So You Want to Be a Blogger?
The New York Times has a piece today on the health effects of blogging. Hopefully some of our frequent posters/contributors work in a little stretching, exercise and healthy food. Then again, I know there's a few of you Schadenfreude types out there. '-)
All joking aside, there's a seminar with the Asian American Journalists Association this Saturday morning at KTLA (more details to follow in a media hotsheet) with Carol Lin (former CNN anchor and former Fox 11ancho; USC professor/blogger), Kate Coe (veteran newspaper freelancer and an editor of Fishbowl LA; part of Mediabistro' s network of blogs) and Michael Schneider (TV writer for Variety and a weekly deejay at KCSN Radio at Cal State Northridge; keeps a variety of blogs). FYI - The Greater Los Angeles chapter of Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ-LA) also did a seminar on blogging last October with Matt Welch, Eric Spillman and Greg Hernandez (Here's the link; there are 7 videos in total)
In Web World of 24/7 Stress, Writers Blog Till They Drop
Matt Richtel
Staff Writer - New York Times
April 6, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO — They work long hours, often to exhaustion. Many are paid by the piece — not garments, but blog posts. This is the digital-era sweatshop. You may know it by a different name: home.
A growing work force of home-office laborers and entrepreneurs, armed with computers and smartphones and wired to the hilt, are toiling under great physical and emotional stress created by the around-the-clock Internet economy that demands a constant stream of news and comment.
Of course, the bloggers can work elsewhere, and they profess a love of the nonstop action and perhaps the chance to create a global media outlet without a major up-front investment. At the same time, some are starting to wonder if something has gone very wrong. In the last few months, two among their ranks have died suddenly.
Two weeks ago in North Lauderdale, Fla., funeral services were held for Russell Shaw, a prolific blogger on technology subjects who died at 60 of a heart attack. In December, another tech blogger, Marc Orchant, died at 50 of a massive coronary. A third, Om Malik, 41, survived a heart attack in December.
Other bloggers complain of weight loss or gain, sleep disorders, exhaustion and other maladies born of the nonstop strain of producing for a news and information cycle that is as always-on as the Internet.
Read the full story.
All joking aside, there's a seminar with the Asian American Journalists Association this Saturday morning at KTLA (more details to follow in a media hotsheet) with Carol Lin (former CNN anchor and former Fox 11ancho; USC professor/blogger), Kate Coe (veteran newspaper freelancer and an editor of Fishbowl LA; part of Mediabistro' s network of blogs) and Michael Schneider (TV writer for Variety and a weekly deejay at KCSN Radio at Cal State Northridge; keeps a variety of blogs). FYI - The Greater Los Angeles chapter of Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ-LA) also did a seminar on blogging last October with Matt Welch, Eric Spillman and Greg Hernandez (Here's the link; there are 7 videos in total)
In Web World of 24/7 Stress, Writers Blog Till They Drop
Matt Richtel
Staff Writer - New York Times
April 6, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO — They work long hours, often to exhaustion. Many are paid by the piece — not garments, but blog posts. This is the digital-era sweatshop. You may know it by a different name: home.
A growing work force of home-office laborers and entrepreneurs, armed with computers and smartphones and wired to the hilt, are toiling under great physical and emotional stress created by the around-the-clock Internet economy that demands a constant stream of news and comment.
Of course, the bloggers can work elsewhere, and they profess a love of the nonstop action and perhaps the chance to create a global media outlet without a major up-front investment. At the same time, some are starting to wonder if something has gone very wrong. In the last few months, two among their ranks have died suddenly.
Two weeks ago in North Lauderdale, Fla., funeral services were held for Russell Shaw, a prolific blogger on technology subjects who died at 60 of a heart attack. In December, another tech blogger, Marc Orchant, died at 50 of a massive coronary. A third, Om Malik, 41, survived a heart attack in December.
Other bloggers complain of weight loss or gain, sleep disorders, exhaustion and other maladies born of the nonstop strain of producing for a news and information cycle that is as always-on as the Internet.
Read the full story.
Labels: Asian American Journalists Association, bloggers, Carol Lin, Health, Kate Coe, KTLA, Michael Schneider, SPJ-LA
Posted by Edward Headington @ 4/06/2008 06:47:00 PM
9 Comments:
Fortunately, Mayor Sam has initiated a 72 hours on, 48 hours off plan for the bloggers here. Although I have experienced some weight loss, I probably needed it.
The two blogging CocoNuts Zuma Mutt and Don Quackers should read the article.
What do Zuma Mutt and Don Quackers have in common?
1)They both tell us they have other blogs dedicated to themselves, but are still are on this blog 24-7.
2)They both fight with their evil enemy "Anony-Mouse".
3)They both think somebody really, really cares about their so called message although nobody here says anything positive about them.
4)They are both very lonely attention whores.
5)They are both now the joke and clowns on this blog and don't realize it.
Enjoy the show folks it's funny and sad. :(
Ed this is a great post but I have some doubts about the deaths of the two bloggers. Is there any information about their health, illnesses, before they presumably dropped dead from blogging?
I only have what was discussed in the article. I noticed it was also linked on Drudge Report and in the Daily New so perhaps the added interest will warrant a follow-up piece.
I can't speak for the others--especially the more frequent posters and contributors--but I've noticed my pants are a little more snug of late. My guess is that it's more of a love for Uncle Eddie's oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (out of nearby Glendale) with tall glasses of cold milk than any blogging I do. However, the two often go hand in hand (literally and figuratively).
Schadenfreude?
What/who is this type? I have no time to go look it up. Heart disease runs in my family already, so this news that people get paid to do it is causing my blood pressure to rise! What does that mean? Higher risk of heart attack. Oh hell, now I'm having an anxiety attack just thinking about all this. I should go have a shot or a Valium or something but of course, I'm going to read the comments of the day first. So what is that type of person?
Shut up 8:11. You bore me.
And see 10:00, the problem with blogging is that I can't give you a shot or a Valium and I can see that you too, are concerned about this heart disease issue.
So here I go and I'll think about your faceless words.
One shot of Don Julio for me and anonymous 10:00!
Now in spirit, we'll start an exercise program tomorrow.
Edward, good post but give up the cookies and milk. Snug pants aren't good. Summer is coming.
Schadenfreude = German word for pleasure at the misfortune of others.
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