Huckleberries Online

Cis: Just What Do You Do, DFO?

Posted by DFO

May 20, 2009 3:35 p.m. • 7 comments

In a post from earlier in the day, Cis/Simple Mind asked what to explain what I do each day. And suggest that I interact more here on the blog. She also mentioned that I’ve become more of a zookeeper than an involved participant on the front page of this blog. First things first, I have only two brief periods in the day when I’m not engaged in full-time blogging on the front page or looking for things to post. Those roundups take a lot of time (35-45 minutes for HBO’s Inland Northwest, for example.) The two brief periods run from 10:30 to 11:15 and from 2:30 to 3 of 3:30, if I’m caught up on my print column duties. I rarely take a lunch hour. The end-of-the day duties (scanner traffic, cutline contest, pm headlines, parting shot, and an evening feature) take about 75 minutes. As far as interacting more, I’ve been trained not to do so. I don’t have time to engage in a long debate with someone on a controversial issue. Also, my posts and thoughts re: controversial issue tends to fan fears of hard-core partisans that I’m not being fair to their side. So I’ve encountered a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t situation. I try to cull far-ranging, entertaining posts from a variety of sources rather than promote my own ideas as I once did. The increasing traffic shows that the new formula is working. I’ll join in the fray when I feel comfortable enough to do so again — DFO.

Seven comments on this post so far. Add yours!

BethB on May 20 at 4:00 p.m.
You know what I think. This is just an excellent blog. It wins awards for a reason. The way it invites people to participate - priceless. I wasn’t around much when DFO commented more, and I’m always glad to hear his opinions. But mastering a blog like this is a lot, a lot of work. Most other blogs that try to include participants become clubby, unwieldy, arrogant or unreadable - or all of the above. Thanks, DFO, for creating the forum. And the Spokesman, too - thanks!
DFO on May 20 at 4:45 p.m.
Can anyone explain why Cis would use the analogy of ZOOkeeper to explain my role here?
Cabbage Boy on May 20 at 4:47 p.m.
could be all the goats in the scanner traffic.
JeanieSpokane on May 20 at 4:50 p.m.
We’re all ANIMALS!
Dennis on May 20 at 4:59 p.m.
DFO on May 20 at 4:45 p.m.

<<can anyone=”” explain=”” why=”” cis=”” would=”” use=”” the=”” analogy=”” of=”” zookeeper=”” to=”” explain=”” my=”” role=”“ here?=”“>>

If you have to ask that question Dave,,,,,,,, You definately need a V.A.C.A.T.I.O.N.!!!!
Stickman on May 20 at 9:13 p.m.
DFO: I think Cis meant you are always here to keep all of the animals in check. I miss the wild ones though, and lately we are a much calmer and thankful group for the opening to voice our thoughts without getting hammered from all sides. I think we are sedated in a way, and most enjoy that fact. I come no matter what, though I miss the wild days.
BethB on May 21 at 7:56 a.m.
I’ve heard about the wild days… the Legend of Them…

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About this blog

D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.