Blogged down!

I have been "blogged down" this week scouring the Internet for the web logs I like to complete this assignment in week three of our Journalism 2.0 distance learning course. I started by scanning the A-list bloggers on the top 100 at Technorati.com, as our teacher, Mark Briggs suggested. I did find a few "flogs" (favourite blogs? sorry Mark, couldn't resist), but there are thousands out there and I am sure that as I read more of them, my selections will diversify. I have also set up a few news alerts but need to search around some more.

Since I have just started blogging, I chose the following two for their wealth of tips, advice, quality of writing, and links.

http://www.copyblogger.com/

http://www.problogger.net/

I could not find any new blogs from war correspondent Kevin Sites, but his gripping reports from the past remain my all-time favourite. Sites' compelling posts from the world's areas of conflict- were the first blogs I ever read, prior to this Knight Center programme.

His 'Hot Zone' reports for Yahoo, from the world's most conflict-torn areas haunted me, especially the moving stories of children like the abused Afghan bride, the beautiful and upbeat Gulsoma (http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs2986),

the cheerful Nepalese boy, Yubaraj, who at 13 becomes head of his impoverished family and parks bicycles for a living (http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs4389)

and the most chilling account of rape and war in the Congo, (http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs1152.)

Sites' last "Hot Zones" blog account (that I found) summarises his almost year-long coverage of 22 warn-torn areas in 19 countries and is at http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs9538 which I have chosen as my third favourite blog.


MY FIVE GREAT WEB HEADLINES:-

Getting Writing Done: How to Stop Thinking About It and Write

1. DO IT.

by Jane Northcote

http://www.copyblogger.com/getting-writing-done/

2. Strewth! Aussies reel at TV swearing

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/strewth-aussies-reel-at-tv-swearing-799042.html

3.New ladies' vodka gives doctors a headache
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080317/od_nm/russia_vodka1_dc;_ylt=As0C5ZFzBBor7yy1aaPiDp0SH9EA

4.Fleeing shoplifter forgets son

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080320/od_nm/dutch_dc;_ylt=AuJHmH6cZOkFMmPqVsiRHGys0NUE

5.No Horsing Around in the Hospital

http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_No_Horsing_Around_in_the_Hospital_15461.html

The good headlines work because they are short, direct, and like the red-hued "Do it." grab your attention. Others are funny, full of innuendo and unusual for their subject, especially the items culled from the "Odd News" section, which made me first grin and then want to read the rest that follows.



FIVE POOR WEB HEADLINES

This is a beauty coming from the usually careful "Independent" newspaper, I enjoyed the mixed metaphor, young lion or a wet duck, loud roar or one quack of a headline?

1. England's young lion takes to Test scene like a duck to water

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/englands-young-lion-takes-to-test-scene-like-a-duck-to-water-798904.html

2.White House: Old Computers Were Destroyed: Admin. Tells Judge Seeking Missing E-Mail Data That Hard Drives Were Removed For Physical Destruction

http://greenpagan.newsvine.com/_news/2008/03/22/1383562-white-house-old-computers-were-destroyed-admin-tells-judge-seeking-missing-e-mail-data-that-hard-drives-were-removed-for-physical-destruction

Too wordy, repetitive and long. This headline should be headed for physical destruction.

3.Endangering, the environmentally endangered … From elephants to what next?

Friday February 29 2008

http://www.antiguasun.com/paper/?as=view&sun=142115129303232008&an=350658089502282008&ac=Columnist

I am unsure what this headline wants to say, and since I feel endangered by such wording, I am unwilling to see what comes next.

4.Developing airlift strategy for St. Croix is goal of newly formed panel

Friday, March 21st 2008

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=17622221

Not a bad headline really, just very boring, newspaper's website really needs a better strategy and shorter words if its' goal is to gain readers.

5.Science Etcetera Jupiterday, 20080320

http://www.technorati.com/posts/vBuNFq0W90D7%2FkWowN%2F7erY85Id7DlZ7LChMo7v3Kv4%3D

I felt like screaming MAYDAY! when I spotted this one while browsing technorati.com etc.


COMMENT ON STUDENTS' BLOG

I liked Claudine Housen's blog,http://claudinehousen.blogspot.com/
it is attractive, the white contrasts nicely with the black background, her posts are well-written and there are even photos! I sure am inspired to do more with mine!