The network is the site

We now have a set of well-shot and edited reflections from the Circuit Rider conference, thanks to Marc Osten whose session opening session I videod here. I grabbed some observations wandering about the session - Marc was later able to interview people on the challenges they found introducing Web 2.0 technology into voluntary and community organisations and building online community.
Marc posted the video on his site, then emailed me the code from YouTube so I could embed it up here if I wished. Thanks Marc.

About the same time I spotted a "shout" (short message) posted by Matthew Edmonson to the UnLtdWorld site pointing to a post on his site embedding a video I had taken of him.

My videos are also up on the conference site, where someone has now done a transcript of the key points that I recorded. There's a shared set of photos on Flickr here.

This sort of sharing, and adding value, is possible if we agree to the principle of building on each other's work, ideally adding a Creative Commons license to make that clear.
There is is nothing very fancy in what has happened here - at least to those familar with the way that we can use Web 2.0 technology if we apply open collaborative principles. I could go on with more tools and examples ... but don't need to because Paul Caplan has just written an excellent free Social Media Guide for the Media Trust which you can download from here. Free. Thanks Paul.
I'm telling the story of the videos because one of the main problems people at the conference said they had was explaining to others the benefits of using Web 2.0, and the philosophies that go with it. It's one thing to point to great examples from the US - where they are rather ahead of us in adoption - but it is much more convincing when it is close to home, you experience it first hand and can show your colleagues and clients.
It may help when next time a group says "we need a fancy new site". Circuit Riders can explain that these days the network is the site, and they are demonstrating that.

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Comments

[Marc Osten]

Right on John. You comment:

"It may help when next time a group says "we need a fancy new site". Circuit Riders can explain that these days the network is the site, and they are demonstrating that." is helpful.

It took me no time to cut and paste that code and get it to your via the still greatest online organising application - EMAIL! For me the big thing is moving beyond content ownership to content engagement. Been singing this tune for a long time but I'm afraid I'm still seeinga level of resistance that is depressing. Don't mean to be negative and will keep sharing freely but it is a challenge.

Thanks for pointing to the positive examples...but we got to do more to move this more open framework WITHOUT irresponsibly overly hyping the role that Web 2.0 tools play. For me it is why i always point first to Web 2.0 strategies.....as opposed to tools. yes barriers are lower but it still comes down to a level of intentionality.

[ian]

I like the idea of the network being the site. It provides a mental hook on which to hang the idea of social media.

The link to the Social Media Guide - which is a very good production - popped up about 2 hours after I had sent off my own inferior attempt to cover similar ground for a community regeneration newsletter I produce. I have now added it as essential reading.

I agree too with Marc's comment above about the need to engage with, rather than own the content. I suspect this will be a hard nut because too often there are 'turf wars' over the most unlikely issues.