Comments on: Marc Reeves, The Birmingham Post and Five fine questions on blogging. http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/ Social media, active citizens, podcasting, neighbourhoods and more. Fri, 16 May 2008 05:35:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Newspapers and blogging…a bit more « Groves Media http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-83093 Tue, 13 May 2008 14:20:59 +0000 http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-83093 [...] Finally, Nick Booth has some thought-provoking things to say on the subject of newspapers and blogging. The documentary maker turned social media teacher and consultant is reacting to the Post editor’s five questions. [...] [...] Finally, Nick Booth has some thought-provoking things to say on the subject of newspapers and blogging. The documentary maker turned social media teacher and consultant is reacting to the Post editor’s five questions. [...]

]]> by: Paul Groves http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80464 Thu, 08 May 2008 08:41:23 +0000 http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80464 Nick: Hhhhmmm...I'm thinking of the way journalists work I guess. There probably is a fair bit of overlap with blogging but I've always felt the atmosphere in a typical newsroom (no matter what size it is) is very different to any other "office" environment. It shapes the way journalists think and work, there is a pack mentality and yet journalists prefer to be regarded as individuals. There is still also this belief amongst some journalists that they should be dictating to readers, not listening to what they have to say. Something like angryjournalist.com highlights them best - that's if you can stand reading two or more of the sort of complaints you'll hear anyway if two or more journalists are gathered together. Nick: Hhhhmmm…I’m thinking of the way journalists work I guess. There probably is a fair bit of overlap with blogging but I’ve always felt the atmosphere in a typical newsroom (no matter what size it is) is very different to any other “office” environment. It shapes the way journalists think and work, there is a pack mentality and yet journalists prefer to be regarded as individuals. There is still also this belief amongst some journalists that they should be dictating to readers, not listening to what they have to say.
Something like angryjournalist.com highlights them best – that’s if you can stand reading two or more of the sort of complaints you’ll hear anyway if two or more journalists are gathered together.

]]> by: Nick Booth http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80454 Thu, 08 May 2008 07:57:05 +0000 http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80454 Hi Paul, Undoubtedly a lot of learning and invention to come. I'm not sure though tha professional journalists have idiosyncracies that remain unique to their profession or necessarily at odds with blogging. What sort of things did you have in mind? Hi Paul,

Undoubtedly a lot of learning and invention to come. I’m not sure though tha professional journalists have idiosyncracies that remain unique to their profession or necessarily at odds with blogging. What sort of things did you have in mind?

]]> by: Paul Groves http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80453 Thu, 08 May 2008 07:46:41 +0000 http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80453 Nick: It is a learning curve for all newspapers and journalists. Newspapers and journalists can learn a lot from blogs and bloggers, which could eventually go a long way to securing a healthier future and a larger readership base. But, equally, newspapers are curious oddities and journalists are strange animals. I think some of these idiosyncracies are completely alien to blogging and bloggers, but they need to be preserved as they make for good journalists and good newspapers. So finding the common ground between the two is key and it is something I don't believe any newspaper, including those with a strong web presence, have quite got right yet. I'm excited about the Post's future, a lot more so than when I worked there. But the learning curve is steep and I think Marc's latest post gets to the heart of the original issue I felt sufficiently moved to rant about. Nick: It is a learning curve for all newspapers and journalists. Newspapers and journalists can learn a lot from blogs and bloggers, which could eventually go a long way to securing a healthier future and a larger readership base.
But, equally, newspapers are curious oddities and journalists are strange animals. I think some of these idiosyncracies are completely alien to blogging and bloggers, but they need to be preserved as they make for good journalists and good newspapers.
So finding the common ground between the two is key and it is something I don’t believe any newspaper, including those with a strong web presence, have quite got right yet.
I’m excited about the Post’s future, a lot more so than when I worked there. But the learning curve is steep and I think Marc’s latest post gets to the heart of the original issue I felt sufficiently moved to rant about.

]]> by: Nick Booth http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80142 Wed, 07 May 2008 20:20:51 +0000 http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80142 It's a learning process. When what you write is personal not every comment is welcome. When it is a paid for commodity then all comments should be welcome. It’s a learning process. When what you write is personal not every comment is welcome. When it is a paid for commodity then all comments should be welcome.

]]> by: Jon Bounds http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80140 Wed, 07 May 2008 20:18:00 +0000 http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80140 A distinction all the same Marc, I suppose what I meant was that an experienced journalist/columnist was shocked by the response to his blog post. More experienced bloggers (journalists or not) could probably have seen it coming (not that that makes it right, or him wrong). A distinction all the same Marc, I suppose what I meant was that an experienced journalist/columnist was shocked by the response to his blog post. More experienced bloggers (journalists or not) could probably have seen it coming (not that that makes it right, or him wrong).

]]> by: Marc http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80126 Wed, 07 May 2008 19:48:40 +0000 http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80126 Just for clarification, Roshan is not a member of staff, but a freelance columnist who works regularly for us. a fine distinction I know .... Just for clarification, Roshan is not a member of staff, but a freelance columnist who works regularly for us. a fine distinction I know ….

]]> by: Nick Booth http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80075 Wed, 07 May 2008 18:09:39 +0000 http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80075 Thanks for the correction Jon - and for the comment Marc. can I please come and work for the University of Transparency. Thanks for the correction Jon – and for the comment Marc. can I please come and work for the University of Transparency.

]]> by: Jon Bounds http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80074 Wed, 07 May 2008 18:04:15 +0000 http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80074 >one of his guest bloggers According to Roshan (in the comments to his original post): "I'm just doing a job the Post management assigned me to do. But this is not a personal blog but a Post blog...If that helps." - odd that it's one of the staff that caused the controversy rather than the guest bloggers? (didn't want to raise it there as it would have distracted from what I hope will be a fascinating debate) >one of his guest bloggers

According to Roshan (in the comments to his original post):
“I’m just doing a job the Post management assigned me to do. But this is not a personal blog but a Post blog…If that helps.”

– odd that it’s one of the staff that caused the controversy rather than the guest bloggers?

(didn’t want to raise it there as it would have distracted from what I hope will be a fascinating debate)

]]> by: Marc http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80071 Wed, 07 May 2008 18:02:26 +0000 http://www.podnosh.com/blog/2008/05/07/birminghampostbloggingquestions/#comment-80071 Nick . . your links are welcome, but more so your comments. 'The University of Transparency'....? Hmmmm..... Nick . . your links are welcome, but more so your comments. ‘The University of Transparency’....? Hmmmm…..

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