No Bull

Sean Noble has started a blog called "Noble Thinking."  As you can tell from the title of this post, I would have named it something different.  But whatever the title, Sean's blog is a great example of how the Blogosphere works.  Sean worked on John Shadegg's original campaign in 1994 and then went on to be his Chief of Staff.  He took a sabbatical to work with Len Munsil's campaign and then took another sabbatical to work on the Marriage Initiative.  A mainstream reporter has no chance of competing with Sean's resume.  Could the Republic possibly afford someone who knows as much about Congress, local politics, or has as many connections as Sean Noble?  Of course, they could pay for someone of Sean's caliber but they wouldn't remain financial viable as a paper...oops too late.  

There's no money in blogging (there's no money in journalism either, the difference is that bloggers understand their situation) so an effective blog has to combine a solid resume with a passion that verges on obsession. I think Espresso pundit has been successful because I've been in the political arena for nearly 20 years and I'm like totally OCD.

While Sean has a huge advantage over local reporters, I have a huge advantage over him.  I don't think his Bishop will give him an espresso exemption, so he will be writing without that magic buzz that keeps me going post after post.  

Of course he can substitute energy drinks.  Hey, that's a great idea because it would allow him to use a better name.  Instead of "Noble Thinking" or "No Bull,"  he could call the blog "Red Bull."  Dude, that would be awesome.

Post Script.

There's no money in journalism?  Did I really say that?  Before the entire comment section erupts with howls from anonymous mid-level Republic staffers, let me steer you to an interesting column from Paul Mulshine, an opinion columnist at the Newark Star-ledger. 

Mr. Mulshine is clearly a journalism advocate and he has the traditional journalists' strong disdain for the blogger but he ends his lament with this sentence.

The old model for compensating journalists is as obsolete as the telegraph. If anyone out there in the blogosphere can tell me what the new model is, I will pronounce him the first genius I've ever encountered on the Internet.

Mulshine actually sees the new model he simply doesn't recognize it.  The new model is Sean Noble--highly qualified, well educated and superbly connected--donating a few hours a week to provide free content in his spare time.

Indeed, Paul Mulshine is the most endangered of the journalism subspecies--the opinion columnist.  Traditional journalists still have a niche because most bloggers aren't interested in sitting through city council meetings and legislative hearings.  But columnists just sit around an write 3 columns a week for a six figure salary.   Columnists compete head to head with the blogger.  Sean Noble will put out more content in a week than Paul Mulshine will and my guess is that Sean's content will be more interesting, more relevant and better written.  

Mulshine doesn't see a new economic model because there isn't one.  He's going to be replaced by a volunteer.  

Comments

[JRM]

Sean IS the bishop. However, I'm sure he will not be giving himself an espresso exemption.

[Yavapai Guy]

Really, who cares what Sean writes on his self promotion website? He's not that interesting.

[John LeSueur]

I like Greg's "No Bull" suggestion!

I think the "Red Bull" suggestion is out, however, considering that energy drinks were recently criticized in the Church's monthly periodical: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=30952f9318fcd110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

In any event, I look forward to being a frequent visitor to Sean's blog.

Fair warning to the Espresso Pundit: The article linked above uses the term "caffeine abuse", so it may be somewhat of a sacrilege on this blog. If so, my apologies.

[Jack]

Sean certainly has depth on the topics of congressional and arizona politics. But what you have, and I look for, is breadth and some life and work experiences and understanding that go beyond the rather superficial nature of political positioning. Bad columnists focus on the "game". Good, smart columnists (like the late John Kolbe) understand and write about the game, but in the context of life and what actually works.