Pdf 2008

I had not planned on coming to Pdf this year due to a client project that is due this week but after all the misinformation and criticism over the AP/Drudge Retort issue - some deserved, most not - I felt like I had better come over and take whatever heat folks wanted to give.

I had a chance to talk to some of the MBA members who were like Liza Sabater, Dan Gillmor, Matt Sheffield, Jay Rosen, Ed Cone, Jeff Jarvis and especially Micah Sifry who was kind enough to get me into the event at the last minute (thanks!). I saw a few other like Henry Copeland speak but we did not get a chance to chat. I got a chance to chat briefly with a few folks I've met at past conferences who always have something interesting to say like Alan Rosenblatt, Craig Newmark, Michael Turk, I also got an earful from Jason Calcanis who objects on principle to the nation that bloggers would associate, or that the MBA would "represent" bloggers (note: we don't) or that we would work with an insurance company to develop a media liability insurance product for bloggers (note: we have). Over dinner last night I had a chance to talk at length with Mary Hodder and express my appreciation for her willingness to reach out to Cory Doctorow at BoingBoing when a great deal of misinformation was being pushed out by the FDL crowd, still made about their very incorrect understanding of what happened with credentials for the Libby Trial. By and large, though folks who I met were supportive of my efforts to help the Drudge Retort get AP off their back and get that situation resolved.