This past Saturday was  Media Democracy Day in Vancouver and around Canada.

While I was otherwise indisposed, the Vancouver event at the Public Library looked like a huge success (because of or in spite of the beautiful autumn weather), our man Scales was among the participants on stage on a panel to discuss "The Battle for New Media and Open Communication" along with Micheal Tippet of Now Public and others.

He used his experiences covering Olympic Games in Turin and Beijing as reference points to discussthe changing landscape of news gathering.

Our pal Tris Hussey was among the active audience live twittering the event to provide some excellent stream of collective consciousness reportage in: Journalism in a time of Big Media Domination & The Battle for New Media and Open Communication.

Tris captures snippets of the conversations ranging from landscape change and market woes to non-rights-holders covering the Olympics. Here's a taste:

"You won’t recognize the media landscape in three years" Michael Tippet edit • delete

Scales still "super editor" and "unofficial" China desk editor on NowPublic edit • delete

Streets of Torino, they couldn’t talk about the Olympics, IOC shut them down. Hmm. Guess you have to pay to cover, eh? Became cultural show edit • delete 

Spreading the word

The 2008 Media Democracy Day event in Vancouver is Oct. 25th 2008 and features a batch of excellent panels and noteworthy speakers headlined by Rex Wyler, co-founder of Greenpeace.

With many critical issues affecting net users and publishers, the Media Democracy event will address copyright in flux, open access to the Internet, and the tension between mainstream and independent and grassroots media.

Raincity Studios' CEO Robert Scales is joining Leslie Shade – Associate Professor Concordia University, Jeff Davis - Vancouver Open Network Initiative Cooperative, Mike Tippet – Co-founder of NowPublic to discuss "The Battle for New Media and Open Communication" at 3:15 ~ 4:30.

Acquia Teams with Raincity Studios as a Platinum Development Partner

Drupal development and hosting leader set to deliver solutions with Acquia Drupal and Acquia Network

Two leading Drupal companies have teamed up to make the popular open source content management system a more accessible and practical choice for businesses.

In an agreement finalized at DrupalCon 2008, Acquia has announced Raincity Studios as a Platinum Partner on the newly launched Acquia Partner Program.

Dries Buytaert, project lead of Drupal and co-founder of Acquia, expresses his enthusiasm about the partnership saying:

"Raincity Studios is just the kind of company we seek for partnerships to help us transform the web - they have a history of innovation, participation and contribution to the Drupal community.  I look forward to future success together."

Points for Participation?

Into the thick of the Olympic sporting competition, Canada is rolling in a litany of 5th, 6th, 7th places ... but with track and field, rowing finals and trampolining yet to come, the Canucks still have a chance to visit the podium.

As Tod Maffin twitter'ed: "Maybe Beijing will at least give us a courtesy Participaction pin?(Dont understand this? Ask a Canadian over 30.)" (ed note: or view this Participaction toque).

In the social media production department, Scales continues to create video at an epic pace despite losing his co-hort Kris who was repatriated to Vancouver in time for a glorious summer weekend. Scales is staying busy by picking up more tickets for varied events at the incredible new venues including the whitewater kayak run (plus visits to the Danish hospitality house).

I'm heading to the hills with tent and beverages so here's a few highlights to enjoy with your weekend viewing: