West Virginia: Using Social Media for the Mountain State’s Betterment
Written by Jason Keeling on June 20, 2009
Today the online community of West Virginia is celebrating the state’s 146th anniversary by offering thoughts on this simple proposition:
- Identify an obstacle that hinders West Virginia and discuss its solution.
Termed the “A Better West Virginia Challenge,” this invitation is extended to bring forth constructive dialogue regarding the Mountain State’s future.
The Internet is evolving into a medium where users can communicate with each other in an unprecedented fashion. “Social media” is characterized by the technologies that allow us to share information and perspectives with each other, be it through blog posts, blog comments, Facebook messages, Twitter updates, etc.
We each have unique points of view regarding the issues that affect West Virginia. Let’s maximize our constitutional right of free speech and use social media to initiate impactful thought and action. Let’s educate and inspire each other regarding our past, present, and most importantly, our future.
Below are submissions from bloggers who offer thoughts on the topic at hand. Readers are strongly encouraged to leave comments on their sites or here at aBetterWestVirginia. Twitter users can offer their thoughts by using the #aBetterWV tag when updating.
Thanks so much to all who have and will contribute to this effort!
Kelly Bannister, What’s Up Ripley | What Can Make a Better West Virginia?
Bill Gardner, Oncee@Blogger | One Laptop Per West Virginia Child
Charleston Gazette | Imagine: A Better West Virginia
Patrick Godbey, PatrickG.net | A Better West Virginia Challenge
Jeff James, Create WV | What We Fear Most May Be Our Greatest Hope
Laura Jordan, YWCA Charleston, Empowering Perspectives | Ending the Cycle of Violence in West Virginia
Skip Lineberg, Marketing Genius | A Fitter West Virginia
Paul McNeely, The Inner Sanctum | WV: Think Forward (#aBetterWV)
Michael Ramsburg, The Way I See It | West Virginia, As Bloggers See It
Dennis Taylor, Sprezzatural | A Better West Virginia: Create Huntington
Ken Ward Jr., Coal Tattoo | Coal and a Better West Virginia?
Jeff Webb, The Pharos, W.Va. Wesleyan College | Better Pay for West Virginia Teachers
Anonymous, Barboursville Observer | A Better West Virginia
Anonymous, Buzzardbilly: Appalachian Being | Stereotype Change Begins Within
Anonymous, EdYOUcation | Connecting Students With Entrepreneurial Ventures
Anonymous, Esse Diem | Fly Away Home
Anonymous, Kitchen Geeking | A Better West Virginia Challenge: Food Files
Anonymous, WV Fur and Root | We Are Front Porch People
Note to bloggers: Submissions for the “A Better West Virginia Challenge” will be added to the above list as they are forwarded to jason(at)keelingstrategic(dot)com.
Posted in West Virginia
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June 20th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
The biggest hindrance I currently see towards improving our beloved state is that it seems to be class-related. The Generation Charleston/Chamber of Commerce seem to be doing one thing, while the working class may have another. Of course, it’s those in the first category that are getting the attention and the monies, while leaving the latter out in the cold. If y’all are serious about improving West Virginia, you’re going to need a way to connect everyone in the state, from all the coal miners in McDowell county to the people in the projects in Huntington to the students in Morgantown. I have seen no effort to try to include these people at all.
I’ve been reading many of these blogs with ideas, and while I think they’re great, unless we’re all in this together, they read like wishful thinking.
June 20th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
[...] A Better West Virginia: The Internet is evolving into a medium where users can communicate with each other in an unprecedented fashion. “Social media” is characterized by the technologies that allow us to share information and perspectives with each other, be it through blog posts, blog comments, Facebook messages, Twitter updates, etc. [...]
June 20th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Thank you for allowing me to participate. It’s been a hugely rewarding experience and I’m hopeful that we can keep the dialogue begun last year going.
Connie
June 20th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Copy and paste the link below to read Dan Pages’ article in the State Journal from WV Day 2008, posted on our site. It speaks to identifying one obstacle that hinders West Virginia and discuss its solution.
We need more than just hope, we need to believe. Believe that WV’s best days are ahead and ACT on that belief. I do and are. I know you do and will.
Mick Bates
http://www.bodyworkshfr.com/DocumentsCenter/Overcoming Despair - Promoting Hope.Dan Page.pdf
July 7th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Film Industry Making a Positive Impact in West Virginia
As an overall part of the Governor’s “Open for Business” motto, the film industry has risen to the surface as an industry worth nourishing. The industry, which is recognized as manufacturing, provides good-paying jobs and numerous ancillary businesses benefit from the varying needs associated with a film production (vehicle rentals, lodging, catering, lumber, dry cleaning, wardrobe rentals, furniture stores, heavy equipment rentals, banks, insurance, accountants, lawyers, and much more).
The Governor supported and the Legislature passed the WV Film Industry Investment Act, which is a tax credit program designed to recruit film production into the state, although in-state production companies may also apply (and already have). While it’s a small program ($10 mill, which is sufficient for our state’s current tax base), we have already seen a marked increase in inquiries. Two feature films and a multi-episode television program are scheduled to begin production later this summer and fall. These productions would not be filming in West Virginia if not for the incentive program.
Looking at the recent past (and prior to the tax incentive program), the state, and Huntington specifically, received an economic boost, and positive international exposure, when Warner Bros. filmed “We Are Marshall”. While the economic benefits were immediate, the city has continued to benefit from tourism revenue (dozens and dozens of bus tours have visited film sites). And for a film that wasn’t shot in West Virginia at all, “The Mothman Prophecies” has brought acclaim to Point Pleasant. Tourists flock to Point Pleasant year-round for events — and the city also plays hosts to several television productions every year (A&E, Travel Channel, Sci-Fi, etc.).
Not all productions will be on the same playing field (pardon the pun) as WAM (budget, positive image, wide exposure, etc.), but one of the important things about the incentive program is that it is showcasing the need to develop a trained workforce for the anticipated increase in production. If we can build a sustainable industry, then jobs will be available year-round for our workforce and other ancillary businesses will begin to crop up across the state.
July 12th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
[...] in part by Paul McNeely’s blog post WV: Think Forward (#abetterwv) and ABetterWV.com’s social media challenge. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)An Alternative to Alternative Fuels – [...]
August 8th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
[...] Keeling asking his blog readers to discuss solutions to West Virginia’s problems in a post, West Virginia: Using Social Media for the Mountain State’s Betterment. In response, Skip Lineberg of Maple Creative responded with his post, A Fitter West [...]
August 8th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
[...] Keeling asking his blog readers to discuss solutions to West Virginia’s problems in a post, West Virginia: Using Social Media for the Mountain State’s Betterment. In response, Skip Lineberg of Maple Creative responded with his post, A Fitter West [...]
August 14th, 2009 at 5:24 am
[...] Keeling asking his blog readers to discuss solutions to West Virginia’s problems in a post, West Virginia: Using Social Media for the Mountain State’s Betterment. In response, Skip Lineberg of Maple Creative responded with his post, A Fitter West [...]
August 16th, 2009 at 11:19 am
[...] Keeling asking his blog readers to discuss solutions to West Virginia’s problems in a post, West Virginia: Using Social Media for the Mountain State’s Betterment. In response, Skip Lineberg of Maple Creative responded with his post, A Fitter West [...]
October 29th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
[...] in The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell to help West Virginians get in shape. Another WV blog A Better West Virginia is also trying to help improve the image of the [...]
August 24th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
[...] Keeling asking his blog readers to discuss solutions to West Virginia’s problems in a post, West Virginia: Using Social Media for the Mountain State’s Betterment. In response, Skip Lineberg of Maple Creative responded with his post, A Fitter West [...]