Monday, August 04, 2003
For lazy reporters, blogs are their worst nightmare
Typically, the debate about blogs today is framed as a duel to the death between old and new journalism. Many bloggers see themselves as a Web-borne vanguard, striking blows for truth-telling authenticity against the media-monopoly empire. Many newsroom journalists see bloggers as wannabe amateurs badly in need of some skills and some editors.
Woo-hoo. As far as I'm concerned, that's validating me a lot more than just updating my regular old web site once in a while. Working at a paper this summer, I've given a lot more thought to journalism school and what I really want to do. I guess I'd still have to work myself up the ranks, but yesterday Anne made quite a big deal about the need for Spanish speaking reporters at the Tennessean, making that a possibility of breaking in a little easier. Now that I've been writing up my Japan mobile project and interviewing with IBM for a co-op, I'm much more motivated to return to Tech, even if it does cost an arm and a leg. Now that I have more of an idea of the things that are possible, it's easier to set goals and boost morale that I can actually conceive of having a career. Looking across Justin Hall's writings, I realized this was the same guy from Swarthmore--he certainly got on the internet train in time but I managed to drop the ball a few times. Oh well. I'm sure his being in San Fransisco and meeting Howard Rheingold when he did helped. So I'm still hoping to make connections to go forward, just have to learn how to respond quicker and grab opportunities quicker...
"Where do you expect to be in 5 years?". This question came up during the IBM interview and it made me cringe. Five years ago, who would have thought that Lucent and all these other companies would have massive layoffs, most of the dot-coms would go under, and I'd lose my dream job when some crazy terrorists blew up some buildings? Everything has totally changed. It's hard to say how I have though--still a little shell-shocked and regrouping.
Typically, the debate about blogs today is framed as a duel to the death between old and new journalism. Many bloggers see themselves as a Web-borne vanguard, striking blows for truth-telling authenticity against the media-monopoly empire. Many newsroom journalists see bloggers as wannabe amateurs badly in need of some skills and some editors.
Woo-hoo. As far as I'm concerned, that's validating me a lot more than just updating my regular old web site once in a while. Working at a paper this summer, I've given a lot more thought to journalism school and what I really want to do. I guess I'd still have to work myself up the ranks, but yesterday Anne made quite a big deal about the need for Spanish speaking reporters at the Tennessean, making that a possibility of breaking in a little easier. Now that I've been writing up my Japan mobile project and interviewing with IBM for a co-op, I'm much more motivated to return to Tech, even if it does cost an arm and a leg. Now that I have more of an idea of the things that are possible, it's easier to set goals and boost morale that I can actually conceive of having a career. Looking across Justin Hall's writings, I realized this was the same guy from Swarthmore--he certainly got on the internet train in time but I managed to drop the ball a few times. Oh well. I'm sure his being in San Fransisco and meeting Howard Rheingold when he did helped. So I'm still hoping to make connections to go forward, just have to learn how to respond quicker and grab opportunities quicker...
"Where do you expect to be in 5 years?". This question came up during the IBM interview and it made me cringe. Five years ago, who would have thought that Lucent and all these other companies would have massive layoffs, most of the dot-coms would go under, and I'd lose my dream job when some crazy terrorists blew up some buildings? Everything has totally changed. It's hard to say how I have though--still a little shell-shocked and regrouping.
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