Some Thoughts On Starting A Political Blog

I've been writing online for the better part of 20 years, and in that time, writing about politics hasn't changed that much, even if the mechanisms for writing and publishing and broadcasting have been awe-inspiring.  As we go into election season, a lot of new blogs are popping up, and older ones are getting reinvigorated, so I figure I'll pass on some thoughts to those who are wondering if they should be out writing about politics in Missouri.

1) Have something to say.  First and foremost, you have to be interesting.  While it feels good to rant about something that happens on a national level, there are millions of blogs that already do that.  If you want to be relevant, and if you're writing, you want to be, you'll need to focus on something that you can make an impact on.  There is a dearth of local, city, regional, and state news, and plenty of spaces to fill.  Local reporting gives you the advantage of authenticity, and should you break a big story or be involved in a big story by virtue of geography, you'll have credibility in the area (which matters more than you think).  If you are going to write about national politics, pick a topic others aren't digging into.  Sunshine is good for all kinds of large organizations, and sometimes simply writing about them makes them act better.

2) Pick a good handle.  Branding is key because it makes it easy to talk about who you are.  Yes, this puts you in a box, but a good brand identifies your expertise before the reader clicks on your link, while fluffykittyeyes72 or BillsGrandma@yahoo.com tells them nothing about you.  So pick a name, buy the domain, and write about the topic.

3) If you really want to be good, write about something you don't have a passion for first.  If you've never blogged before, try picking a topic from your personal life, or local area, or local politics.  Write about architecture, or restaurants, or something that allows you to practice without getting all worked up.  Politics is unfortunately full of a lot of happiness, rage, despair, and references to Nazis (though some are more clever than others).  The best bloggers are the ones who know how to write dispassionately, but who use emotions as spice.  That takes some practice, and writing about non-political topics is a good start.

4) Research original content:  There is a lot of work that needs to be done, from campaign finance reports, to local school board expenditures, to building connections between politicians and their cronies.  The only way to be taken seriously (which means having bigger bloggers, newspapers, other media link you) is to be serious.  Yes, it feels good to rant about the media, or business, or other bloggers, but that kind of blogging rarely gets anywhere.  We've all heard rants.  What we want is scoop.

5) Not everyone you write about is evil:  It's hard to believe, but the majority of people in government, the media, and business aren't evil.  Even when they are, they're not 100% evil.  Yes, they probably are liars and hypocrites and self-serving, back-stabbing, and social climbers.  But so too are a lot of people you know who aren't in politics.  Keep in mind there are also good and generous people trying to work inside the system.  There are people with families and responsibilities that are trying to manuever, and not just manipulate.  Be aware of what you are writing, and the impact you have.  Don't be afraid to pursue the truth, mock people, or call out those who need it.  Just don't be nasty and pretend you don't know what you are doing. And try to save it for those who deserve it.

You also have to learn to decipher the structural mistakes from the personal failings and the illegal activities from the immoral ones. We might not like it when donations are shuffled through committees in Missouri, but it's not illegal.  It needs to be broadcast, but if you're ranting about it being illegal, you lose credibility.  And if you get on a treadmill of assuming that everyone acted in some conspiratorial fashion, you'll miss the opportunity to bust the people who actually do something wrong.  When you're doing actual reporting, it also helps to not accuse the people you're investigating of wrongdoing before you've gathered the facts.

At the same time, don't think it's that hard to find corruption.  There are a lot of arrogant people in politics, and that arrogance usually leads to carelessness. 

6) Not everything is the media's fault: Yes, we'd like to see more balance in politics, but there is a difference between what the media can write and what they know.  And there's a difference between opinion and news gathering.  Just because you know something is true, doesn't mean it can get published in a newspaper or heard on the radio.  Even when the reporter believes you. 

The general rule is that if you don't have documents or tape, it's not going to be published.  And even if you do, the documents have to be 100% conclusive.  And even then, you often need a politician, political figure, or official spokesman to vouch for you. 

It's not personal - it's just how the news runs.  It's kinda like the legal system.  The police have to present legally obtained evidence and convince a jury.  Even if they know the perp did it, if they can't prove it in the right way, he walks.

You can still publish on a blog, and it's not a bad thing to do, but you can't get mad that it isn't picked up.

7) Don't argue you with fools:  This is probably the hardest thing to do, but you should be careful who you argue with.  Many people, on their own blogs and comments, just want to make a point so they feel good.  Your life is wasted on them.  Block them from commenting, shunt them aside on Twitter, and no matter how wrong they are, don't respond.  This does not mean you get to hide from debate.  It doesn't mean get into your Holy Huddle and only talk to like-minded people.  There is a difference between those who you can argue with, and those who aren't honest and faithful actors.  We can disagree on whether universal health care is a good idea, but when people accuse you of being a paid shill, or wanting people to die, you have to wonder if you'll ever change their mind.

You know what I'm saying.  A good rule is to never bother to explain yourself.  Your friends do not need it, and your enemies won't believe you.

Now I know staying out of these fights is often impossible.  You're only human.  I will tell you that you will be happier if you do.

8) Remember, Politics Ain't Beanbag: Politics today is about money.  Government has it and doles it out.  Those serving are looking at their careers when they leave, and those who depend on government are afraid of losing what they have.

And so when you choose to be effective, you're going to get flak. Most of it is harmless, except to your psyche.  It's very rare to pay a price for political speech, but there are those who do pay - with their jobs, with their family, with their relationships. 

And no one can tell you that you're wrong to not get involved. But I will say this.  Our founders risked death to give us this country.  They risked everything they had.  We are nowhere near that.  If you are afraid to speak up, and you're not a wild-eyed crazy, then you are trading security for freedom.  For far too long, the general public has put their head down and tried to focus on their lives.  The rising of the Tea Parties, a large cohort of formerly non-political people ready to finally do something, is a good sign for the country, but you do threaten those with power and money.  Recording County Councils, using Open Record Requests on police officers, and snapping pictures of the politically minded makes them nervous.

Maybe it's time they got a little nervous.  Good luck, and welcome to the fight.

Comments

[Darin Codon]

Excellent advice. This could save people a lot of trouble and let them know where it might find them.

[Kevin]

I'm just starting a blog and your advice is very timely. Thanks.

[C. Moss]

In other words, you stop being a "resident" and become a "citizen!"

[Brian]

A few more, not necessarily political, but more general blogging tips:

Be organized. Research your online content and keep it filed, bookmarked, and saved to refer to later. Since online content is sometimes removed, archive it, especially if you've linked to or referenced it.

Know your audience. Are you speaking to a certain demographic? Are you only speaking for yourself? Are you trying to be all-inclusive? Are you trying to generate a conversation, or just giving your final opinion?

Be consistent. Have a format/layout/template. Your readers will appreciate familiarity.

Have a proofreader. Otherwise, your readers will do it for you, and you will lose that all-important credibility. Use grammar and spell checks if you have them, but another set of eyes is almost always better.

Content is king. Post content as often as you can. Give your readers a reason to keep coming back and checking. If you have different topics to cover, consider timed updates - spreading it out over the course of the day, as long as it isn't breaking/time-sensitive.

Network with other bloggers. Start healthy conversations and mutual critiques. "Iron shapes iron" and all that jazz. But don't give up your own self-identity.

Don't get personal about yourself, unless it's a personal blog. If you are writing a political or restaurant or other blog, try to keep the personal info to a minimum. "Breaking! City council member is found with prostitute. I'll tell you more, put my cat just puked and I have to clean it up." Stay focues on your mission, if you can. Some people can pull it off. Most can't.

Occasional and relevant pictures can enhance your stories. Entire galleries on the front page can be distracting. Choose wisely.

If you are only doing this to make money, you will not be happy, and people will notice. Saying outrageous things to get pagehits might work for a bit, but your credibility will suffer(I'm looking at you, Andrew Sullivan).

However, if you are looking to get pagehits, then the most important piece of advice for this whole list of comments: Get Instalanched! And forever live in infamy.

[moogrogue]

Nicely stated.

I am an admirer of your meticulous, original research as well as the consistency of your voice/tone. (That is something we struggle with at our site from time to time, especially given our penchant for satire.)

Keep up the good work.

[BD]

You're just giving out perfectly sensible advice to obscure the fact that you're a paid shill who wants people to die.

[BK]

@BD - I think #7 is going to be applied to you. Just a guess.

[Jim Durbin]

Great comment - Brian.

BD - what can I say, you caught me.

Thanks moogrogue - that's a been a problem here too. How do you mix videos of Russ Carnahan as a clown with actual reporting? I figure it will work itself out in the wash. This blog has always been a labor of love, which means ultimately, I'm just writing for myself.

That's probably the best advice. My posts are longer then "optimal," they bounce around, and the humor can be a big obstacle to getting bigger.

But I don't want to get bigger. I don't want to be a pundit. I'm not looking for a career in politics or political consulting (doing that means you have to hang out with politicians).

Truth be told, I'd rather sit and listen to Jo Mannies tell war stories or have a beer with Jake Wagman then research FEC reports. But there are stories to be told, and battles to be fought.

[Ron Moses]

Not everyone who disagrees with you is an idiot. Most of the people on the other side of the argument are intelligent, well-meaning people who simply see the world through different eyes. Treat them accordingly, even if they don't offer you the same courtesy. Name-calling will do nothing but undercut your argument.

Make an effort to understand the other side of the argument. How many lefties do you see running around screaming about how the Tea Parties are all about racism? Don't fall into that trap. Try to understand how an intelligent person could draw those conclusions, and begin your argument there. Illustrate why they are mistaken -- not evil, not stupid -- mistaken.

Take a deep breath. Politics can be a passionate topic for a lot of people, and it's easy to find yourself way off the deep end well before you realize it. Take Andrew Brietbart; I respect the heck out of that guy, but put him face-to-face with a lefty and he goes red-faced and wide-eyed in no time flat, even when his points are perfectly valid (see the Max Blumenthal confrontation).

Of course all of these suggestions are a sure-fire way to limit your readership to somewhere around zero. Nobody wants to hear from a level-headed pundit. Why do you think Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann have jobs?

[Ralph Gizzip]

One minor quibble:

Politics today is about money. Government has it and doles it out.

Government takes it and doles it out. Government has nothing they haven't taken from someone else.

[Ralph Gizzip]

Oh, I see HTML doesn't work in the Comments.

My bad.

[locomotivebreath1901]

Bravo. Nice list. But an occasional rant is good for the creative process.