Game Recognizes Game

I am in no way a fan of Sean "Puffy, P.Diddy, Puff Daddy, or any type of puffiness" Combs. So when I saw him and his long-time girlfriend, Kim Porter on the cover of the December issue of Essence I passed it over.

However, I was galvanized into reading the article by my roommate who simply enjoys the extravagance, or what I call sheer "extra-ness," of P. Diddy.

Surprisingly, I am glad that I read it. The writing and interviewing was phenomenal! It has been an extremely long time since I've seen an article that truly captures its subject and their environment while reading as if the audience is in the writer's shoes. It is rare to see a writer not only ask the tough personal questions of one of the most publicized celebrity relationships (after J.Lo and Ben Affleck and on the heels of the Tom and Kate) but also document them in a clear, concise, and story-like manner.

Nevertheless, kudos goes out to Essence senior writer, Jeannine Amber!

Mad Dash to the Internet

Teen People. Ellegirl. Serious writers and media professionals. They all are making a run for it and heading online. And me...well I am no different.

I am a big believer of three. As in if I hear something at least three times then there's has to be some kind of truth to it. So, blogging...I've heard the term thrown around a few times. On the news. In conversation with my journalism buddies. Even the Barnes & Noble near my school, Temple University, hosted a blogging discussion and workshop a few weekends ago.

But it wasn't until attending the "Breaking In" Magazine Conference 2006, hosted by the School of Communications at Temple University, that I opened my eyes to the opportunities of going digital.

Initially, blogging to me was like the Internet is to Larry King. "I've never done it, never gone searching." But, unlike Larry, at least I am willing to give it a try. Hence, my arrival to Blooger.com!

Based on the expertise shared at the Magazine Conference by the keynote speaker, Keith Clinkscales, the senior vice-president of ESPN Publishing, I realized two very important things:

1. Print is suffering a slow death and moving beyond the page to the computer screen. And...
2. I might need to be a little more tech savvy after all.

I mean, I know how to maneuver on the Internet. Google is my best friend. Facebook has become the ultimate tool for networking and socializing. And I only check my email about 20 times a day. Yet, with blogging on the fringe of (if not) becoming a thriving industry, can magazine publishing, my potential career path, withstand the shift to online. The answer is uncertain and quite frightening.

However, the real answer lies where the audience is going. Is it online? Or do people still enjoy flipping through glossies, marveling at pictures of their favorite celebrities, gathering tips on everything from shopping to financial empowerment and assessing their sexual prowess through a relationship quiz?

Teen People recognized a change in the teen market this year and made their move to a web-based only publication, joining Ellegirl and other teen mags who switched to an online medium where they hope to better connect with their readers.

"It's hard to keep up with any other medium besides the Web,” said Anne Sachs, executive editor of Ellegirl.com, in an article by MercuryNews.com.

This is true. What doesn’t the Internet have to offer? Even Larry King admits “there’s 80 billion things on it.” But it's not only about how much the Internet has to offer that makes it appealing as it is in how quick the information can be obtained. Why wait for a print magazine to come in through “snail mail”, when I all you have to do is click and (ta-da!) instantaneous information at your fingertips (and updated by the second). Hence, my move to a new medium!

Blogging is a training ground for me, preparation for magazine publication’s eventual digital era. But, more importantly, it’s a public sphere, a soapbox, my space (NO! Not as in the website, but literally, my space) to get vocal. I encourage you to share in the experience, read my Get Vocal blog and if inspired start your own.

Well, Happy Blogging!