One of the things that is missed in the blogosphere circles that I notice so much is blogging for profit, vs blogging for change. In the United States largely blogging and new media is about making money. And while this is something I’ve spent the last few years doing, my passion is really on ‘blogging for change’, and freedom of expression. I’m touched by heartwarming stories of Nepalese bloggers who share, and use blogging as a tool and a medium to bring about positive change in the world. The following story made my day, and made me realize how important blogging is to and to the world in which we live.

Dinesh Wagle, 29, a writer at the popular Nepali-language Kantipur newspaper started blogging in October 2004. Aided by his writer-friend, Ujwal Acharya, 28, he registered the website www.blog.com.np.

During the 15-month-long autocratic rule of King Gyanendra that ended last April, the site was considered a “huge hit” among Nepalese worldwide and their friends to get fresh news and information on Nepal. Then, they put down the “fresh and the latest” about the happenings for “news and information” hungry Nepalese.

Today, with peace and democracy together in place, Wagle maintains his diaries on the site. “We are Nepal’s first bloggers,” Wagle proudly asserts as he browses the net in his small cubicle. “Last week, I wrote about a concert I attended. Tonight, I might write about blogging culture.”

Source: DNA India

Originally posted on January 12, 2007 @ 12:26 am

Amanda Congdon, the videoblogger for ABC News signed a release to be tasered at CES. Personally, I think you would have to be pretty well mentally out of it to let yourself be tasered considering who knows what could happen to you. It’s been known to cause deaths even amongst the fittest of people.

For more information about tasers and the dangers of police use check out Amnesty International.

Originally posted on January 12, 2007 @ 1:19 pm

GM is headed in the right direction.

This year in Detroit we added “blog relations” to our traditional media relations activities during press days at the North American International Auto Show. GM invited, and paid for, travel to the Motor City by some selected blog writers from mostly non-automotive blogs. They write about such things as trends, safety, energy, environment, design, and parenting. We exposed these writers to a major auto show — some for the first time in their lives — to learn what kind of influence they’ll have with regard to GM and its products. Time, and the measurements we’ve undertaken, will give us some answers.

More companies need to engage bloggers. Invite them into their close walled compounds. Allow them to take part in the community. I think its a win win for consumers and companies who are honestly looking for good feedback. Here’s a great example of how to engage bloggers in a no strings attached fashion.

Host a Bloggers Party
Include In House Bloggers and Community Bloggers to have quality discussions about what you are doing.

There are lots of other great ideas floating around the blogosphere. The key thing is most companies don’t have it figured out. From monitoring to engaging in conversation. To many companies are relying on traditional PR companies. And those companies simply don’t get it.

Originally posted on January 13, 2007 @ 6:41 am