Election night, watch the blogs don't bite
Wednesday, May 02, 2007

It'll never work. But let's have a bash anyway.

Here's the idea: I'll be sitting somewhere in the BBC with Joe Allen of Wales Elects. I'm told it's going to be semi-outside so I might wear the Doctor Who coat.

The two of us will have computers. This is bad news. It's impossible not to look like a techie geek if you're sitting in front of a computer on television. We might even be wearing glasses.

We were both probably bullied at school.

Anyway, the idea is (I think) that we live blog from within the BBC's election hub in Llandaf. This is, by the way, just about the only kind of hub the Lib Dems haven't promised in their manifesto.

But more than that, we'll be monitoring your blogs too and discussing the best of them through the night on the BBC's output in Welsh and English.

There is, of course, a very real danger that nobody will have written anything. Welsh politics is quite a small world at the best of times. And at 4 o'clock in the morning it's probably about as active as Nick Griffin's left eye.

So whether you're a politician, a crony, an observer or a pleb, get blogging on election night so that we can attempt the kind of multi-media convergence the BBC hasn't seen since Sara Edwards once accidentally answered a telephone in the newsroom. It doesn't matter how early or late you post. You don't even have to blog at all, you might simply wish to comment on what other people have written. Just give us a flavour of how you think it's all going and we'll lick it up and spit it out again.

If you want a badge to let us know you're joining in, then shove this picture on your site. Otherwise, just blog away. I'm sure it won't be hard to find you.

By the way, Scottish and even English bloggers are more than welcome to pinch this badge. Some have already done so.

Here's a framed one in case you're a noncy type.

Perhaps we could all cross-fertilize on the night itself? I'm told if Scottish people write stuff down it's just about possible to understand them:)

Labels: , , , ,

posted by Blamerbell @ 12:12 am,

38 Comments:

At 12:59 am, Blogger Tegwared ap Seion said...

Pleb who hasn't blogged in a few months planning on doing so, hopefully! Looking forward :)

 
At 1:44 am, Blogger Alwyn ap Huw said...

As I am up until the early hours most night I will probably have a thing or two to say on both of my blogs as the results come in.

You say that you will be commenting on blogs in both language, so do you have a Welsh picture that I can stick on my Welsh blog?

How do you live blog? - Do you post a new comment every couple of minutes or do you just continuously post edits to one post?

 
At 6:01 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

How do you live blog? - Do you post a new comment every couple of minutes or do you just continuously post edits to one post?


I think it's the latter. I'll be live-blogging in English on Ordovicius and in Welsh on e-clectig, so I'd also like a banner in Welsh, if possible

 
At 9:28 am, Blogger Che Grav-ara said...

I would love to live blog. Dont think it will happen though. Be interested on catching up with your post after the election mind!

 
At 9:48 am, Blogger Blamerbell said...

Good point. I'm not the badge maker. But I'll ask...

 
At 9:53 am, Blogger Rhys Wynne said...

I'll be tucked up in bed, but sounds like an interesting idea.

Maybe you could add some web service like
Yahoo Pipes (http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/) or similar to aggregate feeds from participating blogs,

Alternatively, ask participating bloggers to tag* each post with an agreed distinctive tag (e.g. 'assembly2007')

You can then set up an RSS feed (via Technorati) that picks up all posts tagged with assebmly2007 and have a feed reader on your blog, on the Wales-Elects blog or a new one for the evening.

*In Blogger, this means putting assembly2007 in the 'labels' box, and as a new category in Wordpress (I think!)

Just an idea

Someone with a more know how than me could set something up easier

 
At 9:56 am, Blogger Blamerbell said...

Sound like sensible ideas to me, Rhys.

I am also pretty clueless on the tech side, but I'll give it a go.

 
At 10:46 am, Blogger bethan said...

Iwould like to but I don't have a laptop unfortunately, and I'll be at a count. If anyone fancies donating one I would be more than willing to join in though!
otherwise I'll give an account of sorts the next morning.

 
At 10:54 am, Blogger Glyn Davies said...

I'd like to have joined you all - but I cease to be an AM at midnight and my computer is deactivated. As far as the National Assembly is concerned I become a non person until the votes are counted.

I'm also working for the beeb at Llandaff - so may find a way to comment myself - and read yours of course!

 
At 10:59 am, Blogger Blamerbell said...

Glyn, I'm sure someone at the BBC will log you in so that the electorate isn't deprived of your acerbic wit and insight:)

And Bethan, there's nothing to stop you posting before you go to the count, is there?

 
At 11:06 am, Blogger almostwitty.com said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 11:22 am, Blogger almostwitty.com said...

Good luck - I was working behind the scenes at the BBC Wales General Election coverage back in 2005. Aye them were days...

I'll give live blogging a go as the results come in. I'm particularly intrigued as to just how marginal Aberconwy is (!)

 
At 11:26 am, Blogger Blamerbell said...

Cheers Andrew (?)

It'll be good to have a voice from Aberconwy, especially as that will be one of the most interesting results of the night.

Due to declare at 3am I believe!

 
At 11:46 am, Blogger Aled Wyn said...

I hope to be blogging that night as well. Although god knows what i'll be talking about at that tie of the morning.

 
At 12:07 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

All sounds like fun. Keep it going Blammie - especially over the weekend as rumours and repercussions take hold.

I'm amazed no one has blogged anonymously and offensively about Bethan's request for a laptop, in light of Plaid policy.

Perhaps people have better things to do with just a day or so to go?

 
At 12:18 pm, Blogger Tortoiseshell said...

In for a penny, in for a pound ;-)

 
At 12:33 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I won't be live blogging but I may try and find Andrew Stallard to see the look on his face when the votes come in and his dream of a Labour orgie in the Assembly turns to dust.

He is a right shit

 
At 12:53 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm amazed no one has blogged anonymously and offensively about Bethan's request for a laptop, in light of Plaid policy.


It was very tempting...

 
At 12:54 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I won't be live blogging but I may try and find Andrew Stallard to see the look on his face when the votes come in and his dream of a Labour orgie in the Assembly turns to dust.


Go on Daran, take a photo just for posterity's sake ;)

 
At 1:03 pm, Blogger Mr Eugenides said...

I think I'll be doing the same from Scotland. A night of cynical election-watching, undisguised glee as self-important politicians lose their seats, and maybe even the odd result.

 
At 1:43 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't understand what 'semi-outside' means - are we going to be in a doorway?

 
At 2:30 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'll be live blogging from the Midlands (click link on my name) from around 10pm.

The Wardman Wire will be providing summaries of the results from my area (The Midlands), but also a special programme to keep you all awake:

1. Articles every hour on the hour to amuse and challenge bloggers between all the tedious political stuff
2. “Homework” that you can do to improve/raise the profile of your political blog while following the election.
3. A competition with a real prize (not a peerage though).

I’m also planning to provide a live chatroom throughout the night, but cannot confirm that until Thursday morning.

I would welcome visits to my test chatroom (link from above url) to verify that it works.

Matt

 
At 3:03 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ok I will give it a go and try and live blog I donnt really fancy being at a political do
Being cwtched up with my lap top a few gins and the opportunity to be acerbic just like Glyn is too tempting to miss

 
At 5:04 pm, Blogger bethan said...

I can do it before 10 o clock but there won't be any results by then, that's the only trouble.

 
At 6:11 pm, Blogger Tortoiseshell said...

Readjusted predictions to take account of a hunch I've had for months

I.E. Plaid and Conservatives level on seats.

 
At 6:51 pm, Blogger Blamerbell said...

Regarding those of you who have asked for Welsh blogging badges, Betsan says "eitha reit 'fyd".

I'm guessing, however, that the BBC badge making department has gone home for the day.

Sorry.

 
At 7:52 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

So Glyn, all your blogging about the election on your blog has been on an Assembly account paid for by the public purse?

 
At 8:39 pm, Blogger cymrumark said...

Aberconwy may not be that close a result. I struggle to beleieve the response we have had in Vale of Clwyd. Unless something odd happens Plaid will win Aberconwy the really close result may be in Clwyd West. Phil Edwards will do well on the day but the Tories and Labour have a strong postal vote built up over the years. If Phil polls 20% of the postals he will win.

 
At 9:21 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just to say, the Welsh political blog scene has been the best thing about this election.

It's left other media looking as if they're speaking loudly, clearly and slowly for those people who 'don't understand politics'. A breath of fresh air.

vote dotCYM tomorrow!

Sion
www.dotcym.org

 
At 9:36 pm, Blogger David Roberts said...

I have to agree with Sion that the Welsh Political Blogs are fantastic this Election.

Is anyone feeling nervous for tomorrow, no idea how its really going I keep changing my predictions by the hour. Being cnavassing tonight with Plaid in Caerffili, everyone feels quietly confident but I don't know.

 
At 9:37 pm, Blogger David Roberts said...

I have to agree with Sion that the Welsh Political Blogs are fantastic this Election.

Is anyone feeling nervous for tomorrow, no idea how its really going I keep changing my predictions by the hour. Being cnavassing tonight with Plaid in Caerffili, everyone feels quietly confident but I don't know.

 
At 10:31 pm, Blogger Blamerbell said...

Hear hear Sion.

And not to worry, Dewi. We'll kick off the debate with a clear the air predictions fest tomorrow afternoon/evening.

I'm only nervous because I still don't know who to vote for and I'm afraid I might suddenly get the urge to put a cross next to a completely wonky choice. It's the same urge that I have to jump off rooftops and step in front of speeding trains!

 
At 6:36 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

All of you should read the article in today's Times by Peter Riddell. He talks of the frustation of those who will be elected to local authorities and then find that the can do very little because of the financial constraints. The comments could equally apply to the Welsh assembly which in many ways resembles a large local authority but without he tax raising powers. Assembly members haven't performed well in a good financial environment . It will interesting to see how they will react to having to make difficult decisions in a world where they have encouraged voters to expect a free lunch. It would be difficult in an assembly where one party has a majority. In the chaos that will ensue after today it could transform Welsh politics in the next few years. The political losers will be those who form the administration.This makes any attempt by any party to shore up a Labour party which will have lost a number of fptp seats seem like long term political suicide. The long term aim of the opposition should be to play the long game and wait for 2011.

 
At 3:18 pm, Blogger bethan said...

I was expecting someone to have a go, but that was very lame Daran- you made the point about the laptops just to encourage it I think!

 
At 4:06 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anon said:
The comments could equally apply to the Welsh assembly which in many ways resembles a large local authority but without he tax raising powers. Assembly members haven't performed well in a good financial environment //

Maybe this election result will show all of them we really do expect them to perform better , and not just as mathematicians but in assessing the effects of their policies on the welsh electorate.

I'm thinking of the thousands of new pensioners who cannot afford the increase in their council tax this year. This is a huge issue in the election on the doorstep yet it has had little coverage by the media. The LAs blame the Assembly and the Assembly blame the LAs. The latest increase has resulted in real hardship and another is on the cards next year.

These are the pensioners who fall through the net, not eligible for pension credits, with mortgages and suffering a big drop in income since retiring (courtesy of Gordon Brown)

 
At 9:26 pm, Blogger Bonheddwr said...

Has you got a list of all the Welsh Blogs that will be live blogging tonight? Can you post them as a new item on this site Blamerbell, so that we can find them easily?

 
At 9:26 pm, Blogger Bonheddwr said...

oops... that should be 'Have' not 'Has' :-s

 
At 12:26 am, Blogger Independence4Celts said...

Plaid seem to be the only party of Wales that take notice of the young here in Wales. Why should I have to pay thousands of pounds to go to University; education should be free to anyone who seeks to better themselves. Helping youngsters on the housing ladder; someone the other day said "£5000 isn't enough"; what's the other parties doing?
I totally agree with Leanne Wood's statement about independence and that we can actually look after ourselves. I mean at the moment Wales is the poorest part of the UK and one of the poorest countries in Western Europe; why? Isn't the UK one of the richest in the World? The fact is that the english government as raped our land of resources and still is. We need to take control of this. Stop them from flooding anymore valleys so that their cities can have water; they're are our valleys, therefore, it is our water.
I know in my lifetime, we will be free; no more subjugation. CYMRU AM BYTH!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ASj84C9yX4

 

Post a Comment

<< Home