Episode 1 - The one where Digitella becomes a blogger journalist

DIGITELLA can hardly contain her excitement as she skips down the colourful campus corridors of Blogosphere University. Barely a week into her first year and already she has managed to land a part-time job as a journalist for the campus newspaper – The Blogosphere Gazette.

With untainted blue eyes and an ambitious smile across her naïve façade, Digitella waltzes into her first production meeting – pen and notepad poised like weapons in her petite hands. “You’re late!” An angry fourth year bellows at her from the front of the windowless room.
“I’m sorry, I uh …” Digitella clambers for one of the plastic garden chairs littered about the room.
“Never mind, make sure it doesn’t happen again!” The student growls and then turning to the other student journalists in the room begins the meeting.

Digitella’s eyes wander from anxious face to anxious face as the growling student, who has introduced himself as Tek, the editor of the Gazette, explains the plan for the newspaper for the coming year. It is only when she hears her name that Digitalia is shaken from her reverie.

“Digitella, you will be responsible for running a news blog for our online audience.” Tek says, nonchalantly.
“I’m sorry, you want me to run what? A blog?”
“Are you deaf, Digitella? Yes, a blog. You do know what a blog is, don’t you?” he raises a skeptical eyebrow in her direction.

*AD BREAK*

“Of course. A blog or weblog is basically an online diary written by a person or a group of people in an informal or critical way,” she gulps, trying to recall Matheson. She continues, “A news blog deals with public matters, like commenting on news stories.”

“Exactly,” he says, somewhat surprised.

Digitella clears her throat, aware of the entire news team’s eyes on her, “This is a newspaper, why do you want me to write a blog? That’s not journalism.”

Tek tosses his papers onto a desk and laughs, “On the contrary, blogs actually have the power of making ordinary citizens, readers and consumers of news into commentators. You could argue that it’s a form of citizen journalism. It allows people to speak for themselves and represent their own issues – issues that are not covered in mainstream journalism.”

He takes a swig from a coffee mug before continuing, “News bloggers actually share many of the motivations of journalism – they want to provide users with information and opinion that is essential to the success of a democratic society. They also aim to “revitalize public life and challenge those in power” – to quote Matheson.”

“But, doesn’t it depend on how you define journalism?” Digitella asks, “One editor (in a study by Matheson) said that if you define journalism as the act of spreading information then a blog would be considered journalism. But, I don’t consider that a good definition of what journalism is,” she says.

“How would you define journalism then?” a cocky second year student sitting retorts.

*AD BREAK*

“Well, Medger defines it as “story gathering and storytelling in words, audio and visual elements on behalf of the public interest and through any means of distribution by independent gatherers, organisers and analysers of information and ideas,” says Digitella, nervously.

“Well, by that definition blogging is a form of journalism,” Tek says. “News bloggers gather stories and relate them through writing and vlogs on behalf of the public interest. Information is independent because news bloggers are often not qualified journalists and do not have affiliations and obligations to advertisers (unless you are Vincent Maher).”

“I still think it limits the potential of news blogs as a digital medium to label it as journalism,” Digitella argues. “News blogging is more personal and individual. It is free and there is more space to be creative and experiment with new writing styles and forms. It’s also more opinionated, unlike traditional journalism that strives to be unbiased.”

Tek thinks for a minute. “Good point, but what about column writing? Columnists like David Bullard and Barry Ronge are very opinionated, they write in the first person and are relatively creative. You could argue that news blogs are columns written by citizens.”

Digitella sighs with exasperation as Tek moves to finish up the meeting. She grabs her pen and notepad and walks towards the door.

“Digitella?” She turns and Tek says, “You raised a good issue and it’s a complex one. We’ll continue our discussion at the enxt meeting. In the mean time – get cracking on that blog, citizen journalist.”


Tune in again next week to find out what happens to Digitella when she confronts Tek ...