Thoughts on 'place blogging' after re-publica

The blogging team of the collaborative Berlin 'Hauptstadtblog' (capital city blog) lead a workshop today about regional blogging at re:publica. Belonging to the top 50 bloggers in Germany, they used the interactive forum to clarify their concept for themselves and to others.
There was a lot of concern in the room and in the entire event about branding and eyeing future monetarisation possiblities of social media.

This is what I have constructed out of all this for 'place blogging', still an emerging genre in the blogosphere. The following I attempt to apply specifically to 'Manly, Sydney' or this blog of place blogger aggregation: 'Places on Earth':

• Be aware of patterns of re-action to the main stream media and their 'agenda-setting'. Have a concept, an action plan and 'do your own thing'.
• Do not regurgitate stuff from the MSM, the (mainstream) political process, parties or other interest groups.
• Do not incorporate advertising or give in to 'pressures' as you loose autonomy and credibility.
• Be aware of recycled 2nd/3rd -'hand' stuff in the blogosphere from the dominant media. If anything provide a perspective shift and construct something new.
• A regional blog is NOT an official portal providing wayfinding and event locating.
• A regional blog provides an individual/collaborative unique perspective and bestows on the place specificity. Information, impressions most portals do not provide.

Initial impressions of re:publica

re-publica

Global Metropolis and specific spaces

In the period of the Global Village, numerous portals direct attention to event spaces in various cities. The globalised content, usually consumed in theme parks reduces urban space into one opaque mass. One could be anywhere, which is everywhere. The endless ever-sameness commands most of the digital documentation.

Endangered are unique places and modes of appropriation that distill the specificity of particular spaces. Do you know of such places?

Image:Berlin, Höfe