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19:33 November 5th, 2007

How to blog, how not to blog

Posted by: Robert MacMillan
Tags: Mediafile

MediaBistro’s FishBowlDC got hold of what it says is an internal Washington Post memo with thoughts on what makes blogs good or bad. Here’s what the group, reportedly headed by Outlook section editor John Pomfret, came up with, per Fishbowl:

Good:

- A news column/opinion blog with two or a single contributor. Examples: Raw Fisher, White House Watch.

- A breaking news or event-driven blog that can accept many contributors but should generally be supervised by one editor. Example: The Trail

- A blog oriented around a relatively defined issue with two or a single contributor. Example: soccerinsider

- Blogs with voice, a consistently strong (even provocative) writing tone. Example: Achenblog.

- Blogs with active editors. Guidance is important and all blogs need editing and benefit from the back-and-forth between the author and an editor.

Bad:

- Group blogs that lack focus.

- Blogs that lack voice.

- Blogs that are not updated (several times a week AT LEAST).

- Grab-bag blogs that are a dumping ground for notes that will not make the paper.

Hm. Why no examples of bad blogs?

One comment so far

[...] How to blog, how not to blogReuters - USAHere’s what the group, reportedly headed by Outlook section editor JohnPomfret, came up with, per Fishbowl: - A breaking news orevent-driven blog that can … [...]

- Posted by Cities and Towns of Vermont » Blog Archive » How to blog, how not to blog

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