VOICES FROM THE INTERNET The new journalists The future of journalism has often been discussed in the past few years, especially in light of declining readership of traditional mediums – magazine subscriptions, physical newspapers, etc. And while I still read my fair share of physical media, it is becoming clear that traditional media outlets are having difficulty paying their bills. The larger implication of this, of course, is that they're beginning to have difficulty retaining quality journalists who are now pursuing their own endeavors, looking to establish the next serious milestone. What's interesting to me is that those leading the emerging class of news outlets, especially in the tech world, aren't classically trained journalists in any sense of the word, especially evident by the squealing of those who do hold these credentials. There was an article recently in PC Magazine by Lance Ulanoff regarding TechCrunch's Michael Arrington and his ability to essentially write whatever he pleases without regard to traditional journalism ethics. Let's take into consideration the fact that Ulanoff is maybe just a bit butthurt over the fact that, despite all of his schooling and experience, a no-name blogger has been able to grow a substantial readership and significantly affect the world of tech in such a short amount of time through a publication that even just a few years ago nobody had ever heard of. Not too long ago CNN was being lambasted by critics who were concerned that the news outlet was overly objective and not opinionated enough. Easy illustration: What's more captivating? A technical manual, or a drama-laced epic about deception, secret alliances, and raging success? To be fair, I'd prefer an ounce of truth in the news I decide to spend my time with, but as any online news junkie will tell you, it takes a little training to gloss over these sensational stories without a care. It's funny - the ones I typically gloss over are the ones that generate the most noise. If these traditional journalists are so damn worried, and outbursts such as the one referenced above are clearly evidence of their squeamish state, then they need to pick up the pace in quality, exposure, and progression/engagement of new mediums. After all, readers can differentiate between tabloids and actual news, unless you journalists really believe that the lines have been blurred that much in the online world. But really - who reads one news source and takes it as gospel? I suppose that if the internet has demonstrated anything at all, it's the idea that a website built by a couple of guys in their mom's basement can carry more clout than traditional media, despite the vast differences in funding and manpower. Perhaps the lines are blurring between what we traditionally consider to be tabloids and serious news organizations - or are we simply rewriting the definitions of each? Calm down and evolve, guys. jamesonhuckaba.com Blowing out debts I've been reading many posts around the blogosphere about getting out of debt. There are posts on debt consolidation, debt management, debt counseling, consolidation loans, bankruptcy, and on, and on, and on… I've read about working from home, getting a second job, selling off your silverware on EBay and the like. There are tons of posts about cutting back on your spending and managing your money on a daily-basis. There is some great debt advice out there, but an often unaddressed topic is mindset. It's not my intention to offend anyone when I say that there is often an underlying, unresolved emotional problem behind debt. I know, first-hand, that there are mental and emotional triggers behind bad financial decisions. I do understand that there are life-changing circumstances that can lead to terribly difficult debt problems – job-loss, death, divorce, illness, etc. Those are exceptional circumstances beyond the debt issues I am addressing now. I've compiled a list of four personality traits that I believe will do far more to get you out of debt than 90% of the debt relief posts out there. I want to list the four traits that are poisonous to your progress. Laziness – I'm too tired to try, gonna' watch the game. Procrastination – I'll get to it later, not this weekend. Self-Pity – This is bad, nothing ever works for me. Acceptance – People carry debt, it's just how it is. By fully developing the following personality traits, you will begin to see major financial improvements in your life: Determination – I'm going to rid myself of debt by this time next year. Creativity – What resources do I have to get there? Persistence – This is taking longer than I thought but I'm getting there. Humor – When this is all over I'm going to charge a trip to the Bahamas to celebrate. omniswami.comNope, no way I'm rediscovering my ability to say no. It's not like I've never said it before. I say it a hundred times a week when my son asks me if I can buy him the latest video game when he just got a new game the week before. My latest accomplishment: saying no to having my time wasted. At the upscale mall the other night, I passed one of the many kiosks with salespeople standing out front, trying to get the attention of passersby. However, I've always felt a teensy bit uncomfortable when demurring. Let's face it. I want to be liked. I don't want to be thought of as a bitch. There, now you know. But the other night, when a kiosk guy stepped out, made eye contact with me and said, “Miss, may I ask you a question?” I looked him right in the eye and pointedly said no. And damn, that felt good. blogslife.com, blogs.com __
