Hey Don,
I'm a Master's candidate at American University in Film Production. I'm hoping you might have time over the next day or so answer a few questions to help with a group project that is part of a Mass Media Law class that is studying First Amendment law and issues such as freedom of speech/rights to privacy/defamation/rights of publicity, etc.
My group is presenting on how blogging intersects with the law, specifically. Before we examine specific cases, I'd like to show the variety of blogs, why people blog and what they blog about, and how blogging has become a legitimate media source that has informed news, nonfiction and fiction scripts and epitomizes a modern extension of First Amendment rights. There may also be some information on (if attainable) the collective psychology of bloggers.
I'm asking a variety of people who have active blogs to assist with this project by answering a few questions to help teach our class about this burgeoning media form that evolves by the key stroke!
Here are the questions that I'm hoping you may have time to answer.
Why did you start your blog, and when?
Who do you reach in your blog? Any surprises in how far reaching the audience has become? How would you describe your audience?
How often do you add content?
What makes you think, "I need to write about that on my blog?"
How long do you think you'll keep it up?
What blogs do you read and why?
Do you think that blogs are important from a mass media and/or consumer perspective? If so, why?
Has your blog created unforeseen successes or unforeseen problems for you/the blogging audience (including consumers and businesses)? Please share.
Thanks a bunch for helping our class learn more about a topic that it looks like you wrote the book on in the realm of DC food and wine! If you or any of your readers weigh in, it'd be great to see their feedback posted to their own blogs as well.
Andrea Koslow
