Should Your Hyperlocal Blog Muckrake?
Muckraking isn’t the prettiest word in the English language, but the work of its best-known proponents has led to some of America’s most important political, social and legal reforms. Gritty individuals like Ida Tarbell, Ray Stannard Baker and Upton Sinclair put their reputations, even their lives, on the line to shed light on
scenarios of corruption, abuse and inequality.
Isn’t it interesting to consider what these individuals might have done had they lived in the days of the hyperlocal blog? In the past, muckrakers frequently had to hammer their stories through the tough and narrow mediums of the mainstream press or publishing houses. Today, someone like you can tell the truth that you know, with the click of a button. The hyperlocal blog presents a unique opportunity to highlight serious local concerns, but what place does muckraking have in this new world? Is it a good idea or not?
On his own hyperlocal blog, Matt McGee
has just published a series of smart tips he gave to one of the people whose work I respect most in the small business world: Anita Campbell of
SmallBizTrends.com, for a webinar. Matt and Anita suggest that hyperlocal blogs which have been created to increase customer loyalty should avoid controversy:
I’m pretty much of the same mind with Matt and Anita on this (in fact, I gave similar
advice in a series of posts I wrote on Hyperlocal Blogging back in 2008). If your hyperlocal blog is part of your presence as the local barber, restaurant owner
or psychotherapist, it probably won’t be ‘good for business’ to use this vehicle as your opportunity to call out the mayor for shoplifting at the local liquor
store, right? The potential outcomes of doing so demand that I quote Mark Twain:
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
Yes, using your hyperlocal business blog might create
a hot time in the old town tonight for awhile, generating buzz and links, but when the people you might expose come back with blistering accusations about you and your activities,
you might just wind up out of business…possibly even riding out of town on a proverbial rail.
So Where Do You And Your Muckraking Sensibilities Belong?
To me, the definition of a muckraker encompasses individuals who prize truth and loathe injustice. If this describes you, then you may have a future as
a hyperlocal journalist who publishes your findings via a non-business-related blog. There’s just no denying that Americans are reticent about controversy
in the business world. Most of us do business with people whose core beliefs differ widely from our own; we don’t include a dose of politics and religion
with each bag of groceries we vend, and though, in a sense, this both inhibits our chances to express ourselves in a genuine manner at times and also lessens
chances for forging authentic bridges of acceptance, appreciation and tolerance of differences, it probably does make ‘doing business’ easier for everyone, simply
because some people can’t disagree without becoming nasty.
Because of this societal convention, your muckraking blog is likely going to be a less risky and more effective venture if published independently of
your business. After all, it may come across as rather odd to promote a message that says, “Eat at our cafe, but first find out about the pollution of our
city’s water.” While this independence certainly doesn’t preclude possibilities of monetizing with related local advertising (for example, from the company
that sells reverse osmosis filters for the polluted water), it will enable you to tell the truth without causing discomfort and controversy in your own
business dealings.
If You’re Going To Tell The Truth, Commit To Being Truthful
A friend of mine recently began publishing his own hyperlocal news blog because of a situation he found undesirable and concerning in his small town. The only
local newspaper was purchased by a high local official, effectively making this important resource the mouthpiece for the politician. My friend’s blog will ensure that
both sides of a given story can be told and this will hopefully help create a better-informed community for him and his family to live in. I call that a good
motive and a fine use of his time. I don’t know that he has any intentions of doing any real muckraking, but he will at least be helping to keep the news above-board
in his town.
But, whether you are planning to simply present a balanced story or run real expose pieces, do the job right by adhering to these simple guidelines:
I’ve had somewhat extensive first-hand experience reporting on controversial issues. Some of my work has been deemed important enough to be picked up by local
news and radio sources. Because of my experience with this, I’d like to take just a moment to return to the third point on my
list. Anyone who blogs regularly becomes aware that any collection of blog comments may include everything from meaningful praise to important dissent to plain
old troll-isms. You really do need to be ready to deal with this. Can you take criticism without getting huffy? Can you report on issues you feel deeply about, that
may be having direct negative effects on your family’s life, without taking disagreement as a personal attack? Don’t underestimate how hard this is to do.
Imagine being the reporter from Anniston, Alabama who realized that a local chemical plant was pouring chemicals
into your town’s water source, creating a rash of cancer, deaths and eventually, a ghost town. How would you report on something like that? Obviously, my
hope is that your town isn’t facing something as tragic as this, but when you start digging into local issues anywhere, you are almost guaranteed to start turning
up some very dirty stuff and some very unhappy local people. It’s going to take a special blogger to cover this type of story with a cool head, a keen mind
and a powerful voice.
In sum, I believe that hyperlocal blogs have a unique potential to rake the muck, galvanize communities to informed action and facilitate meaningful change. I
also believe that anyone who takes on the position of hyperlocal reporter for towns with real troubles is taking on a very serious responsibility. Your writing
skills are certainly needed, but I think your real qualifications for the job are a sterling set of ethics that will enable you to tell the truth and help
people better their lives. If you’re ready to take this on, take with you my wishes for the very best of luck in the important work ahead!
——-
Update: I need to make a small correction. The advice regarding controversy on hyperlocal blogs, was given by Matt McGee to Anita Campbell for a webinar. Sorry for my mistake – both Matt & Anita are terrific on this topic!
Miriam Ellis is the co-owner of Solas Web Design and CopyLocal, providing SEO-based website design, Local SEO and professional copywriting for small-to-medium North American businesses. She is the Local SEO Associate in the Q&A Forum at SEOmoz, a moderator at Cre8asite Forums and an annual participant in David Mihm’s Local Search Ranking Factors report. When she and her husband are not working on the web, they’re farming organically and working on increased sustainability or roaming about in nature having the time of their lives.
While not a local topic I recently posted about a controversial merger in the pet industry. Premier Pet Products merged with Radio System Corporation, a shock collar company.) I have to admit that some of the comments, directed at me, stung; however, it has been great for business. It also was a platform for everyone to express their views.
http://www.bestfriendsgeneralstore.com/dogblog/category/premier-pet-products-merger-with-rsc-a-shock-collar-company/
Greetings, Candy,
Yep…I looked at the post you linked to, and that is pretty much exactly the kind of commenting you can expect when dealing with a controversial issue. You get comments that praise your actions and thank you for them, and then comments that strongly disagree. While these comments can sting when couched in less-than-respectful language, I think you’ve done a good job of sticking to the facts in your responses, and keeping your tone professional.
Your post is also a good example of how a commenter with an axe to grind can wind up dominating a conversation. They cross a line between adding a passionate voice to a discussion and appearing to need to have the last word, no matter how much time they are spending doing so. At some point, you may have to stop replying to someone who is taking up way too much of your time. It can be a tough call when to do this.
What I do know is this: from watching controversy play out over diverse topics on blogs over many years, I have noticed that the admin who keeps a level head and always responds with polite firmness tends to come across as the ‘winner’ in these verbal jousts. Commenters who are rude, obsessive or wacky-sounding tend to appear that way to most of the people who will read what they are saying. So, the aplomb with which the blogger handles tough talks tends only adds to their reputation as a fair and decent person.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience…and for the record, I applaud your decision not to support a company that sells shock collars. Poor dogs!
Thanks for the words of encouragement. Dana Fedman, CPDT-KA stopped commenting. I am not sure why…it could be that I spoke with several people at the BlogPaws about her comments and the merger. One knew her and several knew Sharon Madere, President of Premier Pet Products. Either way, I am glad for the break. My last response was going to be my last response to her. I hope the conversation continues.
It’s kind of nerve racking if you need to report on a major issue happening locally.. there may be fear there from people afraid of repercussions..
Interesting points on whether or not a hyperlocal blog should contain content that might cause controversy. I believe business blogs should focus on connecting with their customers. On the other hand if you are a citizen with an issue that needs to be heard by the community, then by all means you should be free to speak your mind.
I’ve created a hyperlocal map-based blog network that allows people to start a free blog or add their existing local blog. I encourage people on my blog network to connect with their real world communities.
Visit http://www.YourLocalBlog.com to check it out.
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