Should wannabe journalists get blogging?

I've just (belatedly) come across a thought-provoking online Press Gazette article by Linda Jones.

Linda questions the idea that aspiring journalists will lose out if they're not blogging. She argues that work experience at the local paper will give a tyro reporter a far better grounding than sharing their ramblings with the world via a blog.

Linda summarises the reaction to the article in a post on her Passionate Blog. 

Her article represents a healthy dose of scepticism about blogging. But it's important not to mistake scepticism for out-right hostility. As Linda says in her Press Gazette article:

Of course, I don't hate all blogs. Hell, I'm paid to blog by Shiny Media and clog up my own tiny corner of cyberspace with a company blog about our fledgling agency. I do it under the cover of darkness when my kids are asleep. Beats vacuuming.

But blogging can be a shop window for anyone wanting to work in the media or PR - and those of us who've been doing the job for years. It gives us the chance to write regularly - and for publication. It prompts us to think about our trade and debate its hot issues. Although Linda was talking specifically about journalism, PR students and graduates such as Alex Pullin have demonstrated how blogging can help them in their careers. 

Comments

[Linda]

Yes it's a great shop window, you just have to make sure its dressing isn't wonky! Having taken some stick for this piece and then coming across a ("professional") blog littered with typos, I quietly emailed them to point out some of their mistakes - which included getting the word 'professional' wrong. Like newspaper subs, bloggers appear to harbour pedants amongst them, so leaving yourself wide open for criticism may lead to some unpleasantness.

[Rob Skinner]

Linda
It is surprising how many 'professional' communicators fail to proof their online copy. Mind, many years ago I misspelt 'accuracy' in a high profile internal document and still blush when I remember the incident!

[Alexandra Pullin]

It is cringe-worthy when you spot simple errors in what would otherwise be a good piece of writing. However it does provide a valuable learning experience and I'm sure after your misspelt accuracy Rob, you were very careful next time you were writing. The fun thing about blogs is that the entire internet can see your mistakes - a terrifying prospect!