Tagesspiegel Diversity Scholarship

The German daily Tagesspiegel and the European School of Management are offering a full-tuition MBA scholarship for applicants from Germany who are first or second generation immigrants to the country:  

As managers who come from diverse backgrounds are still under-represented in German industry, ESMT aims to support talented young people with a migrant background on their way to leadership positions.

Applicants have to meet certain requirements, write an essay demonstrating that they have approached the idea of diversity in their career or private lives, and submit an online application before 15 November 2010.

For German Readers: Migrantinnen in Führungspositionen

Heute bittet die FH Bielefeld um Unterstützung des Forschungsprojektes „Migrantinnen in Führungspositionen“, das vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) gefördert wird: Es werden noch Frauen mit und ohne Migrationshintergrund in Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft sowie in Selbständigkeit gesucht, die an der Onlineumfrage des Projekts teilnehmen. Alle Daten werden wie üblich "rein statistisch und anonym" ausgewertet. Freiwillige vor!

Mariam of Frau mit Bart

Today's guest on GCB is Mariam of Frau mit Bart ["Bearded Woman"], who caught my attention when she was introduced by Helga of the Mädchenmannschaft last August. 

Follow the jump below to find out why Mariam started blogging, what life has been like since she's started to let her beard grow, and why a certain amount of readers is important to keep blogging.

For German Readers: Axel Springer Preis für junge Journalisten

Du bist Journalist/in und nicht älter als 33? Bestens, dann kannst Du Dich nämlich noch bis zum 10. Januar 2011 um den Axel Springer Preis für junge Journalisten bewerben. Ausgezeichnet werden Beiträge in den Kategorien Internet (!), Print, Fernsehen und Hörfunk. Teilnehmen lohnt sich: Es warten Geldpreise im Gesamtwert von 54.000€. Viel Erfolg!

D.I.Y. Foreign Aid

Elaine, a friend of mine working in American politics, alerted me to a New York Times article entitled "D.I.Y. Foreign-Aid Revolution". In it, Nicholas D. Kristof, co-author of the book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide introduces women of all ages, who have accomplished extraordinary achievements for communities all around the world - often making immense personal sacrifices. One of the women portrayed is Maggie Doyne, 23, who extended her gap year indefinitely and - instead of going to college - founded her own school and orphanage for Nepalese children. On Maggies blog, I found the video of a presentation she gave, letting us in on her motivation, progress, and aspirations. Other projects portrayed in the article include Elisabeth Scharpf's initiative to provide sanitary pads to women as to curb absenteeism at work or school during menstrual periods (Sustainable Health Enterprises or SHE Innovates Blog), or Lisa Shannon, who started Run for Congo Women, an NGO raising money for women suffering from war and rape in eastern Congo.

For German Readers: Wer liebt ihre Vagina?

Wer's noch nicht auf dem Mädchenblog oder bei der Mädchenmannschaft gesehen hat:

Entdecker Danilola sucht die Urheberin dieser netten Berliner Streetart-Aktion. Kann jemand helfen?

Swap Your Clothes Online @ Kleiderkreisel

Fr. Jona&son wrote an interesting post on a new German clothes swapping platform called "Kleiderkreisel". It was modelled after a similar Lithuanian concept, and registration and use of the service are free. Very interesting! 

Kiersten Essenpreis of Twaggies

A while back, I stumbled upon Kiersten and Twaggies on Twitter. The idea is simple, but clever: Twaggies illustrates Tweets.

Follow the jump below to find out which other blogs Kiersten maintains, what kind of topics get covered on Twaggies, and why focusing on the negative aspects of blogging might just leave you... dead or something.

Lykke Li - Live

My Choice is Not a Crime!

In Queensland, as in other Australian states and territories, women and doctors can be tried under 19th century criminal codes and face years of imprisonment for choosing an abortion. These laws have already seen women seeking abortions after sexual assault turned away from public hospitals, and left doctors fearing imprisonment for providing advice and treatment.  Abortion has to be dealt with in the health code, not the criminal code! 

Support the Australian National Petition for Choice in their efforts to legalize abortion by signing their online petition today.  
(Via Mädchenblog)

For German Readers: Reise in die Vergangenheit

Die transsexuelle Svenja erinnert sich in einem rührenden Post an ihre erste große Liebe Dian, die sie im Sommer 2010 nach dreißig Jahren wiedersah...

Watch What You Watch

...Only why is everyone in the video made up like they are?

Either way: Don't thoughtlessly copy famous people - think for yourselves! 

More info at watchwhatyouwatch.org.
 

For German Readers: "Tief im Herzen ist jeder ein Integrationsverweigerer"

Scientist and blogger Elke Brüns wrote an article for the German daily Frankfurter Rundschau. In it, she discusses the 'symbolic universe' of Berlin-Neukölln and asks whether we all aren't intergration deniers at heart. Accordingly, she entitled the article "Tief im Herzen ist jeder ein Integrationsverweigerer".

Blog Action Day: WATER!

As promised, I am participating in today's WATER initiative by introducing to you Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of world famous explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau. 

I first heard of her in the summer of 2008, when I was interning with CNN International in London. Producer Abi Moore (one of the minds behind the PinkStinks campaign) and director Georgi Banks-Davies had the idea of  featuring  Alexandra on Principal Voices, a show portraying leading experts in climate change and energy.

Alexandra runs both her own blog Blue Legacy and Twitter account, where she informs about critical water issues. Her goal is to inspire people to take action in meaningful ways: By saving water, by raising awareness, and by participating in regional efforts to preserve local watersheds.

Alexandra herself is setting a good example: Currently, she and her team are on a 14,500-mile journey across North America to investigate water issues “in the backyard” of one of the world’s leading economies. Check out her photo collection to learn more about that most recent trip.

Julia Stelzner of juliastelzner.de

By way of exception, I'm introducing to you a second fashion-arts-culture blog in ten days: political scientist Julia Stelzner's. Like Anna of Kalinka², Julia is writing on design-related issues for a living: Working as a copywriter during daytime, Julia is spending her evenings charging her blog with clothes and culinary delights. Sounds good to you?

Just follow the jump below to learn more!

(Picture taken from postsecret.)

Are Bloggers Pimpled and Bald?

And, if so, would it matter? Andrew Marr of the BBC obviously got something wrong when he said that "a lot of bloggers seem to be socially inadequate, pimpled, single, slightly seedy, bald, cauliflower-nosed, young men sitting in their mother's basements and ranting." He went on about how "the so-called citizen journalism is the spewings and rantings of very drunk people late at night." If, like me, you disagree, why don't you send an e-mail to his office, setting the record straight? Mine read:

Dear Mr. Marr,

I think you got something wrong when you said many bloggers were "socially inadequate, pimpled, single, slightly seedy, bald, cauliflower-nosed, young men sitting in their mother's basements and ranting". In fact, there are lots of female bloggers, too, and quite a few of us are pretty. Please see for yourself:

http://girlsblogtoo.blogspot.com/search/label/Blogger%20Portrait%20Series

Best regards from Berlin, where I'm sitting at my very own desk - as opposed to: in my mother's basement.

Annina Luzie Schmid

Feel free to use, alter, copy and paste! 
(Source.)

For German Readers: Annina bei Radio Fritz über den #YMS2010

Last Saturday, the gorgeous Lili Masuhr of Radio Fritz asked me a couple of questions regarding the Young Media Summit for a radio show called "Trackback". Like the title suggests, it deals with all things web-related. My interview is about seven minutes long and in German - hope you guys will like it!

Wer wenig Zeit hat, spult am besten gleich zu Minute 15.17 vor, da geht's los. ;-)

For German Readers: 11 Fragen an Jana Mänz

Remeber German blogger Jana Mänz? She answered another eleven interview questions revolving around photography here.

Eveline Exner of Küchentanz

Today, please meet Eveline Exner of Küchentanz, an exquisite food blog that goes beyond tasty recipes. 

Follow the jump below to find out why Eveline likes her blog to be uncomfortable sometimes, why she has never accepted advertising offers, and to read her advice on what not to do when blogging.

Facebook, Handbags, Breast Cancer, and Sex

Apparently, October is breast cancer awareness month. I had no idea such a thing existed until I received a message asking me to announce in my Facebook status where I like [to put] my purse when I get home. The word purse was to be replaced with the word it. Already, statuses like "I like it on the kitchen table" or "I like it behind my door" were popping up everywhere.

Said message was mailed out to women only. It explained how the initiative was modelled after similar previous campaigns. Last year's task, for example, asked female users to give away the colour of their underwear in the name of breast cancer - in order to make "men wonder for days what is with the colors and make it to the news"...

Facebook, Handtaschen, Brustkrebs und Sex (Deutsch)

Nach dem Sprung gibt es die deutsche Version meines englischen Originalartikels zur gegenwärtigen Brustkrebs-Status-Aktion auf Facebook. Kommentare willkommen!

Tegan & Sara - Walking with a Ghost

Ava's Transatlantic Green Salon

On 7 October 2010, Ava's Green Salon, a blog-based Berlin-American initiative for sustainability, will open its doors for the first time. American political scientist Steven Hill and Hans-Josef Fell, energy spokesperson of the German green party, will kick off a series of events bringing together experts, activists, and artists to discuss their ideas. Topic of the launch night is "Europe Energized?". Follow the jump below for a brief interview with Isabel Cole, the mastermind behind the project.

#YMS2010 - Day 3

Picture by Tarek Amr

Very much to my surprise, I was asked to sit on the podium during the presentation of our Young Media Summit 2010 results at Cairo University yesterday afternoon. Wow.

The question directed at me specifically was whether social media like Facebook or Twitter could contribute to intercultural dialogue. In groups, we had worked on variations of the topic in the morning, and had come to the following conclusions*:

Anna Eimerl of Kalinka²

Today's blogger portrait introduces Anna Eimerl, editor of hipidy-hip style and fashion blog Kalinka².

Follow the jump below if you don't know a) who Oksana Robski is, b) what kind of photos Anna prefers to use or c) how to handle below the belt online discussions...

#YMS2010 - Day 2

Picture by Osama Romoh

Today we finally got to discuss what we came to discuss: Blogging! We started with group work: Three tables, three moderators, three topics:

What are your reasons for Blogging?
Is "Blogging" a Profession? and
Who are your readers?

I was moderator of the profession group, which meant...

#YMS2010 - Day 1

After a pleasingly uneventful flight from Berlin to Cairo, Tessa, Julia, Markus and I safely landed in Egypt last night. Not knowing, of course, that thanks to local traffic and belated Stefan and Hardy, it would take us another three hours to get to our hotel. But we did, and my decision to go to bed straight away proved dead right - sitting in the conference room all day today, getting to know each other while tweeting, blogging, debating and listening to presenters and translators was pretty exhausting. And while now the others are swimming some rounds in one of Cairo's largest swimming pools, I am in my hotel room, typing this...

Young Media Summit 2010: Cairo, Here We Come!

I was lucky enough to have been invited as a participant in the first ever Young Media Summit, which will take place in Cairo, Egypt, from 2 - 4 October 2010. Over three days, fellow bloggers and myself will debate on "Orient and Occident on the World Wide Web": Is blogging the same in Germany and the Arab world? Can bloggers contribute to intercultural exchange? With the help of interpreters, we are hoping to find valuable answers to these and other questions. On Monday, we will present and discuss our findings during a public event at Cairo University. I will try and post regular updates from the conference until then. For starters, you might also want to read the German introductory posts about our trip by my colleagues Teresa of Flannel Apparel and Stefan of Ruhrbarone.

The Young Media Summit is organized by Deutsche Welle’s DW-Akademie and the Deutschland-Zentrum Kairo, and is being funded by the German Foreign Office. It is meant to be the first in a series of annual summits held to facilitate exchange and networking among young media professionals from the Arab world and Germany.

Blog Action Day on 15 October 2010: "Water"

Blog Action Day is an annual event that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue. The aim is to spark a global discussion and raise awareness. This year's topic is "Water". For more information on the choice of topic and suggested post ideas - i.e. polluted oceans or bottled water -, please visit the initiative's website. At least to me, participating sounds like a good idea! 

Irgendeine Userin of Ja! Es sind Comics!

Irgendeine Userin was the first woman in Germany to blog on graphic novels. Already since 2006, she has been updating fans and interested newbies on new comic publications, movie theatre adaptations, and everything else you need to know on her blog Ja! Es sind Comics!.

Follow the jump below to read her product suggestions to the comic industry, to find out why blog.de is her favorite blog host, and to meet her favourite superheroine.

Shop Recommendations: Berlin

 Anna Niestroj listed her favourite shops in Berlin, sorted by requirements. Very handy!  

(Photo: Anna Niestroj.)

Diversity at New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011

Anne Feldkamp of Blica found an interesting diagram detailing the ethnic origion of models hired to walk at the New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011. And, surprise, 81.8% of them were white.

The (US) Blogosphere in 2010

Here's an interesting info graphic on the current state of the blogosphere. 

(Via Don Dahlmann.)

Floating on a Lake

Fräulein Zucker, who designed the Girls On Web Society Logo I mentioned the other day, also takes beautiful photos!

For German Readers: Onlineumfrage zu Arbeit und Umfeld

Caroline, die derzeit an der Goethe Universität in Frankfurt promoviert, sucht noch Teilnehmer für Ihre  Onlinestudie zum Thema „Subjektives Erleben von Arbeit und sozialem Umfeld“. Wenn Ihr ihre Forschungsarbeit unterstützen möchtet, folgt diesem Link und beantwortet ihre Fragen. Zum Dank wird  ein Amazon-Gutschein verlost.

Update: Six Years and 76 Lashes for Shiva Nazar Ahari!

 

According to Reporters Without Borders, journalist and human rights activist Shiva Nazar-Ahari was  sentenced to six years in prison and 76 lashes on charges of conspiracy and anti-government propaganda. She will appeal against her conviction.

Geninne of Geninne's Art Blog

Today I am super happy to introduce to you one of my personal favourites, Geninne's Art Blog - edited by Geninne, who only recently moved into a beautiful new house in Mexico.

Follow the jump below to find out more about her "happy art", why anyone can learn how to blog, and to have a look at a long list of other blogs by female artists Geninne warmly recommends.

For German Bloggers: Die Girls On Web Society

Einige von Euch kennen die Girls on Web Society auf Facebook bereits von der Mädchenmannschaft. Den anderen möchte ich sie hier wärmstens empfehlen. Neben der Möglichkeit, den Gruppenmitgliederinnen seinen eigenen Blog zu präsentieren, werden dort Neuigkeiten ausgetauscht, und hin und wieder gibt es sogar Real Life-Treffen mit leckeren Getränken. Wer  möchte, darf das von Frl. Zucker gestaltete Logo (↗) der Gruppe - samt Link zu Facebook und Copyright-Hinweis - auch auf dem eigenen Blog ausstellen. Und falls Ihr vom Vernetzen dann noch nicht genug habt: Hurtig, hurtig dem GCB-Forum beitreten!

Black and White Photography

Anastasia from Canada put together a set of beautiful new photos.

Eva Cassidy - Autumn Leaves

...As will the Girl, I Hope!

 (Source)

Jule of Aus dem Leben einer Stinkesocke

At 18, Jule is the youngest blogger introduced on GCB so far. On her blog "Aus dem Leben einer Stinkesocke" she describes her life as a paraplegic.

Follow the jump below to find out who Jule's blog is targeted at, about  sexual harassment online, and why using the spell check before posting is mandatory.

How to Use Web Analyzing Programs and Search Engine Optimization

Danielle Maveal wrote an interesting article on how to best make use of web analyzing programs in order to collect data about our websites. There's also an older one on understanding search engine optimization. Both articles are suitable for beginners! (Image source)

Socks!

Those of you who know me personally know that I'm a total sucker for knee socks. For example those that Anna Niestroj found the other day.

The World Inside a Toilet Paper Roll

  

Anastassia Elias puts the world inside a toilet paper roll.

(Source.)

5 Good Reasons to Start Blogging

Someone did my job and listed five reasons why to start blogging. There must be more than five, but I wanted to show you the mentioned ones anyways. And since the original post is in German, I translated the subheadings below and added my own experiences to each point... Now, if you can think of other good reasons to hit the keyboard, please add them to the comment section!

1. Blogging connects people. 
This is actually true - you will make new friends! If it hadn't been for Don Dahlmann, who got to know me through my other blog, and later introduced me to Nadine Lantzsch, who earlier this year pointed out to me Anne Roth's concerns about the invisibility of women on the web, GCB wouldn't have come into existence. Naturally, they are all bloggers. If you blog in English, your readership will grow even larger: So far, GCB has been visited by people from 72 countries!

2. Blogging educates. 
Absolutely! In terms of media literacy, social behaviour and generally. Each time I portray a blogger, I learn something new about their field of interest. I had no idea, for example, that something like Anna's cycling blog existed. Or Pharmama's pharmacy blog. There's so much to take in on the web - simply sign up for a service like Google Reader and start exploring the blogosphere. Or, if you prefer interaction, check out the new GCB forum on yuku.

3. Blogging makes you happy.
Over time, you'll receive recognition and appreciation. There's nothing more pleasant than receiving a message from someone who likes your work. Beautiful photos, fashion and art on display will delight you. Try Smilla Dankert's Anders Anziehen, for example. And as for me: Incoming links and comments on posts make my day! :)

4. Blogging empowers.
It will help you build an opinion and defend it in discussions. Blogs like The Huffington Post or the Mädchenmannschaft will keep you up-to-date on current issues in your field and provide you with all necessary information to participate in the dialogue. Already after six months, I now draw strength from the network around GCB.

5. Blogging strengthens your personality.
Trust me, it will help you find out more about yourself and interests you might not even know you had. The support one is able to draw from a group of like-minded individuals is invaluable. I am always impressed when people I know stand up for themselves and share their honest opinions. They are the role models I look up to.

Still not convinced? Lack an original issue? Online diaries are blogs, too! Here are 100 Benefits of Journaling that might change your mind. ;)     

Photo: Annina Luzie Schmid

New: The GCB Forum ! - - Neu: Das GCB Forum!

For a while already I have been thinking about setting up a GCB forum, but shied away from the additional workload of administrating it. However, when I translated Anna Eimerl's interview today (her blogger portrait will be up at the beginning of October), and she repeatedly expressed the wish for one, I thought: What the heck! And set one up - for now on yuku. (If you have never visited a forum before, you might be interested in the yuku FAQ or yuku's support page.)

Obviously, the GCB forum is still very much in its infancy, I've only put up one topic for discussion so far - Advertising on Blogs. Since GCB has both German and international readers, I would like the forum to be bilingual. Posts may be submitted both in English and in German. I very much hope that I created a space where you all feel comfortable enough to ask pressing questions on blogging and related topics and discuss them. As of yet, posts are visible to the general public, but you need to be registered to leave a reply. If you're unhappy about that and would like the forum closed, please indicate that to me and I will reconsider. Registration is free, so please don't be shy and participate! And if you're interested in becoming an admin, even better... ;)

http://girlscanblog.yuku.com/

Ich hatte schon eine Weile darüber nachgedacht, auch ein GCB Forum einzurichten, bin bisher aber jeweils vor der zusätzlichen Arbeit, die mit dessen Verwaltung einhergehen wird, zurückgeschreckt. Als ich jedoch heute Anna Eimerls Interview übersetzte (ihr Blogger Portrait wird Anfang Oktober erscheinen), in dem sie wiederholt den Wunsch nach einem solchen Forum äußerte, dachte ich was soll's, und habe eines aufgesetzt - zunächst auf yuku. (Falls Du noch nie ein Forum benutzt hast, kannst Du z.B. auf der yuku FAQ Seite oder der yuku support page nachlesen, wie's geht.)

Das GCB Forum steckt natürlich noch absolut in den Kinderschuhen, ich habe auch erst ein Thema zur Diskussion gestellt: Werbung auf Blogs. Da GCB sowohl deutschsprachige als auch internationale Leser hat, habe ich das Forum bilingual eingerichtet. Posts können sowohl auf Deutsch als auch auf Englisch veröffentlicht werden. Ich hoffe sehr, dass ich einen Raum schaffen konnte, in dem Ihr Euch wohl genug fühlt, um dringende Fragen rund um das Thema Blogs stellen zu können, und diese dann auch zu diskutieren. Derzeit sind Beiträge noch für die Öffentlichkeit sichtbar, eine Registrierung ist jedoch erforderlich, wenn man einen Beitrag hinterlassen möchte. Wenn Euch das nicht recht ist und ihr lieber ein völlig privates Forum hättet, lasst es mich wissen, und ich denke noch einmal nach. Die Registrierung ist natürlich umsonst, also traut Euch und diskutiert mit! Und wenn Ihr gerne Administrator/in werden würdet, umso besser... ;)

Congratulations!

I am pleased to announce the winners of the recent GCB audio book draw.

They are:

Sabrina M. from Velbert-Neviges (via Girls Can Blog).

Stephyb@... (via Janasworld).*

Henning F. from Speicher (via Die Klappentexterin).

Mechthild H. from Ingolstadt (via Love German Books).

Gosiline@... (via on Tschau Tschüssi).

In the names of Oliver Bottini and myself, I'd like to thank all participants and involved bloggers for their time and effort. I hope you enjoyed the draw as much as I did!

I'll do my best to provide you with other interesting GCB lotteries in the future.


(Image by Miriam Paulsen)

* Bitte melde Dich bei mir, ich kann Dich per E-Mail leider derzeit nicht erreichen... Danke! :)

Reading Murakami 1Q84

Four female German litbloggers have teamed up to bring you the ultimate Haruki Murakami experience:

Ada Mitsou, Bibliophilin, Der Blaue Raum and Klappentexterin (or here on GCB) created a blog called Reading Murakami - Four Women, One Man, and a Love that Unites. Follow the link above for a collective  reading experience of a different kind. All the best for this interesting project!