JD Lasica's blog

Just a quick note to let the community know that we'll be taking Ourmedia in some new directions in the coming months. We're still figuring things out as we move forward, but the gist of it is this:

This summer we'll be relaunching Ourmedia as a social media platform and tools provider for cause organizations. We just hired a programmer and we're in the process of upgrading the site to Drupal 6 as we build "cause pages" with specific calls to action (many more
than are available on Facebook Causes) and customizable widgets -- all part of an effort we call cloud campaigning.

Ourmedia's existing service as a platform for uploading media files for free hosting and long-term preservation at the Internet Archive will remain intact.

Stay tuned for a fuller conversation about all this.

I hope to head to the Net2 conference next week in San Jose, Calif. If you're not familiar with NetSquared.org, a project of CompuMentor, they're (motto: remixing the web for social change), they're about helping enable nonprofits and social benefit organizations to take up the tools of the social web.

Megan MacLeod in Los Angeles passes this along:

Within the past month Asia has experienced grave tragedies including the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that hit southwest China claiming 34,073 lives and injuring 245,209 more, and the Myanmar cyclone that counts its current death toll at 78,000 and an estimated 56,000 still missing. As the long term effect of this disaster takes its toll on Asia's economy with some estimates reaching over $20 billion in damages, these regions and its people are in desperate need of the world's help.

In response to these tragedies, SocialVibe.com, a new way to make a difference for charities online, is establishing a cause called Disaster Relief that will enable SocialVibe to quickly mobilize fundraising efforts when a global or regional disaster strikes. SocialVibe.com's Disaster Relief launches today on the homepage and as the featured cause of the site. SocialVibe.com "Points " earned by selecting Disaster Relief will be allocated to charities within SocialVibe making a difference for Asia. This month, Direct Relief, which provides medical assistance to improve the quality of life for people victimized by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest throughout the world, and charity: water, a non-profit bringing clean and safe drinking water into impoverished communities, will benefit and split the proceeds 50/50.

SocialVibe.com is designed to enable interaction between people, the brands they love and the causes they are passionate about. The platform mobilizes millions of social media consumers to easily promote, distribute and support brands and charities and distribute these alliances via social networks like Facebook and Myspace, blogs and personal websites. Members simply choose a charity to support and a brand to endorse, earning opportunities to get brand perks and points. The points that members earn are then turned into funds for the charitable cause of their choice. Since the public beta kick-off in February, SocialVibe has already donated more than $30,000 to 14 charities.