On a Saturday morning in the brick and mortar home of an ink and print newspaper about 100 people will gather.  Some of them will be journalists, some bloggers and some lurkers.  They’ll all have one important thing in common, the desire to see how the news medium is evolving in the digital age.

Digital Journalism Camp, organized by Abraham Hyatt, is a first time effort in Portland.  The about section of the camp’s site says:

This isn’t about bloggers vs. reporters, or old media vs. new media. We’re all on the same team. And this conference is about how we, as journalists, are innovating right now — what’s working, what’s not, and how we can get better at what we do.

We couldn’t resist the chance to talk to Abraham about the upcoming camp so we pulled him into the studio to find out more about what we can expect.  Listen to the Tech Edition to find out more about it, including some of the panels and talks scheduled.  In afterhours we talk more broadly about newspapers, news shows and news on the internet.

To register for Digital Journalism Camp you just have to RSVP on upcoming.  There’s no cost to attend and a wealth of knowledge to be gained.  See you there?

SLL Episode 117: Digital Journalism Camp

Watch the Tech Edition

SLL Episode 118: Afterhours with Abraham Hyatt

Watch Afterhours

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Friday July 31st we’ll be joined by the oh so lovely KL Martini.  She’s away at BlogHer right now soaking up info like a sponge, we’ll see how much of that knowledge we can wring out of her when she arrives on our couch to give us her BlogHer recap.  Join us at 10pm!

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Note to OurPDX readers: Several of the OurPDX Authors are going to be in attendance at Digital Journalism Camp, myself included.  Additionaly I feel compelled to disclose that my husband, Dr. Normal, will be a panelist in two of sessions.

Related Posts

• August 9, 2009 -- SLL: Turoczy and the Tiara of Truth (0)
• July 13, 2009 -- SLL: Toon in to Tyler Sticka (2)
• May 3, 2009 -- SLL: Live From Bar Camp! (2)
• September 7, 2009 -- SLL: There’s TV On The Internets? (0)
• September 2, 2009 -- SLL: The One Where We’re Creative (0)

Friday night we were joined by Audrey Eschright and Selena Deckelmann the founders of the Open Source Bridge.  OS Bridge is a conference being held here in Portland June 17-19th.  We had a terrific chat with them about the conference, we they started it and what you can expect if you attend.  They also put out a call for more volunteers (it’s a volunteer organized and run conference) and sponsors.  Then in afterhours we tried mojitos and babbled the hour away about Portland, Food Carts and sooo much more.   Check out both episodes!

SLL Episode 106: Open Source Bridge

Watch the Tech Edition

SLL Episode 107: Selenamarie, Spinnerin, Open Source, The Food Cart and Me

Watch Afterhours

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This Friday we won’t have a live episode, but I’m sure that we’ll have something fun going on the stream at 10 PM… Maybe DrNormal and I will even be in the chatroom with you!

Next Friday, June 12th we’ll be joined by author, Oregonian writer and rabid Timbers fan Shawn Levy.

Related Posts

• July 25, 2009 -- SLL: Dude, Where’s My Newspaper? (3)
• October 21, 2008 -- Showing off the Portland Tech Scene (0)
• December 8, 2009 -- SLL: Get Your Geek on With Foodgeeks (0)
• November 23, 2009 -- SLL: Back with Brian Westbrook (0)
• November 9, 2009 -- SLL: Locketman (0)

Last week, we learned that BlogHer wouldn’t be visiting our city in 2009. But guess who will be visiting? MEETin!

MEETin will hold its annual celebration in PDX next August 13-16.

In case you’re going, “Er, who?!?”

MEETin, an organization based in Washington, DC, has over 90 chapters across the globe with each chapter run locally by volunteers with the primary goal of bringing people together through various events planned through the site. (Disclaimer: I’m an active member in the Portland chapter.) The organization is free to join and open to people over the age of 21. There are all kinds of events and activities from dancing to volunteering to happy hours to checking out the opera, and much, much more.

And, even better, the Portland chapter is one of the largest and most active in the organization. There are nearly 10,000 members in our area.

The announcement of the 2009 celebration was made today with more details to be provided in the coming months.

Related Posts

• November 10, 2008 -- BlogHer’s not coming to PDX in 2009 (8)
• August 7, 2008 -- Will BlogHer ‘09 happen in PDX? (1)
• January 22, 2010 -- A Portland Flyer’s Lament (8)
• January 7, 2010 -- 17 Years Flies (8)
• January 6, 2010 -- Portland and Curling (4)

First, cue up the Sad Trombone.

BlogHer, a online community for women who blog, will not be coming to Portland…or any of the other finalists selected for the 2009 conference. As you’ll recall, the final three cities, as voted on by members of the BlogHer community as well as thousands of others across the Web, were Portland, St. Louis, and Philadelphia.

This morning, after a prolonged deliberation, the organization announced it would be holding the conference as well as its BlogHer Business Conferene in Chicago next July. The 2007 was also hosted there.

In a post on the site, some of the rationale behind the decision not to go with one of the three finalists were given:

But as we investigated the three top cities from the poll, we found that one city didn’t have a single facility big enough for us (Portland); one city had only one facility big enough that was available during either of the last two weekends in July…and it was way more expensive than we expected, and management displayed little willingness to negotiate (Philly), and the final city actually wasn’t that easy to get to and had more limited facilities for lots of tracks and lots of unique sponsor activities (St. Louis).

I’m definitely bummed that Portland wasn’t selected so we could show off our fabulous tech scene and city to others. However, I do understand their need for seeking a space large enough to house everyone. Being able to have a hotel with enough conference facilities and hotel rooms to host us all was definitely one of the best parts about the 2008 Conference held in San Francisco.

But it’s also sad as this news comes on the heels of the OSCON Conference leaving Portland in 2009.

Related Posts

• August 7, 2008 -- Will BlogHer ‘09 happen in PDX? (1)
• November 18, 2008 -- At least someone loves us! (0)
• October 21, 2008 -- Showing off the Portland Tech Scene (0)
• January 22, 2010 -- A Portland Flyer’s Lament (8)
• January 7, 2010 -- 17 Years Flies (8)

Looking for an opportunity to present in front of an audience of bloggers?

The 2009 BlogHer Conference, which will be held next July, has put out a call for ideas. All the details are here. It would rock to have some Portland representation at the session-level.

There’s still a chance Portland-based presenters won’t have to travel far. The venue contracts are being finalized and it looks as if they’re aiming to announce the location by the end of the month. The final three cities in the running are St. Louis, Philadelphia, and Portland. Right now, only the BlogHer Conference Divas know for sure. Here’s hoping that contract is for a place in PDX!

*fingers and toes crossed*

Stay tuned…

Related Posts

• August 2, 2009 -- SLL: When the Bloggers Come Home (0)
• July 25, 2009 -- SLL: Dude, Where’s My Newspaper? (3)
• June 1, 2009 -- SLL: Open Source Bridge with Audrey & Selena (0)
• November 10, 2008 -- BlogHer’s not coming to PDX in 2009 (8)
• August 7, 2008 -- Will BlogHer ‘09 happen in PDX? (1)

8/7/2008 Update: BlogHer has closed the poll after receiving thousands of votes. The top three contenders are Portland, St. Louis, and Philadelphia. BlogHer’s conference organizers will now begin the task of locating a venue, hotels, ensuring the space fits the conference’s needs, and so on.

Original post: Last month, I traveled to San Francisco to attend the 2008 BlogHer Conference. It was one of the best conferences I’ve attended to date where I was able to meet people from across the U.S. and from different countries who write on every topic under the sun.

BlogHer is an online community for women who blog (there are also male members of the community called BlogHims). The 2008 conference was a sold-out event and welcomed about 1,000 bloggers to SF for three days of sessions on a variety of topics, opportunities to meet with the authors of your favorite blogs, and lots of fun social activities.

And now, that could possibly come to Portland. BlogHer is currently running a poll on their site to see where the conference should be held next year and Portland is one of the locations up for vote. While there may be a definite push for the conference to be held on the East Coast next year, I would love to show off Portland to the conference attendees. It would also be an excellent way for the extensive group of Portland-based blogs and our local tech community to host welcome event(s) in conjunction with the conference. Oh, the possibilities.

The organization hopes to make the decision on the location by the end of the month.

Related Posts

• November 10, 2008 -- BlogHer’s not coming to PDX in 2009 (8)
• November 18, 2008 -- At least someone loves us! (0)
• October 21, 2008 -- Showing off the Portland Tech Scene (0)
• January 22, 2010 -- A Portland Flyer’s Lament (8)
• January 7, 2010 -- 17 Years Flies (8)