I need you....to converse with me.

Shane Richmond, Communities Editor of telegraph.co.uk, advised patience and perseverance when creating a blogging audience. He talked about two kinds of blog followings; one that is broad and shallow with a generalised audience, the other, a deep and narrow following that speaks to a specific audience.

Clearly my blog is the latter. Currently I have ten followers. They all have one common interest: Cardiff Journalism School's Online Journalism module. This is what I blog about. For narrow bloggers, like me, Shane outlined the need to create argument and debate with which followers can interact and comment on. I am not begging, yet. However, please feel free to comment and express your opinion below.

Shane's lecture went on to talk about legality and the issue of freedom of speech that surrounds blogs and the debates in relation to telegraph.co.uk's My Telegraph section of the website.

Shane Richmond giving a lecture to his Telegraph Colleagues

My Telegraph is a section of telegraph.co.uk, which gives users a platform to create their own blog. This presents Shane and his employers with a potential legal headache. In order to avoid the legal problems, The Telegraph doesn't read the blogs posted in My Telegraph, unless a reader brings it to their attention. They do, however, place a legal warning disclaimer that bloggers have to accept before they publish.

Is this responsible journalism?

Potentially, their approach could lead to blogs promoting a number of extreme opinions using The Telegraph's renowned banner as a platform. Some would argue that allowing BNP councillor, Richard Barnbrook to blog on My Telegraph is an example of this lack of responsibility. The Telegraph's defence is that their readers are entitled to their opinions as long as they are within the law.

Even so, titles like, 'Blame the immigrants', and quotes in reference to crime, like, 'most of it is being done by immigrants or by the sons of immigrants', are legal but they are clearly going to aggravate extremists. It would leave any cooperation in a sticky situation.

I don't agree with anything Richard Barnbrook has to say and I don't necessarily agree with the political leaning of 'The Telegraph' either. I believe, however, that 'The Telegraph' made the right decision in allowing Barnbrook's blog to continue.

If you silence Barnbrook, where do you stop?

Just because you do not agree with a opinion, it does not mean you should block it. Freedom of Speech is a key corner stone of democracy. We talked earlier in the course about the Internet's potential to aid democracy.

I talked in my previous post, 'Democracy and Anarchy?', about the danger that uncontrolled sites like CNN's ireport could lead to, while praising the BBC's 'Have your Say' website that checks all audience contributions. I think My Telegraph strikes a happy medium with their approach. They allow more freedom then the BBC but will punish anyone who over-steps the mark.

The blog community that Shane controls reflects a good and healthy real life community. Maybe he is Britain's answer to Barack Obama.

I think most of my colleagues will agree with me on that. Won't they?

IMAGES - 'speakers corner concessions' courtesy of uktrip2006pt, from flickr.com, 'Barack Obama' courtesy of Baonguyen from flickr.com, 'presenting' courtesy of telegraph media group from flickr.com.

Blogging is a Conversation.

Conversation Pic - b_d_solis from flickr.com

My blogging colleague, Si Pusey, in his blog, ‘Simon Says’, touches on his frustration that our guest lecturer, Adam Tinworth, was unable to answer his question on impartiality in blogs written by broadcasters for broadcast outlets. He also questioned whether the banner of a broadcast outlet restricted the ability of broadcasters to blog.

I am not fully aware of whether Si believes that the broadcast outlet restricts a broadcaster’s ability to blog. However, I do agree with him that broadcasters’ blogs are more impartial then their counterparts’ blogs from the print media.

In answer to his question: Does impartially restrict the broadcaster’s blog?

I say no.

If anything, I think it enhances it. The blog acts as an agenda setting tool; a conversation starter. As Si himself proved, he has asked a question, not told me the answer. I have thought about it and replied.

This is exactly what good television and radio should do. I don’t want to hear broadcasters’ views; I want them to inform me so I can have a view. I am not saying I do not want to hear others’ opinions but we also need a balanced starting block from which we can shape our opinion, and then fairly access other people’s.

I have noticed the irony of this blog, as I have expressed my opinion. I didn’t start the conversation and definitely have not ended it, just continued it…

Watch the adverts, please

Sky plus has revolutionised television viewing, it has changed the way I approach watching TV. I do not watch a huge amount of TV but there is little doubt that Sky Plus makes my viewing experience all the more pleasurable. I am able to look ahead to what is on at any point in the next few days, such as a re-run of the 1992 Cricket World Cup Final on ENSP Classic televised at 2 am and then watch the recording at a more convenient time. Not only do I not have to wait up all night to watch it but it makes my TV watching experience even more enjoyable as I am able to fast forward through the adverts. The ability to do this is great, you can even do it with live TV; ‘Neighbours’ is about to come on, hit the pause button on your remote, go and make yourself a cup of tea, go to the toilet, do whatever for just over five minutes come back hit play, when the adverts come on half way through…fast forward. TV watching made easy because let’s face it despite the odd pre-World Cup sporting brand adverts, TV adverts are dull and repetitive. (On the other hand internet adverts are brilliant, anyone who wishes to advertise on this page please get in touch).

Hang on wait a minute. I never realised the damage that I am causing to the commercial television industry. New technology such as Sky Plus could cripple the most important source for funding for commercial television.

I am calling for all of you who adopt this tactic to watch your TV to reconsider your actions.

If you do not there are only two other options. One, further contraction of the television industry or the only other option increased adverts in television programmes. Bond like product placement or rolling adverts at the bottom of your screen.

Who wants that?

'Sky and Lights' provided by Richard Winskill, from Flickr.com