|
|
The increasingly inaccurately-named blog of journalist and futurist Chris Taylor. Either the most sporadically brilliant amateur blog, the most brilliantly amateur sporadic blog, or the most amateur sporadic brilliance on the Web since 2001.
Oh My God, the RSS Feed Actually Works!
Daily Blah FAQ
Who are you?
I'm the newly-appointed Future editor at Business 2.0 and the former San Francisco correspondent for Time Magazine.
Wow, so does this mean everything you write reflects Time Inc's opinion? Or do you perhaps have some sort of standard disclaimer to the effect that it doesn't?
Naturally, the opinions contained in this blog are not those of my employers. In fact, some opinions may be the polar opposite of my employers. Some may be the same, for all I know. Hey, it's not like I ask my employers their opinions about everything in the news, okay? Let's just say that if this were a Venn diagram with one circle marked "my opinions" and the other one marked "my employers' opinions", there would doubtless be some overlap. But neither I nor my employers are able to pinpoint exactly where that overlap is.
What is this Daily Blah thing?
An experiment for a column I wrote about blogging back in December 2001. All these years later, I haven't been able to kick the habit.
Do you write any other blogs, by chance? Could that have something to do with the fact that Daily Blah isn't always Daily?
Yes -- the Future Boy blog for Business 2.0. And yes. If you want true, editorially-mandated daily coverage from me, that's probably the best place to look.
Mister, you talk funny. Are you one of them furrners?
Why yes I am, as it happens. I was born, raised and educated in Great Britain. I've been living in the U.S. since 1996 and identify as British.
I say, old chap, you forgot the "u" in "colour."
No I didn't. I may identify as British, but I am also an American journalist writing for an American audience about mostly American issues. These two different sides of me are a constant source of tension. Nevertheless, Daily Blah will adhere to American English grammar and spelling.
Praise for Daily Blah:
"It is fun to watch the author's navel-gazing joy." - Sunday Times (UK)
"It's really funny and informative." - Dave Eggers, author
"The Blah is becoming a daily destination for me." - Richard Marsh, Playwright
"I like it, and I don't." - Fiona Hogg, Teacher
"Better than Xanax." - Lessley Andersen, journalist
"Dude, lay off the crack pipe." - Souris Hong-Porretta, gamesmith
Friends, Bloggers, Countrymen ... lend your ears to these people. I come not to bury them, but praise them.
Arik
Bill
Dan
Cole
Emily B
Emily G
Helena
Jee
Jewelz
Kaila
Kathryn
Mac
Robin
Slim
Souris
Mr. West
My TIME articles
All magazine articles (subscription required for older stories)
Online column index
|
|
|
|
|
Daily Blah for... Friday, January 20, 2006
Dream Journal Archives: When Journalism Students Dream
What was going on in this dream from March 1997, halfway through my J-school year? It had a lot to do with my desire for status as a serious journalist; something to do with the onset of biculturalism (the dream has American actors, but takes place in London); and perhaps a little to do with the fact that I'd just switched -- defected, some would say -- from the print section to the broadcast section of my class.
A struggle for press accreditation at the London Marathon. The night before, in advance of a J-school trip there, I go into the press office and basically sit on the press officer until he gives me a pass. So furious am I that he scorns my student status, I follow him around the whole damn night, singing to keep him awake. "Listen," I say, stretching the truth somewhat, "I am a freelance journalist. I have written over sixty articles, novels and books. Are you telling me you're not going to give me a pass because I happen to be a student right now?"
Eventually, the next morning, he capitulates and prints one up for me. Great, I think, and go stake out the best spots with my Hi-8 camera. Like a tunnel where runners emerging made for a great shot the previous year. I plan to get as many stories as possible, and freelance them. Especially as no other student seems to have shown up yet.
Just then, the J-school bus arrives, and sets up camp at the finish line, all bustle, hundreds of students ready to produce a newspaper about the whole thing. I tell the editor that, given my heroic tenacity in getting the first pass, I ought to be in the coveted writer-at-large position. But the editor notices a guy walking past with dustbins full of Jamaican hats, and strides over to him, full of professionalism, notebook flipped open, pen clicked on. I do the same, of course, not wanting to look incurious. The day's work has begun, and whatever I do will have to be proved in the doing.
|
|
|
|
