State of the Blog: One Editor’s View
This post is a reflection.
So we set off just under a year ago with the altruistic goal of changing the way people got information at RPI. We wanted people to care again. We held the ideology that pervasive information would be able to change the way people acted. We wanted people to know what was really going on, and be well informed about it. We wanted to make people care about the crazy stuff that was going on. Why do a blog? As students, we need up to date, reliable news. The Poly does decent journalism, but their online arm doesn’t really cater to the world the same way we aim to. Breaking news at RPI happens pretty often, and there’s no place to go to find out more and continue the discussion. Why wait for the Poly on Wednesday when you can hop online now and find out? (Especially if you’re bored in class 
) We also try and allow people to create their own discussions on the ACB, a valuable forum which is a favorite feature of the site on other college blogs like ours.
But on the news side, we do our best to deliver the facts. However, we aren’t afraid to lace our articles with a bit of opinion either (perhaps you’ve noticed). Hopefully people think we’re a little funny too. More people in our generation get news information from Jon Stewart than the newspaper, so we thought we’d try and target that market at the ‘tute.
Lately it seems, we’ve been running out of steam. The Editor in Chief and I have been struggling to have the same passion for writing up and publishing the information that we did at the beginning, just under a year ago. And it’s not that we believe that people need the information less, it’s just tiring. It’s tiring sitting down on Thursday night (or Friday morning) and compiling a list of events that people might be interested in attending over the weekend, even though I believe that it is one of the more important regular features we post. It’s tiring to comb the web for the REAL journalism about RPI that you might be interested in reading. It’s tiring to stay on top of all the stuff that goes down on campus. Not to mention that this is done on top of our regular athletics, academics, and other extracurriculars.
It’s a thankless job really, which is something the Editor in Chief and I knew going into this project, and readily accepted. We obviously wouldn’t be doing it unless we thought that there was value in it, so we keep blogging on. And maybe it’s silly to think that emails to us would be motivational or reassuring, but maybe that’s what we need at this point. The analytics which tell us that our readers ARE there only go so far. If you want, send us a little pick-me-up. Tell us a way that RPInsider has helped your life at RPI (or for you alums, after RPI). Tell us how the event that we mentioned you really liked, or that you met this really cute girl from your Physics class at the last EMPAC show you went to.
I want this blog to continue, but at the moment, I’m recognizing and admitting to a deficiency in keeping our standards to where they once were. And for this I’m truly sorry. We’re not going to give up, but you can help us more! Keep sending us your news leads and pictures, but also feel free to send us full stories! There’s only so much news we can find on our own. With your help, we’ll be able to make RPI a better place. One post at a time.
Oh, and a belated Happy Thanksgiving.
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I just discovered your blog about two weeks ago and think its a great resource, keep it going!
This is the best place that I can find to promote my crusade to bring back “why not change the world?” t-shirts. Please continue.
Personally contact all of the organizations on campus and let them know that you would like them to send you press releases and announcements of what they are doing. I send announcements about Toastmasters meetings to local newspapers. I have to tell them. They don’t ask me. If there are other activities off campus that you want to publicize, contact those organizations too and let them know who you are.
On another note, maybe the Poly and you could work together to promote each other. Good luck.
i think the above idea is a great idea, not sure how you would choose the organizations or how you would keep it so that its not overwhelming, your weekend updates are great, i wouldnt have known about most of those events if it wasnt for you guys, thanks for the great job
I love this blog, so far it has been the most informative news outlet at RPI for me over the last few months. If you guys feel overburdened try and get some more people involved in the blog, I’m sure you will find plenty of people willing to put in some time.
My greatest apologies if this is to someone I know.
I’m not going to lie. I don’t like your publication. And yet, here I am, reading it (damn addiction to journalism). So while I’m not going to send you a hurrah for what you’ve been doing, I can tell you this in terms of encouragement. It’s just a shitty news year. Last year was easy because so much was happening: the layoffs, the financial issues, the protest. And nothing too exciting has happened this fall. Hell, we don’t even have a stupid GM or PU to make fun of (don’t you miss the more interesting ones?).
Good luck. It’s a shit ton of work, but you can do it.
Also, I do really like your weekend updates. They are the best available in terms of overall entertainment.
Cheers!
i hope you have more respect for what RPI publications do. there are a lot of areas that we fall short, but we don’t have the option of not publishing for a week too. It’s been a crappy semester for news, but there *is* always something noteworthy going on. You didn’t report on Schlesinger’s resignation as far as I remember. That’s pretty big news right there. If breaking news happens so often, why don’t we see weekly reports? I don’t get it.
This blog has made my life easier and harder, because while it sometimes helps keep people informed, the whole picture also isn’t always presented. That is something The Poly strives for, so we each have our own place in terms of “reporting” if you guys want to call it that.
And it’s only a thankless job because you guys are too worried to put your names to your work. Don’t complain about no thanks if you won’t even say who you are or (sometimes) where your info comes from. If you have pride in what you’re doing, put a name to it!! That is why you fall short in terms of the “reporting” thing too … you can’t talk to people because of the alias.
Just some thoughts.
Ignore those who say nothing nice when they should have said nothing at all.
RPInsider is my homepage. Not kidding. Easy access to things that are interesting, relevant, and presented in a fun-to-read, often times humorous way. Sources are always cited, and you guys keep it short and sweet. You promote campus activities (Ex: This year’s GxC game) and the weeked forecasts are great. Including the text of e-mails is GREAT since most folks don’t read them, and the rest can’t remember what it said and are likely too lazy to find it in their inbox. Love the photos with each post, even if they aren’t always completely relevant. You guys make me laugh, keep me updated, and you should be applauded for all your hard work and commitment.
And if you want to remain anonomyous, by all means, go right ahead. There’s no reason not to, and manys valid reasons to. If you don’t want the fame and acclaim, and live off the warm fuzzy feelings of helping out your fellow engineers, then sit back, enjoy your fuzzy warmness, and be glad you don’t have to deal with all the crud that goes along with fame.
As for advertising – more stickers! I found RPInsider from seeing one on the hampster tunnel on the 2nd floor of DCC.
Thank you oh great editors of RPInsider. You make me look smart by keeping me up to date on what’s happening, and make me smile by delivering relevant info in a fun-to-read fashion.
@Cara R
Why don’t rpi publications have the option of not publishing for a week? Would there be some sort of revolt if that happened?
I always enjoy checking up on the blog and seeing what’s going on around the community. Keep up the good work! The bits of humor here and there can really lighten the day.