Steve Feller writes in his weekly report:
The public information office is working on a "Lebo Life" blog that will appear as a tab on lebomag.com and will complement the magazine and its various social media. The aim of this blog, which should launch within the next month, will be to promote positive and constructive conversations about things that enhance quality of life in Mt. Lebanon. There are about 20 people who will initially post on the blog, with each posting at least twice a month in seven categories, including areas such as family fun, house and garden, travel and leisure, food and drink, etc.
I will be announcing the launch, as soon as I hear more.
Sonis this a change to the Lebo Lifestyle bolog mentioned earlier or just a rebranding?
ReplyDeleteWill constructive criticism be allowed or only all the good news the editor(s) see fit to post?
I mentioned this earlier, but the announcement was from today's manager's report.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Maybe there would be a link to: http://pd.mtlebanon.org/blotter.html
ReplyDeleteWhat are they trying to create - Kijong-dong USA?
ReplyDeleteSeriously, call your commissioner and let him or her know that you want to know exactly how the topics for each discussion were selected, how the participants were selected and what constraints were placed on the stated opinions.
A documented and well devised procedure needs to be implemented to make sure that the site does not become a platform to advertise the services of specific businesses, certain large law firms, etc.
Maybe MtL should print a disclaimer to the effect that the opinions expressed REPRESENT the views of the site and not necessarily those of the participants!
This blogger won't be reading it. The selection process appears to be biased towards their MTL Facebook bloggers.
ReplyDeleteOh no, please read it. Call it job security for the public information office.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Think of this as Mt. Lebanon's Omega Theta Pi (ΩΘΠ) fraternity.
ReplyDeleteManaged, biased, make-work propaganda project without any documented evidence of public need from a public entity paid for with public taxes !
ReplyDeleteSeems like there is far too much time on the hands of what seems to be a bloated workforce and budget.
And 9:48 these highly paid public workers have no qualms expecting 20 people to do their work for free.
ReplyDeleteIf I can do it, so can twenty others.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Yes Elaine and you do it very, very well.
ReplyDeleteThe issue isn't that there are people that can do it, it's that highly paid public employees will use their work for free.
If these 20 want to blog about all things Mt. Lebanon why don't they set up their own blog as you have done. That way "they" have controlled over content, not the PIO.
In fact, if people can write about Lebo for nothing... why do we have a magazine at all? We could eliminate health insurance and pension costs, open up municipal office space and cut utilitiity bills.
These twenty people might want to consider instead writing their own blog instead.
ReplyDeleteThey could review products like: deer repellents, gardening tools, contractors and home products.
I've heard of some bloggers with good audiences getting offers of free products to test and review, free restaurant meals etc.
Why write for the municipality when you could possibly get some perks.
What a bunch of bulls--t. If this is paid for with MY tax dollars, then I will damn sure comment on it. I dare the municipality to restrict comments on a public site. I dare them...Here, let me spell out for Morgans and company what would enhance life in the bubble. Get rid of the morons on the school board, tel them and the commission to stop spending our money frivolously, cut the municipal staff in half, have fair and legal elections in this little socialist haven, fix the streets and do something to attract businesses to our commercial corridors. There, now you don't need the blog, Feller.
ReplyDeleteRumor has it that one of the first "positive and constructive" submissions will be titled:
ReplyDelete"How to effectively disrupt a town hall meeting sponsored by people you don't agree with."
Which will immediately be followed by the resident arts & crafts volunteer's submission....
"You too can create classy picket signs like "What the Kluck' in your free time."
I understand this one suggest that this is a great binding activity for both the parents and kiddies.
Elaine, Congratulations! I think the municipality is reacting to offset some of the pushback they are getting from your blogging efforts. Keep up the good work, Elaine, freebies have only lasted so long in the past. Maybe the bad management in the Municipality can make it to pension age, or non-reelection, before the freebie bubble bursts. Or is it a paid bubble?
ReplyDeleteThe excitement is mounting! Lebo mag.com announced its terms of use. This is from the website:
ReplyDelete"Thanks for stopping by. We’re currently finalizing our list of contributors, curating art and writing feverishly to bring you all sorts of goodies from fellow residents. For the first time on our site, we will be taking comments, in the hopes of sparking lively discussion and finding great new ideas. They will be moderated and you must use your real name. While we’re putting on the finishing touches, please have a look at our terms of service. They aim to keep the conversation worth your valuable time!
http://lebomag.com/terms-of-use/
See you soon!
– the staff of lebomag.com"
Elaine
Terms of use for mtl's Lebo Life blog:
ReplyDelete"terms of use
Social Media and Blog Comment Policy for Readers
As an extension of Mt. Lebanon’s official municipal website (www.mtlebanon.org), any official social media outlet utilized by the Public Information Office will allow for public comments and postings, with a goal of fostering open and transparent communication between municipal officials and residents, as well as promoting and strengthening the positive character of our community. The same shall be true of any blog on our magazine website, www.lebomag.com
Once posted, Mt. Lebanon reserves the right to delete any submission that contains:
vulgar language
personal attacks of any kind, including comments that are abusive, threatening, harassing, slanderous, hateful or embarrassing to any other person or entity as determined by Mt. Lebanon in its sole discretion
offensive comments that target or disparage any ethnic, racial or religious group or foster discrimination of any kind
sexual content or links to sexual content
information that may compromise the safety or security of the public
Further, the municipality also reserves the right to delete comments that are:
spam or include links to other unapproved sites
clearly off topic
advocate illegal activity
solicitations of commerce
in support of or opposition to political campaigns, candidates or ballot measures
Keep in mind comments posted by members of the public on any Mt. Lebanon social media site or blog are the opinions of the commentator or poster only, and publication of a comment does not imply endorsement of, or agreement by, the municipality of Mt. Lebanon, nor do such comments necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Mt. Lebanon.
Finally, the Mt. Lebanon Public Information office reserves the right to deny access to commenting privileges on our social media sites or blogs to any person who violates this policy at any time and without prior notice. Play nice!"
Elaine
Q How many run Blog Lebo ?
ReplyDeleteA Two
Q How many run Lebo Citizen ?
A One
Q How many run Lebo Life ?
A An entire PIO + 20 writers
Q Will the township solicitor be consulted ?
A TBD
When it comes to the terms-of-use for the municipality's new blog its obvious they have no idea of how to economize... even when it comes to keystrokes.
ReplyDeleteThe policy could be summed up in this simple phrase: ""see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil".
And how dare they insist that we sign our names? Every one of us anonymous posters are Freedom Fighters, with big prices on our heads from the jackbooted thugs of municipal government and the Socialist School District, which is taking its orders straight from Kenya. That's why I (bravely) don't sign my name. I'd get thrown into a reeducation camp. I assume it's the same for the other 33,000 (by my estimate) resistance members who (bravely) post here anonymously. How can you have a free and rational exchange of ideas if everyone knows who's speaking?
ReplyDeleteWhew, must have touched a nerve, me thinks.
ReplyDeleteInteresting dichotomy in 4:45s comment.
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming that last sentence about a free exchange of ideas if everyone knows who is speaking is a tongue in cheek slam on Elaine's blog.
Of course they chose to make it... anonymously!
Elaine,
ReplyDeleteWhat do we know about the individuals who will be selected to comment on the Kijong-dong USA site? Will they be commenting using their real names, or will they be too embarrassed and rely on sobriquets like: Jack Daniels, Harvey Wallbanger, Roy Rob, etc?
What would be really neat would be for us to get a list of their real names and then profile each individual contributor. For example, if the contributor is a D, a RINO, has a history of being a megaphone for various groups, organizations, law firms, small businesses then this can be amplified on your site so that you can add color to their comments.
This was on Facebook.
ReplyDelete"mtl -- Mt. Lebanon Magazine Thanks all. We already have 11 bloggers signed up—many of whose names you will recognize, several of whom comment regularly on this Facebook page. This is going to be fun."
All of the comments are from real people, John. I imagine the new blog will be more of the same.
The only difference is that Facebook visits don't count towards the Lebo Mag (website) visitor hits.
Elaine
Thank you Elaine.
ReplyDeleteMany people never give any thought to the self interest of commentators.
It may be real, I doubt that it will be fun; but I guarantee that their particiaption will not be real fun.
8)
To Anonymous @ 5:50pm last night:
ReplyDeleteYou might wish to consider recalibratating your sarcasm director.
I might if I knew what recalibratating is or if I knew why you find it necessary.
ReplyDeleteI heard of one man who will be writing. Don't ask me who it is, because it is a surprise. This WILL be fun!
ReplyDeleteElaine
Wonder if it will anyone connected with the Posti-Gazette ?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I can't stand the guy, but when it comes to finding an analysis of the new blog this might be the most accurate yet.
ReplyDelete"“That's what's so great about the Internet. It allows pompous blow-hards to connect with other pompous blow-hards in a vast circle-jerk of pomposity.” ― Bill Maher