Future of Convention Newspapers

Using #neara09 as the tag, we are hoping to digitally follow the conversations on the floor, in the hallways, over lunch and on the buses. We are really interested in contributed content more than the feed. Our feed originates with a blog. Content will include YouTube videos, Flickr photos and messages. The RSS will feed into Twitter and a mailing list. And then there is Facebook. There will also be a convention newspaper website. Both the hard copy and the website will cover the official business of the convention. Along with Robert's Rules and caucuses the newspaper makes possible the large democratic process. I believe that is the primary role of the newspaper, both hardcopy and web. And this is because of the essential need for hardcopy. Maybe in the future the Kindle or iReader will replace hardcopy, but not tjhis year. This is not to say a newspaper is limited to that role. The hardcopy can report on conversations but it is not real time and this not in the conversations. So we hope people will follow #neara09 but more importantly we hope they will use the tag on their tweets, in their blogs, with their videos and for their photos. Maybe #140tc will provide some ideas.