Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Why do journalists get excited about blogs?
Someone recently asked why journalists make such a big deal about blogs.
"Most blogs are worthless crap," he said. "Why do I care what some random person thinks about random stuff? Blogs are what personal home pages were ten years ago: self-serving exercises in vanity."
I told him he was right. Most blogs are little more than musings that would remain in the blogger's mind or be recorded in a private diary. Sometimes those thoughts might be shared with others in a personal letter or e-mail message. Most blogs aren't worth reading for anything but personal interest or amusement. But the key word in his statement is "most."
As I mentioned previously, there are a wealth of experts in a variety of professions who blog. They are a wellspring of information, knowledge, and expertise that can be turned into stories.
"Most blogs are worthless crap," he said. "Why do I care what some random person thinks about random stuff? Blogs are what personal home pages were ten years ago: self-serving exercises in vanity."
I told him he was right. Most blogs are little more than musings that would remain in the blogger's mind or be recorded in a private diary. Sometimes those thoughts might be shared with others in a personal letter or e-mail message. Most blogs aren't worth reading for anything but personal interest or amusement. But the key word in his statement is "most."
As I mentioned previously, there are a wealth of experts in a variety of professions who blog. They are a wellspring of information, knowledge, and expertise that can be turned into stories.
