Katrina’s recent blogging primer prompted interesting comments. Before publisher Paul Gerbino and I discussed my involvement here with Product News Network and Industrial Market Trends, I was one of the 62% of ‘online Americans’ (according to a Pew Internet & American Life Project study) who didn’t know what a blog was. After many hours of research and head-scratching…

…you know what? I’m still not sure.

Clearly, for now, the definition of ‘blog’ is related to that which is personal: too personal, in many cases, with publicly-posted opinion and commentary sometimes resulting in firings and law suits. ‘Journalism’ has expanded, in the relatively small space of a decade, from rules, etiquette, style guides, and credible sources to saying whatever the heck you or your backers want. (See “Does this make me look fat?” for the dangers of being open and honest.) From blogs to Dan Rather’s memos to Robert Novak (What About Bob?), the news has been more about the news then ever before. Defining ‘respectable journalism’ has become a very difficult task. Has Journalism 101 stopped teaching fact-checking? Or, has the real world become a much different place in which you turn the channel not to what is right, factual, or experientially trusted, but to what you want to hear?

I love engineering, technology, and manufacturing. (As the character Xander said in the movie XXX, “I live for this #@$%.”) Paul encourages the expression of opinion, in keeping with the nature of a blog. He also realizes the importance of presenting real, credible information that you can use, peppered with perspectives that may help prompt interaction, new paths of thought, perhaps even innovation.

As former editor of IEN, I’m at least experienced at knowing how very difficult it is to get readers involved. In the short time this blog has existed, however, you’ve opined at a heartening level, and those comments are both enlightening and encouraging. Your willingness and passion to comment—whether positive or negative—indicates that something, in terms of communication, is working.

Printed publications are sometimes delivered, sometimes enjoyed. Editors and writers of printed and web-based publications provide information, and on rare occasion conduct focus groups or other studies, talk to passersby at tradeshows, or even pick up the phone to talk to readers. We’ve never before, however, been able to engage an audience in on-going dialogue. Therein lies the beauty of the blog, when used wisely.

What do you think?