Netroots UK

PRESS RELEASE: 18/11/2010 (For immediate release)

Netroots UK: A one day event to network and inspire progressive activists working on the web. Saturday 8 January, Congress House, Central London, WC1B 3LS.

Bloggers, tweeters and online campaigners from around the UK will be coming together face to face in London on Saturday 8 January for Netroots UK, a day of strategy, training and networking for grassroots activists.

The event comes as leading left wing bloggers look to be winning the popularity war with the more established right wing blogs*, and as pressure grows across the progressive movement in response to the government’s programme of harsh spending cuts.

Five hundred online activists will attend a day of workshops and presentations, ranging from hands-on training in digital communications, to sharing good practice from other campaigns, as well as wider debates on the best strategies for progressive digital activism.

Sessions will cover topics such as building campaigns against local spending cuts, engaging effectively online with MPs, producing videos for the web, and using satire to spread campaign messages.

Linking together activists from the worlds of progressive politics, economic justice, international development, trade unions, community groups and more, the event is a first step towards a more connected and effective progressive movement online, echoing the groundbreaking work of the annual Netroots Nation conference in the US.

Liberal Conspiracy Editor Sunny Hundal said:

“We need to bring together our fragmented grassroots movements, and find new ways to work together to oppose coalition plans – through social media as well as campaigning on the ground.”

38 Degrees Director David Babbs said:

“If 38 Degrees’ 240,000 members all work together in 2011, we know we have a real impact standing up for the poor and vulnerable, challenging unfair cuts, and speaking out against damaging privatisation. But the stakes are high and it’s crucial we get it right. I’m really excited about Netroots UK, it should be a great chance to think through the big strategic questions together.”

Netroots Nation Communications Director, Mary Rickles, said:

“Netroots Nation brings online activists out of their individual communities into one place to strategize about making change happen nationally. We’ve just had our largest-ever conference in the US and are excited about taking that momentum and helping our brothers and sisters in the UK build long-term infrastructure.”

Notes:

• Press contact: John Wood, TUC – [email protected], 020 7467 1269
• More information can be found at www.netrootsuk.org . Tickets to the event, priced at £5, can be booked online.
• Organisations supporting the event include: 38 Degrees, Blue State Digital, Compass, False Economy, Left Foot Forward, Liberal Conspiracy, Netroots Nation, Robin Hood Tax Campaign and the Trades Union Congress
• * Left-wing blogs top Wikio rankings. Left Foot Forward, 3 Nov 2010: http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/11/left-wing-blogs-top-wikio-rankings