Best Of 604 Awards | New Media

Dec 09 2008

Vancouver Politics Bloggers in “Bare-Knuckles Showdown” for 604 Blog Awards

Published by jnarvey under blogging,canadian politics,Current Events,MyLife,politics,social media,Vancouver,Vancouver politics

The newswire is buzzing in the final hours of the campaign to win Vancouver’s Best of 604 Blog Award for Best Politics Site or Blog. Here’s the latest reporting I’ve found:

Politics Bloggers in Race to the Finish

10 December 2008 (VANCOUVER) – With less than 24 hours to go in the campaign, Vancouver’s politics bloggers are pushing hard to get every last vote.

The competition is fierce for the title of Best Politics Site or Blog at the Best of 604 Blogging Awards in Vancouver. Some observers argue its even stealing attention away from the larger political crisis happening in Ottawa. “Who cares what the Governor General has to say about that sweater-wearing dude or the coalition when we’ve got a bare-knuckles political showdown right here?” says Biff Toledo, author of the non-partisan political blog, BiffingtonPost.com.

Vancouver politics blogger Jonathon Narvey is Twittering and blogging like mad to get the vote out for his blog, Currents (www.jnarvey.com). “I’m in to win,” Narvey explains. “You know the old saying, when you’re in a blogging contest, you have to Tweet and Facebook-spam all of your friends and contacts to beat the competition? Well, it’s exactly like that.”

Narvey has big plans if he wins the contest. “Let’s face it, this is just one step away from being the mayor of Vancouver. Watch your back, Gregor.”

None of the other politics blog authors would go on record by press time, but one anonymous campaign representative actually denied there were any other campaigns operating. “I have no knowledge of any politics blog contest campaign, nor can I understand why anyone would waste their time with such an inconsequential endeavor,” the source explained.

It’s hard to say who’s in the lead for the competition, says Fraser Institute analyst Bikbik McGillicutty. “Some nominees in the category such as musical performer Matthew Good or the online newspaper the Tyee probably have a natural edge,” McGillicutty notes. “But when it comes to this kind of contest, can star power or a team of professional writers compete with a tenacious and unbalanced guerilla marketer? Hard to say.”

The Best of 604 Awards Reception happens in downtown Vancouver on Thursday, Dec. 11, hosted by 2008 Tech Woman to Watch Rebecca Bollwitt, better known under her famous blogging persona of Miss604. Voting at www.bestof604.com/category/best-political-site closes at midnight, Dec. 10

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Dec 09 2008

Currents Blog Flogging. The Controversial Campaign Continues

Published by jnarvey under blogging,MyLife,politics,social media,Vancouver

In the course of the campaign for Best Politics Site or Blog at the Metro Vancouver 604 Blog Awards, outrageous rants, scurrilous rumors and innuendo have put this Vancouver politics blog at ground zero of a hard battle for hearts and minds. Check these out:

DaveO (Choogle On With Uncle Weed) on Ephemeral Feasthouse mixes kind words like “he offers up the rightie punditry i require for expanding my mind” with surreptitious venom. We’re still friends, though.

Raul (Hummingbird604) sees controversy and shadowy no-goodness all around me. Yikes.

Ruth Seeley asks why boys must be boys (because they aren’t whales?) and takes issue with the mud-in-the-trenches monkey warfare of the campaign. Will it change? If not now, when?

Don’t forget to vote!

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Dec 09 2008

Vote for a 604 Blog That’s Always Right, Most of the Time

Published by jnarvey under blogging,canadian politics,Current Events,MyLife,politics,social media,Vancouver

I am honored and not a little flattered as Currents is nominated for a Best of 604 Blog Award in the category of Best Politics Site or Blog. Just to be in the same company as political commentators like the Tyee, Public Eye Online and Unambiguously Ambidextrous makes me feel like a winner.

That said, I do actually want to win this thing. Why should you vote for Currents at jnarvey.com? Here are a few reasons:

1. You actually like what I have to say about politics, or whatever else I’m blogging about. You’ve read something I wrote and thought, “Wow. I never thought of the issue like that before. Cool!”, or “I was thinking the exact same thing, but I didn’t know how to put it. Narvey nailed it!” You liked a post enough to offer an insightful comment.
2. You hate what I have to say about politics. It evokes a primordial, gut-wrenching response. You’ve left a libelous comment at some point, or decided not to comment in the hopes that ignoring a post would make it go away. I affected your life.
3. If you vote for Currents at jnarvey.com and I win, I will strip down to my underwear at the Best of 604 Blog Awards. Let’s face it, no one in the Vancouver blogosphere wants to see my tackle dangling. But perhaps you’ve been just a liiiiiiittle curious about what hairy patches and tattoos lie underneath the clothes that my wife picks out for me? Also, I’ll donate any coins people toss my way to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.

Can I count on your support?

UPDATE: I am advised by my closest campaign aides that my promise to let it all hang out (well, almost all) in the event that I win could detract somewhat from the spirit of the 604 Blog Awards and also put the kibosh on a promising career. As well, some pointed out that the proposal might actually be a disincentive for some to vote for me, as some people find massive amounts of body hair on pale skin somewhat unpleasant.

As such, I propose instead that if I win, I will donate at least $100 to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Should I find a person or group of people willing to donate with me, I will match funds up to $250 (ie. $250 from me, $250 from an individual or group, for $500 total). This seems more in keeping with the real community spirit of this honorable blogging event. People who want to pledge matching funds should contact me through my Gmail account (yes, I know Gmail has been wonky this week) at jnarvey (AT) gmail.com

Remember to vote!

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Dec 09 2008

Bloggers Face Controversy at Best of 604 Awards. Now We’re In For It!

Published by jnarvey under blogging,Current Events,MyLife,social media,Vancouver

Found this bit about my participation in the upcoming Best of 604 Awards (which is supporting a very good local cause, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, by the way) on the newswire this morning. What’s it all mean?

Bloggers face controversy at “Best of 604 Awards”

VANCOUVER – Bloggers in the run up to a major vote in the tech mecca of Canada’s west coast are up in arms over a surprise nomination for the Best of 604 awards.

A late-in-the-campaign nomination for Vancouver-based political commentator Jonathon Narvey under the Best Politics Blog category for his blog, Currents, has outraged some voters. They suggest Narvey’s blog should be disqualified on a technicality.

“It’s not really a political blog at all,” says social media consultant Dave Olson, author of the Choogle On With Uncle Weed blog. “Sure, he’s been on top of the crisis in Ottawa, and his posts on the local election were not entirely lame. But half the stuff Narvey writes about isn’t even politics. He wrote about his favorite iPhone song on Saturday! Sure, he’s a nice guy, but he doesn’t have the right experience.”

Others took issue with Currents’ confusing title and domain name mismatch. “The blog is called “Currents, I suppose referring to current events or something, but the website is www.jnarvey.com,” notes fellow Vancouver blogger Raul Pacheco, nominated in several categories for his blog about the environment, Hummingbird604. “So which is it? Who is the real Jonathon Narvey? And what is the full story about his connection with Joe Solomon at EngageJoe.com?”

The Currents blog author said he was trying hard to stay above the controversy. “I’m happy to be a part of this democratic process, along with some other great bloggers whom I respect. I’m glad we get a chance to explore ideas together and get just a little recognition for our efforts. In the end, that’s what this vote is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?”

The Best of 604 Awards Reception happens in downtown Vancouver on Thursday, Dec. 11, hosted by 2008 Tech Woman to Watch Rebecca Bollwitt, better known under her famous blogging persona of Miss604.

Interesting stuff. All I can say right now is that it was an honor to be nominated for the Best Politics Site or Blog category. Can I count on your support? Vote for a blogger you can believe in.

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