Continuing the dialog about China, The Olympics, Social Media and Everything ... here's a response to one of Dr. Andy Miah's questions for the 9th International Symposium on Olympic Studies:

"In what way are new media platforms enabling new forms of journalism to surround the Beijing Olympics?"

To craft well-rounded answers, Symposium participant Kris Krug (Robert Scales is also on board) sat round the table with Richard Eriksson (recently returned from Shanghai and currently stay-cationing), and myself, to tease out the issues which influence the answers.

In our chat, we reviewed each of Dr. Miah's questions and tried to "twist the kaleidescope" a bit to reflect a broader world view in the conversational answers.

Here's what we came up with in response to: "In what way are new media platforms enabling new forms of journalism to surround the Beijing Olympics?"

I've mentioned some pre-Olympic and Olympic Games related activities coming up in passing. Now, as topics are piling up and the Beijing Summer Games are nearing (complete with controversy), henceforth begins a blog mini-series called, "China, The Olympics, Social Media, Symposiums, etc." - I think I'll need a better name for the series though. Suggestions are welcome.

Background

As you likely know, Raincity Studios actively conducts business in China with an office in Shanghai and the Raincity Studios site is published in English and Mandarin (French underway) and we collaborate with Chinese colleagues and some of us (not me) study Mandarin language and foodery. Just so ya know where we're coming from.

Suffice to say the Raincity Studios clan are pretty excited about SxSW in Austin, Texas.

Yup, I'll be rolling with a posse of Vangroovy SxSW veterans. The Raincity Studios "away team" consists of Scales, KK+. Erik, Roland "Mr. Furley" Tangalo, and me and we're hosting a 10x20 booth (I prefer to call it a lounge) with all sorts of activities in mind during the Interactive and the Music portions of the shindig.

As pointed out in the Tokyo Ramen and SxSW vidcast - social media lunatic Roland Tanglao and I plan to brew up a variety of coverage - live, on-demand, useful, incidental ... interviews with geeks doing neat things, bands, bloggers, labels, fanzines, you ... whoknows?

Raincity Studios' China vision is taking shape with the inaugural meet-up of the Shanghai Drupal User's Group.

The Raincity Studios Shanghai squad and friends at Shanghai PHP user group rallied together to sponsor the "SDUG" event. This afternoon-long event, at The Net Circle's hip office, featured experienced speakers and peer interaction for over 60 people this past Saturday, January 26th, 2008.

While we toiled here on eastern edge of the ocean, our new colleague Charlotte took studious notes to recreate an agenda of learning and interactions.

Scales took some snaps as well so check out Shanghai Drupal Users Groups.