Day: November 5, 2003

OK, I have covered this topic to death, but our Entertainment brethren are at it again.  It seems that actors (or their studio reps) are continuing to selectively ban journalists from press events because of perceived slights. I’m not going to deign to tackle this issue again, you can consult my earlier rants.  Read a very interesting piece from Mark Glaser over at the ever-excellent Online Journalism Review.

Previous rants on this subject here, here, here etc.

Mark also has a really really interesting piece on the dilemma facing reporters with the abuse of e-mail.

Thanks to everyone for their kind words and e-mails.  I am back, not refreshed, as by the time you get through the e-mail and voicemails you missed in your absence you might as well not have been gone at all… OK enough self pity.

Given the volume of information being written about blogs, there’s bound to be loads of rubbish.  But we are beginning to see some interesting and useful applications of the blog. 

One case in point is the specific or ad hoc coverage of events.  How soon will organizers have to add “professional blogger” to their list of activities around a show or event?  Personally speaking I’m often interested in what happened at an event I’ve missed and a blog is a powerful tool which at the very least can provide an insightful summary of what went on.  Organizers could always charge for more in-depth blogs of an event. Now there’s a new business idea….

This idea was prompted by a story in this week’s Media section of the Guardian which reports how Western and Middle Eastern journalists will be blogging live from the first World Summit on the Information Society.

Now there’s a really useful blog application.

Spam watch: Over 2,000 spams awaited me upon my return to the office.. a new record.