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I am a blogger, so what?

29 September 2009 22 Comments

After publishing my article about some false news published on a local journal,there has been a lot of buzz in the Mauritian blogosphere. While some people supported my article, others were putting all the blame on the communication cell of the Prime Minister.  Don’t worry, I certainly won’t be writing anything more on that topic, but instead, I want to clear some things.
What follows is from my personal experience of blogging and other bloggers may or may not agree.

First of all, thanks to everyone who read this blog, among some of them are regular here since nearly 3 years.

I said it loads of times, blogging allows me to share my point of view as well as hear what YOU want to say. Of course, I may not be right all the time, no one can be perfect.

This said, it does not mean that I write nonsense. You may not agree with what I say, but this does not mean that the article is wrong.

Very recently, a journalist from Scope Magazine wrote a nice article about “Journalisme Citoyen”, clearly summarizing a few points about blogging.

On Scope Magazine

Despite all the efforts done through some bloggers and myself, there are still some misconceptions about being a blogger :

Professionalism

First of all, I am not a journalist, I do not work for anyone (at least, not for writing articles).

Journalists have an obligation to abide by their code of conduct and usually, need to write in the perspective of their news agency. Bloggers don’t have any code of conduct yet.

However, I find it really disgraceful that some bloggers swear in their blogs. It is their choice and certainly have their targeted audience. But personally, I prefer not to read the articles written in this way. I believe that your blog should reflect your personality.

For your professional career, blogging can really bring you to higher heights.

However your future boss may read your words, and that should be a reason for hm not to hire you.

Responsibility

I am aware that I am fully responsible for articles published in this blog.

All comments submitted here go through a moderation process in which I may remove any information I find inappropriate/irrelevant/abusive. In such comments, I usually include a small note.

However, I cannot prevent people from voicing out their concerns which may differ from mine or yours.

Milking my blog?

I do not make even 1 cent from my blog, never!

My passion for blogging will definitely not make me go commercial, not yet (lol)!

Originality

None of my articles are copied from the net! Nor I copy ideas from the international bloggers. I have my own blogging style which differs me from others.

Topics on which I blog vary and ranges from my personal life, local news, very little tech articles and any other tips/stuff that I want to share.

Audience

You may have surely noticed : I mainly target the Mauritian Audience, nothing more. Hence, you probably won’t see any comments from international bloggers nor non-Mauritians.

The reward?

You know what?

A few days ago, I was chatting with a NRM (Non Resident Mauritian lol) and I can proudly say that loads of people really like reading my blog.  It is so encouraging when someone says such encouraging words for the wonderful work accomplished.

Through this years, I have made quite some reputation as a blogger. and it often happens that people recognize me on the streets. While some do not hesitate to share a few words, other prefer to send me a message through msn or facebook lol!

With these words, I end this article here. All I want to say is that I am a blogger, sharing my views and anyone can have their own. If you are on this blog, it is your choice and probably you won’t regret being here.

Cheers for blogging and yashvinblogs.com!

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  • http://themediaguru.blogspot.com carrotmadman6

    **Afterthoughts**
    Cut down on the advertising on FB/Twitter. Use them as social networks. ;)

    Cheers. Keep it up! :)

  • http://www.doublethink.tk 1132nd

    Ethics are not confined to professionals, but to just everyone out there. It encompasses a series of shared beliefs of what is right and wrong a level below laws and regulations. It goes beyond swearing or insults, it has to do with the tone of your arguments and they way you present them as well. You freely mention the word “Journalisme citoyen”. As I said in my space (www.doublethink.tk), in this word, there is “journalisme” whether you like it or not. Aspiring to this definition requires you move from your free-electron stance of being a mere “blogger” in the broad sense, to a more journalistic role. However, whether you choose to adopt this position or not, if ethics apply to everyone else out there, they apply to you as well.

  • http://sozzz.net Sun

    Rightly said, the blog reflects the personality of the blogger. Readers may not agree, and thats just how it is. Everybody have their opinion and most succesfull mauritian bloggers already know and respect that :)

    Swearing on blog is.. uhh.. sometimes a necessary evil i’d say.. but only very very few times.. :P i think i’ve never been in a situation to be compelled to use such vocabular, but sometime i do understand their use(e.g rabbit)

    And yeah, i would say that your blog can affect your proffessional life(+vely or -vely) {you == bloggers}

    Rock ON!!

  • yiu

    That’s why i always read your blog :)

  • ritzz

    cool!

  • http://sozzz.net Sun

    also agree with the carrot :P

  • moricien

    Your posts are really original. Its not a copy of what people are already saying.

    You are one of the best bloggers in mau with regular interesting contents. You deserve respect in what you are doing, you use the WP platform in its ‘real’ term,i.e., to keep an online journal. Im not so sure about not making any money tho lol

    Keep up with the good work m8

  • http://lallmatie.com/blog bhoot

    Well said. The freedom of expressing views the way you want is the main advantage of blogging! As you said, in journalism, you have to be careful when writing (even if the facts are right). Even as a new blogger, I try to verify my sources before stating something. Where it’s my own point of view, I make it obvious that it is!

  • ReenaDKL

    You are right Yashvin, some people don’t understand that blogging is first and foremost about your own personal opinion. It’s like a diary which you share…

    I have to thank you for I would never have thought of blogging had it not been through you.

    We bloggers (though am not that a regular one) need to support each other and not let some pea size minded people destroy what we want to build…a healthy blogging community in Mauritius.

    Cheers to you all bloggers!

  • http://www.doublethink.tk 1132nd

    Bon ben… Vu les commentaires ici je n’ai qu’une chose à dire finalement. Qui se ressemblent, s’assemblent….

  • ReenaDKL

    @ 1132nd

    Don’t know if it’s positive or negative comment on your behalf, but I think all my blogger friends will agree that we know who we are and what we are capable of…nuts or genius, we shall stick together…(at least am in for the next bloggers’ meeting if fixed before december…lol!)

  • http://www.yashvinawootar.com Yashvin

    @ReenaDKL @1132nd:
    @1132nd seems to fail to understand how we have been blogging successfully since years or months.

    He wrote only 4 articles on a blog, and he is trying to bring his journalist experience here, thinking that its the same world.
    Definitely not my friend. Bloggers (at least most of us) know ourselves and support each other, despite that sometimes you may feel that we are discussing among ourselves. We are only sharing our views, and the 2 previous bloggers’ meeting was a nice experience (for those who were present).

    And we are definitely not seeing any competition coming, as said a blogger.
    A mauritian journalist is blogging since long (perhaps a few years) and at no moment, the atmosphere in the mauritian blogosphere was such. I ask myself why?

  • http://www.doublethink.tk 1132nd

    “@1132nd seems to fail to understand how we have been blogging successfully since years or months.”

    -> Well not exactly. Internet has been around for quite a while so, to each his own. If you want to stick a feather in your hair and pretend to be a chicken in your home, well it’s your basic right of expression I guess. But when it’s visible from the outside, some people “bien intentioné” like myself feel it’s right to point out the ridicule of the scene. What you choose to do next, unfortunately, rests solely upon you.

    “He wrote only 4 articles on a blog, and he is trying to bring his journalist experience here, thinking that its the same world.”

    –> Yes, unfortunately, I do have other duties in life that require me writing elsewhere. But as I said before, I’m not trying to bring about anything to anyone, just to point out when someone is straying off-track according to my humble reading of things. Again, it stems from a “bonne intention”. If you choose to respond aggressively, then by all means, stick to the formula that has brought you so much success till now.

    “A mauritian journalist is blogging since long (perhaps a few years) and at no moment, the atmosphere in the mauritian blogosphere was such. I ask myself why?”

    –> Just like the web is being split between western and chinese content, the mauritian blogosphere is fragmented. As you pointed out, some of “us” have been here for quite a while. But except for rare occasions (“la photo de la discorde” episode), we do not come across each other. I believe a confrontation of ideas is essential to further any debate. And talking among yourselves and sharing the same views will not result in that. So if you won’t come to us, I believe, in the interest of all, it is wise that we come to you. This would be the only thing that has changed.

    But then, like I said previously, what you choose to do next, unfortunately, rests solely upon you.

  • http://www.yashvinawootar.com Yashvin

    @1132nd : You are free to have ur opinion. Bye.

  • http://www.doublethink.tk 1132nd

    That’s it? Well, I’ll just take away my stretched helping hand then. But I can’t go back to my 4-post blog (which I proudly advertised thus on twitter btw) without saying this: “seuls les cons ne changent pas d’avis”. A bon entendeur…

  • http://enrasecampagne.wordpress.com/ Guiblog

    La blogosphère mauricienne est agitée, depuis quelques semaines, par un débat intéressant sur la différence entre un journaliste et un bloggeur. S’il existe en effet des différences techniques (délais de bouclage, moyens de diffusions, accessibilité etc…), tous deux sont, je le pense, complémentaires.

    Blogueurs et journalistes doivent répondre à des critères essentiels pour fidéliser leurs lecteurs et pour asseoir leur crédibilité : fiabilité de leur information, rigueur et protection de sources entre autres.

    Why the hell are mauritian bloggers so afraid to see journalist entering the blogging world?

  • Mike

    My understanding of blogging is that it was never intended to be for the professional, i.e. journalist, writer, but a media for use by anyone and everyone to express themselves. So for me any argument about having correct sources of information is a non-starter. Blogging is a free style. Therefore, expressions within blogs are bound to carry inaccuracies of information since the blogger does not necessarily have access to official communication. As Yashvin points out blogs are a means of sharing views on various popular topics. It is innovative in the sense that it not only gives us the freedom of expression but also a certain perception of what others in society feel about the particular subject. That is very different to just reading a newspaper article which is a one-way communication. Yashvinblogs.com is one those blog places which respects ethics at the same time induces thought and dialogue. I can only encourage Yashvin to continue blogging to the ever increasing network of bloggers/readers. —keep on blogging—

  • deepa

    :)

  • http://www.webdesign-bureau-of-mauritius.com Web Design Bureau of Mauritius

    Just to comment on this :

    For your professional career, blogging can really bring you to higher heights.

    However your future boss may read your words, and that should be a reason for h[i]m not to hire you.

    My personal view: the number of pictures of oneself holding a cup/bottle of alcoholic drinks that one publishes might also be a deterrent for a future or even a current employer. The person somehow represents the company online if (s)he gets a large readership. The problem being the management of online reputation, especially in computer oriented fields.

  • own big

    I agree, this is a great article.A successful blog needs unique, useful content that interests the readers

  • http://hackers.mu selven

    However, I find it really disgraceful that some bloggers swear in their blogs. It is their choice and certainly have their targeted audience. But personally, I prefer not to read the articles written in this way. I believe that your blog should reflect your personality.

    For your professional career, blogging can really bring you to higher heights.

    However your future boss may read your words, and that should be a reason for hm not to hire you

    As you said yourself…. a blog should reflect one’s personality… :p hence… it would be really hypocrite to have a blog which is not you at all just for the sake of pleasing a boss :p… to hell with what the boss thinks.. a blog is a blog.. it symbolizes freedom of thought.. :p SO.. your boss doesn’t deserve to have you as an employee if he refuses to hire you because of the contents of your blog… atleast that’s what i believe :) .

  • Bhooks

    It’s been a pleasure reading your blog for the past 2 years and participating to it. Many thanks for sharing your point of views about things.

    I would also like to comment on the trails I could read.

    I think that bloggers simply write about their impressions of a scene, not doing hard-and-fast reporting. We know that. The only people who don’t know that are the press. If most of you wanted to be reporters, you’d become journalists. (however that’s accomplished — there seems to be conflicting schools of thought on that one.)

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