I've decided to set up a separate mini-blog on Posterous for the next week's blogging project.
I'm here in New York to take part in the 'ClimateVoice' project (set up by Oxfam to coincide with New York Climate Week), and then head over to Pittsburgh for the second G20Voice project at the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh.
I know that I’ve been a bit quiet of late, but it’s been a conscious move while I get stuck into my new project. Now, we’re ready to start talking about it, and I’m just a little bit excited.
I’ve mentioned to a few people of late that now more than ever, the online aspect of managing your reputation is vital. Blogs and social media are becoming part of the mainstream, which has resulted in many brands and individuals engaging with this space because they feel like they have to, rather than because it's appropriate.
Many 'social media consultants', agencies and companies have sprung up to try and provide an answer to this problem, but are often as misguided or uninformed as those in need of help. This could be due to a lack of insight, or it could be because they are advising based upon a single viewpoint. They may be experts in some cases, but having tunnel-vision in this environment just doesn't work.
Why is this relevant? Well, I’ve joined Centaur Media to head up a new website called Reputation Online, which is part of the New Media Age family. This new project been created at a time where comparing editorial with user generated opinion is tough, when the experts in this field are only just starting to emerge and from a variety of areas. We're here to bring lots of different resources together in one place, so as well as writing, filming and recording for the site myself, readers will be able to do the same.
We’re due to launch at the end of September, so be patient with us. It’s quite unusual to see a large publisher invest in something fluid like this, which will be free to read, based on WordPress and willing to try out new mediums of content.
If you'd like to know more, please get in touch via vikki.chowney@centaur.co.uk or follow us on Twitter for regular updates (@rep_online).
So, I've just signed up in less than a minute to the 10:10 campaign.
Launched last week with help from The Guardian, it's a major new climate campaign that asks individuals, businesses and organisations to cut carbon emissions by 10% in 2010.
As most won't have made it to the opening at The Tate Modern, the 10:10 website (http://www.1010uk.org) makes up for it and then some. Beautifully designed (with more than a hint of Guardian-esque influence), it includes the ability to invite friends, share through social media and post badges galore on your sites. See case in point above.
You can buy a tag (made from a recycled Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet), print out a cheat sheet to stick on your fridge, view a timeline of events and news, donate directly or click directly through to a Google search listing to see what other people are saying.
The people behind this new initiative - namely Age of Stupid creator Franny Armstrong - are obviously trying to utilise the trend for wearing your charity on your sleeve (kicked off by the introduction of the those plastic bracelets made fashionable by the likes of Bono), and have made it as easy as humanly possible to get involved.
Instead of the usual 'fluff', 10:10 will be supported by specific tips and actions to help cut emissions throughout the year, focusing on national and international inclusion as well as individuals and communities. Over the weekend, the entire cabinet signed up, so Brown, Cameron and Clegg are all jumping on the bandwagon.
This may simply be remembered as just another high profile carbon campaign, or it could make a real difference, only time will tell. At the very least, it has parameters that we'll be able to measure its success or failure against.
