By Roberta Flores
What we know as the blogosphere is starting to change. Maurice Cherry of 3eighteen media might say it’s becoming bigger, better and blacker.
While past panels at SXSW (like “Blogging While Black” and “Digital Urbanites”) have shown that Black bloggers and bloggers of color are becoming more prominent and well-known in the media, Cherry’s panel “Black Blogging Rockstars” will attempt to take a look into the future of Black blogging.
By looking at the pioneers and thought-leaders of the Black blogosphere the panel will also attempt to answer the question, “What does is mean to be a black blogger?” The panel will feature discussion on trends, stereotypes and blogging on Black celebrities as well as the current recognition for black bloggers. Here’s what Maurice said we can expect from “Black Blogging Rockstars.”
1. On your website it says that you have put on the Black Weblog Awards, you own 3eighteen media and are the Chief Strategy Officer at Relate Media Group. It seems like you are a pretty busy guy. Do actually have time to blog? If so, can you tell me about it?
I do find time to blog every now and then — currently I’m a contributing editor at Techdrawl and a writer for Black Web 2.0 on top of my other duties. Generally, I report on tech startups and entreprenuership by African-Americans, Africans, or companies located here in the South.
2. What cool things can people expect from the panel? What do you want them to take from it?
I think people will get to see new, fresh African-American faces who are doing big things in the world of blogging and beyond. I promise not to make it a boring, pedagogical-type panel (personally, I hate those!). This is not a ‘Blogging 101’ type of panel. What I want people to take from it are ways they can either enhance their own brand or blog and the kinds of opportunities which can are available.
3. Which are some of your favorite blogs to read?
Right now, I fluctuate between about 200-300 blogs in my Google Reader in a number of different categories. Some of my favorites include Soulbounce, Crunk and Disorderly, NOTCOT, Kicks on Fire, Lifehacker, Smashing Magazine, Blackfolks (a LiveJournal community), and Acquire.
4. Why is it important to have a panel about minorities and blogging?
For the past few years, there has been at least one panel available at SXSW concerning minorities and blogging. These have generally been discussions on identity, race, and how that hashes out in the general blogosphere. I think it’s time to move the conversation past that and look at those who have succesfully carved out a niche for themselves in the blogosphere and help illustrate to others how they can do the same. While the title of the panel is “Black Blogging Rockstars”, the things people can learn in this panel won’t just be for Black people.
5. Do you think the black blogosphere has been ignored by the mainstream media? If so, why?
In large part, I think so. The mainstream media is still just beginning to accept, use, and integrate blogging into their own programming. In this respect, entertainment programs like Extra and Access Hollywood are a little more forward-thinking when it comes to including and discussing blogs, but they still mostly ignore the Black blogosphere. One of the programs which did give great coverage to and about the Black blogosphere was NPR’s “News and Notes”.
6. Do you think there are stereotypes attached to black/minority bloggers? If so, what are they?
You know…I don’t think there are. If they exist, I certainly haven’t thought about them. Bloggers are bloggers. What they blog about may give them some sort of a bias to others, but overall, I don’t feel that Black or minority bloggers are stereotyped. I think if you’re online and blogging, you’re already a step above the rest.
7. What do you think the continued growth in multicultural and multiracial blogs on the Internet will do to the future of media in general?
I certainly feel that the growth in multicultural and multiracial blogs will start to fill the voids that we’re seeing now in television, radio, newspapers, and magazines. As shows are cancelled and periodicals close their doors, people are going to start turning online to find the news or information they want. Bloggers can really start to make a name for themselves if they create portals of information for those underserved communities or topical niches.
8. What part does the “digital divide” play in this issue?
Given the ubiquity of computers and Internet broadband coverage, as well as the use of smartphones, Internet tablets, and laptops, I feel it’s easier than ever before to get online and get connected. There are also a number of freely available sites to begin blogging, such as Blogspot, LiveJournal, or WordPress. If you’ve got five minutes, you’ve got a blog.
9. Can you tell me a little about your current role in Black Weblog Awards?
I am the Chairman/Founder of the Black Weblog Awards, an annual Internet event which showcases the best and brightest in the Black blogosphere in over 30 categories. The Awards have been going on since 2005. We have some great things going forward in 2010, so stay tuned!