The Wardman Wire

I’m in Wales this evening and tomorrow for the Debate about Blogging at the Senedd, so there’ll be very little from me.

I am hoping that the debate will be streamed, or at least recorded - if so I’ll post it to the front page.

Everybody else will be posting as usual, with a couple of timed posts from me.

I’ll post a report on my return.

After some kerfuffle on the Welsh blogs last week and poking a stick into what turned out (for once) to be the right hornet’s nest, I’ve been invited to take part in a debate about blogging at the Senedd. These are the details and speakers:

To Blog or Not to Blog? !!!! NEW PROGRAMME !!!!

6.00pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday 21st October 2008

Conference Rooms C&D, Ty Hywel, National Assembly for Wales

The line up now is enthusiastic bloggers Peter Black AM, Matt Wardman and Betsan Powys, Political Editor of BBC Wales, along with scepticIsm and commentary from Eleanor Burnham AM, Annabelle Harle from the Electoral Reform Society, and Victoria Winckler, Director of the Bevan Foundation. The discussion will be chaired by Daran Hill, MD of Positif Politics.

This event is being held in the Assembly with the support of Peter Black AM. Refreshments are provided with the support of Positif Politics. We are trying also to get the discussion streamed.

All welcome - please confirm your attendance can you email Daran Hill on daran@positifpolitics.co.uk

I’ll be going down for early afternoon on Tuesday on the train. If anyone is going to be around drop me a line on mattwardman AT gmail DOT com and we can meet up for a coffee.

Click through on the title for full information.

This morning I listened to a few minutes of a programme on BBC Radio 4 about the Caernarfon area - the stronghold of Plaid Cymru.

The point that I found most interesting was that the support base is built around a framework of social networks in the community. That’s obvious, but it’s fascinating to hear interviews with the people who created and comprise the network.

Click through on the title for the audio segment.

In place of a traditional Senedd Circular this week, we are publishing the shortlist for the Welsh Politico Blog awards, as a way of introducing some recommended reading amonst Welsh Political blogs.

A competition run by Ordovicius has now received nominations from all four panel members.

The Welsh Politico Blog Award consists of the Gold, Silver and Bronze seals of Owain Glyndw^r, which will be awarded to the three blogposts that the panel judge to have made the greatest contribution to or had the biggest impact on Welsh politics in 2008. The following is the final shortlist.

My piece about the Cardiff Political Blogging debate next Tuesday, which I cross-posted to Miss Wagstaff’s Salon in a slightly toned-down form:

Speakers are Peter Black AM and Betsan Powys, Political Editor of BBC Wales, and Eleanor Burnham AM and Annabelle Harle from the Electoral Reform Society. In the Chair is Victoria Winckler, Director of the Bevan Foundation

This event is being held in the Assembly with the support of Peter Black AM. Refreshments are provided with the support of Positif Politics.

I think that that list of names for this debate, comprising two professional politicians, a specialist in the political process and a big media journalist, misses the point. It is also a symbol that the most important aspect of political blogging - the potential for engagement in the political conversation by those who would not do it otherwise - may not yet been sufficiently absorbed.

has stirred up some debate - good. There is a long comments thread.

Click through on the title for my contribution.

A day after writing a piece about the Slugger Awards celebrating blogs as a tool for creating a greater involvement in politics by ordinary people, I have run across an example that is in the opposite direction.

There will be a debate about the value of political blogging organised by the Bevan Foundation in the Senedd on Tuesday 21st October:

To Blog or Not to Blog?

6.00pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday 21st October 2008

Conference Rooms C&D, Ty Hywel, National Assembly for Wales

You are invited to attend a debate on the value of political blogging.

Speakers are Peter Black AM and Betsan Powys, Political Editor of BBC Wales, and Eleanor Burnham AM and Annabelle Harle from the Electoral Reform Society. In the Chair is Victoria Winckler, Director of the Bevan Foundation

This event is being held in the Assembly with the support of Peter Black AM. Refreshments are provided with the support of Positif Politics.

I think that that list of names for this debate, comprising two professional politicians, a specialist in the political process and a big media journalist completely misses the point. It is also a symbol that the most important aspect of political blogging - the potential for engagement in the political convesation by those who would not do it otherwise - has not yet been absorbed by the political and media establishments.