For me, the best bits of a good industry conference are always any well-run panel discussions. Not those panels where the ‘moderator’ has more to say than the panellists. Not those panels where panellists completely fill the allotted time by standing up in turn to deliver one over-long prepared presentation after another. Not those panels where every member has exactly the same story to tell, and any differences of opinion are left outside. Not them.
The panels I mean – the panels I love – are the ones where the panellists talk to one another and their audience. The ones where different perspectives are brought to the table and shared. The ones where knowledge and prior experience are self-evident. The ones where differences of perspective or opinion inform and enrich rather than disrupt and divide. The ones where the moderator knows to keep (reasonably) quiet. Them. They’re great, but sadly all too rare.
Working with the team at SemanticWeb.com we’re going to try recreating that ‘great panel’ vibe in a form that everyone can easily consume, without the horrors of air travel or the cost of hotel rooms. To do this, we’re launching a new monthly podcast called The Semantic Link, a PodPanel if you will, and assembling what I hope you will agree is a great team of panellists to get it going. Read more