Comments on: Launching the Slugger O’Toole Politicial Awards 2009…

By: Pigeon Toes

Pigeon Toes — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:00:08 +0000

Mick

“give us the benefit of your inside knowledge”.

Please do…

By: Nevin

Nevin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:23:29 +0000

Mick, I referred to the impact of the award, not Slugger’s coverage.

Why would interested parties avail of Slugger’s search box when Google or the blog’s own search box will take them to the meat of the stories, including the referenced FoI data?

Inside knowledge can be something of a two-edged sword. If it’s not used with discretion and integrity it would soon dry up.

By: Mick Fealty

Mick Fealty — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:31:09 +0000

You mean the Rathlin Island ferry ‘story’ Nev? The site search on Slugger’s not great at the best of times, but the amount of mentions that it gets on largely unrelated thread renders it next to useless in finding the few things we actually have written about the ferry and its contract holder.

That said, you should get over to the nomination thread and give us the benefit of your inside knowledge.

By: Nevin

Nevin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 05:04:37 +0000

“The health of politics here will also depend on active engagement from civic society”

Mick, the Stratagem sponsored Slugger Awards certainly raised the profile of NALIL blog.

Some of the stories have touched on important issues that the MSM hasn’t yet reached. The individual responses of political representatives have been mostly positive and encouraging even if that of Stormont committees has been disappointing.

I understand that officials from several government departments and agencies – and even the European Commission – keep a close eye on (and for) certain NALIL stories!!

By: Mick Fealty

Mick Fealty — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:17:37 +0000

Con, short answer is no. But it is might be one worth considering for future awards.

By: Mick Fealty

Mick Fealty — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:16:25 +0000

Joe, that was a misdirect from my spellchecker Joe. Er, sorry.

Keith, the Awards will roughly be the same as last year… like last year we’re going to try and focus on one at a time each week…

‘only asking’, you sound like a man who knows what he’s talking about. Perhaps you might give us the benefit of your experience? Or would that entail you giving too much away?

The Black Box has roughly the same capacity as last year’s venue, the atrium in the Odyssey… If we look like we’re in real danger of massively overshooting it, we may have to consider another tack…

By: Concubhar O Liathain

Concubhar O Liathain — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:40:00 +0000

Is there an award for the politician or political party who/which most promotes positive cross community interaction?

By: joe the pedant

joe the pedant — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:36:22 +0000

the sighting of a ‘energy from waste facility’ (regional incinerator) on Belfast’s northern lough shore.

I don’t think anyone is going to get a sight of it any time soon, if ever, Mick. Maybe they can find a site elsewhere (Stormont?).

By: Alan in Belfast

Alan in Belfast — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:25:34 +0000

Can we have a booby prize for worst council website to highlight the quantum leap some will have to make in the transition. I’ve a handful of contenders … hard to figure out who’s worse between Magherafelt and Castlereagh – and I’ve yet to look at most of the rest!

Maybe broaden it out to worst public sector website?

By: Keithbelfast

Keithbelfast — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:00:19 +0000

The Black Box is a great venue, what’s yer beef, anonymous troll.

do we get to choose the categories as well?

By: Only Asking

Only Asking — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:45:08 +0000

No link to slugger awards site?

Winners already picked?

By: Only Asking

Only Asking — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:42:38 +0000

The black box

Sounds like an anorak event rigged to stroke the egos of the political class…sigh!!

Another advertised slugger event minus real people.