Are you going to Honolulu for MLA’s 2009 Annual Meeting? If so then consider becoming an Official Blogger for the 2009 meeting. While we can’t offer an “Official Blogger” t-shirt you will receive 3 AHIP points for officially blogging on the annual meeting.
In order to provide the most coverage MLA is looking for all types of people interested in writing about the events and activities occurring at the MLA. Potential bloggers do not need to be current authors of a blog, but must have experience using and posting with blogging software such as WordPress. Those selected as Official Bloggers will be asked to commit to authoring a specific number of posts per day.
MLA members traveling with laptops can apply to be an Official “Wireless” Blogger. Official “Wireless” Bloggers will be given a wireless card which will enable them to receive wireless access for the duration of the conference. There are eleven openings to be an Official “Wireless” Blogger. Bloggers with laptops and MLA sponsored wireless cards will be asked to author at least two posts per day. Since the number of wireless cards is limited the process will be competitive. A panel of judges will consider the blogger’s experience and previous online writing work (blog posts, newsletters, wiki entries, etc.).
Those who are traveling light and are not taking a laptop to the convention or those who already have a laptop and have their own wifi solution can also be Official Bloggers. These Official Bloggers may post their entries in the Internet Café or by other means such as by cell phone or by using their own wifi provider. These bloggers will be asked to author at least one post per day.
Both types of bloggers are eligible for 3 AHIP points. Bloggers will be posting to the central MLA 2009 Blog site http://npc.mlanet.org/mla09/. Bloggers will have the opportunity to sign up on a calendar http://npc.mlanet.org/mla09/?page_id=6 to blog about specific activities. This will serve as an aid to help bloggers and members know who plans on covering what aspects of the meeting and what areas might need additional coverage. Multiple people can blog about the same event (different perspectives are always welcome) but bloggers can use the calendar to view opportunities to post on something else. Bloggers are encouraged to post on items and events related to the meeting. This can be information from vendors in the exhibit hall, a new product, poster and paper sessions, section programs, lectures, continuing education, dinners and parties, discussions, etc.

Deadline is April 24, 2009. Results will be announced May 1, 2009.

Application to be an Official Blogger can be found at http://tinyurl.com/b74lbm, for more information please or questions please contact Michelle Kraft at kraftm[at]ccf[dot]org.

Labels: Annual Meeting, Blogs, Hawaii, MLA