What am I doing here?!?
Hi everyone in the journalistic world!!! Before I start posting things in this blog, I guess I should introduce myself.
My name is Kamal Wallace and I'm Senior Producer for WRAL.com, the Web site for WRAL-TV in Raleigh, N.C. I've been involved in New Media for eight years. I graduated from UNC with a degree in journalism. Sorry, ladies, but I'm married with a son and another on the way. My hobbies include....
Sorry, before this turns into a MySpace or Facebook.com profile, I should get back to the actual title of the blogpost.
Nearly three years ago, I was a panelist at a conference for companies interested in creating Web sites and wondering how they can get their message out technologically. One of the questions I was asked was, "What was a blog and is it worth it to create one?"
Of course, the moderator asked me if I could tackle that question and I said, "Well, to me, a blog is like an online diary and I really couldn't see the point of people talking online about their lives. I would be surprised if this blogging thing lasts very long."
Oops..........Obviously, I was wrong. (Don't mention that to my wife. I have a reputation of never being wrong!!)
The blogging phenomenon has revolutionized the Internet and the way we communicate. My misconception was I didn't think people would embrace this form of New Media. Blogs by their definition allow visitors to interact with each other and, in most cases, create a happy medium.
So when SPJ President Christine Tatum asked me if I wanted to be part of a blog discussing technology and social/ethical issues of digital journalism, I saw it as my chance for redemption.
I plan to use my blog to talk about news stories concerning some aspect of New Media and toss my two bits in the mix. I invite you to leave comments and let me know what you think.
You'll never hear me apologize or say I was wrong about something (that's only happens once a century), but I want this blog to make people think and invoke some feelings.
And with that, cue the Black-Eyed Peas, "Let's get it started!!!!!"