SFUO Soapbox

Oscar ain’t got nothin’ on this.

The prestigious Golden Soap Box!

Since the beginning, these elections have been: crowded, intense, fun, sometimes slow, and at times controversial, but never dull.

The decision to hold a contest for the best blog coverage by the Elections Bureau caused a mushrooming seemingly overnight of amateur student journalists, who were mandated to cover the elections from their own point-of-view. And they did. With an overwhelming amount of enthusiasm and inventiveness.

On my part, I haven’t provided nearly as many posts as some of the other bloggers, but I’ve tried my best to follow them on a daily (hourly?) basis.

In my searching, some blogs have stood out throughout this crazy week for me, and I’d like to give them a little honourable mention here, at the Soapbox, to show them that their invaluable perspectives are worth more than an iPod Touch.

Please keep your acceptance speeches short and sweet, though, or else I’ll be forced to rudely cut you off for commercial!

While every blog has had something different to offer, whether it be in terms of content, point-of-view or coverage in specific candidate races, these blogs stood out for me because of their purported influence and dynamic approaches.

So, with that said, I am pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 Soapie Awards!

Drum-roll please!

Best Overall Blog – SergeMiville.ca

First out of the gate in the race for the iPod Touch, this gee-gee has provided some of the most comprehensive coverage from all facets of the election. Utilizing every piece of multimedia at his disposal, he has blogged with intelligence and wit, not to mention his blog has the brightest and most professional-looking interface of them all.

Although he blogs exclusively in French, those fortunate enough to be bilingual have had an invaluable resource at their disposal in his eponymous blog. He basically did everything right, and if you didn’t know any better, you’d think his was actually THE official blog of the SFUO election.

I wonder if this guy is even taking classes; it’s like he’s blogging as a full-time job! I guess that’s why he’s been proclaimed as the greatest.

Best Multimedia/Video Blog – SFUO Blog (Kyle Ryc)

Kyle is an extremely well-spoken and informed individual. You’ll see him around campus usually working in the background, but also engaging students and the student leaders, especially during this election period. Currently a sitting member of the Board of Administration for Health Sciences, he is also seeking a second mandate, though his elections blog has overshadowed his nearly invisible campaign in a big way.

His blog is the best visual documentation of these elections, which has been defined by the dynamic use of new media. Podcasts, digital pictures, blogs, video blogs; students at the University of Ottawa have embraced the digital revolution (not really breaking news there).

I would also attribute to him the title of Best Student Journalist, because he knows how to ask the right questions to the candidates in his videos. Seeing him sit outside of 1848 with his laptop and a borrowed microphone after the elections debates cemented his dedication in my mind.  A true beat reporter at heart.

Jon Stewart Award for Irreverence – I liek SFUO elections (Fedesaurus et. al.)

The reason I named this one the Jon Stewart award was because of what this blog made me think of immediately when I first stumbled upon it: this is the Daily Show of election blogs, in a sea of CNNs and MSNBCs.

Not to say that some other blogs aren’t entertaining at times, but this one is in it squarely for the lulz.

Much like its cable television counterpart, I liek SFUO elections has a team of hilarious contributors who inject just the right mix of irrevent inanity and biting political satire into every post.  They brought a little fun into the fold, reminding us that student politics isn’t anything really THAT serious.  Unless a zombie apocalypse is involved.

Most Inventive Concept – Selman: Election 2009 uOttawa (Mohammed)

Mohammed Selman incorporated personal vlogs (video blogs) with an easy-to-consume Top 5 countdown interface in his blog, which is important when trying to convey information to an apathetic and easily distracted audience.  Great use of multimedia communication concepts, this is a guy who understands his audience.  Not only that, but he was completely bilingual too!

Most Personable Blog – iBlogSFUO (Amalia Savva)

Amalia had, hands down, the most approachable concept in her blog.  She blogged from the people’s perspective, as a student simply observing and contemplating results and goings-on.  Her opinions and snarky comments were refreshing, because she didn’t take anything too seriously.  I mean, come on: it’s student elections.  Serious bizniss for some, controlled clusterf*%& of fun for others.  This is the blog people read to get the info, with a healthy dose of personality from one bouncy Poli Sci student.

For the winners above, here’s a little award button you can post on your respective blogs:

2009 Soapie Award

[Link the button back to this post: http://sfuo2009.wordpress.com/2009/02/10/2009-soapies/]

I would also like to take this opportunity to announce my retirement from blogging. I tried my best to stay on top of things, but frankly, too many other people have been doing such better jobs (and updating a quadruple times as much more!), my little blog just seems insignificant. Not to mention I’m trying to hold down two jobs, classes, midterms, projects, volunteering and a social life in between.

I may post once or twice more with some opinion, and I may finally complete my debate transcripts, but otherwise I’m dunzo.

I hope this final piece was entertaining and informative! Congrats winners, I foresee you all winning iPod Touches.