Saturday, August 20, 2005

A columnist evolves

More crazy news from my world of words...

My life as a newspaper columnist is about to undergo major change. Starting next week, the regular biweekly column gives way to an entirely different animal known as ink blog. The promo from Friday's paper is just over there on the left.

I've long researched and studied that elusive convergence point between so-called old and new media. I'm a firm believer in the ability of online and offline vehicles to complement each other. I'm also pretty firm in my contention that few media organizations have executed on this promise.

My dream is that this initiative represents a first step in that direction: already, no one else is even trying this on the op-ed page, so we're off to a good start.

The idea generator is working at warp speed - I'll be filing every day next week, and my 160-word pieces will appear Tuesday through Saturday, inclusive. Kinda crazy, I know, but right where I want to be, and precisely what I want to be doing. Writers write. Often. This is a forum that I've always hoped to have.

Please pray that I manage to pull off the following:
  • Come up with compelling ideas that hit readers right where they need to be hit.
  • Deliver those ideas not just once, but day after day (I'll be writing every other week, more or less - "on" weeks will be five days straight.)
  • Never miss a deadline (no sweat there, as I never do. Journalist's credo, after all.)
Your Turn #1: If you're in London, I hope you'll read the paper with an extra degree of interest starting next week. I also hope you'll fire e-mails into the paper - pro, con, whatever's on your mind - to prove that blog-like concepts can fly in a newspaper.

Your Turn #2: If you're not in London, I hope you'll track this experiment through the links on my blog - and I hope you, too, will send letters into the paper if I manage to get your gourd.

For the record, my last "regular" column is posted here. It closes a loop that started with the first op-ed piece I published in the paper way back in 2001.

31 comments:

Jean-Luc Picard said...

I do visit London frequently; as you say, we all evolve.

Michele sent me here.

J Anderson said...

I don't.

Michele sent me

Anonymous said...

HI Carmi, here again this weekend via Michele!

Good luck with your new column, it sounds very interesting! I don't live in London but I am sure I will be back (prehaps next weekend) to see how you got on.

Tammy said...

How cool! I'll look forward to following your new column, altho I'll have to do it from here. :)

Michele sent me....today at least!

Paul Nichols said...

Here from Michele's. Hope your new inkblog works out.

Anonymous said...

WEll, if you write nearly as well as you do on your blog, you will be a hit!

Thanks for stopping by, so in a sense, Michele sent me in a roundabout way! :)

kenju said...

I was there at age 16, but not since then. I will definitely read the links as time permits.

This is ad idea I have been mulling about for our local paper, so good luck with it!

Michele sent me.

Ruth Daniels said...

Good luck with your new venture. I'm sure it will be successful. You have a wonderful way with words.

I don't live in London, but I've bookmarked your site so will follow you through your journey.

Michele sent me too.

kenju said...

Carmi, I just read your last column. It is the way all of us have felt when faced with an ailing or dying parent, and aptly stated, as well. Sorry that they could not discuss it; making amends and declaring love is the best way to see a parent out.

Carl V. Anderson said...

Visiting from Michele. Best of luck, sounds like an interesting project and one to test and hone your writing skills!

R.A. Slater said...

Hey! Thanks for visiting my blog...you're looks interesting so I'll be back. I love the pic on your previous post of the bird!

The Mistress of the Dark said...

Good luck to you on your column. I'll do my best to keep up with it from here :)

Have a great weekend.

Zinnia Cyclamen said...

I went to Michele's, but she didn't send me here, honest, I came over All By Myself. I've bookmarked the LFP and will do my best to keep up with your column - can't promise daily attendance but will check in frequently. And, yes, I will write letters if I'm moved to do so. Best of luck! (Not that you need it - but, y'know, just in case!)

Melanie said...

I don't know who Michele is, so obviously, she didn't send me.:) I came over from a comment you made on Jeremy's blog. You took the time to be very thoughtful and encouraging.

I've never visited London. Would love to, though. Maybe one day!

Wishing you the best with your new column. Sounds interesting!

Tabor said...

I have only one comment to help make your experiment more successful with ideas....know your demographics.

scrappintwinmom said...

Good Luck with the new column! Here via Michele today!

Tracy S said...

thanks for stopping by .That is so cool to hear about someone else using a Chuppah in their wedding as well ..

Did you and your wife keep yours as well ?If so I would love to see a picture of it .Guppy found a site earlier of Pictures people had posted of their Chuppahs there was some really beautiful ones out there .

Have a great weekend :)

kenju said...

Michele sent me again, Carmi.

Dean said...

Who the heck is Michele? She didn't send me.

I hope the experiment works out. Traditional print media (of all forms) have their work cut out for them these days, and I see attempts to adapt everywhere. This is as good an attempt as I've seen anywhere, aimed, I would guess, at making the newspaper more immediate.

I think that there will always be a place for the traditional newspaper, but just not in its traditional form. The opinion section, in particular, will change.

I wish you the best. How long does the LFP wait before putting stuff online?

Misti said...

Hwy, I wish you luck with this.

Michelle sent me today tho I'm here anyways ;)

Anonymous said...

What a fantastic idea. I'm in Toronto, so I won't be able to read the paper, but I'll keep an eye out on your blog.

Congratulations!

Ontario Emperor said...

Michele didn't send me. Best of luck with ink blog.

Michelle Keller said...

Hi, found you via Michele today, but I'll be back. Good luck with the new endeavor!

Mike said...

Good luck with the new column. Michelle sent me.

Anonymous said...

Good luck and congratulations, Carmi. You deserve it.

Anonymous said...

I'm ba-ack! Michele sent me again!

Anonymous said...

Best of luck, Carmi. I will try to follow along from here, but I will also email my buddies in London and give them a heads-up!

Michele sent me this time. Have a great week!

kenju said...

Here I am again, Carmi! I just CANNOT stay away, it seems.

srp said...

I'm here from Michele's.
I read your post about your father. I don't think you are going to need any luck in the new venture; your talent is enough to make it successful.

Janet said...

I'm just jealous, bottom line. Would you like to guest blog for me? See me (or the site) for details!:)

Anonymous said...

Wow! Mazel Tov, my friend. Seems you have a lot of momentum going. You deserve it. I look forward to reading your stuff.