With a nod to the reality-TV industry and the power (and low cost) of viral marketing, local credit union Verity is nearing the end of a month-long 'êcontest'ê to pick a Mommy Blogger for the financial institution'ês website. Votes are being collected online through this Sunday (October 4), and visitors to the special website can read about, screen videos by, and choose from a Lynnwood mom, a Bellevue mom, or (my personal favorite) a Seattle mom. Bellevue? Lynnwood? Come on!
The hometown candidate is one Rosemary Garner, who I ran into at last weekend'ês memorial at MOHAI for iconic broadcaster Greg Palmer. Garner, who partnered with Palmer on several projects over the years, has an impressive CV as a producer of programs for local and national public television, including the American Masters'ê documentary 'êVaudeville.'ê She also has an impressive record as a mother of one.
So why, then, has Garner devoted a month of her life trying to convince anonymous web voters about her momminess and her blogginess? Simple answer: to get a job. The winner of the Mommy Blogger contest gets $20,000 a year to create blog videos for the credit union.
And Garner has gone to great PBS-quality lengths to demonstrate her Mommy Bloggy street (and rail) cred — check out the production values on the video she made of a trip on Sound Transit. One thing'ês for sure: This ain'êt your mother'ês video blog.
Times are tough everywhere, but especially so for anybody who used to work in journalism or electronic media (and who wants to get back in). Hell, were it not for my own, shall we say, chromosomal challenges, I'êd be right there with all the other aspiring Mommy Bloggers. But, if Verity were to launch a similar contest for dads, I hope I can count on your vote.
