Liveblogging from the 2nd Annual Wisconsin Blogger Summit
Not by me, by The Triumvirate, two rows ahead; I've just now got technical help with the wireless connection.
Update: They've packed it in before the Noon panel; maybe it's a students on a warm Saturday afternoon thing.
"Are all voices being heard in the blogosphere?" is the next panel, with
Eugene Kane, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist
Dasha Kelly, author and poet
Jennifer Morales, Milwaukee School Board
Mike Gousha notes audience white male.
Kane notes news organization seeks representative staff; would benefit blogosphere.
Kelly started blogging for her personal notes, e.g., for her poetry. Surprised there was a readership.
Morales says takes time for oppressed people to achieve benefit of elimination of barriers. She holds down gay Latina blog niche. Almost no Latino blogs, she attributes to disenfranchisement by demands of daily living.
Kane saw blogging as opportunity to be not only most hated black columnist but also most hated black blogger. Blog for topics he wouldn't use for his column.
Kelly sought out-of-ordinary in everyday, not a LiveJournal "what I ate today" but how she dealt with forgetting tooth fairy payment for daughter. Sees politics as making complexity where good policies are obvious.
Morales post on going to Canada to marry gay partner (motivated by "Catholic guilt") in United Church of Canada (their United Church of Christ affiliate) got positive feedback.
Kane notes Milwaukee's three black newspapers and black radio stations are not making much use of web, let alone blogging. Black barber shop and beauty shop rants would make blog material.
Questions from the audience:
What does it feel like to ba a target? Kane says used to being called racist, doesn't look for blog criticism, not really under siege. Morales coming out gay got extensive comment on its not being a story.
Is there more diversity in community forums rather than blogs? Morales agrees with Kane that it's not about access, it's about available time. MySpace mostly teens who have more time. Kelly says sense of community a draw; bloggers might explicitly solicit various kinds of feedback.
How encourage diversity in blogosphere? Kelly says inviting comment might lead commenters to go on to blogging. Kane says web chats might serve that purpose or be substitute for blogging.
Suggestion recruiting bloggers, with an eye on diversity.
Another suggestions linking to diversity of opinion.
"Future of blogging in Wisconsin" is the final panel:
Jay Bullock
Owen Robinson
Bullock announces after conference get-together, his next concert date, posted opening statement. Positives: increased cooperation and coordination of blogs, goals accountability of media and action in MeetSpace. Negatives/concerns: corporatization overshadowing citizen bloggers; groupthink, easy to seek out views confirming one's own; bloggers becoming tools of political campaigns, or what Brian Fraley called "free focus groups".
Robinson: personal medium, so no obligation to make it something else, or make it something for someone else.
Joint questions for audience.
Paid bloggers impact:
Paid media remains much better known and widely read than citizen bloggers, still has gatekeeper function for general public; bloggers would need to get paid media's attention.
Biggest spikes in traffic from link at another blogger, rather than a media blogger.
FoxSix blogmaster notes history of creation of mass media, might be means to get mass audience for mass of bloggers, notes whiteness of audience [and we won't even get a tan sitting inside on a warm sunny day]. Robinson says some citizen bloggers wary of media fora for bloggers. Bullock concurs.
Parallel to commercialization of pop music, limited range of opinion on left and right. Robinson draws parallel to rise of talk radio, outlet for opinions not being heard.
Journal Sentinel seeking a Pulitzer, any bloggers have a shot at it? Bullock suggests Josh Marshall, someday. Robinson suggests Tom McMahon.
Trackbacks and Comments build mutual traffic which helps influence of bloggers generally. Robinson cautions can make blogging a chore.
Trend of bloggers being picked up by media as columnists or other roles. Robinson notes no need for journalism credentials, judged by blog writing.
Political blogs at their best when self-critical, that is, of own party. Bullock says useful but not essential.
Trend to group blogging: Robinson has a partner in blogging, notes Badger Blog Alliance.
Becoming adjunct to campaigns more a problem in blogosphere than in paid media: Bullock notes editors or reporters sympathies but try to report straight story, bloggers have no such obligation. Robinson notes bloggers do not have editors, though is self-correcting function, e.g., commenters pointing out inconsistencies.
Net neutrality to avoid individuals in second tier internet: Bullock concurs.
Politicians downplay influence of blogs: Bullock says they might monitor but that isn't necessarily influence, bloggers not necessarily representative. Robinson says campaigns include an internet strategy, politicians dislike loss of control of message, suggests might be particular problem for Sen. Clinton.
Threats from blog readers: Robinson says occasionally. Bullock edits out some kinds of personal or job information.
Adjourned 1:30 p.m.
Update: They've packed it in before the Noon panel; maybe it's a students on a warm Saturday afternoon thing.
"Are all voices being heard in the blogosphere?" is the next panel, with
Eugene Kane, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist
Dasha Kelly, author and poet
Jennifer Morales, Milwaukee School Board
Mike Gousha notes audience white male.
Kane notes news organization seeks representative staff; would benefit blogosphere.
Kelly started blogging for her personal notes, e.g., for her poetry. Surprised there was a readership.
Morales says takes time for oppressed people to achieve benefit of elimination of barriers. She holds down gay Latina blog niche. Almost no Latino blogs, she attributes to disenfranchisement by demands of daily living.
Kane saw blogging as opportunity to be not only most hated black columnist but also most hated black blogger. Blog for topics he wouldn't use for his column.
Kelly sought out-of-ordinary in everyday, not a LiveJournal "what I ate today" but how she dealt with forgetting tooth fairy payment for daughter. Sees politics as making complexity where good policies are obvious.
Morales post on going to Canada to marry gay partner (motivated by "Catholic guilt") in United Church of Canada (their United Church of Christ affiliate) got positive feedback.
Kane notes Milwaukee's three black newspapers and black radio stations are not making much use of web, let alone blogging. Black barber shop and beauty shop rants would make blog material.
Questions from the audience:
What does it feel like to ba a target? Kane says used to being called racist, doesn't look for blog criticism, not really under siege. Morales coming out gay got extensive comment on its not being a story.
Is there more diversity in community forums rather than blogs? Morales agrees with Kane that it's not about access, it's about available time. MySpace mostly teens who have more time. Kelly says sense of community a draw; bloggers might explicitly solicit various kinds of feedback.
How encourage diversity in blogosphere? Kelly says inviting comment might lead commenters to go on to blogging. Kane says web chats might serve that purpose or be substitute for blogging.
Suggestion recruiting bloggers, with an eye on diversity.
Another suggestions linking to diversity of opinion.
"Future of blogging in Wisconsin" is the final panel:
Jay Bullock
Owen Robinson
Bullock announces after conference get-together, his next concert date, posted opening statement. Positives: increased cooperation and coordination of blogs, goals accountability of media and action in MeetSpace. Negatives/concerns: corporatization overshadowing citizen bloggers; groupthink, easy to seek out views confirming one's own; bloggers becoming tools of political campaigns, or what Brian Fraley called "free focus groups".
Robinson: personal medium, so no obligation to make it something else, or make it something for someone else.
Joint questions for audience.
Paid bloggers impact:
Paid media remains much better known and widely read than citizen bloggers, still has gatekeeper function for general public; bloggers would need to get paid media's attention.
Biggest spikes in traffic from link at another blogger, rather than a media blogger.
FoxSix blogmaster notes history of creation of mass media, might be means to get mass audience for mass of bloggers, notes whiteness of audience [and we won't even get a tan sitting inside on a warm sunny day]. Robinson says some citizen bloggers wary of media fora for bloggers. Bullock concurs.
Parallel to commercialization of pop music, limited range of opinion on left and right. Robinson draws parallel to rise of talk radio, outlet for opinions not being heard.
Journal Sentinel seeking a Pulitzer, any bloggers have a shot at it? Bullock suggests Josh Marshall, someday. Robinson suggests Tom McMahon.
Trackbacks and Comments build mutual traffic which helps influence of bloggers generally. Robinson cautions can make blogging a chore.
Trend of bloggers being picked up by media as columnists or other roles. Robinson notes no need for journalism credentials, judged by blog writing.
Political blogs at their best when self-critical, that is, of own party. Bullock says useful but not essential.
Trend to group blogging: Robinson has a partner in blogging, notes Badger Blog Alliance.
Becoming adjunct to campaigns more a problem in blogosphere than in paid media: Bullock notes editors or reporters sympathies but try to report straight story, bloggers have no such obligation. Robinson notes bloggers do not have editors, though is self-correcting function, e.g., commenters pointing out inconsistencies.
Net neutrality to avoid individuals in second tier internet: Bullock concurs.
Politicians downplay influence of blogs: Bullock says they might monitor but that isn't necessarily influence, bloggers not necessarily representative. Robinson says campaigns include an internet strategy, politicians dislike loss of control of message, suggests might be particular problem for Sen. Clinton.
Threats from blog readers: Robinson says occasionally. Bullock edits out some kinds of personal or job information.
Adjourned 1:30 p.m.
posted by Terrence Berres at 11:34 AM
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