The final TED X north event in Manchester on Friday has already prompted some interesting blog posts and debates. In an attempt to bring them together, I’ve started the links below.
If you’ve posted or seen any others, please feel free to share them here.
* Journalist Louise Bolotin gives a good overview of the event and provides some food for thought about the role of the BBC and where the involvement in digital and UGC might start and stop at Here’s the Kicker.
* TV journalist Ian Aspin was critical about the event’s lack of inspiring speakers and lamented the fact that speakers such as myself were from mainstream media organisations but he also highlights speakers Phil Griffin, Paul Coulton and Hugh Garry as well as sharing some of the Ted videos at Really Good Thinking.
* A blogger that I’m afraid I can only identify as Kim from the about page gives a summary of the event at Global Socialite and makes two concluding points a) it happens again next year and b) it throws the speaker net more widely to bring us ideas and perspectives from fields we wouldn’t have thought to look in ourselves.
* There’s a tweetdoc of the event here which tracks everyone’s Twitter commentary of the proceedings here.
Any more?
Dim Sum Digital 
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your post on TEDx Manchester. I hope you enjoyed the event and had chance to meet lots of great people too. I did, and I got some good things from it.
Yes I felt TEDX Manchester to be “a tad short on impressive, inspirational contributors” overall. However, I went on to write about three speakers who gave, in my opinion, great talks that were very much in the spirit of what I’ve enjoyed so much about TED Global.
I don’t think my post, in context, expressed disappointment that some contributors were “from mainstream media organisations” (I’m a journalist, I work with mainstream organisations, as well as new ones, and will continue to do so, hopefully working together to improve things and include/serve a wider range of people).
What I said was “I’m not sure TEDxManchester, composed mainly of speakers currently employed in traditional media organisations and academic jobs, really provided a sense of vision even a fraction of that for which TED is now famous.”.
There are folk working in mainstream media and academic posts, and from a huge range of backgrounds, who are “remarkable, uplifting, outstanding people who have made things happen, overcome obstacles, and created meaningful stuff.” We need more of these people at TEDx.
I understand TED is about, and by extension TEDx, “ideas worth spreading”. These are usually presented by unique people with a depth of knowledge and an original or surprising “take” on their subject. Perhaps I’ve come to expect that from all contributors.
So, in my opinion, TEDx Manchester didn’t, on the whole, “give us the chance to hear more from leaders who can give us the benefit of their wisdom and experience, motivate us toward possibility thinking, and push us a bit further on through the challenges we face?”.
I did say “maybe I was expecting too much in the light of what I know of Big TED?” but I think many will agree the use of the brand name “TED” does set the bar very high in anticipated quality and inspirational value.
To be fair to the TEDx Manchester organisers, that’s a lot to live up to! They’ve already said they appreciate our honest feedback and will take it on board when considering future events.
Thanks very much for taking the time to read these comments. I know they are long but I’m grateful for the opportunity to explain my thoughts.
All the best,
Ian.
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