A comment came in yesterday from someone calling themselves “Curious”:
Just curious as to why you think a blogger like yourself would warrant a return phone call about an issue you are writing about. I know your followers will scream hell yeah but seriously…in the overall scheme of things, what makes your blog of any significance? Just seems to me that somewhere along the line you decided to self annoint yourself.
I was, at first, a little defensive. Then I decided that it’s a fair question and one that should be addressed directly.
Actually, he/she asks two questions and adds a comment.
“Why you think a blogger like yourself would warrant a return phone call about an issue you are writing about?”
Several answers to this. First, reporters are taught that the best way to avoid problems with pesky things like libel, or even just being unnecessarily unfair to someone you’re writing about, is to provide that person a chance to explain themselves and their actions. Whether they choose to respond is up to them. In this case, in my view, the ethics commission looked bad because the staff and members collectively looked the other way for years while what appeared to be prohibited political activity went on. So a call to the commission to find out how they viewed it certainly seemed appropriate.
Even when I wrote for the Star-Bulletin, with the newspaper’s clout behind me, those I called for comment often didn’t feel I “warranted” a call back. That’s a choice they make. I would expect that they may have regretted it later.
“…in the overall scheme of things, what makes your blog of any significance?”
I don’t want to give the impression that I have an inflated view of this blog’s significance. That said, however, I think it addresses a particular audience of people who are concerned about and are looking for news about a range of public issues, from ethics to campaign finance to access to information. They get the dogs, cats, and sunrise photos as a bonus!
Before I was a reporter, I was a public interest lobbyist, a political staffer, and then a newsletter publisher. At its high point, my monthly Hawaii Monitor newsletter reached a circulation of about 1,000 people. But those 1,000 people were self-selected because of their interest in Hawaii’s politics, and included other reporters, politicians, and citizen activists. The newsletter managed to have real, measurable impacts, and later led to my job at the Star-Bulletin.
Now, without the hassles of printing a newsletter, I reach 1,000 to 1,500 readers daily. True, it’s a niche audience. But I think it’s an important niche. Whether they, in turn, are of any significance is something I’ll leave to others. My impression, from feedback I receive along the way, is that they certainly are.
And a lost point here–this blog, and other blogs reporting on public issues, are gaining in significance for a simple reason: The mainstream news media is melting down. There is already far less local government news than there was two decades ago, and it’s getting worse. In a few weeks, there will be many fewer working reporters as Honolulu’s two daily newspapers shrink down to one. Blogs can’t replace newspapers, but the sad truth is that the bits of news we’re able to provide won’t be available elsewhere. And that’s what makes it significant.
Then came the comment: “Just seems to me that somewhere along the line you decided to self anoint yourself.”
Guilty as charged!
Isn’t that what any writer does? You write. And you hope that the result is meaningful enough to entice readers.
Although in this context, I take the “self-anointed” comment as less than friendly. But we’ve got a lot of examples of public officials who were anointed by the powerful and who have faithfully done their bidding while being promoted into one position of authority after another.
Whatever authority I have was earned the hard way, through my own performance over time, continually questioning authority.
I still relish in Howard Graves’ line about me: “A nagging toothache in the centers of power.”
Actually, anyone who wants to make a public difference has to be self-anointed because there’s no accrediting agency for such things.
And, hey, I’ve been called a lot worse!
Maybe a run of “Self-Anointed” t-shirts is in order!
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Curious: Not meaning to be disrespectful, DUDE, but you need to get a clue. Ian’s blog is literally the best investigative reporting that Hawaii’s got going on. That alone is significant and warrants our collective respect and gratitude.
Not that you were meaning to be disrespectful to Ian, DUDE.
Anyone practicing journalism — via blog, newspaper or on a soap box in the town square — is a journalist. And in a democracy, any citizen really, but especially any journalist, SHOULD feel entitled to call public officials and get a response.
Ian’s legit in my book — and I’m a “real” newspaper journalist.
It’s probably a coincidence, but Mr. Smith is in the news this morning: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100518/NEWS20/5180334/UH++grossly+negligent++for+failing+to+produce+records
Ian Lind fills a chasm left by the newspapers’ (soon to be singular) unwillingness to pursue those in power, whether public or private. He provides a vital service. I wish that others were as good, or I wish that Mr. Lind were more ecumenical in his suspicions; for example, more often turning his critical eye to the stanglehold which public employee unions have on this state. But Mr. Lind always provides clarity in what he believes and values and he’s only one guy so it’s OK with me if his interests don’t align exactly with mine. As for “self-annointed” everyone older than 60 should feel self-annointed about something.
Re the T-shirt: I’d buy one. I “self-anoint” every day. 🙂
I think the questions were valid and the answers were well-handled. Frankly, we are all “self-anointed” whenever we take initiative be active citizens rather than passive spectator-victims.
The whole notion of someone being “anointed” in order to speak up, ask questions or take action on social questions should be extremely suspect.
Look at the term itself, “anointed.” It reeks of a fixation on kings and high priests, an outlook which is anathema to advocates for democracy, for equality.
What is the guy, a Mufi-bot?
This is one of the first sites I come to, along with DisappearedNews.com, Hattie’s Web, and Big Island Chronicle. As Wailau says, we may not always agree, but this site is valuable, not least for being a trove of Island history.
Like others, I come to this site to keep up to date on civic and government issues in Hawaii. Why? Because I live here, I care, and I was forwarded the link by Ilima (above), a real newspaper journalist, and a good one, to boot.
Keep up the good work, Hawaii could use more poking under rocks to see what crawls out.
I’ve been reading this site since around the time it first came out and I read it every day for insight and to find out some of what’s really happening in our state.
Now that we’ll be a 1-newspaper town with the rising question of “how much real news” we’ll really get there, Ian’s site is even more important to us.
The bonuses are of course his cats and his excellent writing about his aging father among other things like cooking and travel.
Yes, the questions were valid and in his typical style, Ian’s answers were right on.
I would hope that any member of the public feels free to call his or her elected and appointed officials to ask questions about issues of public interest.
As journalists and bloggers, we call anyone whose name is to appear in publication, to give them the chance to defend themselves, clarify or comment. It’s only fair.
If we don’t get a return call, we are trained to publish that fact, too, so folks know we at least tried.
And Ian is right — it’s the official’s call as to whether or not he or she wants to comment; we’re not being snotty when we say someone didn’t. just following protocol.
Generally, i have found, officials are better off returning those calls. But it’s their call.
🙂
N
i think when having a site like yours, one of the hardest things to deal with is the hater(s). every time i see something like this come up, you always deal with it in such a level-headed, grown-up and mature way. it is really admirable.
and i would totally buy a feline friday t-shirt, if that becomes an option…
Actually, I’m getting more and more fond of the idea of a “self anointed” t-shirt.
Congratulations. When you begin to make some ‘entity’ feel a little ‘antsy’, you know you are on to something.
The Star Bulletin you used to work for is now nothing but a penny saver with lots of car ads and other ads. And, if they have space, they will add a few news from Associated Press or Reuters. Other news include that of beauty queens or that baby who should wear pink instead of blue as he should since he’s a boy.
Investigative news in Hawaii? Nah, we don’t want to rattle any politician or bureaucrat or big business.
This is, bar none, the single best blog in the state – whether or not I agree with Ian position on the issues. And so classy – I would not have handled those questions as well.
If needed, I will happily “annoint” you to continue doing what you do and buy the t-shirt. ; >
I forgot to add that I love the cats, too.