David Akin

OK, there's only, like, four entries or something so far here but I'm betting I'm the only blog on the planet that's not talking about you-know-what (can't name it lest the Google spiders put me in the Web). Won't do it, either. Simple reason: I'm a professional reporter -- not a pundit, not a columnist, not an editorial writer -- a reporter. It's a very workmanlike term that I'm quite attached to. And while academics and amateur media theorists can talk theory all they want, the first job of a reporter is description. It's an important task. It would be difficult, it seems to me to have an intelligent discussion about an event unless the participants in that debate had a good understanding of that event. Without good reportage, the pundits, opinion writers, columnists (but mostly talk radio hosts) would have a tough time of it. A good description of the event, then, is the first step towards debate. Description, though, requires access, access to people and places. In events where there is a conflict that has got people's blood boiling - you-know-what happening you-know-where would be a good example -- combatants often look to blame the media for some of their problems and make our jobs harder by refusing to grant access to their views/meetings/leaders etc. I don't how I'm going to be called upon to report on this conflict, but when I do, I'd rather not have one side or the other Google me only to find a reason to deny me access.

Wow. Ran across an amazing site today: The California Coastal Records Project . You can go up and down most of California's coastline with aerial views taken from a helicopter that looks to be about few hundred feet off the ground. I've only explored the northern California coast during a trip to San Francisco a few years ago and never had the chance to head south to LA and San Diego. This collection of photos is a remarkable project.

Well, I never really did get back to that point I was going to make -- what? -- about nearly a month ago. Sheesh. That's what happens when you have an 18-month-old. Actually, that's unfair: I blame that on the basement renovation that I started a month minue two days ago. There are months to go.

David Weinberger's latest JOHO is up (is that how you refer to it? Did I get the syntax right?)

Off that document, some other new neat links including one from Michael O'Connor Clarke, who I'd known only as an engaging PR executive but is also a terrific writer and blogger as it turns out. Also checking out Corante.. It was new to me . . .