May I brag for a moment? So I gave a talk Saturday at the Nieman Narrative Conference about blogging. More specifically, it was an attempt at a grand defense of blogging — a form too many established journalists crap on as beneath them — by placing it within the historical context of “reporting in its natural state,” by defining it as a worthwhile vehicle for perspectives and emotions and observations that can’t find a home in traditional newspaper journalism.

Anyway, the talk went really well. First it was declared “brilliant” by Wall Street Journal writer Julia Flynn Siler. And now Roy Peter Clark — perhaps the most prominent teacher of writing in journalism — has written up his thoughts on my talk.

You can imagine how many writing seminars and conferences I’ve attended since 1977, so you’ll excuse me if I confess to an occasional spasm of boredom. “Writing is a process…find a focus…stories are good…nut graph this…blah, blah, blah.” Which is why surprising moments of great learning seem so satisfying and joyful.

I experienced such a moment at the Nieman Narrative Conference, thanks to a young reporter and Nieman fellow named Josh Benton, who offered the most dynamic presentation I’ve ever witnessed on — of all things — blogging. Let me kick it up a notch: The last time I remember learning so much in an hour was the first time the late Donald Murray showed me in 1981 his model of the writing process.

20 March 2008

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