Bloggers as media
This past weekend’s FRC Washington Briefing afforded me the first real world experience, as opposed to virtual world experience, of functioning as news reporting blogger at a newsmaking event shoulder to shoulder with the mainstream media.
I wanted to talk about the coolness of it all but didn’t see a hook for discussion until reading this comment from anonymous on my Outcome of FRC Briefing post:
You are the media? A bit grandeous and quite dishonest Jill. You aren’t in any danger of the BBC offering you a post in Irag. You couldn’t get a job reporting hog ventures in Iowa….
I likely could not. But anon’s comment merely underscores s/he doesn’t get what’s going on with journalism today. Or more likely, s/he gets it but would much rather things were the way they were back in the day, when liberals dominated not only the news reported but how it was reported.
From the FRC:
… the Briefing was covered by well over 400 members of the media, including 31 bloggers. C-Span broadcast the event live gavel-to-gavel and camera crews from all five networks and countries including Norway, Italy, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the Netherlands were present. The Briefing ended up with over 1200 media “hits” — 1000 stories in print, as well as 235 in television coverage.
Reasoned Audacity was there:
As I sit here live blogging I count some 37 people with media credentials typing away on Bloggers Row.
Over 400 media credentials have been issued. The event is progressing, well, uneventfully. No visible glitches. Little is going wrong in the mechanics.
It is a success….
So what did Charmaine [Yoest, FRC VP of Communications, photo right, courtesy of Peter Shinn] do to encourage both the Fourth Estate and new media outlets to come and visit?…
Charmaine has been a blogger for almost three years – a lifetime in the on-line business. She founded Reasoned Audacity in February of 2005 and manages the FRC Blog. Her blog was a WebLog Awards Finalist in 2005.
She knows new media.
Here are the four basics that Charmaine got right with new media:
1) Bloggers were treated like humans. The Blogger’s Row (with power outlets!) is in the main room to watch the event live – getting the feel for the crowd on the molecular level.
In contrast with another major event by another organization, the Blogger’s Row was shunted off into the exhibit area…. [W]e bloggers missed the seeing and feeling the crowd, the audience response….
4) The Bloggers were granted real media/press credentials. The blogger pass worn by NZ Bear is the same as worn by Byron York from National Review or Jeff Greenfield from ABC.
As the bloggers typed away it was like watching a live, unedited transcription of the event. The main stream media could still edit, but the former monopoly now has real competitors. Who work a bit cheaper. Most were doing it for the pure joy. The main stream media cannot compete with writers who are willing to work for free, as Glenn Reynolds from Instapundit said.
Bloggers sat next to other press outlets in the prestigous roped-offed press gallery. They are, today, indistinguishable. This may be the real news.
Anon, disparage bloggers as media all you want. It doesn’t matter.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE !
Anon, disparage bloggers as media all you want. It doesn’t matter.
Honey, pretend that blogger you is a member of the media all you want. You don’t have a degree in jouranalism as exhibited by your incredibly insuportable meager mumblings over your links to idiocy.
You are lacking in wisdom and experience and wish to inflict your lacks upon others. But please keep highlighting the politicaly same.
You are the media? A bit grandeous and quite dishonest Jill. You aren’t in any danger of the BBC offering you a post in Irag. You couldn’t get a job reporting hog ventures in Iowa.
I likely could not. But anon’s comment merely underscores s/he doesn’t get what’s going on with journalism today. Or more likely, s/he gets it but would much rather things were the way they were back in the day, when liberals dominated not only the news reported but how it was reported.
Honey, you either have a degree in journalism or you don’t. You don’t. And it is obvious. Emotional masturbation is not journalism. Quit it now.
Jill,
I thought it was great! I checked out your website for updates multiple times throughout the day. I think you did an outstanding job & I thank you for all of your hard work! (I really don’t know how you can type & listen at the same time! I know I can’t!)
Another thing, Jill…please ignore Sally (it’s either Laura or her evil twin…I don’t know “witch”). You’ve gotta give her credit, though…I wouldn’t dare read anything from a pro-choice or far-left website, let alone blog there! People like this do keep me in check, however…without their hate mongering, I wouldn’t feel so blessed & wise! Just remember…they will hate you because of HIM!!!
God bless you Jill & thanks for all you do! You are, as Sally puts it best, a “Honey”! :)
Sally –
You are aware that there are many people in professions that they do not hold degrees in right? There are plenty of journalists that do not hold the coveted journalist degree. I know 2 who have bachlors degree in history, but are now writers for some of the local newspapers and magazines. They are considered journalist by their peers.
My father in law is an example. He didn’t even finish the 8th grade and yet he was the president of the American division of an international company.
Tell me Sally – are you always this much of a snob?
Jill,
Just ignore the nay-sayers, I and tens of thousands of others come to your blog multiple times a day to read your thoughts and news. Obviously even those opposed to you like to come and read what you have to say. You are a great journalist. Keep up the great work.
Dennis
Sally –
You are aware that there are many people in professions that they do not hold degrees in right? There are plenty of journalists that do not hold the coveted journalist degree. I know 2 who have bachlors degree in history, but are now writers for some of the local newspapers and magazines. They are considered journalist by their peers.
My father in law is an example. He didn’t even finish the 8th grade and yet he was the president of the American division of an international company.
Tell me Sally – are you always this much of a snob?
Posted by: valerie at October 22, 2007 9:44 PM
Snob? I grew up in Illinois. I hate snobby idiots while you worship them.
Valerie,
I thought people’s lives were ruined if they didn’t finish school.
It wasn’t the W word was it?
You know, WORK.
Sally –
“I hate snobby idiots while you worship them. ”
And exactly how do I worship them? I’m not the one telling someone they can’t be a specific profession because they have the wrong degree. Journalism isn’t medicine or science, you don’t have to have the specified journalism degree to write! How is this me worshiping “snobby idiots”?
Sally –
and why do you think growing up in Illinois has anything to do with being a snob or not? I grew Indiana. Does this mean I’m a snob? We call ourselves Hoosiers and we don’t even know what that is! That is about as far from snobby as one can get!
Anon –
You mean, people can actually be considered a professional if they just ‘work’ at it? wow! imagine that!
;-)
I have some wonderful friends who were refugees from Bosnia.
None of them have as much as a high school diploma. They have been here less than ten years, own their cars free and clear and are home owners. One, I just saw at a party, still struggles with English but she works really hard and she owns her own home.
They are so grateful for the lives they have here.They don’t expect anyone to give them anything yet they are so generous. Very inspiring.
Jill
Way to go…I now have to go to confession and admit that I broke the “covet thy neighbors…”.
I am so jealous I could spit!
I wanted to be there. But I’m oh so greatful that you were.
Sally,
Funny how you keep showing up to read and comment on Jills “News”!
Thanks all for kind words. No worries, I’m comfortable in my skin and confident in the blogosphere as a news source. Too many examples to label it as not.
And Tokyos Sally amd Laura entertain me.
Who knows Jill,
Perhaps one day you’ll be teaching courses in “Blogging” so that future generations can get a degree in Internet Journalism. Gotta start somewhere.
Many peolple without credentials are very competent.
Montessori and constructivist learning theories are based on learning by doing approaches. The modern equivalent of apprenticeship models.
Anyway, when I was teaching middle school many of the teachers were not so great with the new computers the district would send us. Invariably a few students would practically be in charge of maintaining the computers, trouble shooting and fixing network glitches that the teachers didn’t understand.
I can’t tell you how many times teachers would show me something on their computer. I would ask how they did it and they would say, “Oh my students did it.” Even the tech teacher had a group helping her out.
When I moved to a new district, I learned the practice had become so widespread that the district had a written policy against it. They also had long delays getting anything fixed and had to hire full time staff to do the work.
The point of education is not getting a piece of paper that says you know something.
The point of education is actually knowing it.
It doesn’t matter who you are, where you came from, or what title you have.
That anon was me.
As Wikipedia said, “In recent times, bloggers have broken too many stories of national interest that mainstream media either overlooked, or decided against reporting, not to be considered legitimate news gatherers and reporters.”
That said, I hold a college degree in the field upon which I write, I have cultivated many sources, and I am a WND columnist. According to industry standards, I am a journalist:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalism
Jill,
Yes…you ARE a journalist…and a fantastic one at that!
Plus, Jill is brilliant as well, very smart.
…the old media no longer has an monolpoly to control the message, they usually hire lousy journalists from Coloumbia U who, right out of school have a far-left agenda. Thats why the old-media (CBS, ABC, NBC, etc) ratings are dropping like a rock.
Jill has 2 successful careers, nurse and journalist, whereas most of those that would comment are lucky to have one career, others are lucky to even have a JOB.
Jill is paid to cover news stories. Jill is paid to give speeches. And for many years, Jill was paid to care for patients. That’s 3 mutully exclusive set of skills that Jill has.
I think most anger and animosity is rooted in envy. I think those that would denigrate her success only do so to salve their egos regarding their own failures.
I don’t poison myself with envy over Jill’s successes (although I would love to do what she does someday). Nor should you.
By the way, I think this is the anonymous that said:
Let’s have a look at your lisense to nurse Jill. Let’s take a look at your credentials in your supposed expertise. When was the last time that you actually worked as a nurse or attended classes to enable you to requalify as a nurse if you actually ever have qualified as a nurse to begin with?
If you want to be taken seriously, you might want to be really really honest.
So I looked up Jill’s license and handed Anon’s @ss to them. It was fun.
It’s sad when people feel they have to attack someone’s credentials to discredit their message. Discuss the MESSAGE. Although I am guilty of pulling rank for fun, I don’t think anyone here who opposes you, Jill, has any rank to pull.
Dang it, people…resorting to personal attacks isn’t necessary. I may not agree with Jill on many things, but I would never question her credentials. Yes, she has a practicing nurse’s license AND she’s a host to a well-run online blog. I can say that objectively. Please, stop making yourselves look bad by making pointless personal remarks.
Thanks, Jacqueline. (Someday I hope to pull rank, too!! *giggle*)
Jill IS the best, indeed!! Sally, you keep bringing up “Rockford.” Is that suppossed to mean something to me?
Although I am guilty of pulling rank for fun,
Posted by: Jacqueline at October 23, 2007 12:12 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pulling rank?
Nice, Lyssie :)
Thanks, Jacqueline. (Someday I hope to pull rank, too!! *giggle*)
Prolife or prochoice- crap is universally identifiable by nice people as crap.
About the rank thing, as humble as one tries to be, it’ll come out. When I was younger, I got so tired of someone condascending my arguments with, “Well, if you were older, you know.” or “Well, I studied this in college. Maybe when you get to college…” So when I finished college and then finished grad school, I admit I jumped back at people with my credentials. So when people would say, “I went to college and…” I could respond with, “I went college too. I went to college my @ss off, actually, and I disagree, so let’s stick to the argument.” They’ve still got me on the age thing…
Lyssie, very nice of you:)
Yeah, I hope that I get to pull my rank around someday…I do plan on using my biology degree to get a doctorate or esquire distinction (bio major, law minor). But I learned something from my uber-smart boyfriend who’s interested in economics…the most respected/powerful professors in colleges are the ones that don’t require their students to call them “doctor”. They gain power by humility, as they don’t need the extra “respect” that a doctor distinction gives them.
Lyssie –
“Yes, she has a practicing nurse’s license AND she’s a host to a well-run online blog.”
Thanks! You’re right, when we stay on topic (well, as much as we can) and do not resort to political attacks we actually learn something from each other.
Also, I agree with your ubber smart boyfriend. I did notice that when I was in college too. And I also noticed that when working with Veterinarians. The really good ones wanted the employees to call them by their first name.
OOps… I meant personal attacks, not political..
Has anyone seen my brain?
Wait – don’t answer that….
Sally –
“I hate snobby idiots while you worship them. ”
And exactly how do I worship them? I’m not the one telling someone they can’t be a specific profession because they have the wrong degree. Journalism isn’t medicine or science, you don’t have to have the specified journalism degree to write! How is this me worshiping “snobby idiots”?
Posted by: valerie at October 22, 2007 10:52 PM
…………………………………
I really hit a sore spot with the Jillster didn’t I?
I took journalism back in high school. Honesty and intregrity in reporting was highly emphasised. Balance and checking of facts is essential to the job. Jill is a propagandist’s mouthpiece. She does no research on anything. She simply passes on the crap that suits her agenda.
Thanks all for kind words. No worries, I’m comfortable in my skin and confident in the blogosphere as a news source. Too many examples to label it as not.
And Tokyos Sally amd Laura entertain me.
Posted by: Jill Stanek at October 23, 2007 6:29 AM
……………………………
Tokyo Sally? You are an abusive old chick. Having nothing to say and no response to a post you resort to childish attempts at insulting abusive rhetoric.
Sally,
sounds like you can dish it out but can’t take it. grow up.
Sally,
sounds like you can dish it out but can’t take it. grow up.
Posted by: jasper at October 23, 2007 9:10 PM
It’s a particular tactic of the right to accuse anyone they disagree with as being traitors, even if the disagreement is only over social issues. Sally didn’t say she couldn’t “take it,” she pointed out it was childish. And it was. Maybe just a failed attempt at humor (which I’m no stranger to)
Hal, that was a pretty good “monster roar” you did a couple weeks ago.
Doug
Thanks Doug, but I don’t know what you’re talking about. Refresh my memory.
Sally –
“I really hit a sore spot with the Jillster didn’t I?
I took journalism back in high school. Honesty and intregrity in reporting was highly emphasised. Balance and checking of facts is essential to the job. Jill is a propagandist’s mouthpiece. She does no research on anything. She simply passes on the crap that suits her agenda. ”
I’m not Jill so I have no idea why you think you hit a sour spot with her. We are seperate people. I have no idea how my comments could be seen as hitting a sore spot with her.
And this by know means answered my question. You said I worshiped snobs. I asked you to explain yourself.
I’m not the one who accused someone of not being something only because they didn’t have a specific title or degree, you are.
I did not say one word about Jill’s article. You have no idea if I agree with it or not. I just asked you if you are aware that people can hold down a profession without the “coveted” degree.
I’d still like to know why Sally keeps mentioning “Rockford.”
Tokyo Sally? You are an abusive old chick. Having nothing to say and no response to a post you resort to childish attempts at insulting abusive rhetoric.
Oh. My. Gosh.
“Hey, Pot, this is Sally. You’re black.”
Jacque, very childish!
Hal, not sure who said it, but a comment was made about “Pro-Choice monsters….”
The next post had you saying something to the effect of:
[insert monster roar here]
Jacque, good one. Sally uses plenty of “insulting abusive rhetoric”, probably more than anyone on this board. Sounds like Sally was having a conversation with Sally.
Carie, Laura has her beat.
Hi Heather. I guess I was thinking of time that Sally called me sociopathic and compared me with the KKK. Lol, that was a first.
Carrie, that’s unfortunate. Don’t feel too bad. Laura always attacks me on a personal level as well. I think Sally is awfully confused. I can’t follow her posts at all.
I find it funny that these women are so quick to judge. Laura has told me that I have a “crappy job” and laughs when I tell her that I have an education. She was quick to point out that I brought an illigitimate “welfare brat” into society. I am not on welfare. She laughs at women with PAS. Nice to know that she laughs while others cry. She doesn’t mind sending children off to slaughter, via abortion. She labels God “the imaginary sky angel” and she called Terri Schiavo “a breathing pot roast.” I’d say she takes the cake.
A Nursing license is public record? Feel free to check mine! Welfare my arse.
i’ll even give you my PN number.
Jacque, very childish!
Me? I’m childish? Just because I collect crazy straws and still like to color pictures with crayons?
I don’t have a license. I qualify for both an LBSW and LMSW license, but that would involve me playing by the rules. Not interested.
Jacque, You misunderstood. I was agreeing with you.
Jacque, I didn’t put enough wording in there. I meant that Sally is childish. Please accept my apology for any misunderstanding.
Jacque, actually I was glad that you found that nursing licenses are public record. I was actually directing this at Laura. She has often disbelieved that I am a medical professional. Hey, let her look up the proof! She seems to think that I am a “welfare mother.”
Heather- no apology needed! That of what I thought you meant. I was being a ass. :)
I’m sorry about the assumptions. “Single mom” doesn’t mean “welfare mom.” Many women raise their children as single parents and never receive government support- yourself included.
Awwww, Heather. If I knew my facetiousness was going to bother you so much I wouldn’t have said that!
Really- I wasn’t offended. I promise!
Jacque, It’s my fault. I was trying to do too many things between typing. I’m on your side:] I wasn’t making myself clear.
I’d still like to know why Sally keeps mentioning “Rockford.”
Posted by: heather at October 24, 2007 8:22 AM
………………………
Because I was born and raised there? Because I have a great deal of family there and visit as often as possible? What is the wonder Heather?
Sally,
Funny how you keep showing up to read and comment on Jills “News”!
Posted by: mk at October 23, 2007 5:46 AM
…………………………………………..
Huh? Funny that you do the same. Hee hee ha ha and all that.
Is it a nice place? Never heard of it.
Tokyo Sally? You are an abusive old chick. Having nothing to say and no response to a post you resort to childish attempts at insulting abusive rhetoric.
Oh. My. Gosh.
“Hey, Pot, this is Sally. You’re black.”
Posted by: Jacque at October 24, 2007 9:15 AM
……………
Hey Jackie. You are a 30 year old virgin with the life experience of a 30 year old virgin.
Like, OMG, you like, pretend you are all wise and &*&* when you wouldn’t know you had a mouthfull of ^&^& unless told so.
Like, Oh My Gosh! You are an abusive.
Excuse me. Jill Stanek is a blogger.
Jill has issues with the medical procedure known as abortion.
She spends all day and night looking for ways to twist any possible news story to her obsession.
JIll is not a journalist. Jill is a propagandist.
Sally,
hehe perfect, Jasper.
Hey Jackie. You are a 30 year old virgin with the life experience of a 30 year old virgin.
So if I was a 30-year-old crackwhore then I’d have more life experience? Not all experiences are good, Sally, as you demonstrate with your demeanor.
First of all- I’m 27 not 30. Secondly, I fail to see where my age and virginity are an insult. This makes me chuckle, as I am proud of my age (I have no grey hair or wrinkles and boobs are still perky) and all I’ve accomplished so young (don’t make me pull rank). Beyond that, I’m proud of my healthy choice to abstain from sex, the self-control and foresight I demonstrate everytime I give you and the world the finger when you suggest I should drop my self-respect and become some frat boys’ blow-up doll. Simply because you’ve made bad choices that have turned you into the dried up, used, bitter old woman doesn’t imply that I must make those choices so you can have some company in your misery. I will have the life experience you have in another 30 years, but my life experience will be a great one (unlike yourself who looks back at your life with nothing but regret and sorrow).
Let me explain something:
-Having indiscrimate sex does not impart wisdom.
-Having your heart broken because you had sex with someone that didn’t give two craps about you does not impart wisdom.
-Getting Genital Warts does not impart wisdom.
-Spreading your legs before a stranger while he wounds you, kills your baby and leaves you bleeding does not impart wisdom.
-Having a child with an absent father does not impart wisdom.
-Treating your body like an amusement park that anyone can ride instead of a temple that deserves respect does not impart wisdom.
Sally, you have had over twice the “life experience” that I’ve had, but your life experience has sucked. You have made bad choices, compounded them with worse choices, and now you spew your venom on me simply because you must hate me to mask your envy of me. You have reaped the fruit of your lifestyle and it is bitter. Rather than hating on women that exercise true wisdom and self-respect, why don’t you focus on healing all of your self-inflicted wounds? Attempting (and failing) to insult me may salve your hurt for a moment, but it will still be there.
I am sorry that you are so poisoned that you have to attempt to insult strangers. I seriously hope you get the help that you need.