How to blog

Posted by Howard Owens on May 21, 2008 - 7:12pm
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What is a blog?  The short and sweet answer is it's nothing more than a piece of personal publishing software.

Another short answer from a different point of view is a blog enables a means of self-expression.

What it is mainly is a way for anybody -- from the professional to the person who just has something to say -- to communicate in a real, personal voice.

Blogging refers both to the technology that makes personal online publishing easy and to an attitude about media.

At The Batavian, we blog.

To some traditionalist, the idea of mixing journalism and blogging is something like mixing holy water and gin.

We ask, why?

Up until the second half of the 20th Century, when journalism finished its full transformation from a trade to a profession, the craft and art of media revolved a lot around personal expression.  Writers could write, and readers generally knew the bias and predilection of either the reporter or the publication where the news appeared.

Blogging allows media to get back to its more uninhibited roots.

Why should you blog? Because blogging give you a chance to add your voice to the media mix.  You know stuff. You have opinions.  When you come into possession of new information, you have just as much right to share it with the public as any journalism-school graduate.

It doesn't matter if you won a seat on the City Council, drive a snow plow, operate your own store, sell insurance, arrest thugs or push paper -- it's highly likely you know things or can share things that others will find useful or interesting.

That's what blogging is all about -- allowing for a form egalitarian communication.

At The Batavian, we make it easy for you to blog. 

First, sign up for an account -- more than 100 people already have.

Second, look for the link on the left rail of the site that says, "Create Content."

Third, click on the "Blog Entry" link of the "Create Content" page.

Fourth, write a title, add some tags (I usually do this after I write my post) and then go to the big text box a little lower on the page and start writing.

Fifth, after you've said all you save to say, click publish.

Once you've written your post, a member of The Batavian staff will see it the next time we log onto the site (contrary to rumor, we do eat and sleep sometimes, so we may not see your post right away), and if we find it of sufficient public interest, we'll "promote" it to the home page.

What should you write about?

Well, you can use your blog on The Batavian for purely personal expression -- stuff about your family, pets, garden, dating life, etc.

Or you can write about issues of current interest, either in Batavia or abroad.

You can also use blog posts to promote things your civic group is doing. 

You can also share other bits of news you happen to learn and believe to be true.

We don't have too many restrictions on what you write about.  We do ask that you avoid being nasty and mean, using foul language and engaging in unfair attacks on other people, either by name or as a group (such as racist rants).  In a few days, we'll publish more on our "official" rules.

BTW:  If blogging for The Batavian isn't your style, go to wordpress.com and start a blog.  If you do, let us know about it, we'll follow it (and when we add a blog roll, we'll link to it), and when you write something we find interesting, we will link to that blog post.  And we hope you'll do the same for us.

So, what are you waiting for? Start blogging.  It's fun, easy and can help make Batavia a better place to live and work.

UPDATE: BTW, for those who don't know ... Blog is short for "web log."  A log being a form of personal journal, or a place to record things.  Some of the first blogs (going back to 1999) were just a collection of favorite links with maybe a comment or two.  Of course, blogs have become much more than that, but link blogging is still popular.

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Posted by daniel cherry on May 22, 2008 - 1:07pm
I wrote a real true story about a landlord "see ya right here".Would that be considered a personal attack?I only wrote the raw truth about how the city of batavia told them fix something.And then we had our nonexistant lease terminated.By the way there are life threatening issues down there.And nobody has made them fix anything.Nobody cares that there is a wire that can burn all 3 aparments.We were punished for complaining about paying others heat.By the way there are laws that are supposed to protect people from this.NOT IF YOUR ON HUD.There are 3 other aparments.Its hard enough being a single dad with a hole in my foot.I don't drive who could afford gas anyway.We still dont have a place to go yet.So do you consider this a personal attack?The raw truth.I like the raw truth.Like 20/20,60 minutues.Give me a break.The fleecing of america.Ever see those shows?If i were a reporter i'd make sure the information was true.By the way it is.My story.Then i'd print it.But you'd be highly unpopular then wouldn't you?Don't people want the truth?The truth so people can do what they say and change things to make them better?Not just for the boys and i for all.If we had more money we'd have a good lawyer.Then and only then does anyone get liberty and justice for all.The way i see it is if people dont like the truth how do they fix problems?What happens to the next victims o i mean tenants who move in here?They will be done for like us and will be too late cause they signed a lease.I don't think you have any idea how hard iv'e tried to take good care of my boys.Alone.And how it feels to be thrown out like the trash.We paid our rent.We were good tenants till the city of batavia dared ask them to fix somthing.It has not been fixed.We do not deserve what the landlord/ did to us.It is horrendous.If i dont store things i will lose it all.I am a local arist all the images are gone.Esecially the pictures of my boys since when they were born.Sorry if our true story is'nt poular enough.Isn't this what blogging is??Or should i say i woke up today and i realized my life is a nightmare.I felt sad then i felt anger.I got my boys ready for school did the dishes the laundry.I am so looking forward to looking at the apartment tomorrow.It could save our lives.I am so worried what will happen to my boys.I'm scared to not find a place.Real scared.But whoever our new landlord is i know they will make alot of money cause i hate moving.I want a stable place for us the boys and i.We are survivors.A country boy can survive.So somehow we will be together the boys and i even if we must live in a crummy motel.Hows that??We need a place to put our bikes.Washer dryer hookups.Storage to store my 800 lps from 60s to 88s.I have an art collection wouldn't it be nice to display?Our birdy needs a home too.These boys don't deserve to be homeless no way.I feel like a failure who has tried so hard for nearly 7 years.I feel depression.Like we are being punished for no reason.Notice i mentioned no names right?I think if our goverment city and all government is to be fixed it will take the raw truth.And people not looking the other way with rose colored glasses.So why wouldn't this be a good story?Mabe a story like this could change things for not only us but others who have the same problem.HUD.Housing and urban development.Or is it landlords get money from the goverment and dont care?And hud who should protect us under the law protects landlords?Thats the problem here.Having a place to live is a basic human need.To ask to have somthing fixed without fear of retaliation is a law.Our rights as citizens are being violated.That is true.I can't wait o find a place to live.Then mabe a nice landlord who deserves the money can get it.Not someone who doesn't...I'd sure like to know what the batavians rules will be?Doesnt anyone else have any problems to discuss?Like how bout gas prices?We don't even drive and it affected costs of everything $$$$.I guess if we can't discuss problems on here then there are many other venues.Like utube getjustice.There i can use names.Or whatever.But i would not tell lies on there either.Or just make up a story outa the blue.I believe in being honest.