BCNI 2012 Open Gov ‘News’ Hackathon presented by Tropo 2

Like last year, the BCNI un-conference will be running conterminously with a hackathon. This year, the work will be more focused: to help blossom creativity and leverage on-board talent.

So, you’re invited to the first Open Gov ‘News’ Hackathon presented by Tropo, which will be dedicated to building tools that help inform communities. Register here, and learn why it’s $5 here.

WHAT: Open Gov ‘News’ Hackathon presented by Tropo, building tools that help inform communities

WHEN: Sat. April 28, 9:30 am (doors open at 9am with light breakfast) to 5:30pm, followed by a happy hour presented by the Center for Public Interest Journalism. (Same schedule as last year).

WHERE: Anenberg Hall, Temple University, 13th and Diamond streets, North Philadelphia

WHO: Coders, programmers, designers and subject-matter experts, in addition to journalists and others attending the BCNI un-conference, who will stop by with fresh perspective.

HOW: When the morning kicks off promptly at 10 a.m., we’ll have pitches crafted to get the most momentum behind our work, including likely ideas based in the latest OpenDataPhilly.org data, those involving underserved Philadelphia communities and other creative ideas. Come with your own, as we’ll do brainstorming, but there will be no shortage of great work to be done.

WHY: We want to collaborate between technologists and journalists, and build experimental tools and ideas that could impact how Philadelphia better informs its communities.

EXAMPLE: Look no further than last year’s winning tool PhillyAddress.com, which allows residents to find the ownership patterns in Philadelphia by searching name, rather than only specific address.

JUDGES: Our judges include Code for America government relations director Mark Headd, City of Philadelphia developer Clinton Johnson and local Hacks/Hackers organizer Erika Owens.

PRIZES: We’ll have an array of great prizes to be organized by the size and number of groups. We’ll also keep you fed and happy!