Blogs! The final frontier. The great un-edited universe.
It seems there are as many blogs as there are stars in the sky.
Other similarities: Blogs are often full of hot air, blasts of gaseous solar-flare opinions shooting off into space, hoping to interrupt satellite signals and grab the attention of someone — ANYONE!
Are you there God? It’s me Leonard.
Blogging can be quite the existential exercise.
I would not be polluting cyberspace with my mental/digital output were it not for the Advanced News Reporting Class I’m taking at Youngstown State University. I will, however, go with the flow. You’ll hear no more complaining from me.
Too often, blogs consist of regurgitation and opinion shouting. I hope to fill my posts with actual news, since I like to think of myself as an old fashioned news man.
Despite the fact that I am still a student (forever a student, it seems), I do have a fair amount of reporting experience.
I worked a three-month reporting internship at the Youngstown Vindicator back in 2004, spent two years at the YSU Jambar, one of those years as a “controversial” editor-in-chief prone to dropping f-bombs, burning bridges and generally scorching earth. From there I helped start The Walruss! alternative bi-weekly newspaper in Youngstown, short lived though it was. After wandering the desert for what seemed like 40 years (and without Moses as my guide), I found myself working as a reporter at the Salem News, covering education and small town government primarily. I am still there, but will soon part, as I am now going back to school full time, hoping to graduate within three semesters (oh what a glorious day that will be!), and I’d like to concentrate on my studies as much as possible.
And now I’m here.
The topics of the blog? Presidential politics, I presume, and overall media coverage, possibly criticism.
I have plenty of opinions about how things should be. The question, when it comes to blogging, is does anyone care. If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, did it ever really fall? Perhaps more applicable to our times: If Lindsey Lohan gets drunk and a paparazzi doesn’t get a picture, did she ever really drink?
They say Generation Y, or the Millennials, are the “Me” generation. We want attention at any cost and to get it we will blog incredibly personal details or post scintillating photos on MySpace or tryout for American Idol when we are obviously tone deaf and should never, ever, be near a microphone.
I’m not saying I’m any different, that I also don’t crave attention, but to truly stand out in a sea of bloviating exhibitionists, maybe it’s best to stay low key, preserve our modesty, stick to news and leave the opinions to others. Or maybe not.
Stay tuned.
6 responses so far ↓
Alyssa // August 29, 2008 at 3:42 am |
Lenny – Glad to see that you think of yourself as an “old-fashioned” news person. I, too, think that much of the blogosphere is filled with half-truths and uninformed opinions. While we may be right, I think it is dangerous for the mainstream media to ignore blogs and other ways of reaching people to disseminate information. When in Rome…
So, I am glad to see that you may dedicate your blog to factual presentations.
While I understand what you are saying about the tree falling and no one seeing or hearing it, I would argue that there is virtue in the pursuit of facts and truths – even if you, me and your classmates (your forced audience) are the only ones to ever read it. As for your desert wanderings, we are glad that you are back at YSU and determined to finish your degree. While I believe that you will graduate, I think you’ll always be a student.
Welcome back, Lenny!
Josh // September 2, 2008 at 9:43 pm |
Lenny, this is Josh from class. Just wanted to say that your blog is worth reading because you kept me in it. I actually read the entire thing. I’m looking forward to future posts.
John Cutlip // September 2, 2008 at 10:57 pm |
Hi Leonard.
Your experience in editing shows, especially in the ironic way you misspelled ‘unedited’ in your first line. (I wonder if anyone else is going to catch that.)
A lot of people in journalism tend to be rough and tumble with the way they use structure and set up stories, hoping their editor will fix the mess. It takes a good amount of experience both in the newsroom and in the field to catch and fix what errors you produce, especially when on the fly and on deadline. You seem like one of those refined individuals, and don’t be surprised if I come to you for advice. Your post was satirical, flawless and worth some reading and studying on the part of everyone in this class.
Look forward to working with you,
John C.
Rudi // September 3, 2008 at 12:55 am |
I’ve always liked reading your articles, Lenny, whether they were in the Jambar or the Walrus. Along with incredible detail, hard fact, and interesting interviews, you’ve always enriched what could be a boring story with your flair (isn’t that just an awful word?) for language.
Samantha // September 3, 2008 at 3:04 am |
I love the way that you write. It’s fun and keeps me interested throughout its entirety. Im looking forward to reading your posts this semester.
Ashley Commings // September 4, 2008 at 7:29 pm |
I thought your blog was very funny and entertaining to read and I can’t wait to see what else you will post.