links for 2009-11-04

"Climate Pulse tracks a wide range of source for information, comment and content about the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference (COP15). It's different from mere aggregation services because there is an editorial layer and a social layer. The editorial layer allows curators to highlight specific pieces of content. The Social layer gets users involved in tagging and categorising content. In the near future, you'll even be able to take away a widget containing the flow from Climate Pulse – a widget that lets your friends, contacts or audience to not only consume but to contribute their own content, straight from your site, back into that flow."

They are restless, isolated, frustrated, and unsatisfied. They are getting more support and recognition for their work externally than they do within their own organizations. They are looking for really rewarding challenges and an environment where they can do innovative and ground-breaking work. They are in organizations that still view them as their social media or community outpost but they are not ready to think about social media or community as a business strategy that incorporates more of the organization – effectively leaving them in the desert with no water.

Media people are using Twitter as an instrument for sharing and crowdsourcing, for networking and live-reporting. A journalist with a popular blog or social media presence can only be positive for the publication’s brand.

Journalists from across the Arab world, North America and Europe are invited to participate in an online training course entitled “Freedom of expression in the digital age,” which will be held December 4, 2009 to January 22, 2010. Deadline to apply: November 27.

During the five-week course, participants will develop skills in producing multimedia content, including writing and blogging for the Web. They will also learn to manage online communities that attract constructive, responsible dialogue. Through an exploration of sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, participants will learn how social networking is being used in news coverage and how journalists can best use citizen-produced content in ways that promote intercultural understanding.

The course will be held in both English and Arabic to allow for dialogue between journalists from different backgrounds.