Craig McGinty

Hands on guide to starting a blog

IF you know that you should be involved in blogs, and all the other new tools of the internet, but are not too sure where to start, then I am involved in a blogging workshop next week where you can get your hands dirty.

I am working alongside Paul Fabretti, of digital agency KMP, to provide a half-day course in starting a blog, how to source story ideas, key design elements in a blog, promotion of the site and how to follow the conversations and connections being made around the web, plus whatever else is playing on your mind.

But crucially we will have computers you can use to try things out letting you investigate tools and websites there and then, because the best way to learn is to start tapping away on the keyboard.

The blogging workshop takes place on Wednesday, October 8, in Manchester and tickets are priced £125 + vat, for more details see Blogging for Business: A Complete Workshop in Black and White.

Shortlist for Manchester Blog Awards

IF you want to get a handle on some of the most interesting and appealing blogs in Manchester before next month's awards then check out the shortlist of sites on Manchizzle.

The winners will be announced at the blog awards event on October 22 at Matt and Phred's Jazz Club, on Tib Street.

Trying out a new advertising option

IF there is one thing I have found difficult to offer readers of This French Life it is a simple advertising option that puts them in control.

I've helped a few companies who have services that will appeal to lovers of all things France, but I've only be able to offer plain graphic ads for a flat fee that are not easy to measure or require me to update.

So I am hoping that a new service I am promoting on the site will appeal as I believe it is simple to understand, allows people to easily set a budget and gives them the tools to edit their ads whenever they want.

I have written up a piece offering advice to business owners who want to advertise on This French Life, so I won't repeat myself here.

What journalists look for in a website

IF you are looking to increase your online presence and be followed, as well as quoted, by journalists, what are the key elements your website needs to offer?

E-Consultancy say sites need an About Us page, a Press area and a blog - not too difficult really.

What do journalists want from your website? E-Consultancy

Digital Editors' Network - legal briefing

THE next Digital Editors' Network meeting will be looking at the legal risks newspapers and media organisations face as they expand into an ever increasing array of new media platforms.

Blogs, comment boards, forums, digital archives, links to third party content and the speed of breaking news online are all providing us with fresh legal challenges as we straddle the divide between traditional media and online communities.

The meeting will welcome some high profile speakers from media law experts Wiggin LLP at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, on October 7 where we will look at some of these issues.

Caroline Kean, Wiggin’s head of litigation, will lead the discussion at the Digital Editors’ Network meeting and draw on her experience of media lawyer, as her work has seen her act for national and regional newspapers, magazines, book publishers, television and film companies.

Caroline has been acclaimed as one of the UK's top female solicitors and is vice president of the Media Society and legal advisor to Women in Journalism.

Joining her will bysPhil Gorski, from Wiggin’s litigation team, who has extensive experience in advising on pre-publication and compliance matters and is part of the training team

The Digital Editors’ Network will also include a showcase of new ideas from around the regional media, more details on that to follow.

For more details and to book a place email [email protected]

The Digital Editors’ Network is a free event supported by the journalism department at UCLan, Preston.

thebusinessdesk.com launches in North West

I AM sure a few people will be interested to click around the newly launched thebusinessdesk.com website which has opened up a North West based service alongside its existing Yorkshire site.

How-Do has a bit of background on the people behind the site and it offers a clean and crisp design, with some interesting news articles running through it.

Not too sure the request to register for a free account to read the full story is very user friendly, I think such a step dramatically reduces the chances of other sites and blogs linking to you.

Personally I wouldn't be happy sending people to a site where they were being asked to register details to read a story, the connection I have with readers is too valuable for that.

How PR people can use social media

I KNOW a few PR pals follow the site so I thought I'd point you to Robin Hamman's presentation and notes on learning to listen to the conversations taking place online.

Pointing out some articles

JUST a quick collection of links featuring interesting posts dotted around the internet, and if you have a few hours spare this weekend a chance to listen to some music in Manchester.

Hal Varian: 14 Free business models - The Long Tail
A piece on Chris Anderson's blog, who is the man behind the Long Tail and he is currently working on a book titled Free that looks at alternative methods of generating revenue through the web.

Rue89: "Advertising is out of reach" - Journalism Enterprise
A look behind the scenes of one of the French language news websites I have been reading since it first came online, highlights the difficulties facing any internet publication.

The lifecycle of a news story - Alison Gow
A very interesting piece about how news stories could be compiled, written, commented upon, progressed and taken in so many directions with the tools out there today.

Breaking the email compulsion - The Guardian
Remember life before email? Well Suw Charman-Anderson looks at the world of email and the terrible stress and strain it has on people, "email is as addictive as a slot machine".

How to get noticed (the art of positioning) - ProBlogger
If there is one thing blogs and all the related tools of the internet let you do it is create and appeal to an audience, without requiring millions of pounds behind you.

The New Islington Festival - Manchester
If after following all these links you have a little time on your hands this weekend, then take up the chance to enjoy some free folk art, music, dance, film and some very special events.

The importance of time, your time

I WAS recently tagged by Louise Bolotin who wrote an interesting piece about the 'embarrassing' products she uses, despite having a keen eye on the environmental side of things.

I must admit that I don't use a great deal of stuff that might be considered dangerous in an environmental way, I'm a fan of bicarbonate of soda and the various recipes you can create with it, especially after reading my pal Tracey's writing in The Book of Rubbish Ideas.

Post-industrial newspapers and the challenges they face

A VERY thorough, insightful and thought provoking series of articles about why newspapers in the US, as well as those in other post-industrial countries, are struggling.

Transforming American Newspapers (Part 1): Digital Deliverance

via Kevin Anderson