Media of Birmingham, the final phase

It’s been a good run, one that will continue online.

Media of Birmingham will no longer be an active networking organization. The board of directors, which started in July 2010, voted to disband on Aug. 7 and to turn organizational control and assets back to me, Wade Kwon.

I thank board president Sally Reilly and the other directors for their service during the past 2 years. Their efforts have continued the group’s outreach and training among Birmingham-area media professionals. In addition, they have raised $883.94 through ticket sales to events.

As you may recall, I formed the board in 2010 to take responsibility for the organization. The duties had become too time consuming for myself and another volunteer. This was my last-ditch effort to keep the group going and to create a sustainable model.

Alas, even the board was unable to continue after 2 years. If you’ve ever served as a board member, a nonprofit volunteer or staff member, you’ll know that it can be difficult to find capable, passionate advocates who are not paid (or paid very little). Without active leadership, no organization can hope to grow or even maintain viability.

Finances

The money will remain frozen in a bank account until Dec. 31, in case any vendors have outstanding invoices. Former board president Sally Reilly will help monitor the bank account until it is closed in 2013.

To renew the domain and domain mapping for the next 12 months, I spent $20.20 this week, as I have done in the past 2 years.

If you believe Media of Birmingham owes you money for past services, please contact me by Dec. 14.

On Jan. 2, the money will be allocated as follows:

1. Approximately $80.80 for domain and domain mapping through 2017.

2. The remaining $800 (minus any bank service charges) to be donated to a Birmingham-area 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. If your organization serves media professionals — journalism, advertising, marketing, public relations, new media — and is interested in receiving this one-time gift, please fill out this form by Dec. 14.

(Note: I automatically remove the Alabama Social Media Association from the running because of my conflict of interest as one of its board members.)

Channels

On Oct. 31, the Media of Birmingham email list, Facebook group and LinkedIn group will be closed. These channels require trained volunteers for upkeep and, by my assessment, have not been tended to in a long time.

I sent a note today to each of these groups.

(I still have to sort through some of the leftover MOB email. You haven’t lived till you’ve sorted through 2,000 pieces of email, trying to guess which, if any, have been answered.)

Website

The good news is that this site, MediaofBirmingham.com, will remain up and running for at least the next 5 years. And likely forever, or as long as we have websites, as the cost is relatively small.

I will continue to post reports about the ever-changing landscape of Birmingham media, as time permits. Our colleagues and neighbors have shown a continued interest in news about our various industries, companies and outlets.

I welcome guest contributors. If you’re interested in contributing stories, photos or video, contact me.

Note: Because of time limitations, I will no longer be posting job listings, event notices or media releases.

You can continue to receive the latest updates by RSS or by email (subscribe using the form in the right sidebar).

Evolution

When I helped create this organization 9 years ago, little did I know how much turmoil our city’s media outlets and agencies would endure:

• the loss of two daily newspapers;
• the shrinking of every TV operation;
• the rise and fall of so many magazines and nondaily newspapers and blogs and other sites;
• the annihilation of local radio;
• the war on Alabama Public Television;
• the evaporation of thousands of local jobs;
• the spawning of boutique agencies, independent professionals and digital specialists; and
• the birth and death of groups for media types.

Never has the need been greater for veterans and greenhorns to connect, not just online but in person. To network, to learn, to comfort, to laugh.

I wish our fellow Birmingham groups — those that have been around and those yet to be — as much success as we have seen this past decade. I’m proud of having been part of such a robust organization, and look forward to continuing to serve you through my occasional reporting and writing on this site.

Thank you for being a part of the MOB.

Wade Kwon is a co-founder of Media of Birmingham and a Birmingham journalist for 25 years.

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