Mitch Canter of Studio Nashvegas has also agreed to come back and present.

Finally, we will be launching the WordCamp Birmingham site on The Terminal next Wednesday afternoon.

That’s all… for now.

Where to go next?

That’s what local blogger Grammaticaster is asking for help with figuring out. After checking out this post about the situation over on Warum Ich Bin v3.0, you’ll want to pick one of the choices available in the top left hand corner of the site or offer a suggestion in the comments section. We’re pretty sure he’ll appreciate the assistance.