Kiwiblog

InternetNZ announces:

The National Library of New Zealand (NLNZ), Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA) and InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) are honouring the memory of internet pioneer and commentator Paul Reynolds with a scholarship for international study.

Paul Reynolds, who died suddenly this year at the age of 60, had an extensive public profile as an internet and media commentator. He made significant contributions to the government’s Digital Strategy and Digital Content Strategy and shortly before his death he completed his term as the adjunct director of the NLNZ’s National Digital Library.

“Paul loved libraries and museums and digital access to them was at the heart of how he thought and worked,” said Penny Carnaby, Chief Executive of the National Library.

“Paul saw access to our heritage as a basic human right but he also saw digital as capturing the pulse of the nation in the present. Paul was always a man on a mission and we are fortunate that his mission in life crossed into our world,” Penny Carnaby said.

“The term ‘numpty’ was a popular Scottish word that Paul was fond of using and reflected his playful but non-compromising approach to life. This scholarship is in memory of Paul Séamus Reynolds, inspirational, enthusiastic and a digital world citizen.”

The scholarship, to be awarded every two years over the next decade, is intended to be used to enhance the knowledge and development of those working in the New Zealand Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums (GLAM) sector. Applications will be called for in February 2011 for the first award.

The scholarship, worth a minimum of $5000, will enable the successful applicant to research or develop specialist digital knowledge or experience at an overseas institution and is restricted to those currently working in the digital space of the New Zealand GLAM sector. It will be administered by LIANZA on behalf of the wider sector. …

Friends of Paul Reynolds will have an opportunity to contribute to the fund.

More information can be found on the LIANZA website:
www.lianza.org.nz/Paul_Reynolds_Scholarship

Very pleased to see this award in memory of Paul. He was one of the great thinkers of the digital age.

Very strange feeling as I just learnt about a death via Twitter for the first time. Just 140 characters to numb you.

Somewhat appropriately, yet sadly, it was about one of the most well known people online – Paul Reynolds of McGovern Associates.

Paul was one of the thought leaders in New Zealand. He was a familiar voice to many on Radio New Zealand for many years, and a regular speaker around the country on ICT and the future. He was an inspiring force.

He was also a lovely caring man, whose departure will be felt by many.

My thoughts go out to his family and closest friends.

UPDATE: You can leave a tribute to Paul at InternetNZ, who will pass them onto his family.

John Drinnan in the Herald looks at the new Telecom:

Telecommunications industry watchdog Ernie Newman likes the new, higher profile. He was especially impressed by a newspaper advertisement apologising to customers for disruptions to the broadband service Yahoo!Xtra in downtown Auckland on Friday night. It featured a signed photograph of Reynolds.

Yes a good move.

Telecom advertising had been as pervasive as ever but it had kept a low corporate profile since the Telecommunications Act 2006 when an overwhelming majority of MPs came down on Telecom.

“They hit Telecom hard and it really did not want to stick its head up very much.

“It had to retrench a little and show some humility. Before 2006 they were totally focused on the message and its marketing implications and honesty and integrity got lost in that.

“Paul Reynolds is a very good frontman who seriously believes in what he was doing and he is a very good look for Telecom.”

In fact it is almost impossible to find someone who will say a bad word about Reynolds. A rare feat in and industry or company, let alone the CEO of Telecom.