Want to join the DemocraticSPACE team?

For the upcoming 2007 federal Canadian election, DemocraticSPACE is experimenting with a new feature — riding-by-riding bloggers/correspondents. We hope to recruit a volunteer from every riding in the country to provide updates on what is happening in your riding. You will be, in effect, our eyes and ears on the ground, providing commentary, analysis and reporting on nomination meetings, all-candidates debates, and how the campaign is unfolding generally in your riding.

We use Wordpress as our blogging software. If you have experience using Wordpress, great. If not, no worries, it is extremely easy to use. Experienced or beginner bloggers are both welcome. Our first preference will be to have non-partisan bloggers, but we recognize that many interested bloggers will have party affiliations (in which case your riding blog will have a disclaimer stating your party affiliation).

All bloggers will be required to write under their real name (sorry, no exceptions — and yes, we will verify this). This is necessary to prevent false representations. Update: upon second thoughts, we will allow bloggers to publish using their usual online names, as long as we know and can verify their true identity.

Bloggers are expected to either live or work in the riding about which they are blogging (the goal is, after all, to have eyes and ears on the ground).

Please note, this is NOT a paid position (we are non-profit!), however, given DemocraticSPACE’s popularity, it will surely attract visitors to your personal blog (which will be linked to your riding blog) and/or you might make a name for yourself otherwise. DemocraticSPACE’s audience includes not only everyday Canadians, but members of the media, campaign staffers, and Members of Parliament.

We are now accepting applications. If you are interested in becoming a DemocraticSPACE Riding Blogger/Correspondent, simply email Greg Morrow a short note that includes:

1. your full name
2. the address of your personal blog (if any)
3. your party affiliation (if any) or non-partisan
4. which riding you want to blog about

The deadline for Round 1 applications is Monday, April 9 Tuesday, April 10 (since the 9th is Easter Monday and many aren’t at work). But don’t wait, apply today. And to all bloggers, please pass the word along.

NOTE: round 1 has passed, so those who applied first are given first dibs. But we have opened up applications for round 2 now — so feel free to apply today.

Fine Print
As this is an experimental feature of DemocraticSPACE and to protect the professional integrity and legal responsibilities of DemocraticSPACE, we reserve the right to moderate or remove blogs at any time for any reason whatsoever. Given our commitment to free speech and democratic principles, of course, it is our great hope that we never need to exercise this right.