Happy New Year!!!
sally.rose | December 23, 2009
In a couple of hours I’ll be jumping on a plane for a month long holiday… hooray!
Whilst saying farewell, the boss sat me down and asked, “What is our new year’s resolution for Open Forum in 2010?”, and I found myself at a real loss to answer that question.
Not that there aren’t any plans, but rather because if there is anything I have learnt in this job it’s that it is dangerous to get too attached to them.
Remembering back to when I was partying like it was 1999, because it was, I can still taste the sense that it was a momentous milestone. I was young, in love, and in the early days of a start-up with said beloved. So many well laid plans.
Plans changed.
In the spirit of learning from one’s experiences, eventually, at Open Forum we try to roll with the punches. So take that as an open invitation. If there is something you’d like to see us doing differently in 2010 – tell us.
My favourite Open Forum moments for the year…
Government and technology got a lot of attention this year thanks to the Government 2.0 Taskforce (who have just released their final report). Open Forum has been at the forefront of the Gov 2.0 movement in Australia since 2007, so 2009 has been an exciting year. In June, Open Forum hosted the National Human Rights Online Consultation. Nearly 500 of you participated in that consultation.
September’s Topic of the Month was another personal fave. International Voices brought together an anthology of blogs from University of Sydney Masters students, many of them international students, in an anthology with blogs from international writers. Proof that quality journalism isn’t a question of print or digital.
But perhaps what I am most proud of is what we haven’t published.
How many web publishers can say they got through 2009 without having to edit and post coverage of Masterchef, Britney’s lip synching or the escapades of a badly behaved footballer? Aha, yes, call me a snob, but I love my job. A huge thankyou to everybody who has blogged for Open Forum in 2009.
Open Forum is a not-for-profit venture. We continue to exist and grow thanks to the kind support of our sponsors: Standards Australia, MBF Foundation, NSW Surveyor General and Global Access Partners. All of us on the Open Forum team would like to thank them, not only for their continued financial support, but also for providing us with access to such brilliant brains to pick at our regular advisory board meetings.
And last but not least, thank you. Without our readers there would be no Open Forum. We mightn’t be a media giant, but here, in our corner of the internet, we have something very special. In a world where people tend to talk amongst themselves, it’s great to be a part of a community where people of differing opinions can have access to one another, and their government representatives.
We can’t reveal all our plans for 2010, except onwards and upwards.
Happy New Year Everyone!
The Open Forum team
Sally, Olga, Alison
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foggy
December 23, 2009 at 4:53 pm
new year’ s resolution
Hi Sally Rose,
good to see your blog.makes me feel beamingly happy just to see it.a very happy new year to you. may you enjoy your holidays!and return with fresh ideas and new for this forum.i chanced upon openforum in the beginning, but it is because of you i stayed on and enjoyed blogging.it is a nice world around me.i keep learning so many new ideas.Quagga’ s most unusual viewpoints to the many getting down to- business- blogs.
of course your enthused Government 2.0 discussion;i felt like a newcomer embarking on an expeditious trip! and take all the time in the world to make the new year resolution.never mind even if it is a topping secret.
les pickett
January 4, 2010 at 4:58 am
Happy New Year
Thank you GAP, Standards Australia, MBF Foundation and the Surveyor General NSW (what an intersting and diverse combination of sponsers) – and particularly to Sally, Olga and Alison for making the Open Forum available – and working so well. The more I travel the more I appreciate that we are able to present, challenge and discuss our different opinons and viewpoints – we must treasure and preserve this valuable capability. Looking forward to a stimilating, challenging, exciting and productive 2010 – it is going to be a great year – despite the mumblings and grumblings of the ever-present prophets of doom and gloom!
sally.rose
January 20, 2010 at 3:42 am
Thanks Les!
here’s to a fantastic 2010