This is a question I get asked fairly regularly from students and from journalists in online/ multimedia training sessions. I have always thought that it is pretty obvious, but apparently not. So here are just a few reasons:
For indviduals
- It is a great way to show a potential editor that a) you can write and b) you are passionate about it. Wordsmithlane is a great example of this.
- It gets you writing everyday, interacting with the online world and developing new skills. This could be particularly important if you are an established journalist trying to upskill for the challenges a rapidly changing media world.
- It is a great way to showcase your work. Rachel Hills does this particularly well.
- The ‘unfinished’ and conversational nature of blogs has opened opportunities for journalists to test their work in public, fine-tune it for errors, and invite additional information. Talking Points Memo, one of the most successful investigative journalism blogs, frequently draws on its readership to pursue big stories.
- It gets you a profile and the opportunity to network with other writers, editors and thinkers in your field
What do you think? Why should journalists blog?
I am a journalist student and I think it is important for students to blog. Each day I try to write on my blog to work and improve my writing. I also hope to inspire others with my work and develop a reader base.
Joe