Journalism Next:Chapter 2: Advanced Blogging

Cindy Royal, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

Texas State University

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

croyal@txstate.edu

www.cindyroyal.com

www.onthatnote.com

tech.cindyroyal.net

twitter.com/cindyroyal

facebook.com/cindyroyal

Advanced Blogging

Every college journalist (really every student) should have a blog

Reasons to blog1)Learn how to use a content management

system2)Build an audience for your writing/reporting3)Cultivate a collaborative community

Advanced Blogging

• A blog is a continuing conversation• But they are not magic, take commitment,

dedication and determination

Three characteristics:• Frequently updated, presented in reverse,

chronological order• Has headline and body; can include links,

photos, other media• Allows for comments

Advanced Blogging

• No longer need to know html/web design to have a website.• The terrorist attacks of 2001 were the

cause of the launch of many tribute blogs• Blogs launched on news websites, way

to present more content, different voice• Simple, immediate and interactive

Becoming a blogger

• Read other blogs – scan Technorati.com & check out blogs on news sites• Look up blogs on a subject that

interests you, particularly one you hope to cover• Make note of the most interesting, best

elements of each

Learn the language

• Post• Permalink• Trackback• Blogroll• Vlog• Moblog

Create a blog

• Determine what your blog will be about• Establish goals• Create a basic plan – name, description,

mission• Choose a blog system – Wordpress• There are others:

Blogger, Tumblr, Posterous• Wordpress – free to host on their server, add a theme,

you can pay for domain, access to customize CSS

Create an audience

• Put the reader first, get to the point• Organize your ideas• Be direct• Be the authority, with a personality• Write clearly, edit.• Make posts scanable – lists, bold text, subheads• Link, summarize, analyze• Write good headlines• Have a good attitude• Photos and videos• Participate in the community – read other blogs,

comment, link to them• Be passionate about your topic

Some notes on Diffusion Theory

• Diffusion of innovation as defined by Everett Rogers is “the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system”

• Elements of Diffusion• Innovation• Communication Channels• Time• A Social System (including opinion leaders and change agents)

• Characteristics of Innovation• Relative Advantage• Compatibility• Complexity• Trialability• Observability