Author Archive for Tina

Blog Action Day 2008

Published by Tina on October 14, 2008 in General. 9 Comments

 On Wednesday, October 15th, the blogosphere takes on poverty.

Since 2007, coordinators for the non-profit event Blog Action Day choose a topic of global significance and challenged bloggers to dedicate one post to the subject on a particular day.

Blogburst network members participating in the 2008 Blog Action Day include Techcrunch, Mashable, Teeth Maestro, Dave Lucas’ Notes, White African, RotorBlog.com, Everything and Nothing, PROFY, Ari Herzog, Quick Online Times, Serge the Concierge, eHub, The Savvy Entrepreneur, Interactive Agency Malaysia, Gather Little By Little, Constitutionally Right and Urban Workbench. Did I leave you out? Let me know in the comments section below!

From the organizers:

In 2008, the Blog Action Day theme is Poverty. Bloggers are free to interpret this as they see fit. We invite bloggers to examine poverty from their own blog topics and perspectives, to look at it from the macro and micro, as a global condition and a local issue, and to bring their own ideas, views and opinions on the subject.

http://blogactionday.s3.amazonaws.com/newsite/Graph.gif

Last year’s focus on the environment resulted in the creation of more than 23,327 articles authored by 20,603 blogs. Not only did the event attract support from organizations such as United Nations Environmental Programme, the European Union Commissioner for the Environment Stavros Dimas,  but it also resulted in topic coverage on mainstream media sites like Reuters, Fox, BBC, and Star Tribune.

Interested in contributing? Visit www.BlogActionDay.org for more information.

So go on.  Blog about it!

Blogging and Beijing

Published by Tina on August 20, 2008 in General. 3 Comments

I don’t watch much television but I really enjoy the Olympics! Okay, yeah…enough with the beach volleyball. It’s good but come on. And yes, some of the up close and personal features are way overboard, but the competitions themselves are facinating and often inspiring . I joined the local YMCA after the 2004 Olympics because I got so intrigued with the swimming events, and while Michael Phelps probably wouldn’t be impressed, I can do “the turn” and trust me, it’s cool.

Work and TV schedules often interfere with my Olympic intake so I turn to the blogosphere for help.

Some BlogBurst bloggers have provided some amazing coverage:

Beijing Olympic Games 2008

The Olympics

Fourth-Place Medal, Yahoo! Sports Olympics blog

I also found an article listing some of the olympic athlete’s blogs. Anybody know of any others?

Got Game?

Published by Tina on May 8, 2008 in General. 0 Comments

Follow the action of the playoffs with BlogBurst’s newest publishing partner, NBA.com.

Nba.com screen shot

BlogBurst bloggers contribute to the coverage:

BlogBurst on NBA

20 Second Timeout

Hoops Addict

Reds Army

The Piston Post

Pounding the Rock

Third Quarter Collapse

Blogging and the Box Office

Published by Tina on March 13, 2008 in General. 3 Comments

Nielsen is introducing  some new reports aimed at online community interaction.  Nielsen PreView will incorporate the company’s many research divisions and tie the data to the entrainment  industry.

The initial report  analyzed the box office performance of 400 recent films, finding that titles grossing at least $100 million in sales are likely to have received elevated levels of attention on blogs.  More details, here.

Some of my favorite film bloggers are:

/Film - Blogging the Reel World

The IFC Blog

Film School Rejects

All the news that’s fit to post, NOT print

Published by Tina on March 11, 2008 in BlogBurst Success Stories and General. 2 Comments

Reuters-BlogBurst/SpitzerOne of our newest blogs, Blogflict, has an interesting angle on “Eliot Mess,” praising the New York Times online.

It was major news across all mediums, with BlogBurst publishing partners USA Today and Reuters both incorporating bloggers’ perspectives into the story.

Here’s but a few of the BlogBurst bloggers who weighed-in:

Hypocrisy- They name is Spitzer (jobsanger)

Political Perceptions: The Spitzer Effect (WSJ.com: Washington Wire)

Eliot’s Mess: Spitzer scandal details emerge (The Carpetbagger Report)

Bloggers and Journalists form an uneasy alliance

Published by Tina on January 22, 2008 in Blog Industry News and General. 5 Comments

A new survey of US journalists found that nearly 70% check a blog list on a regular basis and the majority of journalists surveyed said blogs were having a significant impact on news reporting in all areas tested except news quality.

Perhaps I’m biased, but that sounds a little disingenuous given that three-fourths of those surveyed cited blogs as helpful in giving them story ideas, story angles and insight into the tone of an issue.

Check the Center for Media Research for the full story and more stats.

A Look Back at 2007

Published by Tina on December 30, 2007 in General. 4 Comments

It’s that time of the year when you discover little wads of credit card receipts in your pockets and all of your self-imposed deadlines are “after the new year.” Along with the end of the year, comes that weird, anxious feeling you get when you contemplate where did the time go?

I thought I’d call-out some of the more memorable stories and events in the blogosphere and ask you to do the same.

The event actually happened in 2006 (December 30th) but Sadaam Hussein’s execution was still a major story when we rang in 2007.

Sadaam Hussein Executed (The Carpetbagger Report)

The Dead Dictator: Sadaam Hussein (Wake Up America)

The Indianapolis Colts won the Superbowl

Superbowl XLI: Colts 29 Bears 17 (Stampede Blue)

While March Madness failed to produce a true Cinderella team, the Florida Gators successfully defended their championship.

Random Thoughts on the Ohio State Game (Alligator Army)

On April 16th, Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 students on the Virginia Tech Campus (and wounded many more) before committing suicide, making it the deadliest school shooting in U.S. History.

Gunman Kills 32 at Virginia Tech (Poliblogger)

The Virginia Tech Massacre (GNIF Brain Blogger)

What do we tell our children about Virginia Tech? (Britannica Blog)

Sports figures loomed large in 2007 with controversial slugger Barry Bonds breaking Hank Aaron’s longstanding home run record.

Over and Out: Bonds blasts #756, passes Aaron (Best Ever Sports Talk)

Michael Vick engaged in a pastime that cost him both his job and his freedom.

The Quick Landing and Hard Plummet of Michael Vick (The Curly R)

More time than I like to admit was spent following the adventures of Paris going to jail, Lindsey going to rehab (a couple of times) and Britney, well Britney…well you know….

Oh. No. She. Dinnit. (or) Britney Shaved Her Damn Head ( A Socialite’s Life)

Harry Potter mania set-in over the summer with a film release and the last installment (say it isn’t so) of J.K. Rowling’s mega-popular series.

Farewell, Harry Potter Series (In Perspective)

While politicians, Karl Rove and Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez decided to exit the limelight…

Karl Rove (The Legacy of Karl Rove) (Political Realm)

Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez resigns (No More Spin)

Senator Larry Craig found himself thrust center stage.

Better Explanations Please (The Carpetbagger Report)

 

Mac’s innovative iPhone was the “must have” item for geeks and trend setters.

Most iPhone users thrilled but a few iRate ( Reuters)

No look back at 2007 would be complete without taking a moment to remember those we lost:

Anna Nicole Smith, RIP (PopSugar)

Molly Ivins Passes (Burnt Orange Report)

Kurt Vonnegut 1922-2007 (Brains and Eggs)

One Less Flower in Texas (Dyre Portents)

Hall of Fame Coach Bill Walsh passes away at 75 (NFL Gridiron Gab)

Luciano Pavarotti 1935-2007: A Maestro’s Final Curtain Call (One Jerusalem)

A Brief Tribute to Merv Griffin (The Soul of Rock-n-Roll)

American Author, Cultural Icon, Norman Mailer Dead at 84 (Net News Publisher)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benazir Bhutto Assassination

Published by Tina on December 28, 2007 in BlogBurst Success Stories. 1 Comment

The blogosphere reacted quickly to the shocking news that former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had been assassinated. Shock, outrage and thoughtful ruminations on the political implications of Bhutto’s death for Pakistan and the US.

BlogBurst publishing partner, Internet Broadcast Systems utilized featured some posts from BlogBurst bloggers covering this developing story.

Here’s but a few posts that have been featured:

Benazir Bhutto: 1953-2007 (Polidose)

Benazir Bhutto: A true shero is assassinated (Culture Kitchen)

Bhutto’s Assassination: The Political Impact (the 7-10 Palmer on Politics)

Blogger’s React :’A Sobbering and Frightening Reninder’ (WSJ: The Washington Wire)

 

ib-bhutto.png

Blogger Profile: Matt Loede of “NFL Gridiron Gab”

Published by Tina on October 25, 2007 in Blogger Profiles. 0 Comments

Recently, our BlogBurst editors interviewed BlogBurst member, Matt Loede.

You can find his blog here: http://www.nflgridirongab.com/

Q: We’re halfway through the NFL season, any advice for Fantasy Football fans?

Right now I’d have to stick with the big guys - Tom Brady & Randy Moss, Ladainian Tomlinson, Peyton Manning and Joseph Addai. Look out for Adrian Peterson of the Vikings. He’s a special talent that will be a keeper for years to come!

Q- You joined BlogBurst in November and have since added two additional blogs Slam Dunk Central (an NBA blog) and The Game of Baseball (MLB) along with a handful of team specific NFL blogs, What percentage of your week is spent reading, watching or blogging about sports?

A: Wow, well, I start with about 30-60 minutes a day with reading newspaper columns, news and articles from all around the country. It really gives a great feel of what is going on in the sports. Of course stations like ESPN, NFL Network, NBA TV and games in general take up a lot of the TV time here at the house. With sports being a 24/7 business, the getting up to date really never ends.

Q-Are there specific challenges associated with blogging sports?

A: Being credible and not getting lost in the shuffle is very important to us. We have tried to create many relationships with people in the know and in the media and want to make sure to not just fling mud where it does not need to be flung. Of course we can share our opinions, but attacking players or teams is something we try and avoid.

Q- One of your posts,” Michael Vick Sued for $63 Billion and Accused of Allegiance to Al Qaeda,” produced record traffic. More than 10,000 post views. You’ve covered the Vick story extensively, why do you think this post drew such attention?

A: I think simply the outlandish nature of the headline drew such attention to it, plus the subject material as a whole was just so outrageous. Many people felt we simply made up the story, but that was not the case. We tussled with even posting it, but felt in the end people that were so entangled with the Vick case would enjoy reading it.

Q: What’s your preferred blogging platform and what are the likes/dislikes associated with it?

We prefer our own domain, and we use Wordpress, which we have liked with their updates and being able to do things like Podcasts, pictures and it is an easy system to use overall.

Q- The best blogs all shares these characteristics:

A: Entertaining, A good look to them, timely info, not too over the top

Q-Look into your crystal ball and tell me who’s in this year’s Super bowl?

A: gotta love what is going on in New England and Dallas right now…these two teams early on look like freight trains next to the other 30 teams in the league.

Call for posts 2 - sports!

Published by Tina on October 3, 2007 in General. 4 Comments

Hello again!

Across the country, the weather is approaching the perfect pitch of sunshine and temperature, dryness of air and length of shadow. October is undoubtedly here, and that means a changing of the guard for sports seasons… and great opportunities for bloggers!

NBA bloggers have a great opportunity for exposure, especially those devoted to a particular team. Do you think your team has what it takes to unseat the mighty San Antonio Spurs?* I’m not sure, folks. To convince me, you’re going to have to pop out some blog posts to make your case! Whether you’re cringing in Cleveland or distraught in Detroit, bring the blog! We will be able to highlight your work quite soon.

We also want rugby blogs. Here’s your chance to shine… please tell us about the latest developments in the rough and tumble rugby world! Team dynamics, rumors, highlights, and maybe even pain management techniques! Those guys play for keeps! Tell the world why you love rugby.

Finally, in the “sport without a season” department, we have tennis. Sure, the big tournos are over with, but tennis players don’t have a team to fall back on. These rugged individualists, male and female, slug it out in one-on-one and couples competition the world over, all year long. If there’s a venue, they’ll show up. Tell us about your favorite players, your favorite tournaments - keep us up to date on what’s happening on the ash, grass and clay! Tennis bloggers are very much in demand right now, so pony up! We need you.

Thanks again!

*Disclosure: I’m writing this from central Texas, hence the ever-so-slight bias…