I was asked to write this blog. At first I was against writing it. In fact, I think I pretty much, still am. Our journalism skills lecture today, however, cornered me into having to think about blogs and why people blog. I think my main issue with blogging perhaps, is that in a virtual world of Twitters, Technorati and a cacophony of other online communications tools, I am struggling to understand their place and how blogging can enhance the life of a paranoid, fiercely private, busy and above all, sceptical trainee journo.
“Well, BBC’s Robert Peston has one” I was told. Granted, it is fair to say, that I have considerable amount of time at my disposal compare to Peston or ooh say, David Cameron. I am not breaking financial news or leading a political party at the moment, but then I don’t have an awful lot to sound-off about. I don’t hold status and I cannot offer measured insight on social issues. So where does that leave the lowly individual? I can post comments on topics that are of interest to me and feel smug about outsmarting user darth_101 on all things Tarantino, on a million message boards already. I can too, reply to embarrassing posts where I am able to offer or seek advice anonymously. But a blog is different.
Blogging to me, until recently was the pass-time of self-interested and uninteresting naval-gazers, too involved in their private affairs to look around and realise that the world had not quite come down crashing and burning with the end of their relationship. I thought of blogging as the emo of communication tools if you will.
But being introduced to the blogs of citizen journalists and other hackademics has changed my views a little and even as I write this post and philosophise on the irony of this exercise, I allow myself to consider blogging not so much as an over-exposed journal but as a sort of utopian, grassroots soapbox where people can break and anlyse their own news.
This makes me think that maybe I do have something valuable to contribute. I mean, I do have opinions and maybe my next post will shed a little more light on blogging and blogs and hopefully, I’ll find my voice and my audience in the process.
Lighten up! you are alienating me with your negativity, people are attracted to enthusiasm and to succeed in any medium you need to engage others