I remember the first time my friend introduced me to blogging. He had a LiveJournal page and I found myself instantly drawn to the concept of blogging. A completely automated process to stay connected to my friends.
But blogging is more than just that. It's a community effort as much as it is a solo voice. The Internet has always been about communication, and now we are more able than ever to have an open dialogue without any restrictions.
What Gordy "IlliniPundit" Hulten has done here is phenomenal. Almost.
IP.com has been successful in many ways to his dedication to the blog, but it's also a product of the people who read and comment on it. Now, that community discussion is being taken to the next level. The future success of this blog won't just be determined by IlliniPundit himself, but IlliniPundit the community.
Readers of IP.com come from all political backgrounds, and now this blog is about to take the next big step. If dedicated people step forward, then this blog will feature content from all political backgrounds and make this site more successful than before.
IP.com is providing a unique opportunity for those who want to participate in it. It's an opportunity that hasn't been offered very often or widely in this kind of context. How many news institutions are saying "Hey, we want anyone and everyone to blog on our Web site"? Not many.
While you can blog just about anywhere (Blogspot, LiveJournal, WordPress, Newsvine, MySpace etc.) what you won't have is the possibility of a built in audience of readers just like you that care about the same issues you do. IP.com is about as hyperlocal and grassroots focused as you can get.
Have you ever thought "I wish they covered THIS on the news"? Here's the NEW news, by you. Odds are if you're interested in it, someone else is, too. Be the eyes and ears of where the local media aren't. Or be the missing perspective.
The news used to be and for the most part is a lecture. That's changing. Tomorrow's news is a discussion, like it should be.
So, let's start talking. There's a lot to talk about.
