Jake Appelbaum in New Orleans

Webzine featured speaker Jacob Appelbaum has headed down to Houston to help make life a little easier for Hurricane Katrina victims stuck indefinitely in the Houston Astrodome. He is there helping with technology infrastructure and documenting the disorganization, mayhem and horrible conditions that victims are stuck with. Jake is a citizen journalist, photographer and blogger who has been able to get under the radar of the mainstream media and gather stories from victims which so far haven’t been given much coverage, such as the alleged bombing of the 17th Street Canal levees. We wish Jake well and hope his enduring compassion helps to make a few victims lives just a little bit more bearable.

Update: Jake made it to New Orleans where things aren’t pretty. He’s working with locals who are not leaving, helping to document the surreal morbid scene and capturing stories.

2005/09/07 | Katrina | Trackback | 4 Comments »

WEBZINE is a real world, face-to-face celebration of independent publishing on the Internet. It's part panel discussions and speakers, part workshops and much freeform collaboration, schmoozing and after-party boozing. The panel discussions aim to inspire, the workshops are hands-on forums of learning and the Master's Lounge is the unstructured place to share knowledge, ideas and URLs. DIY to its core, Webzine is rooted in zine culture and the love of making our own media.

Two days of panel discussions and presentations from speakers covering a micro gamut of the independent publishing landscape. Hear from people who are turning mainstream media on it's head through self-reporting, culture jamming, citizen journalism, experimenting with new forms of audio and video broadcasting and of course, sticking it to the Man.

Inspiration becomes creation when you make the tools and tricks work for you. Learn from leaders and creators of open source publishing tools, podcasts and video blogs. Step it up a notch by learning how to tailor your message, perfect your content with proper internet architecture and this new thing called microformats.

We would be lying to you horribly if we tried to tell you that we've covered everything and everyone there is to know in the world of independent online publishing. The Lounge is a place where you can share your ideas, project, URL or whatever you happen to be working on with fellow allies and future friends. This area will be an open, self-selecting and self-scheduled space equipped with a digital projector and a round table. Gather 'round and exchange knowledge and contact info.

Webzine 2005 is Accessible

Online tickets for Webzine 2005 went for an amazingly low price of $22 for the whole shebang. Day passes were $13 in advance. That's less than 1% the cost of some other well known annual conferences, all without the guilt, grime or starch.

Webzine 2005
SEPTEMBER 24th/25th
12noon - 6:00pm

Swedish American Hall
2174 Market Street
San Francisco, Kalifornia