sys: Bloginabox

What's all this about, then?

Blogging is like keeping an online electronic diary with a few 'added extras'. This site is aimed at civic leaders and senior officers who want to explore blogs for the benefit of the people that they serve.

It all started with a pilot under the UK Government funded Local eDemocracy National Project.  Back then a group of bloggers converged in this space under a project entitled 'ReadMyDay'.  Following a successful pilot the service was rolled-out nationally to anybody who wanted to join.

In 2007, ICELE took ownership of the Readmyday service and conducted an independent evalution on how it might be improved.  This resulted in some development work and rebranding into the service today, Bloginabox. 

This aim of Bloginabox is to benefit potential bloggers by providing the ‘know how’ and platform do this effectively. Bloggers have the opportunity to start thier own, individual and customisable blog as well as get involved in a community of bloggers who will share ideas, experiences and the civic leadership theme.

Why blog?

Well, having a blog is a bit like having your own website. The difference is that blogs can be started and updated vey easily and quickly. Equally people can leave comments on blog posts effectively turning a blog into a community conversation.

For councils the system satisfies priority outcome R6 around members' online space while participants will beenfit from increased visibility as well as the abiilty to broadcast to an audience from a central point.

The project is sponsored by the International Centre of Excellence for Local eDemocracy (ICELE)  and the blogging platform is based on licensed technology, impartially hosted (off council property). You will be expected to conform with various guidelines to avoid the sensitivies around posting personal opinion but this has been well thought through thanks to help from the Hansard Society .

Background: Civic Leadership Weblogs

Increasingly, weblogs are being used in place of conventional websites by elected representatives and local government officials keen to communicate more effectively and efficiently with citizens, staff, media and other tiers of government.

The practice of weblogging is bringing a tone to local government that is attractive to visitors, replacing the often dry, formal and static content of traditional government websites. Effective weblogging has its base in posts that are short, simple and timely. They can be augmented with photography, links and, crucially offer visitors the opportunity to post reactions and further information.

Weblogs are becoming more widely used both in the USA and in the UK. However there is some evidence that they are not being used effectively. This project sets out to develop models for weblogs specifically for use within the local e-democracy context. Attached to this would be a training module to ensure that users fully understand the scope and techniques of maintaining a blog.

Service providers

Account Holders

Participants are requested to maintain a regular blog and preferably for a minimum duration of 6 months using the supplied platform. The particpants may also be required for a short interview to discuss their blogging activity at some point to help with the data gathering exercise and evaluation of the project .

Inactive blogs may be removed (prior notice will be served).