Confused.com

What is a blog? A few weeks ago we were told by someone who was not a journalist than a blog should not consist of opinion. Then Shane Richmond, communities editor for The Telegraph, tells us that actually yes, the best blogs are opinionated. I'm confused.com.

To me, a blog should be opinionated. Surely that is the point of them? We are being told that journalism needs to become conversational to survive and this is what is happening through blogs and the internet.

Now, please correct me if I'm wrong but surely a conversation is a discussion based upon varying opinions? The opinions don't even have to be varying, many conversations are based upon things people have in common. I realise that to be too opinionated causes argument, but that's not what I'm trying to get across. To start any kind of conversation, one needs to strike up an opinion on something that they can converse with others about.

A riveting conversation would not be me talking purely factually about the ins and outs of blogs, who uses them, which ones are popular and what they consist of. Data and numbers are all well in good in context, but not in any conversation I've ever enjoyed having.

I sometimes think that people are scared to be opinionated. In terms of blogging it might suggest that if someone disagrees with you, you lose your audience. Not necessarily. That's a neanderthal approach (see, opinion).



These guys have a point. Is this what people are worried about? A few choice comments that well, aren't the nicest? As journalists we aren't used to our work being commented on, but well, it doesn't make it wrong if someone disagress . . . that's just their opinion.

Of course to keep an audience, as long as your opinions don't become arrogant or self righteous, surely people are going to relate to you because they think great, that guy has blogged again, I really enjoy reading his blog, I wonder what I'll think of his argument today/this week etc. Opinions have always differed, even our own.

The beauty of a blog is you can blog several times on the same topic if events occur that change you opinion of it. Or it doesn't even have to be a new blog, just comment. This will lead to more comments, which will lead to a conversation, which will, hyperthetically give you a rather loyal audience.

Blogging by journalists is not journalism as we know it. Your not trying to get across a story that comes in the newspapers, you may be highlighting a point within that story in a way that gives people the opportunity to highlight something else that you may have missed, or which, in your opinion, wasn't as important as you thought.

As journalists, the new era we are entering makes blogging really important. We need to realise that its ok when someone disagrees with us, because no one agrees with everyone 100% of the time. In fact, to become a successful blogger, we need to depend on these people who will suggest other links to us, and in return, link people to our blogs, whether it's because they agree or not. As long as we are willing to join this discussion network I think blogging and opinion are the way forward.