“Communication is about networking and the web is the purest reflection of that.”

The 2008 eCampaigning Forum brings together e-campaigning practitioners, managers, freelancers, entrepreneurs and bloggers to share the essential and emerging trends and practices in campaigning using interactive media. With the participants deciding the agenda for the majority of the time, a multitude of topics were treated including: Creating passionate and online activists, web 2.0 tools and tactics, social networking sites for online activity (other’s work and your own), Blogging in Campaigns, the swarm, Measuring impact - Assessing Web Traffic and Trends, Effective Email Messages, Trends, Social Networking Sites for eCampaigns, twittering and Storytelling.

Some personal event highlights are noted below.

Ben Brandzel, of the John Edwards campaign and previously MoveOn and GetUp, who opened the conference referred to “actionable moments”. He noted the success of splash sign-up pages; addressed the stumbling blocks for big groups doing online advocacy (the inside power strategy vs the outside power strategy), advocated that online engagement extend beyond an organisation’s IT department; he encouraged too the dissolution of “the fear of the nutcase.”

Most of the two days was spent in groups following the Open Space methodology. In suggesting sessions of interest, people determined the issues of importance and all were free to use their two feet and move between discussions.Fascinated by technology’s potential to leverage stories of real action and engagement, I convened a digital storytelling session on day 2. An exchange of campaigning stories ensued - successes, lesson learned, unexpected results and turns; mass media pick up; colleague engagement, cultural differences and audience perception. We collated a list of digital tools - audio, video (traditional and emerging), podcasting, blogs, competitions, games, nonprofit radio, even software to set a soundtrack to images: all these, efforts to help people tell a story in a compelling and engaging form. It was obvious the power of a narrative is a timeless entity. However, as the web offers more upon more means to enter this - be it at the beginning, middle or end - a challenge is often retaining clarity of message among so many mediums.

I particularly enjoyed the screening of the multi award winning film “We Are Together” on Thursday night. The film tells the moving and inspiring story of 12 year old Slindile and her two families - her own brothers and sisters and her South African AGAPE orphanage family. Filmed over three years by the RISE foundation, director and writer Paul Taylor, a key aim now of the film is to inspire action and fundraise for the issues of focus.

Further Reading:

• Jean O’Brien - Ecampaigning Forum - Update from Day 1
  
• Fair Say - Participant Content
• Karina Brisby - E-campaigning Forum April 10 - 11, 2008
• Brian Fitzgerald - Notes from the eCampaigning forum 2008