Lots to still unpack re social media's role in the unfolding events and protests in Egypt but this 90 second video provides a nice overview of what's going on.

(Warning: The lack of fact-sourcing/attribution makes this feel a bit propaganda-y.)

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Cross-posted from Huffington Post.

If Google's 2010 Zeitgest covered the world of digital organizing and social change, we probably wouldn't get much beyond "Gladwell," and "Wikileaks." But behind the buzz were some truly inspired commentaries and discussions from our friends and colleagues that enriched the entire field of online organizing and digital social change-making. Here we go.

Social media for social change defended. more

In the lead-up to the annual Web of Change event, starting tomorrow on a very remote Cortes Island, British Columbia, I co-authored this blog post with Jonathan Warnow as a part of a series of "thought bombs" by leaders of the Web of Change community.  more

Cross posted from Care2's Frogloop

Going to the U.N. climate change conference in Copenhagen (COP15) was the closest I've come to a good strong punch in the gut -- the type that makes you question much of what you once believed to be true. But it was also one of the best wake-up calls I could have asked for. more

Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King Day. It's a national Day of Service and a time to reflect on social justice.

The crisis in Haiti brings extra focus and intensity to the question of how we care for each other. How did one of the world’s poorest countries struggle to survive just miles off the coast of Florida? Why does it require a massive earthquake for us to turn our attention to Haiti? more

Cross-posted from Huffington Post.

I didn't even notice my heart pounding until after turning the corner from W 44th street onto Broadway. Displayed on four giant screens -- the hallmark of Times Square -- were the very photos we had just been sorting through and tagging in a dingy, overcrowded campaign office downtown not even an hour earlier. And now they were flashing before thousands of people in Times Square, while Jay-Z's new Empire State of Mind blanketed us in what seemed like a real-life music video.  more

I almost stopped myself from posting this. Because no one likes a cranky-pants. In this rapidly evolving field of online campaigning and "new media", we're quick to exalt and profile massively successful campaigns. When I train others on building effective online campaigns, I like to point to projects like Green my Apple, Invisible Children and Nothing But Nets (among others). more

Ok, so we didn't win an Oscar. But for those who work in our field, this is about as close as you can get.

Earlier this week, we received the exciting news that DoSomething.org has been picked as the winner of a People's Voice Webby for the best Youth Website of the year -- beating out some big name properties from National Geographic, MTV, and Marvel. more

South by Southwest Interactive has evolved into a truly massive event -- with up to twelve simultaneous sessions at a time and scores of official and unofficial parties each night. As most vets will advise, your best bet is simply to ride the wave and explore new ideas since you can't catch it all or meet everyone if you tried.

So, in no particular order, my gross generalizations from this year while it's still fresh: more