Converge Weekly

As previously reported, the first of its kind Annual Blog Awards was organized by CIO and Google at Kohinoor Hall of Regent Plaza on 28th May, 2010 in Karachi. Few representatives from Converge Weekly attended the very well organized event that has now become a stepping stone for the blogosphere of Pakistan. The first Blog Awards received 207 entries for 41 defined categories, which were judged by 14 industry experts. Welcoming around 300 guests that not only included nominated bloggers but tech gurus and industry specialists whose input made the evening intellectually riveting.

The awards announcements were sporadically done and complimented by three Unconference sessions featuring industry luminaries of respective fields; in short:

Session 1:

Topic: Innovation in Media
Panelists: Amin Rammal, CEO Digispace
Sarmad Ali, MD Mktg & Adv Sales, Jang
Bushra Iqbal, Digital Team Leader, P&G
Nabiah Mohammad, Dawn News
Naveen Naqvi, Blogger and News anchor
Faizan Leghari (audience member)
Mohammad Jehanzeb (audience member)

Summary: The evolution of new media and it’s increasing role of how people access it. There was a time that TV and Print were the only mediums of news; however, with ever increasing internet penetration (cable/broadband), users are switching bandwagons. They see and hear exactly what they want to rather than some designated representatives that provide only one side of the story. Blogosphere has played a major part in making that happen with citizen journalism and active participation in making the voices of masses heard, highlighting the real socio-political issues.

IPTV is in its nascent stages but there would come a time when the content being seen would be totally ruled by the viewer along with customization. An example of it is Youtube presenting an array of tagged content that is easy to find.

The time of innovation is NOW and many traditional media vehicles are finally catching up to it. E.g., introduction of epaper, Live streaming of news and programs online, updates and alerts regarding content and competitions via SMS, IVR and Web, interactive Outdoors, etc.

Session2:

Topic: Selling 3.0
Panelists: Ali Raza Merchant, Synergyzer & BrandSynario
Adil Ahmed, CEO TheSymmetry
Badar Khushnood, Google Pakistan
Imran Moinuddin, NexDegree
Adil Ahmed (audience member)
Mohsin Jaffrey (audience member)

Summary: Digital Marketing is an infant in Pakistan that has just started crawling on its knees. It has a long way to go yet it’s not the time to write it off rather time for investment. Compared to other mediums this is highly customizable, interactive and cost-effective. I would disagree with the audience view on this topic that Pakistan only has 18M (it’s actually 20M now) online users thus investing on such a small population is a waste. Interesting fact that Badar pointed out was that Mobility has to be made part of the digital world rather than only online. Pakistan’s teledensity is the highest in South Asia:

Source: World Bank for Population and Relevant Telecom bodies for Mobility Subscribers

In case of Pakistan, 58% of population (96M) possesses a mobile that is actually a part of their personality (leaving home, there are three things that no one forgets: wallet, keys and mobile). Pakistanis are ready for Digital Marketing campaigns that is proven by increasing brands taking up the challenge, just to name a few: PTCL, Mobilink, Telenor, Warid, Ufone, Zong, Nokia, all major brands of Unilever and mostly banks. It’s a high time that such limited mindsets are turned towards the traceability of digital campaigns along with high ROI via click rates, page views, SMS traffic, registrations, calls, etc.

In case of local content, our regional areas are rife with cultural treasures that can be acquired to produce engaging entertainment for the masses. The copyright issues are to be ironed out with clear rules and regulations for a profitable music and entertainment industry.

Session 3:

Topic: Engage & Converge
Panelists: Sidra Iqbal, Television anchor
Aleem Bawany, Express C/O Badar
Yasir Riaz, GEO
Jeremy Higgs, NOWPDP
Ashar Zaidi, Intel Pakistan
George Fulton, Journalist and Television anchor

Summary: With content being easily available now, panelists talked about what made them click in the viewers’ eyes and had a viral effect for increased traffic. Tech savvy users have very less time for advertisements and more time for exactly what they want to see and hear (music, videos, movies, games, etc.) They can zip websites; pick and choose the relevant content as per their preference. The content stickiness via creative content or friends endorsement are needed in order to bring in the traffic.

Many types of viral videos were discussed like some classics like Meera video, Thakur ka Inteqaam, Captain Safeguard, etc. There’s definitely a need of more such content to be produced locally. The Pakistani blogosphere has made this lacking area fill with increasingly colorful content comprising of beautiful pictures and videos of the picturesque locations, social stories, political views, individualistic opinions that ranges from satirical to solemn.

I was lucky to interview George Fulton about the importance of digital media in Pakistan, which we’ll post soon.

All in all, the event was a resounding success, recognizing local intellectuals, who make a point in getting heard about various socio-economic, political and lifestyle issues. Hopefully, this is the first of many.

Blog Awards Winners’ list:

Best Celebrity Blog

Naveen Naqvi – naveenaqvi.com

Best Culture Blog

Yasir Niaz – yasirniaz.blogspot.com

Best Fashion Blog

Irfan Ahson – bridalfashions.wordpress.com

Best Gossip Blog

Rafaeel Akbar – blog.roofe.net

Best Humor Blog

Tazeen – tazeen-tazeen.blogspot.com

Best Music Blog

Hammad dar – koolmuzone.com

Best Photo Blog

Awais Yaqub – www.photopakistan.blogspot.com

Photo Blogger

Raja Islam – www.flickr.com/rajaislam

Muhammad Khabbab – lahoregardening.blogspot.com

Best Podcast

Teeth Maestro (Awab Alvi & Faisal Kapadia ) – laidbackshow.com

Business Blog

Salma Jafri – wordpl.net

Best Current Affairs Blog:

Adil Najam – pakistaniat.com

Best Diarist

Momal Mushtaq – mm89.wordpress.com

Best Ezine

Sarosh Waiz – pakmediablog.net

Best Food Blog

Neelam Hamid – neelscorner.com

Travel Blog

Nabeel – eatntravel.pk

Urdu Blog

Fahad Kehar – abushamil.com

Best Political Coverage Blog

Ahsan butt – fiverupees.com

Best Sports Blog

Mudassir Aijaz – reverseswing.wordpress.com

Best Personal Blog

Salman Latif – salmanlatif.wordpress.com

Political blogger

Teeth Maestro – www.teeth.com.pk/blog

Best Individual Blogger

Awais Aftab – awaisaftab.blogspot.com

Best Automobile Blog

Mohammad Khan – caradvice.pk

Best Education Blog

Khurram Hassan Shafique – nextstepforward.net

Tips and Tricks

Qasim Imtiaz – cellplugin.blogspot.com

Best Gaming Blog

Ali Sharaq – actionradius.com/jdl

Best Technology (Domestic) Blog

Tech Lahore – techlahore.com

Best Technology (International) Blog

Haris Nadeem  - sizzledcore.com

Imran Hussain – ithinkdiff.com

Taimur Asad – redmondpie.com

Saad Hamid – sizlopedia.com

Best News Media Channel

Adeel Ayub – geotauaisay.com

Best Online Community Blog

Yasir Nisar – www.flickr.com/groups/pakistaniphotographers

Activist Blogger

Sana Saleem – sanasaleem.com

Live Blogger

Fariha Akhtar

Tech hardware

Abdullah Saad – wccftech.com

Best Live Photo Blogger

Jamal Ashiqain – karachiart.blogspot.com

Best Blog Aggregator

Asim Imtiaz, Ammar Yasir, Asad Ullah and Hamza Zafar – teabreak.pk

Best News Broken on a Blog

Farhan Janjua – guppu.com

Best Local Humor

Touseef Ikram – paksatire.com

Best Industry Support

Jehan Ara

Sources for few pictures, winners and Unconference Panel lists: CIO Pakistan

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