So far, you’ve introduced yourself and determined a focus for your blog. This week you’ll solidify that focus and identify sources of information that will contribute to your writings.
Part 1: Refine your focus
This week, you created an “About” page with your blog’s mission statement. In class today, we assessed these focuses. Based on my and your classmates’ feedback, refine your “About” page and add some depth. Remember these points from our readings:
- It’s not about you. Make sure your focus is a larger conversation, not a diary or “expert advice” (you’re not one) or “my crazy life” blog. How can you connect with a larger community?
- It’s not about everything. Avoid being too broad (e.g., “pop culture”) – if you say you will write about something general like “sports,” you’ll need to spell out what a reader might get out of reading your site compared to the countless other sports sites out there.
- It’s not just links. Links are necessary, but a successful blog needs to add something to the information it synthesizes from elsewhere. Linking to a bunch of stories about the Pittsburgh Penguins is not blogging.
Part 2: Identify sources to help you
Blogging isn’t something you have to do on your own. With your focused topic in mind, it’s time to identify some sources to help you on that path. You will identify at least 10 blogs to follow. Each of these blogs should be a spiritual cousin to your own – they do something related to what you hope to do. They may be individual bloggers or group blog sites; they cannot be non-blog sites (e.g., ESPN.com), although you may link to an individual blogger on such a site (no more than one from a site).
You’ll need to complete the following steps:
- Add a blogroll (Links > Add New > Create a “Blogroll” category) and add your 10 blogs to it (5 pts for blogroll)
- Write a blog post explaining (in 1-2 sentences each) how each of these blogs will inform your own blog – don’t forget to include links to each blog in your post! (5 pts for links)
- Yes, this counts as one of your two weekly posts (5 pts for compelling, coherent writeup)
Due: 10a, Monday, January 26
- This post must be published on Monday
- Post a link to the post (with a short description) in a comment to the Assignment #2 blog post (this one)
aaaaaargh
Interactive Journalism 
In this post. You’ll find all the blogs I check out to find what’s new in the entertainment industry relating to social media.
https://entertainmentevolution.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/10-blogs-you-should-check-out/
My blog post is scheduled to post at 10am Monday (which means whether or not this link works as of right now is if-y, but I’ll update it). It lists some bloggers that are blogging about issues similar to mine and would hopefully want to be my friend in Bloggingland. https://wordpress.com/post/50472382/404
In this post, you will find a sneak peak into some of my favorite blogs that I hope to draw inspiration off of. Most of these relate to citizen journalism and the changing media landscape. https://thepowerofcitizenjournalism.wordpress.com
In this post you will find sports and social media blogs that will help provide background information as well as inspiration for my blog.
My post is scheduled to be published at 10 a.m. on Monday. My sources cover a broad range of topics related to my blog.
https://pornperceptions.wordpress.com/
In this post, you’ll get a preview of 10 blogs I follow that relate to my blog. They’re very interesting, so check them out.
This post included a list of blogs that will be very useful for my personal blog topic. Check it out: http://www.mikemarsh.org/?p=139
This post is a collection of blogs I follow for education, inspiration and entertainment. The topics range from science communication, to STEM outreach, to even West Virginia economy. They all contribute something interesting and engaging in every post.
https://cityofjasmineblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/blogroll/
This post includes a list and a brief description of blogs that share similar focus with my blog.
[…] week you built and annotated a blogroll to follow in your own blogging pursuits. The Read-Write Web isn’t simply about taking what you […]
https://foodforthefutureblog.wordpress.com/
In this blog post are a list of bloggers who I hope to gain information and learn to be a better blogger from.
https://karlymarieshire.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/check-out-these-blogs/
This post is a list of blogs that are similar to mine. They include blogs that analyze films and social media blogs.
This post shares a list of blogs that I follow and are similar to mine and the topics I cover.