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Catch the Brainwaves is our ongoing series of interviews with a variety of folks participating in blogging and social media. I ask them ten questions and they respond with their brilliant answers and insights! Today’s Q&A features a journalist, freelance writer, and social media expert - David Cohn aka DigiDave!

Are you ready?  Then, catch the brainwaves! 

1. Briefly: is blogging and citizen journalism a threat to traditional journalism?

That’s a good question. I know some journalists still take citizen journalism as a “threat.” But I would argue against this statement on principle and in practice.

On principle: More citizen journalists and more bloggers means more information. Granted, some of this might be misinformation, but the internet also internal methods of fact-checking. Even social bookmarking is a way to collectively separate the wheat from the chaff. Any journalist that thinks more information is bad shouldn’t be a journalist.

In practice: Most citizen journalists and bloggers aren’t motivated by money. They aren’t professional journalists because they have fulfilling jobs in other sectors. They blog or engage in citizen journalism because they want a certain amount of recognition or to perform some kind of civic duty. In that situation (which again, is the case for the vast majority of bloggers) these individuals can be seen as assets - people journalists can rely on to help them get more information, quicker and of higher quality.

2. I’ve heard from some freelancers that they enjoy writing for the Web more than print. Do you have a preference?

I am a freelancer born on the Web. My first real gig was with Wired News (wired.com, not the magazine). I have written for print before - but the majority of my writing has been online. I like to think I approach writing for print or online in the same manner - but the truth is, I don’t. My first journalism professor at Columbia Journalism School said that a writer should think of their readers as trying to escape from prison. From the second they start reading - they want to run away from your story. You have to grab them in the first four paragraphs.

Did you hear that? The first four paragraphs. Online it feels more like the first four words.

3. How hard is it to make a living as a freelancer (your opinion)?
 

It is definitely not easy. Right now I’m fairly lucky, because I have three steady contracts right now. Before these contracts I was living pitch-to-pitch. Pitching stories to editors is tough, especially if you don’t already know them. Most editors work on a system of trust - they only take content from writers they already know. When I was sending cold-call pitches out I was having real trouble. Another thing to consider: a lot of people think that because you are a freelancer you are your own boss. I suppose that’s true, but like I said, I have three contracts right now — so really I have three bosses. Understandably, they all want as much from me as they can get - so even once you are passed the pitch-acceptence level of freelancing, it’s not a cushy job.

4. Have you ever wanted to write comic book stories?
  I love comic books and visual language in general. I’ve never wanted to write fiction (although I love the sci-fi worlds of Marvel), but I wouldn’t mind doing a great investigation and telling it in comic-book form. In fact, I think that would open up a world of possibilities. The only problem - I can barely draw a stick figure.

5. Would you agree that social news and traditional news outlets are now locked into a symbiotic relationship? If so, do you think either party realizes this?

I think it is a symbiotic relationship, but I don’t know if news organizations realize it. I think many are starting to - but they aren’t taking full advantage of it. News organizations are still the best at providing quality journalism. Right now there isn’t a social news site that champions that, although I hope NewsTrust.net, a non-profit social news site I work for, meets that demand. Until that kind of site exists news organizations will have to compete with bloggers for the front page of Digg - but in truth the two groups often have a different focus: most bloggers are creating content like “how to’s” or “top 10’s.” Journalists aren’t supposed to write this kind of content - so they will “lose” on social news sites all the time.

But on a site like NewsTrust.net - which rates news based on journalistic quality news organizations are suited to do well. Bloggers can do well too - but top 10 lists won’t.

6. Mac or PC?

Mac - born and raised. My first computer was an Apple IIC - I think it was 1989, I was around 7 years old and playing the original Kings Quest.

7. What makes a good blog (or a blog good, whichever you prefer)?

There are two types of boggers: Linkers and thinkers.

A good blog first figures out which one of these it is.

Then a good blog figures out what it is linking or thinking about - it finds a specific subject.

To be a great blog the subject either has to be something that isn’t being covered by anybody else (a unique niche) or it covers a general topic but it does so better than anybody else.

8. Did the Digg Embargo achieve its goals? I believe that Social News Central was formed in part due to that incident. (ED:  this Q&A session occurred before the Digg Town Hall of Feb. 25/08)

It’s too early to tell.

What we wanted to achieve was to open up a line of communication with Jay (Adelson) and Kevin (Rose), because we repeatedly felt as if issues, such as banned users and auto-bury sites, were being ignored despite numerous emails sent through traditional channels. Since Jay and Kevin showed up on the very day we decided to take a step back from Digg, we did achieve our goals: We were able to express to Jay and Kevin our concerns and get feedback.

But the final goal is to have a real mode of communication that is open, honest and allows people to have their answers met.

I hope that Social News Central proves to be a place where people can hang out, old and new diggers alike, to talk about how social bookmarking in general can improve.

9. Do you hope that your social news work will have a legacy? If so, what kind of legacy do you want to be remembered for?

Wow, I never really thought of it as a “legacy.” I hope that I’ve been a conduit of information - that I’ve helped certain people get information that they wanted. In that case it’s not about having a “legacy” but having connected with individuals. I like to think that each time I get a front page story on Digg I help somebody learn something new.

10. What one piece of knowledge, advice, or wisdom do you have to share with our readers?

We are seeing the rapid evolution in the exchange of information. Anything we can do to continue this process will keep the Internet free of coercion and a benefit to mankind.

In other words: This is our culture to make - so participate in a constructive way.

Thanks to DigiDave for sharing his brainwaves!

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