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Headlines of Change: The Smithsonian's Emerging Web and New Media Strategy

Jun 2008 25
Wed 7:00 PM
Location
R.F.D. Washington

810 7th St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 289-2030

Estimated attendance
 162  people attended.
4.00 4.0035

Who organized?
Jasmine Sante and Kristin Hodgson

7:00 PM Check in and networking
7:30 PM Presentation begins
8:30 PM Q+A and more networking

In 2007 the Smithsonian Institution began work on a first-ever comprehensive Web and New Media Strategy. This presentation describes the strategy-planning process, current status and direction, and a vision for the digital future of the Institution's 28 museums and research centers.

Michael Edson is the Director of Web and New Media Strategy at the Smithsonian Institution. He has been involved in practically every aspect of technology and new media at the Smithsonian, including digitization, public access to collections, networking, place-of-business applications, programming, project management, multimedia design and production, mobile platforms, Web and data strategy, and citizen-created content. Michael was the founding director of the Smithsonian's first blog, Eye Level (eyelevel.si.edu).

Previously, Michael was the Chief of Information Technology and New Media at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Head of Information Technology at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art. Michael has a BA from Wesleyan University. He is online a little at usingdata.net.

This meeting is sponsored by NavigationArts, Percussion Software, and Microsoft.

To check out Microsoft developer events, both online and in person, click here: Microsoft

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Talk about this Meetup

  • Sean
    Posted Jul 20, 2008 11:46 AM
    Sean
    Interesting speaker. No less than a dozen people in the audience were too disrespectful to turn the ringers off on their phones, Blackberry ect. Very rude and distracting!
  • Posted Jun 26, 2008 12:46 PM
    Leona Coffee
    Definitely worth attending. I picked up some ideas on how to approach articulating a shared strategy in my own decentralized organization.
  • Pre-Meetup comments below
  • Posted Jun 23, 2008 4:58 PM
    tom sakell
    I'll be there.
  • Posted Jun 17, 2008 9:52 PM
    tom sakell
    Looking forward to seeing how it's done at the Smithsonian.
  • Roy Wright
    Posted Jun 11, 2008 9:05 AM
    Roy Wright
    Real opportunity...knowledge sharing...as one of the behind-the-scenes SI Staff Volunteers. Witness SI centers digital vision.
  • Peggy
    Posted Jun 10, 2008 2:55 PM
    Peggy
    Excellent Idea for a Topic and Presenter. What a challenging job for Michael to pull together all the pieces of the Smithsonian for their web and new media strategy. I'm looking forward to it. Equally, I am looking forward to meeting others attending, since I am off out of DC and can't make the meetings. Cheers, Peggy
  • Travis Wissink
    Posted Jun 3, 2008 11:11 AM
    Travis Wissink
    This sounds like a documentary... A night about the museum. Seriously, I've heard Michael speak about what he's done at SI and it is very interesting.
  • Lori Woehrle
    Posted May 19, 2008 7:45 PM
    Lori Woehrle
    Would like to come but hubby has Nats tickets so I'm not sure.

Who attended?

  • 162 attendees
    • “ I think the challenge for an institution like the Smithsonian is greater than simply democratizing information by making as much publically available as possible. The speaker is interested in serving the needs of the "long tail" of special enthusiasts of particular subjects, but I didn't get a sense of how the ordinary majority of people with a passing interest in broad topics that might be subject of a museum exhibition are served by the putting content into the commons. User motivation is the key ingredient to understanding what will be successful or not -- the general public needs information presented in digestible portions, which is why museums have curators. ”
    • Jeanna (+2 guests)
      “ Excellent! I heard Michael speak before and he did a great job again this time. I definitely walked away with at least a couple of concepts I can use. ”
    • Dom (+1 guest)
      “ Was really misrepresented: Presentation was a 101 introduction to Web 2.0 using Smithonsian as background as opposed to a true web and media strategy. (Might have been wiser to have the vendor--Navigation Arts--present instead?) ”
    • “ It was interesting from a general point-of-view ... He didn't go into a lot of detail as was a little scattered. ”
    • “ It was a good meetup. The speaker was prepared and engaging. Could have gotten into more detail. A better introduction of the speaker would have been good, such as what was his background and previous work experience. ”
    • “ Comprehensive overview of Smithsonian Web and Media past and future. A mind expanding and captivating presentation. ”
    • “ Very esoteric - wanted more nuts and bolts about creating a collaborative strategy within a large-scale divergent organization and the leadership skills employed as a New Media manager. Otherwise, interesting quote-filled presentation on the latest theories about web community creation and trends. ”
    • “ Great presentation, so-so venue. ”
    • “ Good topic presented very well. ”
    • “ Interesting speaker. No less than a dozen people in the audience were too disrespectful to turn the ringers off on their phones, Blackberry ect. Very rude and distracting! ”
    • “ Only problem was not enough seating and if you knew you had such a big crowd coming that would have made it better. I was rescued with a chair and that made it bearable as I dobt if I could have stood in one place for more than abut 10 minutes without pain. So thank you very much for helping me out with that! The presentation was worth the 2 hour round trip drive. (I am in Woodbridge) ”
    • “ Brave and compelling speaker. It is great to see high level Smithsonian leaders committed to technological innovation and transparency of process. ”
    • “ Great presentation - a very insightful and influential presenter ”
    • “ Good talk. Very interesting speaker and a nice, friendly crowd. ”
    • “ It was a very informative presentation, certainly applied to what I am currently involved in. Michael provided additional information and references which I was unaware off and offered a different perspective on how to approach the sharing of content. I think that the presentation would have benefited from a different microphone set-up - perhaps a wireless lav would have helped Michale be a bit more engaging - I think that having to hold the mike throughout the presentation hindered hm a bit. Other than that great meetup! ”
    • “ The content was not what I thought it would be, but the networking was good. ”
    • Amy
      “ I was impressed by the task that Michael Edson is undertaking and was inspired by his vision for the Smithsonian. ”
    • “ Excellent presenter. The description of the program matched what was presented. Good high-level, helpful concepts. I think more questions could have been taken. ”
    • “ It was interesting from a philosophical point of view, but not terribly applicable in a practical sense. The speaker had a lot of what seemed to me to be unconnected ideas which didn't really lend themselves to real-world situations. ”
    • “ Very informative. The speaker was great. He provided a clear overview of the strategy that the Smithsonian is developing as well as the obstacles that need to be overcome....good talk. ”
    • “ Great idea -- but guess the speaker had an off day! ”
    • Nancy Proctor (+1 guest)
    • John Sutton (+1 guest)
    • Suzy (+1 guest)
    • wilson mar (+1 guest)
    • Larry (+1 guest)