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Jonathan Bennett of Jacksonville.com, the online version of the Times Union was the sole representative from the traditional media, but he is the handsome young editor of social media, and a true delegate from the blogosphere, as the Times Union is struggling to move into this new century.
Joey Marchy from www.urbanjacksonville.info was there, as was Tony Allegretti from theurbancore.com.
Also present was Abel Harding, the semi celebrity blogger whose unintentional posting of a nazi symbol at the local teabagger rally made it to Huffington Post and then the Keith Olbermann Show. (funny for a fairly starched young conservative blogger)
Others were invited, although schedules did not permit them to attend.
We discussed how best to share information, and I was really impressed by Adam Hollingsworth's ability to think outside of the traditional box and how fully he has embraced the idea that online, interactive media is the new mainstream.
Adam was joined by the indefatigable Misty Skipper, and the lovely Renee Brust. They were brimming with ideas and questions.
I was also struck by how often they referred to the comments and input of posters on the various blogs.
(Apparently, Brainstormer, your list of questions has merited a serious and methodical response. As soon as they have completed an answer to all of your points in full, they will post it here)
We talked about formats in which to communicate: A video conference. A youtube question and response. A live blogcast. The Mayor himself came in. It was encouraging to find that they actually read and consider what is expressed on our forums and in our articles.
On the budget crisis, its apparent that they are genuinely seeking input and public discussion.
They are preparing a daily blog. They have started twittering, they have a new facebook page.
Most awesomely, the Mayor has authorized City Planning employees to respond to questions from our readers directly, and to post upcoming projects.
The meeting, though casual and informal, full of laid back chatter amongst well acquainted people, still felt momentous. Maybe even historic with a small 'h'.
I was also thrilled to see the thinking and input of the other people in the room. All of them young, smart, sincere, and very dynamically creative and out of the box. For example, it is impossible to get how incisively focused Abel Harding is until you see him in action.
This was one of those moments where the City was well served and represented. Both by an Administration opening up to the new times, and by the representatives of those New Times themselves.
Im sure you will be hearing more about this at a later date...there are all kinds of events, live blogs, and webcasts etc that got discussed and planned. But I just wanted to note the date on the grounds that this is when it all officially began.
Stephen Dare.
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Lunican
July 08, 2009, 04:26:59 PMCool.
thelakelander
July 08, 2009, 04:30:06 PMGood update. What is the name of their new facebook page?
Lunican
July 08, 2009, 04:33:40 PMHere is Peytons fan page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Jacksonville-FL/Mayor-John-Peyton/73349610489
brainstormer
July 08, 2009, 04:42:45 PMI'm not sure how I feel about being named at a meeting I knew nothing about. LOL
I look forward to their response.
stephendare
July 08, 2009, 07:19:32 PMYeah it was pretty cool, actually.
One funny moment: Abel Harding, the conservative blogger was going to get a bottle of water (and possibly some coffee) one of the Mayor's staff joked that he would have to "admit to drinking our coffee and water". To which he cooly replied: "Technically, its our coffee and water".
Karl_Pilkington
July 08, 2009, 07:34:00 PMsounds like a real hootenanny
macbeth25
July 08, 2009, 08:07:19 PMSounds really interesting. Good job.
stephendare
July 09, 2009, 11:38:49 AMThanks guys.
Karl Pilkington: It truly was a Hootenanny!
A blogging hoedown, even.
But even cooler, we got a schedule of the blog casts and the webcast town halls. Ill be putting up the schedules a little later on today.
Adam Hollingsworth
July 09, 2009, 11:52:35 AMAll -- See below our roll-out of community meetings on the budget. Thanks to the folks we met with yesterday, look for the first-ever use of social media to engage on the budget. It will be interesting to watch our use of this medium evolve over time. Will need your input to be successful.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Misty Skipper, (904) 630-7377
MAYOR INVITES COMMUNITY TO JOIN IN BUDGET CONVERSATIONS
Series of lunches, town halls, live web chats and media appearances scheduled during the summer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. July 9, 2009— Mayor John Peyton invites residents to engage in a broad community conversation about the 2009/2010 budget and the importance of investing in the City of Jacksonville by attending one of several public forums to be held this summer.
“I firmly believe that addressing our city’s current budgetary issues requires leadership, broad support and the roll-up-our-sleeves attitude that has defined Jacksonville in the past,” said Mayor Peyton. “These conversations will provide the opportunity for all residents to learn more and engage their government. We began a community conversation on the budget challenges two years ago. We will continue it through the current budget process, and we will keep it going through the passage of next year’s budget.”
Lunch with the Mayor
Beginning next week, the mayor will host five lunch meetings from noon-1 p.m. at area libraries. Residents are invited to bring their own lunch. Locations across the city have been selected for proximity to some of the community’s larger business parks/complexes and residential areas to allow for easier access. The schedule is as follows:
- Thursday, July 16
o Brown-Eastside Branch Library, 1390 Harrison St.
Phone: (904) 630-5466
- Monday, July 27
o Jacksonville Main Library, conference center multi-purpose room, 303 N. Laura St.
Phone: (904) 630-2665
- Thursday, Aug. 6
o Pablo Creek Regional Library, 13295 Beach Blvd.
Phone: (904) 992-7101
- Tuesday, Aug. 11
o Southeast Regional Library, 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd.
Phone: (904) 996-0325
- Wednesday, Aug. 26
o Mandarin Regional Library, 3330 Kori Road
Phone: (904) 262-5201
Town Halls
Also beginning next week, the mayor will host three town hall meetings in various locations across the community. All residents are invited to attend. All meetings will be held in the evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- Thursday, July 16
o Ed White High School cafeteria, 1700 Old Middleburg Road
o Phone: (904) 693-7620
- Monday, July 20
o Edward Ball Building, 1st floor training room, 214 N. Hogan St.
o Phone: (904) 630-CITY (2489)
- Monday, Aug. 3
o Ribault High School media center, 3701 Winton Drive
o Phone: (904) 924-3092
Live Media Appearances
Over the next two months, the Mayor will make appearances on a series of media outlets which will offer the opportunity for two-way dialogue with the public.
These appearances will include weekly live Internet chats hosted by the Florida Times Union on www.jacksonville.com; interactive conversations with the viewers and listeners of local TV stations and radio news programs, as well as Internet chat sessions on local blog sites. An Internet chat session is scheduled on Tuesday, July 21 at 5:30 p.m. on Urban Jacksonville Weekly at www.urbanjacksonville.info.
A full schedule of dates and times will be announced and updated regularly on www.FixItNow.cc.
Ongoing Education and Engagement:
The mayor encouraged residents to continue learn more about his budget proposal by visiting www.FixItNow.cc, a Web site created by the Mayor’s Office.
The Web site contains a breadth of information including presentations on the budgetary situation, the recent Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI) study: “Our Money, Our City: Financing Jacksonville’s Future” and other resource materials.
Following the mayor’s presentation of his proposed budget to the Jacksonville City Council on Monday, July 13 at 10 a.m., the complete document will be posted on www.coj.net.
Going forward into next year’s budget cycle, to ensure even greater transparency and understanding of the city’s budgetary and operational processes, Mayor Peyton will continue to announce additional opportunities for two-way dialogue and increased involvement for Jacksonville residents.
More information will be announced as these programs and events are further developed.
###
stephendare
July 09, 2009, 12:32:27 PMAdam we talked yesterday about citizens who cant make the meeting in person being able to post youtube question video that the mayor will respond to on the webcasts from the times union.
Any more on that?
stephendare
July 09, 2009, 01:54:03 PMalso. here's one of the funnier little ironies:
phyllisthemissionary
July 10, 2009, 01:01:41 PMDon't go absolutely overboard with the youth angle. They often lack wisdom and experience (and sometimes $).
Lunican
July 10, 2009, 01:03:46 PMWhat youth angle? Just curious.
phyllisthemissionary
July 10, 2009, 01:13:17 PMthis (mostly the first sentence):
"All of them young, smart, sincere, and very dynamically creative and out of the box. For example, it is impossible to get how incisively focused Abel Harding is until you see him in action.
This was one of those moments where the City was well served and represented. Both by an Administration opening up to the new times, and by the representatives of those New Times themselves.
Im sure you will be hearing more about this at a later date...there are all kinds of events, live blogs, and webcasts etc that got discussed and planned. But I just wanted to note the date on the grounds that this is when it all officially began."
RiversideLoki
July 10, 2009, 01:21:54 PMDon't be so quick to doubt the young visionaries of the city. This city doesn't need more old "seasoned veterans" that "know how city government works". What I envision is shaking up the old ways of thinking. Get away from the favors and cronyism that's inherent in city government and helping to create a more progressive administration. Fresh thinking isn't a bad thing. We can't be locked into the same ol' same ol' if we're going to advance as a city.
It should be about breaking down the good ol' boys network and actually getting something done besides padding someone's pocket.
phyllisthemissionary
July 10, 2009, 01:28:35 PMIs that what I said?
stephendare
July 10, 2009, 03:26:05 PMWell, phyllis, If it makes you feel any better, Im practically as old as dirt, and I was there too.
Dog Walker
July 10, 2009, 05:01:06 PMWatch it, guys! You are being stroked so you can be rolled! Good news is that when they start trying this on with you it means that what you are blogging about is beginning to bite!
Keep up the good work and keep your BS antennas up.
stephendare
July 10, 2009, 05:09:08 PMThanks Dogwalker, its a great point. But I think it has more to do with the fact that so much of the actual political discussion and public opinion has moved onto a format that they havent quite figured out yet.
If this site is any indication though, its a pretty difficult group to roll.
And besides that, we are a lot more accountable to our commenters than any politician.
I think that online media is a lot harder, in general, to hoodwink.
They say what they say, which is more fair than a traditional reporter summing up what someone said, and then you have the ability to draw your own conclusions.
In any case, if we look like we are getting snowed, we certainly get our asses put back into line by our readers---in a public forum.
Those of us with open comments and dialogue with our readers don't have the luxury of being rolled.
Adam Hollingsworth
July 10, 2009, 09:10:57 PMStephen -- On the use of YouTube for the jax.com chats, we'll have to get the details from Jonathan and circulate. As soon as we have them, we'll get them out.
heights unknown
July 11, 2009, 10:53:05 AMI think this is great. I wish I were there to attend (I think I will take a trip to Jax once a week to attend). Does sound like it was a blogger hootenanny (correct spelling?) and blogger "hoedown." It has its rough edges now, but in time it will get better, cleaner, smoother and more pristine. I know this will be successful as more and more conferences, meetings, etc. are being conducted online and through blogging initiatives such as these.
Heights Unknown
MASDjax
November 30, 2009, 11:21:42 PMFYI, the City of Jacksonville Office of Special Events has its own facebook page, twitter and myspace pages as well. Please check them out for regular updates on events happening downtown. Thanks!
www.facebook.com/makeascenedowntown
www.twitter.com/MASDjax
www.myspace.com/makeascenedowntownjax