Measuring traditional newspaper blogs as a success

August 9, 2008 · Posted in Blogging 

Further notes from the panel this morning. I asked John Adee from the Chicago Tribune how traditionally-trained journalists were adapting to the medium of blogging, and what he looked for to determine whether they were transitioning successfully to the medium.

He said: “I don’t look for the posts, I look for the comments. if there’s not the back-and-forth, it’s just the publishing platform. As we get better online, a real blog has a back-and-forth between a blogger and his or her commnity. It’s a leap that some traditional journalists can’t make.”

Adee pointed to Eric Zorn as a successful journalist who blogs. Zorn’s blog doesn’t need “front page” play to involve a community of readers. “Bloggers that need to be on our front to get their traffic aren’t very effective. The Swamp has its own following now that has a very lively back and forth.”

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Comments

  • Dan
    I couldn't help but leave a comment! John Adee is right on the money.
    Not only blogs but online in general. I look at the large companies that want to engage online readers and they are still just a one way flow of information. They remind me of the Eagle on the Muppets.
  • John Adee makes a good point. Too many legacy media organisations view blogs as a publishing platform, rather than as a way of creating an architecture of participation.
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