The “Drivel” That Was My Big Tent Coverage

It seems that whenever I feel like everything is copacetic in the Reno blogosphere, a blogger decides to use their blog to criticize me publicly. It’s always been my policy not to criticize my fellow Reno bloggers–it only happens AFTER someone criticizes me publicly, and I feel the need to defend myself so that the public record reflects all the relevant facts that I respond. A few years ago, it was only AFTER another blogger criticized me publicly in the Reno News & Review that I felt it necessary to defend myself publicly. This time, Dullard Mush points out some problems he had with my DNC coverage on his blog, so I’d like to take this opportunity to make a few points in my defense.

Mush actually (and helpfully) counts up the number of blog posts published by me, Hugh Jackson, Erin Neff, Molly Ball, and Anjeanette Damon. The first important fact everyone should be aware of is that I was at the Big Tent for exactly 1.5 days. I was at Invesco field for .5 days with no access to WiFi because I do not have a phone equipped with such niceties. So let’s just do the math shall we?

Average Posts Per Day:
Anjeanette Damon (41 posts/6 days = 6.8 post per day + Tweets)
Me (12 posts/2 days = 6 posts per day + Tweets)
Ball (26 posts/5 days = 5.2 posts per day)
Erin Neff (26 posts/5 days = 5.2 posts per day)
Jackson (14 posts/4 days = 3.5 posts per day)

So by the numbers only, Damon clearly comes out ahead, but I come in at a close 2nd.

Quality:
I definitely concede this point. Although I didn’t have much time to read their coverage, I’m sure all of the other writers provided readers with more facts about and interviews with the Nevada delegation and other events that took place in the Pepsi Center. Since I know that Damon stayed in the same hotel as the delegation and was invited to attend most of their events, I’m going to assume that Neff, Ball, and Jackson worked under the same, or at least very similar circumstances. We can also assume that, with the exception of Jackson, Damon, Ball, and Neff had the benefit of superior equipment, additional staff, WiFi access, and generally had less distance to cover. While in Denver, I stayed 2 miles from the Big Tent and an additional several blocks from the Pepsi Center–to which I did not have access.

Also, I had no idea what I was walking into during the Big Tent–WiFi that went up and down, the inability to upload videos I filmed to YouTube, the heat, and a compressed schedule. I’m betting the journalists and Mr. Jackson probably got lists of scheduled events before they even arrived in Denver, or shortly thereafter.

My So-called Reader-financed Schmooze Trip:
Now I’d like to address the allegations of a reader-financed schmooze trip. One thing I made clear before going to the Big Tent is that I was going to cover the Big Tent, because my readers were interested in it, and because that is what I had access to. During my 1.5 days in the Big Tent, I had a 15 minute hand massage next to Craig Newmark in the Huffington Oasis. This is an event I thought my readers would find amusing–including the fact that there was a Huffington Post Oasis. For the rest of the time, I was schlepping around 30 pounds of equipment in 85-99 degree heat–indoors. I know, glamorous huh? I mentioned all the famous bloggers and politicos I met because I thought this is what my readers would be interested in. Apparently, Dullard Mush was not, but he didn’t chip in either, so, you know, suck it–my responsibility wasn’t to him. I’ll take criticism from those who chipped in for my trip. 15 minute hand massages: one. Parties attended: none. Heel blisters: two.

“High and Mighty Bloggers and Criticism of The Local Media”
I think Mush is somehow mistaking me for Ryan Jerz, who he is considerably more supportive of, and who spends a bit of his time online criticizing the Reno Gazette-Journal’s work. If there is any local blogger obsessed with criticizing the local media it’s Jerz. Ask any local blogger or Twitterer. In fact, you will often find me complimenting local political journalist Anjeanette Damon on her coverage. She has been far ahead of the curve in terms of using social media in her work. I do take on particular aspects of media coverage at particular times–usually when I find a problem with media coverage of women. When asking for donations, I stressed the fact that I would be a part of an alternative media event, that I am a female political blogger and would offer a different perspective than the DNC’s official blogger, and that I had been providing a forum for progressive political discussion for three years without asking for donations before. I never stated that I could provide better coverage than anybody.

What I am most offended by, however, is that a fellow local blogger would once again make such an ungenerous criticism publicly. I refrain from such behavior and keep hoping that others will as well. But now that it’s happened once again, I am required to defend myself against such criticism so that all facts are reflected in the public record. (I definitely respond in kind to comments made by others, but again, anyone looking for examples of me starting any kind of conflict with local bloggers or being critical will find that it’s almost always a response in kind.)

I have worked very hard over the last three years to provide an online space that both entertains, informs, and provokes people, always understanding that I can’t please everyone. Recently, I have also begun to promote myself as a serious political commentator. I have a feeling that Mush has more of a problem with this effort than with anything else. But as anyone knows, to be taken seriously, you must also take yourself seriously and aggressively seek out opportunities. If local bloggers resent my ambition, so be it.

More Numbers:
By my calculation, I have blogged nearly 900 days, publishing 2,644 posts that have generated thousands of comments by readers. The income I have generated from this effort after expenses is close to $500.00. If I have published some bad posts in those 900 days, well, I think that’s a forgivable offense even if others don’t. If my body of work is recognized by others outside of Reno, fabulous. A rant of two in three years during the 2,644 posts shouldn’t be taken as representative of my work. Frankly, I find that a ridiculous way to think.

The bottom line is that I did the best I could under the circumstances. I can understand if that’s not good enough for some, but I think it’s a better strategy to keep that kind of thing to yourself in order to keep the community harmonious–particularly when you have absolutely no idea about the circumstances I worked within. I think Mush would agree that being an armchair critic is pretty easy.

Once again, I thank my supporters who I am grateful to. I did not use my trip to schmooze, but to cover the Big Tent as they requested. I struggled under the circumstances I faced and most certainly could have done better, but I always had them in mind and tried to write about things that they would enjoy.

Similar Posts:

• 10 Alternative Ways To Follow Democratic Convention News
• Big Tent on PBS Media Shift
• Reno News and Review Best Of 2006

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