Running Silent with the BlogFather
I feel I have already violated the hallmark of a good blog - regular postings. I allowed the last couple of days to lapse without putting up any new posts or even a blogdodge of a link without any commentary. I have only one excuse, regular human contact occurred the last couple of days. Thankfully, much of that time was spent with fellow bloggers, including my blogfather, Captain Ed.
So I will employ the oldest publishing trick in the book, if you want people to read you, write about them!
Captain Ed spoke to CFACT on Wednesday night about how the blogoshpere is providing a counter balance to the 'mainstream' media and how this might shake out. Before the blogs and talk radio the old media simply leaned hard to the left and lapses in truth were allowed to pass so long as the story fit the template. Take the CBS forged Killian memos. The old media was quick to accept these forged documents as new evidence because they already KNEW Bush was lying about his Guard record. Whoops.
Talk radio was great for the fact that it offered an editorial rebuttal to the old media in an entertaining manner - and also turned out to be a great financial model. Blogging is different. For one, a viable financial model of blogging has not emerged. But it also allows for the quick accumulation of expert analysis, research and opinion in a blog swarm.
The blog swarm is a force of nature, and why not? A diverse set of skills, talents, experience and expertise is far more likely to occur along an ideological spectrum than a specific profession such as journalism. After all, they are all journalists.
The old media doesn't much care for this level of accountability. Life is so much easier when no one's watching. You can be sloppy, you can push the news/editorial envelope, you can shape the story, and you can largely get away with just making things up to 'fit' the story. When exposed, you lose credibility. Lose credibility, lose your audience.
Captain Ed mentioned how the newspapers have officially lost 2% of their readership and supposes that those numbers are quite higher based on the newspaper circulation scandal. He suggests that diminished credibility is the driving force, but warns his fellow bloggers that the loss of credibility is far more crippling to the blogs. A blogger who lies, fakes it, or conveniently gets it wrong will lose readership far faster. Basic Marketing backs up this claim. The blogs are still a fluid product with thousands to choose from and while brand names exist, they don't yet have the power, weight and household recognition of the old media. As much as I like Powerline as a blogging brand, it doesn't hold a candle to the brand "Star Tribune".
But that might change. Captain Ed cited numbers that 32 million people read blogs and that blogger readership increased 58% over last year. With the eyeballs, go the advertising dollars, and the establishment of household brands.
The lessons of Captain Ed? Be a good writer, be truthful, be interesting, and do your homework. In the end, it is the new ideas backed up by research and insight that will build the blog.
So I will employ the oldest publishing trick in the book, if you want people to read you, write about them!
Captain Ed spoke to CFACT on Wednesday night about how the blogoshpere is providing a counter balance to the 'mainstream' media and how this might shake out. Before the blogs and talk radio the old media simply leaned hard to the left and lapses in truth were allowed to pass so long as the story fit the template. Take the CBS forged Killian memos. The old media was quick to accept these forged documents as new evidence because they already KNEW Bush was lying about his Guard record. Whoops.
Talk radio was great for the fact that it offered an editorial rebuttal to the old media in an entertaining manner - and also turned out to be a great financial model. Blogging is different. For one, a viable financial model of blogging has not emerged. But it also allows for the quick accumulation of expert analysis, research and opinion in a blog swarm.
The blog swarm is a force of nature, and why not? A diverse set of skills, talents, experience and expertise is far more likely to occur along an ideological spectrum than a specific profession such as journalism. After all, they are all journalists.
The old media doesn't much care for this level of accountability. Life is so much easier when no one's watching. You can be sloppy, you can push the news/editorial envelope, you can shape the story, and you can largely get away with just making things up to 'fit' the story. When exposed, you lose credibility. Lose credibility, lose your audience.
Captain Ed mentioned how the newspapers have officially lost 2% of their readership and supposes that those numbers are quite higher based on the newspaper circulation scandal. He suggests that diminished credibility is the driving force, but warns his fellow bloggers that the loss of credibility is far more crippling to the blogs. A blogger who lies, fakes it, or conveniently gets it wrong will lose readership far faster. Basic Marketing backs up this claim. The blogs are still a fluid product with thousands to choose from and while brand names exist, they don't yet have the power, weight and household recognition of the old media. As much as I like Powerline as a blogging brand, it doesn't hold a candle to the brand "Star Tribune".
But that might change. Captain Ed cited numbers that 32 million people read blogs and that blogger readership increased 58% over last year. With the eyeballs, go the advertising dollars, and the establishment of household brands.
The lessons of Captain Ed? Be a good writer, be truthful, be interesting, and do your homework. In the end, it is the new ideas backed up by research and insight that will build the blog.
posted by Bill Gilles | 8:03 AM
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