 |
|
« Random IM Conversation with Goldstein, Eighteen | Main | » November 21, 2005
Links (Inside Blogging Edition with Thoughts on OSM)
Posted by Bill *** The Wonkette advocates a ban on the word "Pajamahadeen," a term initially coined by Jim Geraghty to describe the bloggers that swarmed CBS. Quoth Geraghty: She's just jealous. Of course - all of her clever little epithets and double entendres are ripped off from the graffiti on Roman bathroom stalls, circa 60 BC.
Let it be told. Prediction: Mary Mapes' version of events also makes campus ... in a Psych textbook.
I don't have a particularly strong opinion on the venture either way. While I think that some of the criticism is valid, particularly the head-scratching confusion about OSM's specific image, format and goals, I also think that certain folks have gone fairly far overboard, including indulging in ridiculously hyperanalytical criticism, personal attacks and innuendo about OSR's use of venture capital, as well as prematurely busting out the cliched "they're just like the MSM!" irony. A few distinct impressions that gelled last week: When MSM folks and public officials malign bloggers as ankle-biting pissants obsessed with tearing things down, they're partially right - there's a strong undercurrent in blogging that does resemble a school of pirahna, indiscriminately killing and devouring anything that moves in order to survive (or at least entertain themselves). Blogging lends itself to the digital expression of the ID writ easy, large and largely free from personal consequences, and this chronic gunslinging can get a bit exhausting in its incessancy and negativity. That said, OSM does have a confusing presence. Apparently, one of its goals is to serve as a cutting edge aggregator of independent citizen reporting of the Michael Yon variety. Given that goal, I'm surprised that they didn't recruit and promote more bloggers to produce original newsgathering rather than straight pundits that rely on secondary material. A model that decentralizes real reporting and research by paying citizen journalists a bonus stipend to specifically gather and submit exclusive news would constitute a true media innovation that might spark a sustainable wave of independent reporting. Right now, speaking from experience, it's infinitely harder and more time consuming to conduct interviews, take pictures and track down sources than it is to comfortably opine about the work of others. The open source journalism revolution gathered steam in 2004 and has notable representatives in 2005, but it's still failed to scratch its ultimate potential. Why? Because it's hard and it doesn't pay. Ameliorating one of these hindrances will soften the other. I hope that OSM moves some of its capital in this direction - I see an opportunity. My particular ankle-biting criticism levied, I'm willing to give the endeavor a chance to find its feet, and much of the more outrageous animus directed at it from non-ideological sources is bizarre, surprising and unseemly enough to garner a new candidate entry for the DSM IV of mental health disorders. Such is the peril of attempting a public venture in the aggressive, narcissistic world of blogging, I suppose. Best of luck to them. Posted by Bill at November 21, 2005 07:54 AM | TrackBack (6) Trackback PingsTrackBack URL for this entry: CommentsThe format of OSM is confusing, and content-wise it is hardly worth the time to check the site. What is new or different there? I am still hazy about what the mission statement is, and while I've tried to visit several times a day (as I regularly do with my list of favorite sites) there just is not anything really arresting there. Am I overlooking something? Posted by: Jeffrey Hull at November 21, 2005 11:27 AM You got your wish - Looks like the editorial panel rejected any kind of jokey or irreverant submissions to their first Carnival. And so they are well on their way to turning OSM into a serious aggregator of serious thought on serious subjects. Maybe you should reapply. As a REAL citizen journalist, you are just what they are looking for. David Corn will shower you with filthy lucre. Me, I'll go back to being someone who just doesn't translate well to the world at large. Them flyover country folk who jus' want their news and their men straight. Posted by: Jeff G at November 21, 2005 01:26 PM A. I don't believe that I said anything about "serious subjects" vs. "funny subjects." I also didn't make the argument that they should forsake traditional blogging. You're shadow boxing. B. I'M not pining for anything, much less a spot as REAL CITIZEN journalist. IMO, that is one of the few real potential innovations of OSR (other then networked Blog Ad rates), however. Posted by: Bill from INDC at November 21, 2005 01:33 PM I think you've missed some big issues of competence and integrity. First their use of "open source" for material whose copyright restructions are anything but is Orwellian. Second they lacked the net competence to use google and find out an open source media already existed. Third after the scandal bubbled they falsely claimed the original OSM had given up the name. Posted by: buzzguy at November 21, 2005 02:56 PM Didn't you mean to suggest Mapes will be in an Abnormal Psych textbook? Posted by: Mark Tapscott at November 21, 2005 03:46 PM I am clearly at another angle in the blogosphere, centering on making fun of media and daily news rather than reporting, so I'm not vying for any position as a "club" member or anything. Hence, all I've got to say is I'm glad I've graduated and don't have to take any more psych classes if Mapes is going to be in those books. You might be interested in an article I wrote featuring Mary Mapes as my Moron Of The Week. I thrill at poking fun on a weekly basis at unsuspecting morons, lol. Posted by: Sam at November 21, 2005 06:21 PM buzzguy, Ditto. I'd love for something like to work well, but one stumble after another just involving !THE NAME! is an omen of a sad ending. Ann Althouse is acting...weird about the whole thing, and much of the criticisms are similar to what the HuffPost had (and is working okay), but getting the name of your company mangled??? This gaffe is incomprehensible for a company that has taken in over $3.5 million in venture capital... Posted by: Frank Anderson at November 21, 2005 09:04 PM They had a New York naming party and found out within 24 hours they had no name. Stellar. A number of folks have noted that they do not respond to their e-mails. People just love that. And this Dennis the Peasant guy comes out with a sordid story of business dealings with CEO Roger "No Written Contract" Simon. And Rogrer with his "no written contract" utterance obliquely confirms Dennis' story. Well as every one knows integrity is an important part of the CEO's job. Honesty, fraterinty, humanity. Or something. All this in the first week. And no ads. Not even dummy ads. They have admitted that they have no business plan. They do have concepts and money. Dot com any one? I give it a week. Posted by: M. Simon at November 22, 2005 04:22 AM Funniest thing I've read about this is in the blog of a photojournalist who was invited to the launch party. Posted by: rabit at November 23, 2005 12:11 PM I have my own theory for the glitches they've had, based on some of the legal work I saw done in their documents. My impression is that they used entertainment lawyers instead of a mainstream IP firm. Posted by: Robin Roberts at November 24, 2005 10:47 AM http://www.ringtones-rate.com/mp3/ ringtones site. Best free samsung ringtones, Cingular ringtones and more, Ringtones for free. from website . Posted by: funny ringtones at August 31, 2006 02:16 PM ionolsen16 Best site I see. Thanks.www_4_2 Posted by: temnotak at October 13, 2006 07:32 AM ionolsen16 Your site is very cognitive. I think you will have good future.:)www_4_2 Posted by: tester at October 13, 2006 11:04 AM viagra . Posted by: viagra viagra at November 14, 2006 07:56 AM Posted by: viagra soft tabs at November 14, 2006 11:12 AM 96983cf044b1 Nice site playboy videos playboy videos Posted by: playboy videos at November 29, 2006 05:51 PM rbdvi svjngmre vgqtxprnb qvbmtxsl xpfbg iuvonfmz ciwqlofmj Posted by: cuqs lboznxi at March 8, 2007 08:54 PM |
Feed Me, Seymour
bill *at* indcjournal *dot* com
Support Our Advertisers
Search
Archives
June 2008May 2008 April 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004
Extras
PDARSD Atom RSS 2.0 RSS 1.0
Credits
Our Blogroll
|