News-Record.com

The Houston Chronicle, WRAL-TV, The Oregonian, The News & Observer and USA Today have called me over the past week to talk about blogging. Not for a story but to pick my brain -- what little crumbs are left -- about our experiences online.

All of the interviewers seem to be trying to figure out how to make the case to introduce blogging to their sites. I can't say that I'm particularly insightful. This isn't rocket science. I talk about interactivity, about transparency, about new readers, about complementing the journalism we offer in the paper with more depth and breadth. I encourage them to tell their bosses to learn about it first before judging, to ignore what they think they know, based on what they've read in the mainstream press (after all, you know how we are).

In the end, Ed Cone is right. There is nothing we're doing here that cannot be done -- and improved upon -- anywhere else. It simply takes a willingness to experiment, to let go of some control and to engage. Oh,yeah, and to decide that reaching readers precedes reaping revenue.

Anything else I should tell them?