I recently helped out Berry Goddard and Savita Custead of the Bristol Natural History Consortium team by setting up and explaining how to use a WordPress blog, flickr id, and youtube channel for their Bristol Bioblitz event.
Bioblitz is a new model; think: nature watch meets science engagement meets family fun and geeky naturalist kind of affair:
The BioBlitz is a 30-hour race again the clock event where scientists, naturalists, students, members of public, schools and community groups work together to find and identify as much wildlife as possible in the Ashton Court Estate. (About page)
The technologies were deployed in order to extend the reach of the engagement exercise across the web, explore how to use different media for this new model, offer visitors more opportunities for interaction, and a quick updating mechanism.
The blog was a great success while the flickr group attracted some great photos.
(screengrab of free WordPress Bristo Bioblitz Blog)
Setting up the blog and flickr stuff took only a few moments and the only cost was getting a flickr pro account. Asides to that, all I did was lead an informal training session in the Pervasive Media Studio for all the voluntary editors and add everyone to the blog.
We discussed the technical stuff (step by step posting, pages, tags, photo and video embedding walkthrough), some facilitation stuff (approve all comments, especially the negative ones, apart from nonsense or abuse), and I expect I shared some of my fine blunders using Social Media in the past (of which there are many).
The reporters grasped the blogging stuff immediately; I learnt later that no-one had a single problem with the admin; it was that easy.
Paul Appleby, ex-BBC and Bristol Media chap, co-ordinated the reporting schedule (made up entirely of volunteers), lead the editorial decision-making, and onsite reporting. The goal was to have regular coverage of the activity as it unfolded, a regular ‘tally‘ of species found, some interest stories etc. He did an excellent job of providing a robust and professional editorial framework.
(Bristol Bioblitz media team hard at work: Thanks Flickr)
The thing that stood out to me; and reminds me of one of the mantras that I repeat to anyone who will listen is that:
“… you can have all the tools and gadgets you like, more social media than you can shake a stick at, and it isn’t worth a fig unless it is being wielded effectively and suitably by people who care and have passion” (Ed, 2009)
The reporting team were absolutely excellent.
Sat in a marquee in Ashton Court, they found and reported on stories, kept a tally, reported on the people involved with the event, shot and edited video, shared hundreds of photos, wrote beautifully and funnily, engagingly, slightly geekily and humanly, and generally shared the essence of the event with much aplomb.
I was deeply impressed – exceptional quality indeed.
Proof that the secret is in the content. And that can only come from passion.
Good work all!
(The bat survey going out; wish I had been there: Thanks Flickr)
Some of my favourite posts:
Great event, great blog! The team were brilliantly enthusiastic, and it really helped to transform the event itself, even for those of us who were there. It also inspired us at the University of Bristol’s Centre for Public Engagement to set up our own blog: http://centreforpublicengagement.blogspot.com/.