I couldn't make it to BlogHer this year because I immersed in an interactive journalism camp. The camp's participants produced an online multimedia site with story packages that included text, video, photos and interactive graphics that they conceived and coded. Although they were new to journalism, their stories were full of substance. They pressed public officials on what they were doing to reduce our town's carbon footprint. They quizzed a scientist on the ethics of animal testing. Coverage of a robotics competition, dual profiles of a well-known Hollywood actor and a aspiring comic book artist, and a conversation about the future of journalism rounded out the story lineup.These 16 ace reporters are rising 8th graders who were new to both journalism and programming. You can see what they produced after five days of training and assistance from their college student mentors, five of their teachers, three professors and three volunteers. 

One of the amazing things that happened at BlogHer 2008 was the beginning of mainstream media outreach to certain bloggers to create content for their existing web sites or new blog portals. This is not a bad thing. I repeat, it is extraordinary good thing that type of opportunity is taking place. However, there are parts of my mind that are howling like an old yappy dog. Something is amiss. I can’t see it as yet. I have the scent but I don’t have anything tangible. It nagged me on Day 2 and all the way home.

At the BlogHer conference this weekend, there's been a lot of of conversation about conversations. Addressed at the panels I've attended have been such great topics as op-ed writing, appearing in the media, and fundraising online--and I've met many fascinating women. That said, I feel something is missing. It's civic discourse.

There are countless useful blog posts out there on how to network at conferences if you're timid, how to best enjoy this week's BlogHer conference, how (not) to approach a blogger about a business partnership, and even what to do after a conference.

It is hard to write today. My mind is everywhere but where I sit. So I am going to take a chance and make some loose connections with language, linguistics and emoticons. I read a post today written by Chandra on Punctuation Promiscuity  Now I'm not too bad with the exclamation points but the comma thing? Yes, I confess. 

Judi Sohn, the mother of a girl whose special needs she claims were not being met by her daughter's school, reports that the school has used her blog postings against her in legal proceedings. Was Sohn treated fairly? We don't really have enough evidence to say, but Sohn's case is a fascinating one. I'm going to quote at length from Sohn's post as a way of summarizing her story: