In February we asked users for their vision for the next generation of blogging tools, and were overwhelmed with the response. So we scheduled a session to discuss the visions, and refine them into a checklist for tool developers, validated by users.

We're at a unique juncture in the development of the blogosphere and the tools we use to create it: big and fast-growing enough to be recognized as a new force in technology and self-expression, but still small enough so that a single community member can have a large impact on shaping the efforts of software developers and their fellow bloggers.

Over time, developers converged on a common set of features that define what a weblog is today: a very simple text editor that publishes short entries to a Web page in reverse chronological order with chronological archives. Features that were added were aimed at helping bloggers link to new sources of information and the developing blog community -- blogrolling, ping/trackback tools, and comments; with ways to syndicate the content of a weblog so that bloggers could "amplify the signal" of their broadcast of ideas.

Are we done yet? What do you want to do with your weblog, and what tools do you need to get where you're going? In this session you will help create a blueprint for the next generation of weblog tools.  Let's help developers and each other move the entire blogosphere forward by trying to envision and articulate a short list of the most critical and exciting things we can imagine to do with our weblogs that we can't do using today's tools...yet.

Discussion leader: Lisa Williams.

# Posted by Dave Winer on 4/6/04; 5:38:59 PM - --

We are looking for volunteers for BloggerCon. Particularly, we would like to have Monitors in each session. These monitors will be responsible for:

• Making sure the webcast is running by monitoring the webcast laptop.
• Helping IRC participants interact with the meatspace discussion.
• Making sure the groundrules are followed.
• Making sure the BloggerCon property is respected.

The only requirement is that you are able to come to the BloggerCon location, Pound Hall, the night before the conference to be trained in using the webcast software. It will be easy and fun, as we will probably go out to dinner afterwards.

If you would like to volunteer, please email Jay McCarthy with an introduction and what session(s) you would like to be a monitor for.

Thanks!

# Posted by Jay McCarthy on 4/6/04; 10:22:15 AM - --

We don't yet have a proposal for a definition of journalism. I took five deep breaths and wrote this:

"An independent view of a series of events."

"Independent" instead of objective. I don't think objectivity is something human beings do, even vast collections of really smart, hard-working, well-intentioned humans. Independent means you're writing what you think is true, and not trying to influence readers for your own purposes.

"View" says that you probably need more than one. No journalist worth anything wants to be the only source you read, just as one wouldn't trust a journalist who single-sourced an important fact. Triangulate and then do it again. Always seek new points of view, and recognize that every recital of facts comes from a point of view. The fish can't describe water, humans can't describe air. The most obvious things can be the hardest to see.

This is what the reporter who shakes Rosen's lapel is saying. Don't just get your news from me, and don't just get it from the pros. Live a knowledge-thirsty life. It's important. Most Americans think Iraq was responsible for 9-11. They don't know that if they use a lot of gas they're adding to the deficit. They believe that we're passing the debt onto future generations, and that's the extent of our folly, not realizing that at some point our creditors are going to stop footing our bill. Americans need more journalism, not less. We shouldn't be so picky about where we get our data from.

"Series of events" says that no report is about one event alone, because they don't stand alone, and much of journalism is in relating and connecting events, people, things, money, ideas, etc.

# Posted by Dave Winer on 4/6/04; 8:51:58 AM - --