Martin Hofmann

a personal blog about technology, communications and other stuff that interests me

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Three Questions for Lee de Lang

Three Questions for Lee de Lang

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Mike (left), Lee (right)Having recently switched from the private sector to the public sector, I am interested in perspectives on how governments can use social media to improve information sharing and dialogue with citizens. I asked Lee de Lang, partner at video production company Flashframe Digital Media, three related questions.

1) Have you seen an example of social media integration in the public sector that you really liked?

Lee: My partner Mike and I have been impressed with a couple of programs we’ve been exposed to through our client work. One recent project that really stands out is the City of Ottawa’s launch of their green bin program in 2009. The campaign was designed by High Road Communications, who subcontracted us to shoot and edit a series of YouTube videos to help educate Ottawa residents about what should (and should not) go into their new green bins. To this day, the City continues to stay connected with Ottawa residents via their website as well as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. I remember being very impressed with that campaign, and it was so much fun to play a small part in it (especially because we got to rock out with Ottawa-based band Loudlove and play music-video directors for a day).

As far as my personal experience with public institutions, I can’t say that I’ve seen any really compelling social media programs here in Toronto; however, during the recent municipal election I did rely mostly on Twitter for my election news and I followed the tweets of several candidates; I have to say, I felt more engaged and interested in a local election than ever before.

2) What is the “one thing” you think government could do better using social media, digital communications or web technology?

Lee: Oh that’s easy: more online video! Kidding.

No actually, I think that in recent years governments at all levels have made pretty good strides towards offering more information and services online. Moving forward, if governments want to build relationships and trust with their constituents, they should focus more on engaging and dialoguing with people via two-way communication channels like blogs, live chats, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

And at the risk of blatantly plugging our product, I of course believe that when it comes to telling your story online in an engaging and entertaining way, video has to be part of the mix. Create a YouTube channel, embed video on your website, send video links by email. Video is more accessible and cost-effective than ever so it’s a whole new world of possibilities.

Also, I see an increasing demand among consumers for ways to connect and do business via mobile phones, and there is no reason why this shouldn’t apply to the public sector. The day that I can pay my parking ticket by scanning the barcode with my iPhone will be the day that I pay that ticket on time – and I actually think I won’t mind it that much, ‘cause that would be just so cool.

3) How has social media helped you in your professional life and do you have any tips or tricks to share?

Lee: As producers of online video content, social media surrounds everything we do at Flashframe Digital Media; our work lives on YouTube, websites and blogs, and travels via Facebook and Twitter. For our clients, we know that social media is beneficial in to helping them monitor and measure consumer preferences and behaviour, and for building lasting relationships between consumers and brands.

As for tips or tricks: I try to do most of my online socializing through my mobile phone. Engaging online can become a huge time-suck if you’re not careful but with my iPhone apps like (Facebook and TweetDeck for iPhone) I can carve out time to read tweets or check out a friend’s Facebook page during slower moments, like when I’m standing in line for a latte or waiting for video footage to render. It’s not just about multitasking; I also find it also helps me limit my social-media screen time.

Lee de Lang is a partner at Flashframe Digital Media, a Toronto-based video production company specializing in viral and internet video for social media campaigns. Flashframe was recently named to the PROFIT HOT 50 list for 2010. Lee can be contacted at www.flashframedigital.com.

[Disclosure: I’ve worked with Lee on video projects during my time at High Road but not on the example he mentions.]

Ein Blog fuer meine alten und neuen Fotogallerien

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Seit zehn Jahren habe ich Fotos fuer Freunde und Familie ins Netz gestellt, und dafuer einige Seiten mir verschiedenem Design erstellt. Vor einer Weile habe ich damit begonnen, die Fotos dieser Seiten in einem neuen Blog zusammenzubringen. Ich hatte erst ueberlegt, die alten Fotogallerien hier auf martinhofmann.net zu integrieren.

Aber dann habe ich dafuer ein neues und separates WordPress blog benutzt, weil es einfacher war. Es ist noch in Bearbeitung, aber es geht voran. I mag das neue Layout, das auf einer Vorlage von StudioPress basiert und dem Ganzen ein einheitliches Design gibt.

Es hat Spass gemacht, in den alten HTML-Seiten mit meinen verschiedenen Amateur-Designs zu stoebern. So sehr ich die Fotos fuer Lori, meine Freunde und meine Familie eingestellt habe, es hat auch auch Spass gemacht, mit HTML herumzuspielen.

Das neue Fotoblog laesst sich durch einen Klick auf das Bild oder hier erreichen.

A blog for my old and new photo galleries

A blog for my old and new photo galleries

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I’ve been putting up photos for friends and family for the past decade, and created a number of differently designed pages for them over the years. A while ago I started to work on bringing the photos together in a new photoblog. I had first considered adding the old photo galleries to martinhofmann.net here.

But then I decided to organize all the old photos in a new, separate WordPress blog with a gallery plug-in and a nice overview homepage. I will continue to use if for new photo galleries but keep the actual blogging here. The photoblog is still a bit of a work in progress but it’s getting there. I like the layout from the StudioPress template that gives it all a consistent look & feel.

It was fun to go through all the old HTML-pages with my different amateur design approaches. As much as I posted the photos for Lori, my friends and family to see, half the fun was definitely in fiddling around with HTML.

Click on the image of the screenshot with the new design or here to go to the new photoblog.

Now is the time

Now is the time

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After 15 years of working in the agency world, I am joining the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in a communications role.

Leaving High Road is tough. It’s a special place. I have a lot to be thankful for, and a lot of colleagues, clients and partners to thank. My seven and a half years at High Road were full of change and growth. The agency tripled in size, expanded from three to five offices, and won big Canadian brands and interesting U.S. clients. During that same time, digital technologies and social platforms have added new ways for people to communicate, connect and search for information. High Road has trained, hired and acquired to stay ahead of these developments and make sure the right skill sets are in place to help clients benefit from them.

What has stayed consistent throughout all the change is a corporate culture that combines leadership with team work, risk-taking with sound advice, and entrepreneurship with fun. I am lucky to have benefited from it; I learned a lot from High Roaders. Another thing that won’t change: the fact that High Road is an agency. This is why I have decided to make a move. I started my career in the public sector (on a different continent), and always considered it something worth revisiting. Well, now is the time.

I love that governments are increasingly going digital to communicate or seek input. For example, Canada recently let people and organizations submit and vote on ideas for its Digital Economy Strategy; Germany’s chancellor and some ministers are answering citizen’s questions using “many-to-one communications” platform DirektZu.de; the U.S. Department of State in 2007 launched its DipNote blog and added other social media services over time. A lot is already happening across the world, and we need more of that. I want to contribute to it here in Ontario. But it’s not simply about choosing new ways over old. It’s about looking at all aspects of communication, and choosing the smartest ways to inform and interact. Digital, social and mobile ideas can play a big role here.

Yet, my best personal experience with government communications is still a handshake. When I arrived in Canada ten years ago, I was greeted at immigration with an extended hand and the words “welcome to Canada; glad to have you here.” Whether it was based on a customs officer’s individual effort or official guidance, I don’t know. What matters to me is that the welcome handshake made me both feel excited about my future in a new country and think about my responsibilities as a new resident.

It was a simple, powerful act of government communication. As a public relations professional, I always thought it is an example of something to aspire to. Granted, interaction between government and citizens is usually more complex and less heart-warming. But I’ll carry the spirit of the handshake and the passion for new ideas with me when I start my next job on Monday at the Government of Ontario. I can’t wait to meet my new team and get going.

If you have suggestions or examples of great government communications, I’d love to hear from you.

Vielfalt is kein Problem, sondern Realitaet

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Ariel Magnus hat Recht.

Spiegel: Wenn Sie sich die aktuelle deutsche Integrationsdebatte anschauen: Was erzählt sie Ihnen über die Deutschen?

Ariel Magnus: Sie schaffen sich ein Problem, wo keines ist. Wir leben in Gesellschaften, in denen es viele verschiedene Leute gibt mit vielen verschiedenen Herkünften. Wer das als Problem sieht, begeht schon den ersten Fehler, denn die Vielfalt ist kein Problem, das einer Lösung bedarf, sondern schlicht die Realität, in der wir leben.

Der argentinische Schriftsteller Ariel Magnus im Interview mit Der Spiegel.