Blogosphere

I wrote this when I was involved with NCO/Northfield.org. They still have a version of it posted but it’s not been updated lately. (See the Northfield.org blogosphere aggregator page which aggregates all local blogs and other area RSS feeds.)

Here’s an updated version of the Northfield Civic Blogosphere directory. – Griff Wigley (last updated: 07/06/10)

It’s starting to happen: a cluster of blogs in a small geographic area that are at least occasionally devoted to civic matters — Northfield, Minnesota’s civic blogosphere. (Definition of blogosphere: the intellectual cyberspace occupied by a subset bloggers.)

I began working on making blogs a tool for strengthening the civic fabric of the area, both for individual citizens, local leaders, and local non-profit organizations in early 2004. Why? I think it’s good for democracy for citizens to be more than passive consumers of media. I see blogs (and podcasts) as tools that can be used for “citizen media,” a unique way to have a dialogue among separate sources of information that’s not otherwise easily done.

I think leaders can use blogs to “leverage” their leadership activities using an authentic voice that people don’t normally get to hear or read. And if both citizens and leaders are blogging in a geographic community in significant numbers, it may be possible to avoid a “we-they” atmosphere of attack/defend and instead, have a culture of problem-solving be the dominant mode. I think it’s possible that the collective wisdom of area citizens, community leaders, public officials, and government staff — becoming more visible via blogging — can be a significant force for the common good.

Here’s a listing of blogs that comprise Northfield’s Civic Blogosphere:

Area government officials with blogs

• David Bly, Minnesota State Representative, 25B
• Betsey Buckheit, Councilor, City of Northfield
• Kevin Dahle, MN State Senator, District 25
• Tracy Davis, Chair of the Northfield Planning Commission and Zoning Board of appeals (PCZBA)

Area organization leaders with blogs

• Ross Currier, Executive Director, Northfield Downtown Development Corporation
• Denny Dempsey, Pastor, Church of St. Dominic
• Sandy Johnson, Pastor, Northfield United Church of Christ
• Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, Executive Director, Rural Enterprise Center
• Hayes Scriven, Executive Director, Northfield Historical Society
• Simon Tyler, Director, Northfield School of Arts and Technology (ARTech)

Area non-profit/civic/educational/governmental organizations with blogs

• 5th Bridge
• ArtOrg
• Bridgewater Township
• Cannon River Community Land Trust
• Center for Sustainable Living
• Defeat of Jesse James Days
• First United Church of Christ
• Jesse James Bike Tour (Northfield Rotary Club)
• Just Food Co-op
• League of Women Voters Northfield
• Northfield Area Foundation
• Northfield.org/Northfield Citizens Online
• Northfield Area United Way
• Northfield Community Action Center
• Northfield East Side Neighborhood Association
• Northfield Healthy Community Initiative (HCI)
• Northfield Historical Society
• Northfield Public Library Kids Info
• Northfield Public Library Teen Board
• Northfield Rotary Club
• Northfield Soccer Association
• Northfield Union of Youth/The Key
• Northfield YMCA
• Rural Enterprise Center
• St. Dominic Catholic Church

Area citizens with blogs that appear to be locally civic-oriented (at least some of the time)

• Ross Currier, Tracy Davis, Griff Wigley, Locally Grown (also a podcast)
• Andy Alt, Mental Health in Northfield
• Carl Arnold, Minnesota Always Family Center
• Tim Freeland, What’s Going on with this guy?
• Rob Hardy, Rough Draft
• Penny Hillemann, Penelopedia
• Ed Lufkin, Northfield East Side Neighborhood Association
• Bruce Morlan, Politics and a Pint
• Carol Overland, Legalectric
• Robbie and Griff Wigley, Valley Pond Townhouse Association

Area media organizations/reporters with blogs

• Jeff Johnson and Tim Freeland, KYMN 1080 AM
• Linda Seebach, The Eclectic Linda

If you know of other blogs or podcasts that should be considered for addition to this list, contact me.