From the blogosphere to Parliament House and back again, it seems that support for the Australian Government's internet censorship trial is waning.
There are now strong campaigns being run by EFA and by GetUp – and rallies scheduled for capital cities tomorrow. But the surprise of the day goes to conservative Senator Cory Bernadi, who states on his blog:
Parental responsibility cannot and should not be abrogated to government – if it is, our society will only become weaker.
Yes, illegal content should be banned from the web. It is illegal after all, but it is wrong to give the government a blank cheque to determine what is appropriate for us to view on the Internet. That is a job for families, working with government.
As I have said repeatedly, let's spend the money (reputed to be $150 million not $40 million) on better education for kids and their parents – and think about the opportunities for our digital futures rather than consigning our country to the digital backwaters.
Each year, the Starlight Foundation come up with an innovative campaign to raise money for seriously ill kids so that they can have a “wish come true”. This year, there are 182 kids with stories filled with hope and bravery. Feride’s starlight wish is to become an actress.
Through the Starlight Foundation, you really can make a child’s wish come true. Every dollar counts.
During the recent US Presidential Election, Barack Obama made some welcome promises on the state of crisis in Darfur. The "unstinting resolve" that he mentioned was a strong statement that gave many people hope that the world's most powerful nation would, in fact, help bring peace and resolution to Darfur (learn more here).
If you live in the US, you can help remind your President-elect of these promises, by signing this petition. Please do so.
Each Friday morning from 8am (some do arrive earlier), a bunch of social media and advertising bloggers meet for coffee and conversation at one of Sydney’s best cafes – Single Origin. It is more than a meeting of minds – it is a feast of ideas, and a cacophony of good humoured banter. ALL ARE WELCOME.
But what is it like? Take a look at my presentation on what, why and how coffee mornings are sometimes the best part of the week!
When you read my blog and look at my resume you may be confused. You may not see the pattern of emergence that has led me to (and through) the various stages of my career … but I can honestly say, each step and opportunity has honed my broad and unique perspective on digital/social marketing and the role of brands in our future society.
For as long as I can remember I have been crafting stories. And as you will see on my blog, I place a high degree of importance on the scripting and writing of brand experiences. This is not about prescription, but about context. After all, the last thing any of us want is to deal with an automaton. But in a world where our interactions are increasingly mediated by technology, stories can breathe life into our relationships and help us find and engage with the communities to which we ache to belong.
I have taken a storytelling approach to many of the roles that I have held in the corporate world … this includes the roles that were not “strictly” marketing or strategy oriented. What seemed clear to me, even 20 years ago, was that any interaction I had with a customer, employer, colleague or partner would generate a story. Their story. And the intersection between their story and my own was an opportunity for love or loss. Wherever possible, I choose love.
To do this, means listening. It means researching. And it means seeking. It also means leading and following-through.
For the last 12 plus years I have worked from Australia in global roles for a range of companies. I was responsible for the digital strategy and implementation of the HappyMeal.com brand in the USA and its subsequent global rollout. I have also built and grown business units for companies like IBM. I evenly balance creativity and business know-how with a passion for the chaos in which we live — and strive to transform the teams I work with into focused and enthusiastic micro-communities.
I am the co-publisher of the ground-breaking collaborative marketing book, The Age of Conversation, which brought together over 100 marketing bloggers from around the world for the first edition, and over 230 writers for the second. I am also actively involved in a variety of marketing/advertising-related efforts, from Planning for Good through to the Interesting South conferences.
I currently work for global software company, SAP. But enough about me. What’s your story?
You can email me on servant [at] servantofchaos [dot] com or use the form below!
Over the last few weeks I have been engaging in conversation with Carlee Potter via Twitter. She has been busily working away on a new site dedicated to business women — SNOBS (social network for opportunistic businesswomen).
Carlee has already assembled some great content as a resource for career-driven women, and promises more as the site grows. The charming and erudite Paull Young shares an excellent post on using social media to grow your business relationships, and Carlee has a neat series on marketing your business on a shoestring budget.
And over the weekend, my first post for SNOBS was published in the “know it all” category (don’t know whether this refers to my article or to me). Titled “Your brand, their opinion”, it reminds business people that your brand is not necessarily what YOU think it is — it’s about the experience that others have while interacting with your products and services (and the stories they tell). Hope you enjoy it.
There are plenty of distractions this week. There is the WebDirections South conference running Thursday and Friday; and Thursday night alone features Webjam, AusTUB and the AdNews Anniversary Party.
And despite the hangovers and excitement, we are still planning to meet for coffee this Friday morning. Mark Pesce even promises to show up ahead of his day’s commitments at WebDirections South.
And no doubt, Gav and the crew at Single Origin will serve up just the right style of Friday morning cheer, black coffee and eggs to die for. So, come on down — Reservoir Street, Surry Hills from 8am.
If you are a marketer, and you are thinking, talking and working in “social media”, it is easy to forget that your work is anything but mainstream. Over the last couple of years, a strong, global community has evolved — bringing a great deal of experience, discipline and creativity into what WAS an emerging medium. In the US, in particular, social media has moved from a peripheral activity to a much more influential position — thanks in part to the pure-play social media agencies and their focus on cross-disciplinary approaches to business.
And while there have been some successes, there is still some way to go before we can seriously consider “social media” to be an accepted and acceptable (or even leading) element within the overall marketing mix. For while it is clear that the general population has shifted its media consumption away from “traditional” channels in favour of the Internet and the plethora of socially-oriented networks — there is still work to be done in codifying the metrics in a way that is easily digestable for business.
Here in Australia last week, the Photon Group opened the doors on The Population — billed as the first pure play social media agency in Australia. Steven Noble stepped in to clarify the claim — but clearly with the backing of the Photon Group, the first steps of The Population will be watched by many.
Last year I missed the geek drinks with the big Crayon, Joseph Jaffe. The stories of "Brand Minxiness" and associated photos make it clear that it was event that should NOT have been missed.
UPDATED: So, if you are like me, and you want to take the opportunity of meeting up with Mr Jaffe in person, we will be gathering next Tuesday evening (August 19 ) at the bar of the Tilbury Hotel at Woolloomooloo in Sydney, between 9:30pm and 10:00pm. See you there.
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