Justin Foss, This JustIN blogger for The Gazette, answered my blogging questions in an email. This is one of several posts related to Bloggers share lots of advice.
How is blogging different from writing stories and how is it similar?
Blogging is different to me because I can present an idea that might not be that newsworthy, but is still interesting. It can be lighthearted or serious and since it’s from me personally, my readers accept it.
Blogging is very similar because it still needs all the same elements, person, action, consequence…and it always needs to be accurate.
What is good advice for reporters (and their editors) who start blogging about whether/when opinion is acceptable?
Opinion is acceptable I think when the subject directly affects or involves the blogger. However too much opinion will turn readers off. They’re clicking onto a blog to get a more personal sense of the news and our daily interactions. For example, if I talk about mowing lawns, I can interject some stories from my personal life.
Blogging tends to be more conversational than news writing. What are some tips on developing the conversational style? And do you have any cautions about topics or beats where that may not be appropriate (or where it’s absolutely appropriate, though journalistic reflexes might say otherwise)?
By definition, blogging started as online diaries. You don’t write newspaper style in diaries? Well, some might. With that said, journalists tend to use blogs as extensions to their stories, so in cases like this, a more formal style works better. I didn’t say formal, I just said more formal. I leave each writer to draw their own line. However, as a rule when talking about crime or death I seem to tighten up.
Do you have some tips to share on engaging the community and crowdsourcing stories through a blog?
I’ve tried the whole, “What do you think about this subject? Write me an e-mail.” Then I had people write me e-mails telling me to stop being so pathetic in asking for participation. I have found that if the topic is interesting enough, people will interact. If I’m writing about a lame duck, people glaze over it.
What, if any, ethical issues should bloggers address?
Bloggers need to remember not to get careless about what they write. With the emphasis on being more causal and conversational, it is easy to fall into the trap of not being professional. Contrary to my wife (former newspaper reporter), you can be professional and causal at the same time.
What other advice do you have for bloggers who are more experienced with reporting than with blogging?
Let the blogging entry be the same as what you would tell your desk mate when you came back from that story. Sometimes the nitty gritty details don’t fit into a story. Guess what? Those awesome details fit great into a blog.
What are some good online links for blogging journalists?
I take many of my cues from WCCO in Minneapolis. Jason DeRusha seems to be the best I’ve found.
The last piece of advice I have is blogs won’t get traffic if people don’t know they exist. It’s been a struggle in recent years to find ways to promote the blog. That is changing. But, the most popular blogs I’ve read seem to get the most promotion from the organization.
This post from a few weeks ago has seemed to get the most buzz in the community. It’s a very simple observation and it only took only 10 minutes to complete.
Here is another post that got the most attention and I learned something from. I put this out and people jumped on me for not having anything important to talk about. I thought it was important. What I am missing here is more relation to the reader. I inserted opinion here, but upon further review, I think it was too much opinion.
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