Bryan_Gattozzi

Future of News: Blog or Bust? | May 21, 2010

Non-users of Twitter assume the platform is silly and anecdotal.  As I discussed here, of course it’s silly and anecdotal.

My parents’ generation grew up reading the newspaper.  My generation reads blogs.

Many will tell you these two cannot co-exist, nor are they related.

For newspapers to survive and for bloggers to make money writing, they must give ground and blend into a new model for news, a more analytical reading of events that surpasses the “just the facts” news of yesteryear.

The common misconception, as with Twitter, is that blogs are anecdotal.  Many blogs are nothing more than published diaries.  They’re poorly written, lacking context, and not interested in an audience outside of close friends.

The best bloggers write well, have research skills like journalists, and have a point of view high-circulation newspapers could never publish (or choose not to publish).

Any readable blog should focus on context and commentary over anecdote.  The Atlantic has a great article on Google’s impact on the news business “How To Save the News”.  It’s kicked up a lot in me, which I’ll write about more this weekend–but @kerbehr gave me this idea: The only way blogging and the benefits bloggers provide over mainstream news outlets is if people read blogs.

Sounds stupid, I know.  The following blogs are written well (in some cases by professional writers), show a great blend of creativity and research principles, and aim for more than unfounded thin-slicing of an issue.  These are the founders of the new news.  When a big event happens I go to them, not CNN, ABC, Food Network, ESPN, or Rolling Stone.

Food: http://everydaypalate.blogspot.com/

Great site catering to the foodie.  Full of what I’ll call restaurant experiences (not really reviews in the traditional sense), musings on the wonders of kale, and enlightenment of how to fully, completely, and deeply enjoy wholesome food.

Poetry / Art: http://connotationpress.com/

A little blog of everything.  Editors focus this blog on the best in literature, art, food, music and any other sense engaging task that’s not too naughty.

Sports: http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/

Simply stated: my writing hero.  Not just because he’s a Cleveland guy (but it helps) this blog contains the most thorough and digestible sports analysis, all apologies to Fangraphs.  Joe’s not afraid to make his readers uncomfortable.  One great characteristic about Joe, he aims toward disproving conventional thinking.   Many posts break the short blog format and run over 2,000 words, such as the 13,000 words he’s written about why Bert Blyleven should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame.  He writes objectively and emotionally about music (turned me on to Fiery Furnaces), sports, Cleveland, fatherhood, marriage, or whatever else he chooses.  I’m often breathless or laughing after reading.

Design and all things computer-dorky: http://coghillcartooning.com/blog

George Coghill is another mentor / hero.  He’s found a way to create a life around what he loves to do: draw and play with computers.  George is a big thinker, an entrepreneur obsessive who provides customers and friends more than they expect, only because he has so much creativity to spend.

Corporate America and Life: http://kerbehr.wordpress.com/

Many people bristle at Twitter because they assume Tweeps aren’t real friends.  The misconception is 140 characters does not allow for “real” communication.  I feel less alone as a single, isolated, young professional when I read this blog, which I found through another Tweep.  Her words drive me to sit here right now, to come closer to my best self inter-personally and professionally.

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