While the Charlotte debut of TED, the global big-ideas conference, has the city's creative class abuzz, there are some rumblings of discontent. At issue: the Sept. 24 inaugural of TEDxCharlotte, held at the Wells Fargo auditorium in uptown, will be limited to 300 participants - a far cry from the hundreds of wannabe TED-sters around town. The situation has raised questions about the selection process, even spawning a group of protesting Tweeters, or as they've dubbed their site, NedxCharlotte ("We are an independently organized event for those NOT invited to TED" goes the tagline).
In my Sunday column (Sept. 5), I profile Candice Langston, the chief organizer of the event, and her push to bring Charlotte's growing creative community into the business mainstream.
Due to my own space limitations (of the editorial variety), my column doesn't address the question "How does one get chosen to attend a TEDx event?" But here's a bit of fodder on the subject, offered by Langston via email Friday night (Sept. 3) after my column went to press:
"As organizers, our goal throughout the process has been to remain transparent and to maintain integrity and fairness. We stand behind our process and the results it yielded. Hopefully, these facts will address some of those concerns.
In my Sunday column (Sept. 5), I profile Candice Langston, the chief organizer of the event, and her push to bring Charlotte's growing creative community into the business mainstream.
Due to my own space limitations (of the editorial variety), my column doesn't address the question "How does one get chosen to attend a TEDx event?" But here's a bit of fodder on the subject, offered by Langston via email Friday night (Sept. 3) after my column went to press:
"As organizers, our goal throughout the process has been to remain transparent and to maintain integrity and fairness. We stand behind our process and the results it yielded. Hopefully, these facts will address some of those concerns.
Here goes:
1. All TEDx events include a selection process for participation. Each TEDx is independently organized by a local team and as such, each is different.
2. TEDxCharlotte follows a "best practices" format of blind review of applications, where the applicants' personal information (name, title, organization, etc.) is unavailable to the reviewers. This process produced the pool of selected applicants. Criteria are clearly stated in the application process and applicants are chosen based on their responses.
3. The timeline and deadline for applications was well-publicized and open to everyone in equal access.
4. We had many more applicants than available spaces - because of TED's rules and limitations on available seats in the venue we can't include everyone that wants to attend the live event.
5. The event will be livestreamed and anyone is welcome to view. UNCC, CPCC and JCSU have confirmed they will be hosting formal "viewing events" for 100 (max) attendees (each school coordinates their own viewing event). However, anyone can host an informal viewing party...in workplaces, homes, dorms, coffee house or any other venue with an internet connection. Like the event itself, the livestream viewing is available at no charge.
6. We are planning for TEDxCharlotte 2011 and invite anyone and everyone to engage, participate and contribute ideas.
7. ANYONE can apply for a TEDx license. TEDx events vary in size and scope...they take place in workplaces, schools, places of worship and living rooms. TEDxCharlotte would love to be a catalyst for other TEDx events and offer our support and guidance in that process."
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