So as my friend Gini Dietrich mentioned in her post Doucheblogs and Spin Doctors yesterday, we’ll be presenting a session at this year’s BlogWorld Expo in New York.
Held between May 24 and May 26, it’s a gathering of bloggers, new media folks and businesses who are looking to understand how this platform fits in with today’s marketplace.
It should be a great event, and I’m looking forward to the session with Gini a lot. It discusses the ongoing turf war between the PR industry and bloggers, and why no-one benefits from it. We’ll share case studies and examples of the good, the bad and the ugly from both sides of the coin.
The session Gini and I are presenting is called Common Sense and Collaboration – The Last Stumbling Block for PR and Bloggers. It’s not the title Gini and I would have chosen, though; because it wasn’t.
Our original title was Doucheblogs and Spin Doctors, because that fit both our styles. We thought it was a nice play on words on the douchebags that we’ll be talking about (again, from both sides of the PR and blogging coin); and we thought it would catch people’s eyes.
Unfortunately, it didn’t go across too well, so we were asked to change it. Which is kinda disappointing.
See, for me, the great thing about BlogWorld – and events like it – is that they invite speakers based on that blogger or person’s views, voice and personality. So when Gini and I chose the original title of Doucheblogs and Spin Doctors, we thought it’d be fine because it covers our views, voice and personality.
Alas, not to be.
Part of me understands BlogWorld’s request to change the title. Rick Calvert of BlogWorld kindly called me to explain their decision and, from the audience they’re trying to attract to BlogWorld this year, perhaps our session title wasn’t suitable.
Yet part of me is disappointed as well. BlogWorld’s appeal is that it helps companies understand the blogging world, and the people that inhabit it. But this should include every part of it.
And that means understanding that blogger’s voice, warts and all.
So when you ask a blogger to change their title, that’s like asking them to rewrite a blog post that attracted you to them in the first place. Instead of having a post like “Alcohol Ruined My Life”, you’d have one called “Why a Cup of Tea Is Great”.
It’s not just Gini and I, either. I’ve heard of at least one other session that’s had to have its title renamed to fit in with the audience. Which then begs the question – should conferences (not just BlogWorld) invite folks and then take away what makes these people who they are to start with, or just not invite at all? Perhaps something for future thought.
C’est la vie.
So, while the title may have changed, the content hasn’t. Gini and I have one simple goal for anyone that attends our session – to blow your socks off and have you leave thinking. A lot.
It’s not going to be boring, we can promise you that. Unlike the new title.
See you there?
If you haven’t bought a ticket for BlogWorld yet but are thinking of going, you can get 20% off the ticket price by using the code DB20. You can buy your tickets here (affiliate link). Any affiliate sales will go to the charity Stop the Silence, a great organization that combats child sexual abuse.
image: bgolub