Due Wed., Jan. 31 (Print out a copy of your written assignment and bring to class to hand in to me.)
Identify an established journalistic blog (based on our discussion in class today). You can also choose to compare two blogs that cover similar topics. Answer the following questions. Write three to four sentences for each of the seven following questions. I’m looking for analysis here, not one- or two-word answers.
- What specific topic or niche does the blog cover? How effective is the blog at clearly stating its purpose? Does it stay focused on its topic, or do you find it confusing. Explain.
- What kind of content does the site produce? Describe in detail the types of blog posts that are published on this blog – reported stories, Q&As, reviews, videos, photos, opinion pieces, etc.
- Who are the main competitors for this site? How does the quality of the blog’s content compare to its competitors’? Explain.
- Try to ascertain who is writing the blog. Is it one person’s blog or one with many contributors? Is it part of a larger organization? Describe whether the blog has a “voice.”
- How do you think the site makes money, or how do you think it contributes to the business model of a larger news organization (if that is how it is structured).
- How active is the blog on social media. What kind of social media strategy do you think it has?
- How do you think the blog could be improved?