Dar es Salaam Bloggers Circle--March Meeting Summary The Dar es Salaam Bloggers Circle (DBC) March meeting took

place on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at a new venue: the TANZICT Innovation Space at COSTECH (Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology), at the usual time, 6:30 p.m. Thank you, TANZICT, for allowing us to meet this month, and from now on, in your lovely space. The meeting was attended by: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Biche (ChickAboutTown) Erick Chrispin (True Maisha) Gabriel Mhando Geophrey Tenganamba (Treasure House Within You) Omar Mohammed (African Longreads/The Wayward Press) Pernille (Dunia ni Duara) Sisty Basil (MazingiraChanya) Taha Jiwaji (Vijana.fm)

Taha Jiwaji was the discussion leader for the meeting. Thanks, Taha, for a job well done! On the agenda was: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Piracy Growing Traffic Yes! Tanzania Banner Ads Online Power Session F&B Can a Facebook page be considered blogging? LHRC--Feedback

DISCUSSION SUMMARY
1. Piracy A blogger wanted to discuss the issue of piracy, the illegal use of software and other copyrighted material, which led to a general discussion about intellectual property. On one hand, the blogger admitted to developing his computer skills on pirated software and to owning a lot of pirated music, as is the case with many people in Tanzania/Africa; on the other hand, he knew that this was wrong and something that he hoped his own work would be safe from. He asked those present how they balanced these two sides to the piracy issue. Another blogger made it clear that piracy and copyright infringement is illegal, even in Tanzania, and so no room was to be made to allow for it. Piracy, it was emphasized, denied creators of works rightful earnings from the use of their creations. As bloggers, and therefore content creators, this is something that wasnt too hard for any of us to understand. It was pointed out

that some of the reasons for high piracy levels in Africa were the relatively high cost of software, priced for foreign markets, and the lack of easy online payment systems available to African users. The consensus was that finding solutions to these two problems would greatly reduce computer-related piracy in Tanzania and the rest of Africa. 2. Growing Traffic A newbie blogger asked for advice on growing traffic to his blog. Some of the more seasoned bloggers shared their experiences and offered advice such as 1) make sure that content shared off your blog is not copied to another location but rather linked to on your blog, 2) use social networks to promote your blog and blog posts, while paying attention to not be only about that on these social networks, and 3) post frequently. 3. Yes! Tanzania Omar invited the DBC to attend an upcoming YES! Tanzania event where young Tanzanian executives would get a chance to meet and discuss with former Tanzanian President, Benjamin Mkapa, and former Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, Nevile Isdell. Omar suggested that this would be a good opportunity for the DBC to publicize itself and its members blogs, by attendance of the event and coverage of it across various social media channels. Omar said hed post more information on the DBC Facebook page for those who were interested. Omar also told those present about Catalysts for Change, an online game that allows the everyday person who has access to the internet to share their vision on how to overcome poverty. He handed out brochures and encouraged those presents to participate so that their views on poverty eradication could be heard. 4. Banner Ads A blogger mentioned that she was planning to start selling direct advertising on her blog. She asked fellow bloggers if they had any experience with this. Those present shared their experiences and advice, including how to serve the adsas an imageand how to have them rotateusing a rotating GIF file. Some showed her examples of ads they had designed for other blogs using tools such as Photoshop. 5. Online Power Session Taha suggested that the DBC organize an online power session on Twitter, i.e., a scheduled chat at a specified time, on a specified subject, conducted by a moderator. He said that a fellow blogger at VijanaFM had organized one recently, and that this would help create visibility not only for the subject discussed but also for the organizers of the power session, namely the DBC. Those present seemed enthusiastic about the idea. It was agreed that Taha would choose a subject to be discussed and plan the details of the power session.

6.

F & B Unlike the previous location of DBC meetings (Cine Club), the new venue, the TANZICT innovation Space did not have a provision for the purchase of food and drinks. Biche asked the group what they thought of this, and what, if anything, should be done to make food and drinks

available. Whereas it was agreed that it would be nice to have drinks and snacks at DBC meetings, it was not agreed as to exactly how this would be achieved.

7. Can a Facebook page be considered blogging? Several of the bloggers present had Facebook pages that they updated regularly. The question was asked: could running a Facebook page be considered blogging? Someone answered that the way in which Facebook pages were evolving made them increasingly like blogs, though this topic was not discussed at length.

8. LHRC--Feedback The meeting broke up before this item on the agenda was discussed. The next DBC meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at the TANZICT Innovation Space at COSTECH, at 6:30 p.m.