Authentic Social Media

This blog was developed by Libby Davy (me… more below) with support from Graeme Sutherland (my partner). Gra will be behind the scenes and sometimes right here, helping make it all happen. He’s amazing.

We have been somewhat overwhelmed by the response to Authentic Blogging courses and consultancy. So please be patient with this blog in its present form. On one level we wanted it to all look fairly simple and entry-level wordpress for general beginners but the bespoke market is really taking off. Stay tuned for a revamp to reflect this later in the year.

My previous / parallel blog Learning is also worth a look-see.

• Libby’s Linked In Profile
• Gra’s Linked In Profile

Who are you? Who are we blogging for?

Meta-cognition about the “voice”…

The “voice” used on this blog is a work in progress and in no way meant to be prescriptive. You are you, and I am me. And my voice, like myself, like this blog, is a work in progress. It’s not meant to be polished corporate-speak. It’s meant to be a bit raw and becoming, open and transparent.

When I am writing, I am aware of who I might be speaking to. This could be anyone from a current student or client (an established blogger, business person or academic looking to begin or evolve), through to the 12 year-olds I met on the bus who told me all about how Bebo and My Space are evolving.

Howdy Jake, Freddy, Charlie - thanx 4 sharing yr thoughts so well! C I didn’t forget u.

I’ll be blogging regularly about “voice” as it’s a key part of the blogging journey. Who are we blogging for? It’s a big question and the answers are different for each of us. But I do encourage you to count yourself as the initial audience for your own blog. See the Essence of Blogging E-book for more on this. Start thinking about your constellation of stakeholders too. Here’s how that might look for one type of blogger (academics). We will be regularly posting stakeholder maps as it’s a key part of our bespoke blogging work.

I’ll also be looking forward to Gra and others (students, extended global blogging community) contributing via posts and comments. If you would like to become one of our regular contributors, get in touch and tell us why. We would love to hear from you.

Some Relevant Experience
& Current Context

This blog is primarily about blogging itself. See Courses and About. So I will focus my biog on that subject.

I’m very, very keen to see blogging help people connect and learn. I’ve got over 15 year’s experience now in working in and teaching creative, professional communications – for individuals and businesses. I have created and/or contributed to several blogs and have been maintaining www.barkingowl.com/learning since early 2005. There are loads of good posts there about a range of topics around education, blogging, creativity, learning, human becoming. I will refer to it regularly but focus my work primarily on this blog from now on.

As a co-founder of one of the internet’s exciting new online communities at www.scouta.com I host groups on Education and Brighton. Join in the game and see how clever Scouta can learn what podcasts and videos you like and recommend more.

Currently intermitting from a wonderfully inspiring Masters in Education Studies (Person Centred) at the University of Sussex, I am well interested in how blogs support life-long, personal learning through their open, reflective and communal nature.

I have a degree in professional communications and media studies and have taught writing, editing and publishing at a university and community level. I am also a published and awarded short-story writer, and have had work broadcast on national radio.

For many years, I consulted in strategic communications and marketing, and business coaching. I am still available to assist professionals in small or large enterprises.

Actually - I ran away screaming from the propaganda industry. Spent many years working on the “other side” as an unpaid activist. Set up the Sustainable Business Network and sites like The Big Love Gift Guide. Ran TV Turn Off Week one year in Australia and the coverage went through the roof. Better put the serious Linked In here too.

I guess you could say I am a fun, friendly, Australian mother with a passion for business, education and human potential. Find out more by googling me (CVs are so last century). But please note I am not the Libby Davy who married a Freemason. Couldn’t stand not getting given the secret handshake. All other references will probably be relevant, or a complete sidestrack down the rabbit hole. A wild and diverse life it has been. With a whole lot more to come!

Consultancy

Providing blogging and communications education and coaching, strategic communications, marketing and stakeholder relations support for leading individuals and organisations. Small creative writing classes held regularly, inspired by Natalie Goldberg’s work.