02/22/07: BlogHer News

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Welcome to the BlogHer Newsletter.

It's been a week of big announcements, as we've announced our theme, programming tracks and some important logistical information for BlogHer '07. That means we've issued our Call for Ideas too. In addition we have new speaker and sponsor info posted for BlogHer Business. We also have ourselves a winner of the BlogHer Oscar Contest, and of course our update on what you may have been missing on the BlogHer site. Pull up a browser and stay a while.

Update #1: BlogHer '07: A World of Difference

[img_assist|fid=3075|thumb=1|alt=BlogHer '07 Theme] As you can see from this lovely BlogHer '07 button, this year's theme is A World of Difference. This post explains why we've chosen that theme and names the 6 tracks of programming we plan to present at the conference. Each track will be co-chaired by one or two subject matter experts, and we have issued our Call for Ideas for the conference. This same post explains what we're looking for and includes instructions about how to submit your ideas. Whether you want to speak yourself, suggest someone else you'd like to hear speak, or simply want to tell us which topics you really care about, this Call for Ideas is going out to you!

Update #2: BlogHer '07 Venues: Get Your Reservations Early

[img_assist|fid=3079|thumb=1|alt=BlogHer '07 I'm Going] Kristy has the low-down on a bunch of BlogHer '07 logistics in this post, including unveiling our conference venue and the three hotel room blocks we have set aside for BlogHers. She also updates you on our childcare plans, and provides code for these beautiful buttons, so you can add them to your own site. Things are starting to heat up for this summer in Chicago, so check it out.

Update #3: BlogHer Business Speakers and Sponsors

[img_assist|fid=2388|thumb=1|alt=BlogHer Business Basic Button]If you've been interested in learning more about our BlogHer Business speakers, you can now check out their full bios here. Reacquaint yourself with speakers who have joined BlogHer before, like Caroline Little, Elise Bauer and Lynne D. Johnson, and with fresh BlogHer voices, like Marissa Mayer, Penelope Trunk and Bambi Francisco. And if you're wondering whose sponsoring BlogHer Business, from the cocktail parties to your breakfast, you can see the (nearly) complete list here.

Update #4: And the winner is...:

We have a winner! SJ from I Asshole had a runaway smash hit on her hands with her Oscar thank you speech entitled, Holy Cats! Is This Thing On?. Check out her winning entry and all of the other entries in this contest. We had some really creative entries. Congratulations, SJ, on winning a free conference pass for BlogHer '07. We'll see you in Chicago, and we'll try to find some red carpet for you!

Update #5: What you may have been missing

[img_assist|fid=1584|thumb=1|alt=BlogHer logo] If you haven't visited the site since our last newsletter, here are some of the most active conversations you may have missed:

-02/15-02/20: No one can say that BlogHers don't know how to have fun, we get as into entertainment as any pop culture divas out there. Some of the most-read posts of the last week covered American Idol, Ugly Betty and the latest romantic comedy.

-02/19-02/20: In the space of these 24 hours, though, BlogHer also covered some of the most serious and controversial news items of the day, for example highlighting not one, but two stories involving our troops and their spouses, and the tremendous strain they're under.

-02/14-02/20: Finally, this week, BlogHer editors covered our many passions, from pets to shopping to, what else?, the art of blogging itself.

Best,
Elisa, Jory and Lisa

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