Manchester Digital
Encyclopedia
Manchester Digital is an association of people and organisations working with digital media
and digital technology based in and around Manchester
, UK. It acts as a trade association
and collaboration network. Its stated aims are to foster cooperation and promote the work done by its members to other businesses and outside the city and its region.
Members include companies, freelancers, public and third sector organisations, individuals and students working in areas including 'new media'
, web development
, digital marketing
, SEO
, software development
, internet services provision
, Internet hosting
and games development. Members agree to abide by a code of practice.
Manchester Digital organises events including The Big Chip Awards for digital work in Northern England
. It recently co-launched the IBZL
programme with The Open University
.
Manchester Digital is structured as a not-for profit association and is funded by member subscription. It works closely with other organisations such as the Manchester Digital Development Agency, part of Manchester City Council
, and the One Digital Alliance.
and Internet Service Provider (ISP) Poptel
. It had initial support from the inward investment agency for Manchester and Manchester City Council
. It took responsibility for the Big Chip Awards in 2002.
One Digital, a national alliance of organisations with similar aims and objectives was launched in 2009 by Manchester Digital, Bristol Media
and South East Media Network. One Digital now includes Wired Sussex.
Manchester Digital Association is now governed by an elected 12-person council and is the sole member of Manchester Digital Limited, a not-for-profit company that runs events and other activities.
Digital media
Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital form. It can refer to the technical aspect of storage and transmission Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital (as opposed to analog) form. It can refer to the technical aspect of...
and digital technology based in and around Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, UK. It acts as a trade association
Trade association
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
and collaboration network. Its stated aims are to foster cooperation and promote the work done by its members to other businesses and outside the city and its region.
Members include companies, freelancers, public and third sector organisations, individuals and students working in areas including 'new media'
New media
New media is a broad term in media studies that emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. For example, new media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community...
, web development
Web development
Web development is a broad term for the work involved in developing a web site for the Internet or an intranet . This can include web design, web content development, client liaison, client-side/server-side scripting, web server and network security configuration, and e-commerce development...
, digital marketing
Digital marketing
Digital Marketing is the promoting of brands using all forms of digital advertising channels to reach consumers. Digital marketing extends beyond Internet Marketing to include channels that do not require the use of the Internet...
, SEO
Search engine optimization
Search engine optimization is the process of improving the visibility of a website or a web page in search engines via the "natural" or un-paid search results...
, software development
Software development
Software development is the development of a software product...
, internet services provision
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
, Internet hosting
Internet hosting service
An Internet hosting service is a service that runs Internet servers, allowing organizations and individuals to serve content to the Internet. There are various levels of service and various kinds of services offered....
and games development. Members agree to abide by a code of practice.
Manchester Digital organises events including The Big Chip Awards for digital work in Northern England
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
. It recently co-launched the IBZL
IBZL
IBZL - infinite bandwidth zero latency - is a thought experiment that asks: what will happen when bandwidth is so great, and latency so small, that it no longer matters? What will be the applications and services that become widespread?...
programme with The Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
.
Manchester Digital is structured as a not-for profit association and is funded by member subscription. It works closely with other organisations such as the Manchester Digital Development Agency, part of Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council is the local government authority for Manchester, a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. It is composed of 96 councillors, three for each of the 32 electoral wards of Manchester. Currently the council is controlled by the Labour Party and is led by...
, and the One Digital Alliance.
History
Manchester Digital was formed in 2001 by a small group of individuals and companies working in the internet industry, including broadcaster Tony WilsonTony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
and Internet Service Provider (ISP) Poptel
Poptel
Poptel was a British internet and on-line services provider that was run by an employee cooperative from 1986 to 2002.In the 1980's Poptel offered on-line communications and information services to international NGOs, working in particular with the Interdoc group...
. It had initial support from the inward investment agency for Manchester and Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council is the local government authority for Manchester, a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. It is composed of 96 councillors, three for each of the 32 electoral wards of Manchester. Currently the council is controlled by the Labour Party and is led by...
. It took responsibility for the Big Chip Awards in 2002.
One Digital, a national alliance of organisations with similar aims and objectives was launched in 2009 by Manchester Digital, Bristol Media
Bristol Media
Bristol Media is a support network for the creative and media industries in Bristol. It has over 1700 hundred members across the Animation, TV, Film, Digital, Design, Marketing, Publishing, PR and Music sectors making it one of the biggest creative communities in the UK.It is a community interest...
and South East Media Network. One Digital now includes Wired Sussex.
Structure
The association was initially governed by an informal voluntary board. In 2003 it adopted a new two-tier structure with a formal constitution.Manchester Digital Association is now governed by an elected 12-person council and is the sole member of Manchester Digital Limited, a not-for-profit company that runs events and other activities.