Who doesn't like movies?

I have a piece in Business Lexington today that focuses on a new film festival sponsored by the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce and Search for Common Ground. I think it's a great partnership and will provide some valuable perspectives on resolving conflict. It's also nice to see the Patterson School doing something for people in Lexington.

My pal Rob Farley let me know about it. The films are all outstanding. Here's the schedule:

• September 24: Osama: Emily Beaulieu
• October 1: Encounter Point
• October 8: Beyond Belief
• October 29: Bam 6.6
• November 5: Bridge over the Wadi
• November 12: My Home, Your War
• December 3: The Band’s Visit

Beyond Bizlex: Ceasefire Liberia

I'm back in the office - and it seems quite a lot has happened since I placed the blog on auto-pilot. Hopefully I'll have some time to get to all of it.

While I was away my latest column in Business Lexington ran - it's a feature on Ceasefire Liberia, an innovative new project led by a journalist named Ruthie Ackerman and supported by my friends at Global Voices Online.

It turns out there's a rather interesting link between Liberia and Kentucky. The Bluegrass Region is actually the birthplace of two Liberian Presidents. I think this is the kind of column my editors had in mind when they brought me aboard - find a local link to a global issue.

I had the chance to do a quick email Q&A with Ruthie Ackerman - as always, here's the complete back-and-forth.

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What is Ceasefire Liberia and its mission?

Ceasefire Liberia is a blog bridge between the Liberian community in Liberia and the rest of the Diaspora. Its mission is to create a dialogue between Liberians who remained in the country during and after the war and those who fled. You can see the blog at www.ceasefireliberia.com

How did you learn about this project and get involved?

I started the project with the help of a grant from Global Voices, a non-profit organization of bloggers. I am a journalist who is writing a book about Liberian youth in Staten Island. As the project developed over the last few years it became more multi-media focused. I decided that instead of just documenting the experience of Liberian youth living in this one community in America after they fled their country's 14-year civil war, I wanted to give the youth the chance to document their own experiences. Thus, Ceasefire Liberia was born. Now instead of just a book, there are several short films, and a blog, which includes video and photography.

What's your impression of how the project participants have benefited?

The project is just getting off the ground now, but already I can see the impact it has made. Young people who never would have interacted previously are now planning and making short video pieces together. Liberian youth who were dealing drugs and told me they felt they had no way out of their situation are now saying that they feel they can really make a difference in their community through blogging and video. Young Liberians in Staten Island are communicating with young Liberians in Liberia telling each other about their lives. This is the power of technology to bring people together and bring about social change.

Why should people in Kentucky (or anywhere else for that matter) care about this project?

I love this question. People in Kentucky or anywhere else should care about this project because the world is not just about what's happening my my backyard anymore -- it's about a global backyard. With globalization the entire world is interconnected. This means that what I do impacts people in Africa and vice versa. Liberia is a perfect example of this. Liberia was created by the American Colonization Society to send freed black slaves back to Africa where they were meant to live in racial harmony. That one action led to over a century and a half of tension and turmoil in Liberia between the Liberians who originally lived on the land and the new settlers. Eventually when tensions bubbled over a gruesome civil war broke out, which led Liberians to flee back to America, coming full circle. Now these Liberian refugees are literally in our backyard. We didn't intervene in their civil war in the 1990's and now the fallout is a large number of Liberian refugees that are falling through the cracks here in our very own cities and suburbs.

What's your understanding of the perspective Liberians have of the way they're treated in the US and the other countries they've relocated?

My understanding is that Liberians have always looked to America as their big brother. The Liberian flag is similar to our flag and Liberia's capital of Monrovia was named after our president James Monroe. But from what I understand Liberians are bitterly disappointed about the way they've been treated by America. They feel let down by America's handling of their civil war when America could have stepped in and ended it quickly, saving thousands of lives. They are hurt that Pres. Reagan continued to support former Pres. Samuel Doe financially despite his record of human rights abuses. Then when Liberians arrive in the U.S. they are left to struggle and many fall through the cracks. Liberians expected more from the U.S.

Is there anything you've gleaned from the struggle between acclimating to a new home and maintaining your cultural identity and customs?

There is always a struggle between the old and the new. It is important for Liberians, like any immigrant or refugee community, to hold onto their cultural identities and not forget where they came from. But it is also important if they want to integrate into American society to assimilate and acclimate and integrate. Thus the tensions between both worlds. The more the communities around Liberians reach out to them and provide much-needed services the better off they'll be and the more integrated they'll feel.

What do Americans gain by supporting projects like this?

Americans gain an understanding -- a glimpse -- of what the world beyond their four walls looks like. I believe that all boats rise with the tide so when one family or individual in a community is doing better than everyone benefits.

You and others can find out more by going to the ceasefire website and reading what the youth -- and I-- have written. You can also look at some of my earlier work on this project at : http://pulitzercenter.typepad.com/liberia/

That link is for the blog but you can also see more information about the project here: http://www.pulitzercenter.org/showproject.cfm?id=40

Beyond Bizlex: Dr. Robert Farley

My latest column in Business Lexington covers what I hope will be one of the best traditions at the University of Kentucky - the annual crisis simulation at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce. I'm an unabashed fan of the Patterson School and its faculty.

I've had the opportunity to cover the crisis simulation twice now, and each time Dr. Robert Farley has written the scenario. He's remarkably good at developing scenarios that soon resemble real life. Two years ago it was an abrupt change of power in Cuba. This time it involved pirates capturing a ship off the coast of North Africa - except this scenario was developed weeks before the Maersk Alabama was seized.

Rob's a smart guy and a former "drinking buddy." In addition to his position on the Patterson School faculty, he's an active blogger at Lawyers Guns & Money and TAPPED, the blog of The American Prospect. He's actually an expert on military and maritime issues, so this year's sim really played into his strengths. (If you're really into the issue of piracy, you should definitely check out this video conversation between Robert and Dan Drezner, who is on the faculty at the Fletcher School at Tufts University and blogs for FP Magazine.)

As always, here's the detailed Q&A I did with Robert for the column. Enjoy.

Q: Most Americans haven't known much about the problem of 21st Century piracy until very recently. I certainly don't know much about it. Can you assess the scope of the problem and give us an idea of how long piracy in the way we know it today has been going on?

A: Piracy has always been with us, but we haven't always been paying attention. Southeast Asia began to see a serious uptick in piracy in the early part of this decade, largely in response to the fallout from the Asian financial crisis. Because of concerted action from regional powers and the US, the trend in that area has been on the down slope for several years. However, in the middle of this decade we started to see a significant increase in piracy off the Horn of Africa. From the point of view of the international economy, the problem is thus far more of an irritant than a crisis, but that will change if pirate attacks increase. The international community is certainly beginning to respond forcefully to the problem, by deploying a flotilla of warships to the afflicted areas.

Q: Why should Kentuckians care about a problem that, at least for now, seems somewhat isolated to a stretch of ocean of the coast of East Africa?

A: Kentucky, like every other part of the world, depends on international trade. The goods we consume and that we produce come from and end up in all parts of the world. Ocean transit remains the cheapest form of transport, which means that Kentucky will be affected if trade is disrupted. As piracy could emerge as a greater concern off Somalia, off Nigeria, and even potentially in the Caribbean, it's best that Kentuckians stay abreast of the problem.

Q: Can you describe the Patterson School's annual crisis simulation? What is it, what are its aims, how long has the School been doing it, who is involved?

A: Each year, the Patterson School launches a 24 hour, real time policy crisis. The idea is to give our students an opportunity to practice what they've learned in the classroom in a quasi-real policy setting. In other words, we give them the chance to put what they've learned to good effect. We've been doing the simulation for years (I don't know how long, actually), and I've written the last four scenarios.

Q: How did this year's simulation go? What was the scenario and the outcome?

A: This year, a ship carrying machine parts to Iran was intercepted and seized by pirates. The nature of the cargo came under question (Iran was smuggling contraband equipment for a nuclear centrifuge), and the identity of the pirates was unclear. Eventually, our Iranian team tried and failed to sink the merchant vessel before it could come under the scrutiny of the international community. An Iranian destroyer collided with a Russian cruiser that was escorting the seized merchant vessel; Prime Minister Putin was not pleased.

Q: You brought the journalism school in to the simulation this year - how did that idea develop?

A: Very well. Bringing the journalism school on board gave our students the opportunity to deal with an inquisitive media, which is one of the most important tasks that they will face in any policy position. The simulation also gave the Journalism school the opportunity to train its students in a crisis situation. In the future, we'd like to include other units at UK; international politics touches on all facets of American life, and in an international crisis the government draws on many different areas of expertise.

Q: The Crisis Sim has been almost creepy in its ability to "predict" scenarios that actually take place not soon after. Is this just luck, or is the faculty looking at the way things are and assessing something that's reasonably likely?

A: Luck, and some attention to what's going on in the world. The policy simulation gives our students the opportunity to work in a crisis situation, but it's also helpful when the crisis they're working on is something that might come up in the real world.

Q: How does the simulation prepare students for "real world" work in global business and diplomacy?

A: During the simulation, our students have to make critical decisions in a short time with limited amounts of information. That's a lot like the real world, whether in business or in government.

Q: Speaking of the "real world," what's your assessment of how the Obama Administration has handled the piracy issue so far? What more needs to be done?

A: I think they've done a good job thus far. The rescue of Captain Richard Phillips was conducted very well; they gave the pirates sufficient time to surrender, then allowed the Navy to handle the rescue with utmost expertise. The administration can continue to help by formulating legal standards under which pirates can be tried and imprisoned, by patrolling the waters off Somalia, and by facilitating the work of the international coalition that has been deployed to stop piracy.

Beyond Bizlex: John Calipari as Kentucky's Next Economic Stimulus

The Lexington media has dedicated more prominent coverage to John Calipari's arrival as the University of Kentucky men's basketball coach than it did to President Obama on election day and the next week.

So I decided to jump on the bandwagon and write a column for Business Lexington about the new coach. I think this guy has the potential not only to bring the basketball program to its former prominence, but give the community a real shot in the arm.

This is a bit risky - the last two successful basketball coaches in this town left shortly after I wrote columns about them. So if John Calipari suddenly leaves, I suppose it's my fault.

Beyond BizLex: Mark Story

I haven't written a column for Business Lexington in a while, so I'm very pleased that I had a chance to blend a little business, a little policy, and a little social media all in one column.

Mark Story is a Red Sox fan, which clearly demonstrates his high intelligence, wholesome values, and gregarious charisma. He's also an old pal. But since my editor at BizLex doesn't want a column about 2 pals talking baseball, I figured I'd ask him about his gig as the Director of New Media at the Securities Exchange Commission.

Mark and I had a good chat about the work the SEC does on investor education - it's not the work SEC is known for most, but it's clearly a critical facet of their work. I was grateful for the opportunity to showcase this part of their mission, and learn more about how they're using social media to get the word out. Here's our Q&A transcript.

We all know about SEC's role as an enforcer, but not as much is known about the SEC's role in Investor Education. In today's economy, shouldn't the SEC promote this as well?

Without question. Investor education is one of the main focuses of the SEC. The best defense against fraud is a well-informed investor. As the Securities and Exchange Commission, we can’t tell investors which investments to make (or not make), but we certainly offer sound, unbiased advice on how to make wise choices and avoid fraud. There is an enormous amount of investor-focused information on our at site www.sec.gov/investor.shtml.

Another investor-focused approach at the SEC is using social media. While the SEC Web site receives millions of visits each month, other social media platforms present the opportunity to talk to people not just from our Web site, but on sites that they are comfortable with and where they get information. These are platforms like podcasts, Twitter, Facebook, You Tube and mobile Web sites. One of my main areas of focus is to improve the quality and quantity of investor-focused information on our Web site, but also ensure that it appears in places where people already are online.

How can enhanced investor education programs improve the economy?

Our economic downturn can be partially attributed to a lack of consumer confidence. I believe strongly that increased consumer confidence will help our economy rebound — and the best way to build up your confidence in investing in securities is to have as much information as you can — in short, to be a well- informed investor.

Educating investors in good times and bad means that they can make informed and confident decisions. There are a variety of tools on the SEC Web site that take investors through the entire process: making a financial plan, determining your risk tolerance, choosing the investment products that are right for you, picking a financial professional and finally, avoiding problems and fraud.

Mainstream or traditional media seems to be focused on crisis and scandal. How can the SEC get its Investor Education message out there if the media isn't willing to cover it right now?

The SEC is 75 years old and crises, some serious and some fleeting, come and go. What is constant is the fact that the SEC has been and will continue to be a leading voice for educating investors in the United States. I take the view that especially when there is fraud in the securities marketplace, our investor education message is more important than ever. Sure, there are only so many inches in a column, but we have not wavered from our core messages of investing wisely and avoiding fraud.

Many people think of the SEC as the stodgy, old-school haven of CEO types who take pride in the fact that they can't use a computer. Is this an accurate assessment?

Not at all. In addition to some of the most sophisticated internal tools for managing company filings and making them available for public examination (again, providing transparency that helps investors make better decisions), we have adopted technology tools that enable us to reach our stakeholders in new ways — ways that are right for them.

For example, the SEC was only the second government agency to use Twitter (a microblogging platform that enables us to send 140 character messages to our “followers”). We have three accounts: one for investors (twitter.com/SEC_Investor_Ed), one for members of the media (twitter.com/SEC_News) and even one for job seekers (twitter.com/SEC_Jobs). Since last year, we have also developed and disseminated podcasts, audio that enables users to listen to SEC new and views when it is convenient for them — while they are at the gym, driving to work, or sitting a computer. We are going to significantly ramp up our podcasts in the coming weeks. Moreover, video is a powerful tool for communicating messages, and we are in the process of building out a You Tube channel (www.youtube.com/SECViews) to communicate with market participants.

Finally, we have built a mobile Web site (m.sec.gov) so that market participants or reporters “on the go” can get the latest SEC press releases, and other information and even search our Web site. Our efforts are based upon putting the information out in a way that is convenient and timely for people who follow us.

While many government agencies are suddenly going "2.0," the SEC is one of a handful of agencies that had a full-time "new media" position in the previous Administration. Does this give you a bit of a head start over other agencies? Are they looking at the SEC for examples of success?

I would not say that we have a “head start” because there are many smart and dedicated people in other government agencies who have done some amazing work. I think that there will be many doors opened in the coming years for use of “Web 2.0” tools and government.

What can you share regarding the SEC's plans for social media in 2009 and beyond? How will it enhance the SEC's mission?

It’s really a two part answer: what is on the short-term horizon and what is over the horizon. For the short term, we will be launching a “micro site” strictly for investors in the coming weeks, one that contains much of the excellent investor education information that we produce, but that is presented in a way that makes it easier to find, understand and digest – and is targeted specifically for investors.

Second, in the near future, we will be developing the capacity to enable our stakeholders to choose an area of interest and receive email alerts when we issue information in which they have expressed an interest. For example, if you visit the SEC.gov, enter your email address and check a box that says “Investors Alerts,” whenever the SEC issues an alert for investors, you will automatically receive an email with that alert. It will be a great way to communicate directly with investors and other market participants. Look for it in the next couple of months.

As for the “over the horizon” issue, one of my main responsibilities is to keep a close eye on emerging technologies, and when appropriate, put them to good use for American taxpayers. Anyone who claims to know what the “next big thing” is probably doesn't, but 17 months ago, who predicted that Twitter would have seven million followers? Who knew that Facebook would develop 170 MILLION members? I take my responsibility seriously to monitor what is “new and improved” in the social media space, stay up-to-date and make sure that if something appears that is useful, we consider it strongly.

Is there anything I should have asked but didn't?

Nah.

The Interview: Dr. Wendy Baldwin

As I wrote earlier, my most recent contribution to Buisness Lexington features Dr. Wendy Baldwin of the Population Council, the premiere global NGO that conducts public health research on population issues.

Dr. Baldwin was exceptionally gracious with her time. I'm particularly impressed with the commitment she's made to poverty and gender issues, and to furthering the careers of women in research. Here's our Q&A.

Q: Would you please explain Population Council's mission and what you do there?

A: The Population Council is an international non-governmental organization with the motto "Research that makes a difference"...we have offices in 18 countries and work in more. there are programs in reproductive health; HIV and AIDS; and then the one I lead, in Poverty, Gender, and Youth. In the Poverty, Gender, and Youth program we develop an evidence base about how adolescents make the transition to healthy, productive adulthood.

Q: You had a position at the University of Kentucky that anyone would consider an excellent capstone to an outstanding career, but then you decided to take a position at the Population Council. What prompted the departure from UK to the big city?

A: I have a career because from very early on I was motivated by the challenges faced by young people -- especially young women -- to make it to adulthood with the basic skills that they need for their lives and able to have the number of children they want. So, while UK is a great place, this was a chance to go back to the topics that hold my heart... I just felt that was the capstone that I wanted for my career.

Q: It seems you spend a lot of time going back and forth from Lexington. What is it about this area that keeps you here?

A: It is true, I commute between Manhattan and Lexington... my husband lives here in Lexington (and I am rather fond of him!) and Lexington is just a terrific place to live.

Q: What does success look like in your line of work?

Success sometimes takes a long time to see, but when you see it in a better life for young people; when you see them able to take on leadership roles in their own communities; when you see them freed from some of the most damaging practices; well... that looks like success.

Q: What are some examples of that?

A: Success might come quickly, but more often it is a long process. The kinds of problems we deal with take a long time to address. There may be longstanding traditions of child marriage, but families and communities can learn ways to redefine those traditions that also protect young girls from marriage. the younger the girl, the greater the age GAP between her and her spouse, the less voice she is likely to have in the decision to marry, the end of schooling and the beginning of very early childbearing. So, when we see communities that begin to value their daughters more, provide alternatives for them, support their schooling, and open up new opportunities for them... well, that looks like success to me!

Q: Why should people in Lexington or Kentucky pay attention to the work you do? How does it relate to people here?

A: Work that we do goes to the heart of how girls are valued (or not)... I believe these are issues that everyone can relate to. Too often problems in developing countries seem so far away and it isn't clear what can be done to make the lives of girls better. Well, I have seen programs that have a transformative effect on girls; I've talked with fathers who were so appreciative of the help in finding a better life for their daughters...there is a fundamental satisfaction that comes from such work.

Now, I also think that this work is a wonderful way to spread a vision of the compassion of people for others. I would like more people to associate that view with the people of Kentucky.

Q: Recently you told me about a meeting at the World Bank that featured participation from large companies. How does the corporate sector play a role in your work?

A: There is growing involvement of the corporate sector in the work that we do. For many companies that work around the world, they see the need for young people to have positive life courses, and to develop their potential. Also, many of these programs help young people make the transition into income generating work. One of the most popular aspects of such programming is financial literacy. young people are eager to learn how to manage their money -- when they are able to earn it -- and how to function in a world that may be very different from what their parents' experienced growing up. We are working with banks to develop savings products that are especially geared to young people. Sometimes it seems that people think poor teenagers have no need for banks; but it is the poorest who are most in need of help in learning how to protect themselves against financial shocks and have safe places to save.

Q: Given your ties to Central Kentucky, do you feel there's a role for the local business community in supporting your work? What are some of the options available to local firms? What will they gain by supporting you?

A: I would love to see the business community come together and sponsor an internship so that a student in Kentucky could learn more about this work. I think there are many students in Kentucky who understand the challenges Of growing up in a changing world... and they could bring their skills to others who are facing challenges that are, frankly, unimaginable to most of us. Also, some have said that the greatest happiness comes from knowing that you have done something that makes the world a better place... sounds corny, but I believe it, I feel it, I live it and I'd like to see more students get the opportunity to experience it.

Q: Is there anything I haven't asked but should?

A: How are we different from a humanitarian organization? we do not just provide services to those in need. there is a role for humanitarian organizations, especially in times of crisis. but, there is also a need for organizations that seek to understand problems in ways that they can build an evidence base and support fundamental changes. We look for ways that the results of our work can influence governments to change policies -- perhaps to make it permissible for young girls to return to school if married, or programs that specifically support school fees.

It is exciting to see families or communities change practices in constructive ways.

Beyond Bizlex: Working Locally, Serving Globally

My latest contribution to Business Lexington features Dr. Wendy Baldwin, the former EVP for research at the University of Kentucky and the current director of the Poverty, Gender and Youth program at the Population Council.

The Population Council is the world's premiere organization conducting biomedical, public health and social science research on population issues. They have offices in 18 countries and programs in more than 65 countries. They don't get a ton of publicity but they do important work, and they deserve much more attention.

I actually met Dr. Baldwin on a plane - coming home from a trip to the DC office a while back. She was "commuting" home as well - her office is in New York while her home is Lexington. She struck up a conversation with me and as we got chatting I thought I had a nice column idea.

As always, the column format is a nice way to express a thought but it doesn't tell the whole story. I'll share the Q&A of my email interview with Dr. Baldwin in the near future.

Business Lexington is On The Air

My favorite publication in Lexington is back on the air. You can see all the features at the Smiley Pete TV YouTube Channel. I thought I'd share this feature on the documentary, "Two Million Minutes."

I share Tom Martin's appreciation for the irony in the fact that the day Two Million Minutes was screened in Lexington, the city council voted down a proposal from the mayor to create a public-private partnership that established a scholarship program for local kids who want to study Science, Technology, Engineering or Math in college. When one considers this on top of the state legislature's terribly short-sighted cuts in higher education (this was also published in Business Lexington), you can see that we're going in the wrong direction here.

The folks at Business Lexington and Mayor Jim Newberry really get it - investment in STEM education is critical to the future of the city and the commonwealth. I'm shocked more people don't see this.

Presidential Politics, continued...

There will be a podcast in the near future that recorded the Lexington Forum event, and I'll provide a link. It was an interesting event.

Meantime, here's a Business Lexington piece comparing the presidential candidates' positions on three issues important to Kentucky Business - health care costs, energy/environment (particularly coal), and making higher education affordable and accessible.

"looking beyond our iPods"

The latest multimedia from Business Lexington came out yesterday, and I was struck by Sylvia Lovely's latest commentary. She mentions that young people are increasing their civic engagement, and I notice that it occurs as young people continue to lead the way in social media. It runs counter to that silly column Tom Friedman wrote back in October on "Generation Q."

A colleague of mine also directed me toward a study yesterday that says Europeans are outpacing Americans in social media adoption, and it's being driven by young people there as well. We'll see if they inspire a new generation of political leadership and civic engagement soon...

Media gets more social in Lexington

There's a nice piece by Scott Clark in Business Lexington this week about Rupp Arena's move into social media recently:

Rupp Arena and Lexington Center are at the crossroads of fans, record labels, sports promotion, and live concert companies — each requiring excellent service. As the music industry shifts towards higher-end live shows and advanced merchandising, Rupp will be in a very important position, with much responsibility.

As a part of understanding the needs of visitors, Rupp Arena has wisely decided to enter the bear-it-all, unpredictable world of Internet social media early. Starting with a Weblog and Twitter network presence, they have started to embrace authentic, participatory media as a way to get closer to fans. The possible impact of social network participation goes well beyond newsletters and newspaper ads, and Rupp’s exploring the edges.

Sheila Kenny manages Rupp Arena's communications and she's doing this the right way - she took the time necessary to understand how social media works and she used it to fit a strategic need - connecting and integrating more with the people who frequent Rupp and Lexington Center - and then used only the tools that addressed that strategic need. She's using a blog to give people a behind-the-scenes look at concerts and events.

More importantly, she's demonstrating her understanding that Rupp Arena isn't just a concert venue, it's a community center. She's posting pictures of local fans attending a very important community event - recent high school basketball tournament. She's also using a Twitter feed to promote the blog and engage in conversations, giving users another opportunity to give feedback and support.

Kudos to Sheila and Paul Hooper, a critical member of her team!

Lexington's "Partner in Progress" goes multimedia

I'm very pleased with the impressive progress over at Business Lexington. They've upgraded their website to include a lot of new social features including comments and bookmarking, and their podcasts are easier to find and download. Now they've launched a monthly television program on KET which is also viewable from the website, in whole or in segments. Here's their first introduction.



Chuck Creacy, Chris Eddie, and my pal Tom Martin deserve a lot of credit for Business Lexington's growth and success, and Post Time Video and Dynamix Productions deserve big kudos as well. They've found an important niche here where they can support the business community with in-depth features and news while maintaining an important journalistic focus and balance. I'm really grateful for the opportunity to make my small contribution to their work. I hope the business community here embraces this new multi-media hub of news and information and gives it the support it deserves.

Congratulations and well done!

Beyond Bizlex, Part II: AAEP's Dr. Jennifer Selvig

Yesterday I posted my Business Lexington column's full Q&A with Sally Baker, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the strategic vision behind AAEP's blog, Out of the Starting Gate.

Today I'm sharing the Q&A from Dr. Jennifer Selvig, a first-year equine veterinarian and the voice of AAEP's blog. In addition to her obvious skill in equine veterinary medicine, she's a strong writer and an excellent strategic fit for the blog.

Why did you agree to participate in the blog?

I was originally asked by one of my vet school mentors, Dr. Julie Wilson, who serves on the AAEP student relations committee. She is a great advocate for students, and thought I would be well-qualified for this. I'd like to think she is right - I have always enjoyed writing. During undergrad and vet school I worked at The Minnesota Daily, the largest completely student-run daily college newspaper in the country. I held lots of different positions, including editorals & opinions editor and copy desk chief. So I suppose it was an opportunity to use a skill I have to reach out to future veterinarians.

Did you know much about blogs or social media before you started this project? What have you learned?

Only in the sense that I knew basically how they work and that they existed. I never thought I'd be a "blogger" - I'm not a good creative writer; I'm a much better technical writer. I don't really follow any other blogs consistently. I have learned it can be hard to keep up with demand - when I get "writer's block," people start to wonder what happened to me! It's actually a pretty big responsibility.

Do you think you’ll continue working with blogs and social media to share your stories and experiences with young people?

I hope so! If I have the opportunity and the support of a great community like the AAEP, it's relatively easy. I'm not sure about the long-term plans for this thing - it's kind of taken on a life of its own, but it seems to be popular, so I'm happy to keep going with it as long as it's entertaining and useful to people.

The AAEP blog is making you a bit of a celebrity and an ambassador for the profession. How does it feel to be AAEP’s answer to CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta?

This part is kind of surreal. I have been to a couple of continuing education events since I started this and it's weird to be recognized by people I don't know, even if only by name. America's Horse, the AQHA magazine, published my first blog entry as a feature, complete with a gigantic picture of me with two of my horses, and it was very odd to have clients and friends come up to me and say, "Hey! You're famous! I saw you in this magazine that goes out to thousands of people across the country!" When I finally got a copy of the magazine, it was pretty weird to see that spread. At least all the feedback I've gotten has been positive!

As far as being an ambassador for the profession - I guess mostly it's daunting to be held up that way when I'm really just a first-year veterinarian. I graduated from vet school less than a year ago - by a lot of people's standards, I don't know anything yet! I just try to do right by the profession and the horses, practice good medicine and keep learning. I hope the more seasoned members of our organization see that.

Part of the way this blog has taken off is with non-veterinary students and non-veterinarians. The original intent of the blog was to give veterinary students considering a career in equine practice a little window into what their first year out might be like. But now it seems my audience is so much broader - so I have to try to balance writing for my original intended audience and remembering that, apparently, a lot of other lay-people will be reading it too. I don't know about being on CNN, though!!

What do you have to say to young people considering a career in veterinary medicine?

My ultimate goal is to balance my career with my life. I have a fiance - I'm getting married in June - and three horses to ride. I want to show the profession it's possible to have a good work ethic and put your time in without burning out, and still practice good medicine. I worked really hard to get where I am - every would-be veterinarian has to work hard. But it IS worth it. Even though you're scared to death the first time you have to make an honest-to-goodness critical decision for the life of a patient, it's still worth it.

My biggest piece of advice for students thinking about vet school: Make sure this is what you want to do - if your reasoning is that you want to be a vet because you like animals and not people, you're heading in the wrong direction. Veterinary medicine is a very human-oriented profession. And then get experience. Work at a clinic cleaning and walking dogs or doing barn chores - it's how I started. You never know when they'll need an extra set of hands to help with an interesting procedure. And it's never too early to start networking and building a reputation as a hard worker.

For the equine vet students, my advice is: Go after the job you want. If that's a prestigious internship, go for it. I was fortunate to have made the connections I did early that allowed me to get a job I love. I have a classmate who turned down a prestigious internship for a job on the other side of the country because he didn't feel right about it - and he's having a blast in the job he ended up with. There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to go after graduation - look for something that makes you happy and fits in your life where you're at, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You won't practice good medicine and you won't learn anything if you're not enjoying your job.

"Think Grey's Anatomy, but with horses."

This is the first time a Best Blog EVAH has preceded a Business Lexington column. The American Association of Equine Practitioners is not a huge trade association, but they're using some of the same innovative communications tools that the big guys like the US Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers are.

But here's the thing: I actually like AAEP's blog, Out of the Starting Gate, a little better than the others because it personalizes the profession. And I think the leadership at AAEP, particularly director of marketing & PR Sally Baker, have been really smart about this. They identified a strategic communications need FIRST - attracting young people to the field of equine veterinary medicine - and saw a blog as a tool to help them meet that need. Then they found a smart young voice for the blog that again filled their strategic need. They're starting simple and then they plan to build more multimedia into the blog as they grow more comfortable with the medium.

I first met Sally Baker when she invited me to speak at the local PRSA chapter. She told me about their blog and asked me to take a look at it. It doesn't offer much in terms of bells & whistles and it doesn't update often, but the content is very strong. That's the most important thing.

Sally was gracious enough to answer a few questions as I put together the column. Here's the complete Q&A.

I. First, please tell me about AAEP – who you are, what you do, your mission.

The AAEP is the world’s largest professional association for equine veterinarians. Our most important mission is protecting the health and welfare of the horse, and we accomplish this through helping our members stay current on the latest advances in equine medicine and educating horse owners about the important role they play in keeping their horse healthy and happy.

The AAEP also works within the equine industry to promote policies that are in the best interest of the horse, and we have served as a catalyst on diverse issues ranging from medication in the racehorse to the plight of the unwanted horse.

II. Many Lexingtonians know a bit about who you are, and that you’re in town, but little else. What do you want your neighbors to know about you?

First, when I tell someone that we have a membership of over 9,000 veterinarians and veterinary students, they are surprised to learn that there are so many veterinarians who do equine work. Many people also assume that most of our members are based in Kentucky, especially since Lexington is the Horse Capital of the World. And while the AAEP does have nearly 350 members in Kentucky, our membership is international, with representation in 64 countries and in such distant places as Iceland, United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. (Horses are everywhere!)

III. What was the strategic thinking behind starting a blog? When did social media begin to look like a good communications option for AAEP?

A significant percentage of our membership is under 30 years of age - 28 percent of our DVM members have been in practice five years or less and we have over 2,000 veterinary students as members. We know from the general cultural shift in communication as well as our own surveys that these groups are heavy users of our Web site and e-communication.

A strategic issue for the profession right now is how to attract more students to a career as an equine veterinarian. We then took what we knew about our members’ communication habits and applied it to how we could encourage more veterinary students to practice equine medicine. Reaching this group through a blog seemed like a natural fit.

IV. What do you hope to accomplish with the blog?

We ultimately want those considering a career as an equine veterinarian to view the profession in a positive way. I think Dr. Selvig’s accounts keep readers hooked to her experiences and are a great vehicle for attracting potential horse doctors. The first year of practice for a new veterinarian requires a lot of hard work and includes many wonderful experiences and a few bumps along the way (think Grey’s Anatomy but with horses), and we thought this would be a fascinating time of life to capture through a first-person experience. We wanted potential equine vets to hear from someone who is living the life.

V. America’s Horse, the official magazine of the American Quarter Horse Association, featured a post from your blog. What kind of feedback have you gotten from people who cover the equine industry? How about people in the industry?

The interest in the blog beyond the veterinary community was not anticipated but is a very welcome surprise. Many horse owners are extremely devoted to their animals and want to get as much information as possible. Because Dr. Selvig’s entries really give an insider’s perspective on horse health, we’re hearing from horse owners that they appreciate her candid accounts and her compassion for the horses she helps. Dr. Selvig is very compassionate, and that trait is resonating with horse owners.

VI. How did you choose Dr. Selvig as the “voice” of the blog? How do you think she’s done with it?

Once the purpose of the blog was defined, I turned to our student chapter advisors at the many colleges of veterinary medicine for their recommendations on new grads who were dynamic, enthusiastic and, based on their personal knowledge of the new grad, knew the new grad would click with this type of project. Dr. Selvig was suggested by our chapter advisor at the University of Minnesota, and it was apparent from my first communication with Dr. Selvig that she was the perfect fit for the blog. Dr. Selvig is a rising star in the profession. She was the AAEP student chapter president at Minnesota, she attended every AAEP annual convention when she was in school and was in constant pursuit of ways to become an outstanding veterinarian. It really was just a bonus that she has such strong writing skills. Her ability to weave a story is key to the blog’s success.

VII. The bog seems like a great tool to introduce “lay people” to the industry. Is this a consideration?

As I mentioned earlier, the bog’s appeal to the lay public was not expected. But we’re finding that in addition to the horse owners who read it, the bog is prompting high school students to contact Dr. Selvig and ask for advice on how to become an equine veterinarian. She is definitely inspiring the type of action that we hoped would occur with potential vets, but we initially thought this would take place primarily with current vet students.

VIII. What’s next? Will we be seeing other features for the blog, such as pictures or video, or maybe bookmarking? Will there be other contributors?

Now that the AAEP has dipped its toe in the water of social media, I am realizing how much more we can do with Dr. Selvig’s blog. We now have the ability for her to add photos to her entries, and one of our goals is to post a few short video clips of Dr. Selvig “in action” as she cares for her clients. She has really become an ambassador for the profession, and we can promote that aspect by bringing her physical presence to the blog as well.

Since we are now comfortable hosting a blog, I believe it is something that we will continue if it makes sense to do so. Our initial goal was to support our need to attract more veterinarians to the profession, and if another blog makes sense strategically, we’ll definitely pursue it. Hopefully we can keep Dr. Selvig hooked and she’ll continue to share her experiences as her career evolves.

Sally was also kind enough to ask Dr. Jennifer Selvig, the voice of Out of the Starting Gate, to answer a few questions from me as well. I'll post those tomorrow.

Beyond Bizlex: Around the World in 80 Clicks

It's going to be another very busy week, and my to-do lists and email inboxes are already stuffed. So probably another light week of posting. Kudos to my wife for pointing www.itsnotalecture.com/ to this blog - it just seems cool, and it's something I should have done a while ago.

I'll start the week by sharing my latest at Business Lexington - "Around the World in 80 Clicks." It's a quick list of online global business and industry-specific resources that Central Kentucky business leaders might find useful as they try to compete in a global economy. Kentucky is home to some industries that aren't typically considered to be dependent on the Internet, but there are thousands of interesting and helpful websites, blogs, and podcasts that offer a wealth of information for free. The trick is just knowing where to look. When I have time I'll probably offer up a few more - any suggestions on what to include? If I like them I'll include them in a follow-up column and give you credit...

I'd also love to get some opinions on Business Lexington's new online format. I think it's easier on the eye than the previous one, and it has some useful new social tools, such as comments and bookmarking tools. They've always been strong with podcasts. I would like to know if readers can still access the archives - I couldn't find that yet, and I think it's really important to have that available for the online audience. I'd still love to see them on twitter, where I'm getting a growing share of my information.

Beyond Bizlex: Pop Quiz

Happy 2008 - the new year is starting fast and I'm busy right out of the blocks. I hope everyone had a restful and happy holiday.

Here's just a quick item to get things going - a global pop quiz I put together for Business Lexington a while back. It's in the current edition.

The Iowa caucuses are tomorrow - the earliest they've ever been, I think - and it will be interesting to see what role social media will play. I may take a look at that this week.

There's a lot to do so let's get started...

Beyond Bizlex: Global Mindset, Local Address

My most recent Business Lexington column features Jonathan Gitlin and Elle Cayabyab Gitlin.

My column's official/unofficial title has always been "Living Locally, Working Globally" since that's what I do from the Bluegrass. For a while now I wanted to write a profile of people who were in the same situation. Once I met Jonathan and Elle, I knew they'd be great for such a piece.

Jonathan and Elle both have full-time gigs - Jonathan as a post-doc in Pharmacy at the University of Kentucky, Elle as an entrepreneur and instructional designer. They also contribute to one of the most authoritative science and technology blogs on the planet (and currently the #7 blog at Technorati), Ars Technica. Some of Elle's contributions are here and Jonathan's are here.

Initially I thought the column would just be a quaint little piece that featured a genuinely smart and charming couple. But as I read their answers to my questions, I started thinking about what communities can do to attract well-educated talent from across the globe and build knowledge-based economies. I know dozens of economists and planners have already written far more sophisticated analyses of this, but Elle and Jonathan seem to be describing a few key building blocks to really set a community apart. While the University clearly serves as the anchor - it brought Jonathan and Elle here, after all - it also helps to have a relatively low cost of living while maintaining a decent quality of life, broadband internet access, and an airport nearby.

Elle and Jonathan chose to answer my questions jointly - I thought that was pretty neat. Here's the extended Q&A.

How did you meet?

We met, as many couples do, through the workplace. Of course, Jonathan lived in San Diego at the time, and Elle was currently in Chattanooga, but that didn't stop our coworkers from throwing us together--virtually, of course.

What do you do for a living?

Jonathan is a postdoc at UK's College of Pharmacy, where he does research on heart disease. Elle is an independent consultant specializing in corporate training and information development.

Why did you choose Lexington?

An excellent opportunity for Jonathan's career presented itself at UK, and so we moved here in 2004. The location, cost of living, and proximity to several major cities made the move an attractive proposition, and we've enjoyed our time here so far.

What do you do for fun?

We're avid motorsport fans, and so we combine that with our love of travel to go to races around the world. We love to read and watch movies, so we're often at the Kentucky Theater or the Movie Tavern with friends. Elle is also a co-host of Lexington's Drinking Liberally chapter, which meets on a bimonthly basis.

How "global" is the city? How many of your friends here are lifelong Kentuckians or Lexingtonians?

We've been pleasantly surprised at the diversity we've found here in Lexington. If we count ourselves, here in our neighborhood there are immigrants from Brazil, the Philippines, Ireland, and the UK. Within our greater circle of local friends, there are both Kentucky natives and out-of-state transplants which makes for an interesting mix of life experiences and stories.

How global is your work? What do you like about your jobs?

As Elle is an independent consultant, she has clients all across North America. Jonathan is expanding his science writing career, and he hopes to make the move into full-time medical and scientific communications in the near future, which will give us the added flexibility of being able to live and work anywhere there is an Internet connection and cell phone reception.

Do you have to travel often, or does technology keep you grounded? Would you like to travel more?

Elle is fortunate enough to have excellent relationships with her clients, and so she's able to keep travel to a minimum, preferring instead to keep in touch via telephone and e-mail. Most of our traveling is done purely for pleasure.

How did you get involved with Ars Technica?

We started out as readers, but we each offered up our services--Jonathan as a science journalist and Elle as a technology writer and copy editor--on a volunteer basis and have been fortunate enough to parlay it into paid freelance positions with Ars.

What do you enjoy most about your work there?

It's very accommodating of our schedules, and our work is seen by a global audience. Jonathan's articles have been cited in a number of major news outlets and science publications, and our colleagues keep us up to date with the latest news in technology and science.

What can Lexington do to be more accommodating and attract a global audience?

The increased mix of urban and suburban real estate gives those looking to move to Lexington their choice of lifestyles, while the cultural opportunities provided by the local universities and arts organizations give worldly residents a wide variety of entertainment choices. The expansion of the Lexington airport is a welcome addition, and hopefully it will make traveling to Central Kentucky that much easier.

Lexington is talking a lot about the World Equestrian Games as
their "world stage." Are you looking forward to the Games?

The Games will bring a much-needed boost to Central Kentucky. There are some major opportunities there for local businesses and volunteers, and we're pleased at the opportunity for our family and friends to see Kentucky on the global stage.

Beyond Bizlex: Facebook's Worst Nightmare, All Over Again

The column I drafted in response to my conversation with Facebook appears in next week's Business Lexington.

First, I should disclose something that I put in the original draft but didn't make the final edition - as the readers of this blog know, I'm married to Dr. Leigh Ann Simmons. She's quoted in the piece. She's been instrumental in pointing to the peer-reviewed research on the issues of breastfeeding promotion and anorexia sites.

Facebook is the kind of communications tool that people point to when they want to show how communications technology can bring out the very best in all of us. That's one of the reasons I'm still so disappointed in the obvious disconnect they've continued to essentially ignore. The company that facilitates so many discussions simply refuses to meaningfully engage in the discussion about itself.

I'll let the moms express their righteous outrage at Facebook for their obvious mistake on breastfeeding pictures - they do it better than I could. I'll let the science on pro-anorexia sites speak for itself. The issue for communications professionals, quite simply, is this: Facebook has failed to apply common-sense context to its policies on content. And when mistakes are pointed out, Facebook basically refuses to acknowledge them.

Of course it's difficult to develop policies that restrict or allow content. Of course you won't always have the resources to catch everything right away. But it's impossible to write perfect rules for this. You have to be able to step back, be an adult, and apply context and common sense to the rules you write. Facebook actually has really well thought-out terms of service - they just obviously misapplied those terms in the situations brought to their attention. At least some, and possibly all, of the breastfeeding pictures they banned clearly don't violate their terms of service. The pro-anorexia groups on their network are clearly harmful, as the science suggests - not simply "controversial." This violates the terms of service.

And then, after I submit the column, I see this. I should never - NEVER - read that the Attorney General of the State of New York informed Facebook of a sexual predator on its network and Facebook failed to deal with it immediately. When I read that, and place this news in the context of their previous decisions, the claim that Facebook takes this "very seriously" rings absolutely hollow. This simply reinforces the idea that the company doesn't fix its mistakes. Now the Attorney General of New Jersey is issuing subpoenas to Facebook as well about sexual predators. I understand it's hard to keep track of 35 million people, but sadly, Facebook's track record now means they won't get the benefit of the doubt from me.

And I won't deny my personal opinions on this. It's stupid, spiteful, and harmful to send the message Facebook sent when it banned those breastfeeding pictures. It's inexcusable to help sick girls share tips on what narcotics to take to get skinnier. It's ridiculous to restrict pictures of male cartoon characters with nipples because some idiot "tagged" them as "obscene." And when the New York Attorney General's office tells you there's a sexual predator on your network, DAMMIT, you drop what you're doing, reschedule the meeting with the VC firm, and you deal with it.

It's long past time for Facebook to reach out to its members and to the media to have a meaningful discussion about all of this. It's long past time for them to do the things that crisis communications experts agree are the right things to do here - acknowledge the mistakes, apologize, implement a remedy, and explain how the mistakes will never happen again.

Seriously, guys - stop acting like a bunch of frat boys who use shame as a weapon against young women, and MAN UP. Or at least speak up and tell me why I'm wrong in a meaningful way - this does not mean re-stating your terms of service, because you only show everyone how you didn't follow your own rules. Because if you don't start acting like adults, state Attorneys General and eventually members of Congress will start making more of your decisions for you.

As I climb down from my soapbox, I just want to say I'm really pleased that leaders in this field have also spoken out on this, such as Susan Getgood on her blog, and Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson on their podcast (show notes here). The personal messages of support I've received from colleagues at other firms have been thoughtful and gratifying.

tracking discussions online and off

One of the things I like most about Business Lexington is they're not afraid to share perspectives one doesn't readily find in current policy debates (unless one reads media targeted directly toward the Latino community), such as this column by Andres Cruz.

Kentucky counties that have received the most immigrants (whether measured in absolute number or in percentages) tend to have stronger growth in wages and lower unemployment than counties without significant immigration. This does not prove that wages are immune from an influx of immigrant workers, but it does emonstrate that those counties in Kentucky with a significant immigrant influx are also the counties that prospered more over the same period.

I've been paying close attention to online political discussions, and this is currently one of the big ones. Other than terrorism and the war, this is the most-discussed topic on political blogs that skew right. Literally thousands of conservative political blogs are firmly anti-"amnesty" and they're talking about "illegals" and linking to news articles that reference Mexico. A few noteworthy exceptions on the right are "pro-reform," but they aren't talking about the latino community in a positive context either - you see a lot of "they take the jobs no one else wants to do."

Very few people on the left have discussed immigration at all, other than making the sweeping generalization that "the republican party has lost the latino vote for decades over this," as if any group of people that large cares about only a single issue.

Cruz' pro-business perspective should be included in the blogosphere's discussion.

Beyond Bizlex: Global Water Resources

Tom Martin, my editor at Business Lexington, thought it might make sense to include a "global perspective" piece on water issues in the same edition as two differing perspectives on more local water issues.

One of the things I enjoy most about the column I write is the opportunity to introduce a slightly different point of view into ongoing issues-based discussions. I'm not the first person to believe that these discussions in Central Kentucky are a bit provincial, whether the topic is water, coal, casino gambling, or even higher education. Discussions tend to be framed as parties attempting to acquire or maintain as much of a finite resource as possible. In most of the discussions, that resource is money.

I'm not trying to discount or diminish the importance of that discussion. I'm not saying this type of discussion is unique to Kentucky. I'm suggesting there are always other ways to look at things. My work in social media has really helped me explore and learn about new perspectives, and I'm very grateful for that.

Here are some global sources I found online that helped shape my perspective and hopefully added something of value to the ongoing discussions.

World Water Assessment Programme
UN Water
World Water Council's "Water Crisis" Page
Technology, Health & Development's post on Global Water Week

Posting will be probably be light this week because I'll be traveling and dealing with Brad's departure. I hope to have something smart to say about Professor Nisbett's Framing Science post about media coverage of science issues, and about how Brad did some pretty cool stuff in a fairly brief stint.