411blog

I think this is a good idea: a clearinghouse for bloggers who actually know something. A spot where journalists can find mavens on various things. It’s called 411blog (no, it’s a dreadful name) and it has just begun.

You can’t nominate yourself, so if any Gentle Reader actually knows anything about anything, has a blog, and is willing to deal with media inquiries, let me know and I’ll nominate you.

For instance, my good host is an expert on on-line publishing, a topic of occasional interest to journalists. If he is interested, I’d gladly put his name in, and then the next time someone is writing a will-the-internet-be-the-death-of-reading article and wants someone to quote about on-line publishing, well, they can go to the list and his name will pop up. (No pressure, Jed, I know you’re busy; it was just an example.)

My problem at the moment is that none of the blogs I read are written by people with areas of expertise, at least that I know about. That is, they may well be, but I have no idea what they are. I know John Scalzi (of Whatever) is a bit of a music and movies maven, having spent time as a reviewer thereof; I know several people with LiveJournals who are experts in their various fields (although I have only the vaguest idea what most of those are); I know that some of the Kos gang seem to be experts on various things. But for the most part, the bulk of my bloggery is people like myself: dabblers in lots of stuff, experts in nothing. Like being a jack of all trades, except it’s not something useful like a trade, but a jack of random bits of trivia, philosophy, statistical analysis, press criticism, rhetoric and government policy (and a master of none).

Still, it’s a good idea.

                           ,
-Vardibidian.