Sign up for my new monthly email list

I’ve decided to try a new little online venture: a monthly newsletter about the Liberal Democrats with news about what’s happening in the Liberal Democrats, with some direct commentary and lots of references to stories, posts and other information to be found online.

There are two main reasons for giving this a try. First, I’ve now been around talking at 15 local parties in the last few months, and one common theme has been the number of members and supporters who are interested in hearing more about what is going on in the party, who often don’t spot stories such as the Steve Webb or Andrew Stunell columns explaining government policy in their department, and who would (I thought at first) greatly enjoy reading more Lib Dem blogs.

But after a while of talking about the benefits of reading blogs such as Liberal Democrat Voice, I realised I was trying to make people fit the medium, rather than the other way round. Yes, encouraging more people to read blogs is a good move, and something I will continue to do, but it doesn’t get to a large group of people who, for a range of reasons, just don’t want to take to the medium. It may be habit, never having become a blog reader, or a feeling of being overwhelmed by too many posts, or a host of other reasons. But they all add up to trying to persuade people to read blogs more being going against the grain of how they like to receive information rather than going with the grain. Email readership amongst such people, however, is much higher than blog readership – which reflects wider internet habits across the UK population.

So in addition to further promoting the merits of readings blogs, it makes sense to try getting more out of email in a way that goes beyond existing email lists such as those from Lib Dem Voice or other excellent emails lists in the party, such as those run by ALDC, but which are rather specific for particular niches.

The second reason for trying is that having commented often enough about the communication challenges the party faces (such as in Being good ministers is not enough), I’m keen and willing to have a go at trying to help meet some of them beyond what I already do.

And so the email list (update – now called Liberal Democrat Newswire). I’ve no idea how long it will last or even what form it may take in six months time, but that is no reason to hold off trying, changing, tweaking and learning as I go. I am also well aware of the irony of talking on a blog about a newsletter original conceived for non-blog readers – though I’m optimistic that you too will find the newsletter interesting if you are interested in the Liberal Democrats.

So I not only hope you’ll sign up to the email list and find it useful, but also that you’ll let me know what you think of it as it develops. I’m intending to send out one trial newsletter before Christmas and then starting running the list regularly from January.

I’m also starting up an email list so that you can get a daily digest of my blog postings – so by all means give that a go too.