Is a corporate or government blog “blogging”?
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One of the things that makes blogging, to me, an interesting form of communication is that I am reading the thoughts and opinions of people who are regular, everyday citizens. The communication is unscripted. It’s not vetted. It’s not looked at to ensure “proper messaging” or some form of “strategic communication.”
Now, everyday, more and more businesses, politicians, government agencies, etc. want to get into the mix. They see blogging as an opportunity. More and more communication directors and PR consultants are telling these officials that they have to blog. That they have to become part of the Web 2.0 scene or risk losing an entire communications medium.
Yesterday, Rep. Thelma Drake rolled out her new, official web site. In it it has all sorts of great information, including video speeches from the floor, issues pages, detailed maps of the district, etc. And, yes, a blog. To the regular-guy blogger, it’s an information bonanza.
However, even though Rep. Drake and her team are doing the right thing by reaching out to constituents (or, in the business world, consumers) and communicating, Rep. Drake is no blogger. And her blog is not going to be the free-wheeling, wild-west atmosphere that you get on Black Velvet Bruce Li. It will be moderated. It will be scripted. It will be boring, yet informative. And, only rarely, will it be Rep. Drake doing the blogging.
My only concern with the “corporate blog” is not whether it serves a purpose, because I believe it does. But is it really blogging?
When you come to Bearing Drift, you’re getting our average, everyday thoughts unedited, undiluted, and unfiltered. Compare that to Rep. Eric Cantor’s blog and Rep. Randy Forbes blog.
Are those things the same? Absolutely not. And, I think it’s pretty clear to see the difference.
The reality is that even though the corporate, government, political world is moving towards Web 2.0, it is still very much Web 1.0. It is still vertical. It is still push-communications. It is still an attempt to direct and control the message.
It’s a good and necessary effort at communicating. But it is not blogging.
It’s not blogging. It’s a new tool for issuing press releases. They hope it’s a way to get their press releases to us, the real bloggers. It won’t get them on my blog. I’m not interested in politicians of any stripe, I’m interested in regaining the sovereignty of the individual. But some, more party-oriented bloggers will repeat their favorite politicians’ “blog posts”.
Jim I think Rick is on the right path, it’s simply another PR tool and other than the manner of conveyance has little relationship to blogging.
I didn’t say it wasn’t. In fact, I thought that was my thesis.
Agh. Why do I bother. Maybe I’m the one who shouldn’t be doing this.
Eh. I don’t even know what “blogging” is. Is it the reality-defying spin we see on typepad and blogspot accounts all over the place? Is it the regular and timely highlighting of news items by WashingtonPost.com staff (not to be confused with the paper! the folks on L St will tell you)?
Don’t know, and - frankly - I don’t think I care. Neither platform comes with any reliable assumptions, in my experience. What I’m interested in is smart analysis where the agenda (if any - but there always is one) is plainly ascertainable. You can call it blogging, online journaling, publishing, or just plain old writing. Doesn’t really matter, I suspect.
Jim,
I visited Thelma’s new website. It is at least slightly improved from her old one. However I do not see anything in it that could be described as blogging. I do not think she is making an attempt to blog.
I noticed your lament at perhaps you are not good at what you do. You are good at what you do. However you are wrong to compare what Thelma is attempting to your own efforts.