No April fools joke — you can be a blogger.
What’s a blogger?
It’s not a clogger (no dancing involved), not a logger (no big trees and even bigger meals).
No, a blogger is someone who has their own Web log site.
I first learned about Web logs from Tech TV (http://www.techtv.com) and have intended to read Web logs for some time, but was distracted by other things. First, it was my old time radio collection. Then it was the war. As Gilda Radner might have said, “It’s always somethin’.”
But this week I happened upon the NPR program “Fresh Air”. The host and guests were discussing Web logs related to politics and the war.
There is a Web log written, supposedly, by a student living in Baghdad. There are a number of Web logs available that offer a whole rainbow of political opinion.
Web logs are entertaining. They are written by popular authors, such as Dave Barry, and quirky stay-at-home moms, dads etc.
The impact of Web logs has been to make each blogger their own writer/ reporter/ publisher/ news director, etc. In short. To unfetter the Web surfer from the unceasing input of big time media (newspapers/ TV/ radio).
Now, if that sounds like I’m biting the hand that feeds me, I’m really not. Bloggers may offer opinion and (some) entertainment, but they do not and cannot offer the news information that legitimate news organizations can offer. I doubt they sell advertising, either.
At one time I entertained the idea of creating a news Web page for my home town. Within 30 seconds I realized I would need advertising purchased by businesses (something our little town of less than 500 people was short on) and I would need an income, because the newspaper I was working for would frown upon the competition.
A Web log gives anyone the opportunity to write anything about any place they choose.
You could write a Web log about your neighborhood (though we would rather you send your information and articles to The Times). You can write about your family. You can write about your hobbies. You can write about anything that pleases you. (We may not publish everything you submit to us.)
For more information on being a blogger, stop by http://www.blogger.com. Other services offer free blogging Web sites, too.
Check out my blog, titled “Being Frank”. The address you type in your browser’s address bar (at the top of the page) is
http://frankphillips.blogspot.com.

Frank Phillips is The Times managing editor. He can be reached at the office or by e-mail at:
frankphi@hotmail.com.