http://mathewingram.disqus.com/enThu, 12 Oct 2006 17:22:23 -0000http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/11/why-we-need-blogs-as-well-as-newspapers/#comment-1296570Good advice :-)Mathew IngramThu, 12 Oct 2006 17:22:23 -0000http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/11/why-we-need-blogs-as-well-as-newspapers/#comment-1296568See, I'd never make a citizen journo I can't even get your name right never mind get out of my pjs. Sorry Mathew. I should never blog between coats of PolyStrippa.brian moffattThu, 12 Oct 2006 17:15:41 -0000http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/11/why-we-need-blogs-as-well-as-newspapers/#comment-1296567Thanks for your thoughts, Brian. Those are some good points.Mathew IngramThu, 12 Oct 2006 16:16:36 -0000http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/11/why-we-need-blogs-as-well-as-newspapers/#comment-1296564What we need more than either Mark is some News. Newspapers - apart from the ads themselves - have become nothing more a big board for 'columnists', the spinsters and copywriters for Brand Whatever, persauding us to by into The Big Take on Things. (No offence, we need columnists, too, don't worry) I hear this from more people with no vested interest in these things - readers, in other words. Where's the news? I think these people are talking about two things here. One, the story, a lost art in newspaper reporting. Deadlines and efficiencies may be to blame here. Observing these readers I notice they will often find the stories in papers - those small little blurbs, vignettes, sketches. often buried - will seek these out and relate them. Two, the fullness of things or the essence of things. Often these people will read an item and remain dumbfounded - lengthy pieces that offer up nothing but more questions, which would be fine, if the story went on, the next day or in the next edition, but often it doesn't, it just drops out of sight. What's missing is the ongoingness of things. I'm not much on the ciitizen journo thing - it takes time talent resources and more guts than a lot of us pyjama wearers - we who like to think that we are all part of the socalled conversation - would ever admit. When bloggers put on some pants and shoes and go out the door and stop acting like columnists and newspapers start linking out to resources that allow for more thoughful consideration of These Things, then maybe 'readers' will benefit. Keep in mind reading is a participatory act in and of itself, we needn't always be comment or opinion ready.brian moffattThu, 12 Oct 2006 16:09:27 -0000