ConvergeSouth: An interview with Sue
My newspaper column
In the future, news will come to you any way, anywhere and any time you wish. In fact, people like you will become news centers, telling stories with words, photographs and videos online.
The cost will be almost nothing. All you will have to do is learn how.
How do I know? Because it is already happening.
Welcome to ConvergeSouth 2007, an online creativity conference at N.C. A&T Friday and Saturday. The goal is to help people understand and use digital media.
It is a glimpse into the future, and it is free.
I asked Sue Polinsky, who organizes the conference, to answer a few questions. Sue is one of our new community columnists; read her article about ConvergeSouth on page H-3.
Q. What is its purpose?
A. From the time the conference was conceived via Instant Message with Ben Hwang, its function was to promote creativity online, get creative people online, and help get people online to find out if they are creative or want to be.
In addition, we sought to include more minority people in the online creative and entrepreneurial culture. That's why we asked A&T to host ConvergeSouth.
Creative people here took it upon themselves to build an event they wanted without asking anyone else to do it for them. With 'roll up your sleeves' activism and support from our local foundations, a small group created a nationally-known event and Greensboro has reaped recognition that may be priceless, especially if you want a job in the technology sphere.
Q. How would the typical newspaper reader benefit?
A. If you live in Greensboro and you read the paper, you might not know there is a bunch more online, like media presentations and comments from readers.
ConvergeSouth will show you how to make your own video or audio, which could make you an instant News & Record 'reporter.'
Besides, you live in world that, if you want to talk to or see your grandchildren, it might be more online than in real life. ConvergeSouth can help you with that.
Q. What can I expect if I come?
A. A free and open exchange. People of varying degrees of tech expertise from none to a lot. Tons of people who will answer any question you have (but won't fix your home computer). Almost unasked-for input on your ideas if you mention them. Huge networking opportunities. Good food, arranged by Janet Wright. A feeling of community based, in part, on appreciation of technology.
Workshops include Web site and blog marketing; blogging in specific genres; and lots of multi-media how-to. Plus, there are great events after the conference: a community barbecue, a music festival downtown organized by Sean Coon, and a film festival organized by his brother, Andy.
Q. How has the conference grown since the first one in 2005?
A. Each year, attendance has grown. We have more well-known and established online people in the audience. Consequently, the real discussion will come from the experiences and cutting-edge knowledge of the participants. Being in the audience is a great place to be because you can move the conversation.
Q. It's less than a week away. Do I need to register?
A. You can register up until Tuesday because that's our date to finalize food counts and we're printing nametags. Nametags get you free admission to music and film festival. But you can come without registering; we’ll have extra nametags. Register and get a full schedule of events at convergesouth.com.
Comments (10)
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Just noticed John how you guys have given liberal bloggers Ed Cone and Sue Polinsky a column.
When are you going to offer me or Guarino one?
Posted on October 14, 2007 9:32 AM
When you get grammar correct.
Posted on October 14, 2007 12:16 PM
Just noticed John how you guys have given liberal bloggers Ed Cone and Sue Polinsky a column.
When are you going to offer me or Guarino one?*Samuel Spagnola
When you get grammar correct*jw said:
Sam! It appears that JW just told you conservative blogging republicans to go screw yourself at some little school house somewhere in establishment corportate cyber space. Why don't you and Bubba start a anti-Orwellian conference at Disneyland to balance this so-called community feel good conference from a out-of-state Orwellian stream media corporation.
If I didn't know any better! I would swear that JW is really a Bushbot republican in drag who hates competition and stupid questions from Liberal bloggers.
Posted on October 14, 2007 3:49 PM
"When you get grammar correct".
Funny, that is incorrect grammar as well.
Posted on October 14, 2007 4:08 PM
Samuel, Dr. Guarino was a community columnist last year. As for you, did you apply?
Posted on October 14, 2007 5:17 PM
I didn't John. Others have informed me about this process, and I confess that I wasn't aware of it. So to the extent, I am wrong, I stand corrected.
Posted on October 14, 2007 5:48 PM
No problem. Check with Allen. You can still write op-eds even if you're not an "official" community columnist.
Posted on October 14, 2007 8:23 PM
As far back as my first year on my college newspaper I member hearing people of all sorts of views say: "You only have the other side represented in the paper. They get special treatment. Whey aren't there any columnists like me?"
At which point I would always say: "Have you tried to become a columnist or submitted a column at the paper?"
Never got one "Yes, I did."
A few of those people went on to write with us, others didn't bother -- they just wanted to complain.
Posted on October 15, 2007 11:19 PM
I can assure you, Joe, that I want to do so much more than "complain".
When I tried to pay for space in the N&R to tell my story (you see, for over four years, the N&R has not been able to spare a reporter), I was turned down. I have little doubt that "applying" to be a guest columnist would go anywhere but JR's trash can.
The arguments I made at Sam's stand: http://theconalt.wordpress.com/2007/10/14/fair-balance-at-the-nr/
Moreover, they stand unanswered. I think that says more about your process than it says about me (or anyone else who might question how your columnists are chosen).
Posted on October 16, 2007 12:52 AM
Hi Mary,
If you want a column then apply for it. If turned down then you have something to talk about.
I think it would be great to read your case in the NR.
You are not proven correct until you try...and you have very little to lose by the effort.
In addition, you might want to meet with Hammer and see if his paper would be interested in a multipart series.
good luck,
me
Posted on October 18, 2007 8:24 AM