Emergency Blogcasting System

The tasks that must be completed for project release are:

• Draft charter and mission document. (done)
• Recruit board of advisors. (in progress)
• Setup web site. (in progress)
• Draft procedure for activating the network.
• Draft press release.
• Announce.

Web Site Contents Plan

• Create about page. (done)
• Create current network state page. (done)
• Create site logo.
• Skin/design web site.
• Create network state web badge graphics.
• Create script to server web badges according to network state.
• Post instructions on how to link to EBS.
• Setup membership form and roster.
• Post membership instructions.

Items Needed

• Site logo (graphic designer)
• Web site badgets (graphic designer)
• Web site skin/design (web site/Drupal designer)
• Press contacts list

The Emergency Blogcasting System (EBS) is an association of Austin-area weblog authors who will contribute to a regional disaster response through communication and citizen reporting enabled through blogging.

The EBS is under development. Official release is planned late August 2006.

Mission

The mission of the EBS for bloggers is:

• Educate the blogging community of the role they can play in a disaster situation.
• Identify and publicize primary sources of information that may assist bloggers in their task during a disaster situation.
• Establish and encourage best practices for bloggers during a disaster situation.

The mission of the EBS for the general community is:

• Publicize the constructive role that bloggers may play in a disaster situation.
• Bring attention to valuable blogging and citizen reporting during a disaster situation.
• Dissemenate information to people less connected to official and conventional channels, with particular attention to the diversity of cultures and languages in our community.