Comments on: British Ambassadors’ blogging excellence http://puffbox.com/2009/03/25/fco-blogs-ambassadors/ Simon Dickson blogs about online news, e-government and the New Politics. Some important people read it. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:55:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Charles Crawford http://puffbox.com/2009/03/25/fco-blogs-ambassadors/#comment-2392 Charles Crawford Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:03:18 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=814#comment-2392 Interesting posting, as are the other links. As a former British Ambassador turned writer/blogger, I have my doubts about the value of FCO blogging. There is something just a bit too much archly post-modernistic Unbearable Lightness of Being about it. See eg this point here on the key limits of the genre for those attempting it: http://charlescrawford.biz/blog.php?single=786 More importantly, why did the FCO need to bring in a serious 'global; PR company' to fix up this event? How much more taxpayers' money straight down the drain did that represent? Any former Ambassadors-turned-bloggers invited to give a different view? Sigh, Charles Crawford Formerly HM Ambassador to Sarajevo, Belgrade and Warsaw Interesting posting, as are the other links.

As a former British Ambassador turned writer/blogger, I have my doubts about the value of FCO blogging. There is something just a bit too much archly post-modernistic Unbearable Lightness of Being about it. See eg this point here on the key limits of the genre for those attempting it:
http://charlescrawford.biz/blog.php?single=786

More importantly, why did the FCO need to bring in a serious 'global; PR company' to fix up this event? How much more taxpayers' money straight down the drain did that represent? Any former Ambassadors-turned-bloggers invited to give a different view?

Sigh,

Charles Crawford
Formerly HM Ambassador to Sarajevo, Belgrade and Warsaw

]]> By: Simon http://puffbox.com/2009/03/25/fco-blogs-ambassadors/#comment-2390 Simon Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:16:18 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=814#comment-2390 I asked Philip exactly that question afterwards. He told me he's never had any bother on the ground in Harare; the Zimbabwe authorities aren't too worried about what gets written on blogs. Video, though, might be a different story... especially, I guess, if it were picked up by TV either in Zim or outside. I asked Philip exactly that question afterwards. He told me he's never had any bother on the ground in Harare; the Zimbabwe authorities aren't too worried about what gets written on blogs. Video, though, might be a different story... especially, I guess, if it were picked up by TV either in Zim or outside.

]]> By: DS http://puffbox.com/2009/03/25/fco-blogs-ambassadors/#comment-2389 DS Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:48:48 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=814#comment-2389 Good to read your take on this. The question is how far can a second secretary take it in a country like Zim? How long before a govt decides that a blog post critical of its government is reason enough to kick out a diplomat - not just in ZImbabwe but elsewhere where there is a blogging diplomat. Most especially if the blog gets a follower at post and in the home country. Good to read your take on this. The question is how far can a second secretary take it in a country like Zim? How long before a govt decides that a blog post critical of its government is reason enough to kick out a diplomat - not just in ZImbabwe but elsewhere where there is a blogging diplomat. Most especially if the blog gets a follower at post and in the home country.

]]> By: paul canning http://puffbox.com/2009/03/25/fco-blogs-ambassadors/#comment-2384 paul canning Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:38:35 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=814#comment-2384 great stuff. Just to say, not liking the highlighting on links. seriously distracts the scanning eye. great stuff.

Just to say, not liking the highlighting on links. seriously distracts the scanning eye.

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