As I mentioned yesterday, I had the opportunity to appear on Thisweeklive’s “The Show” which is a weekly public access TV show that covers topics in the South Metro. I was invited to the show by host Jeff Achen who was questioned by many about why they would ever give me any time in the “spotlight”. While I have many of my own theories as to why this may be the case, I’m interested in knowing what other people think about that statement.
Being that I am usually analyzing, dissecting, and ultimately destroying the guests that have been (or will eventually be) on this show, I figured it would be high time for the same treatment to be given to me. So, please do watch the video posted above and then in the comment section below, pick apart the entire interview just like I did when Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland came on last week. Be honest, be brutal, and most of all be as fucking vulgar as possible. Even though I mention her in the interview several times, anything related to Kim is not fair game, cool?
For once, I’m giving everyone the opportunity to do my job for me and show me what it’s like to be on the other end of the South Metro’s best beat down. So do your worst, I cannot wait for this set of comments!
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May 5th, 2009 at 11:19 am
For real? He brought you on his little show to request that you ‘tone it down?’ What a tool!
May 5th, 2009 at 11:35 am
I guess I am not sure what Jeff’s intent of the interview was. Did he want to interview you to ask you why you use such foul language? Did he want you to admit that you aren’t a real journalist and will leave, tail between legs? I like Jeff Achen, I think he’s an interesting voice and I read a lot of what he writes, but I wish this interview wasn’t so all over the map. I think you did quite well, I liked what you had to say and I do think you provide an important service to our community. I learn more from your site about the goings on around Apple Valley, B-ville, and beyond than I do anywhere else. True, I don’t agree with everything you write, especially about a certain neighborhood that I happen to be fond of (ha), but that’s fine. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and I think you express yours just fine. As a blogger myself, I respect how involved you are with the commenters and think it’s great that you have formed friendships from them. I hope to meet you all in person at one of his meetups someday. I follow a bunch of you on Twitter too. Good job Bill. :)
May 5th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Here is the article Bill referred to regarding what happens when a town loses its paper. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1886826,00.html
I thought it was a nice interview. I liked how he asked about all different aspects of the website. I find it fascinating to see how other people view the website and what they think it is or what they think it should be.
Keep up the good work Billy. Hopefully I don’t put the kibosh on too many of your efforts!
May 5th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I think Achen showed a genuine interest in his questions about who frequents this blog and why you do what you do. I agree that his little language quip was unnecessary but I guess he had to try to get a dig in on the one person who has balls to actually call out the local media and local officials on their crap.
May 5th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
While I greatly appreciate the kind words and support, I would still ask that you follow my suggestion to tear apart my performance as I would with anyone who appeared on that show.
So get to it!
May 5th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Bill, great interview. I think you are doing the south metro community a tremendous service by offering this site to tell it like it is without the political spin that the local new outlets feel the need to abide by not reporting the “the rest of the story”. I found it ironic that Jeff, who himself is a journalist, had the audacity to request that you tone down your language and infringe upon your first amendment rights, when the first amendment is the basis of his livelihood. Keep up the good work as the south metro venue for you and the citizens to be able to throw the “bullshit flag” on restaurateurs, city councils, school districts and other government entities and officials.
May 5th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Fine, I want to know what you started to talk about and then said, Oh forget it.
Your coughing into the microphone was also annoying.
I think you should have questioned him on his attempts to tell you how to run your blog by cutting back on the swearing. You let him get away with it which personally bothers me. If he does not like it, do not read it, or have him start his own blog, but who the hell is he to tell you how to run yours?
While you probably invite his opinions, they are just that, his opinions, this is your blog and you should run it how you see fit.
Cut out the swearing, the detailed facts, the gaps in details of city reports, no scrutiny of internally created self serving city reports, the negligence of our city officials, in-depth restaurant reviews or health department reports on restaurants, real scrutiny of government official’s decisions and votes and what are you left with?
Thisweek Live!!
Not what Thought Leader wishes to waste his time on reading.
May 5th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Okay, I’ll play. So what’s with dancing around the question regarding daily, weekly, monthly website traffic…Got something to hide? Hit us with some technical jargon and stats regarding unique visitors and page views.
May 5th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Nice job, Bill!
However – I get the distinct impression that one of the reasons you were asked to come on the show was to allow the host to validate his qualifications as a”professional journalist”, and not so much to find out what makes you tick.
I would have enjoyed a little more “in your face” approach to the questions regarding language, research, and opinions that he felt were, at times, too strong.
Not too sure that a “professional journalist” is really going to understand the somewhat mystical world of blogging. He obviously eats three squares a day, gets plenty of rest, and would never kick the dog – a blogger, however stays up late, is somewhat irresponsible to everything except the blogging itself, and lives on the soda of their choice. Well, that may be a bit of a stretch, but you get my drift.
I am one of the frequent visitors (I check everyday) who do not always comment. Like you said – some of us are not too interested in restaurants and their fare; but again, what I don’t think Mr. Achen really gets, is the traffic generated merely by posting ideas and opinions, and then inviting the likes of me to comment.
Thanks for that opportunity!
Cheers!
Irving
May 5th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
It would have been nice of the guy to offer a glass of H2O for your dry throat.
It appeared to me you were somewhat nervous (dry voice) and not in the attack mode like I would expect. Maybe “professional courtesy”? I have an image of you tearing him a new a_ _ on some previous article he authored.
What was the purpose of the interview?
May 5th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I did have a glass of water which I drank from several times. All the water in the world isn’t going to help with seasonal allergies :(
May 5th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Bill, there is no comparison between your visit on the show and the people you present on this blog. The way you present your “guests” cuts through the bull shit. Present them for who they really are. And for Achen to tell you to stop swearing……. like TL said, there appears to be a free speech issue here….. I think the reason you were invited was that the number of your followers is increasing and your name is getting around the city halls of the southern cities and also county government where we have just as many problems. Thanks again.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I think the reason Jeff kept bringing up the language is because he sees it as a reason someone might not come to the website, so from Jeff’s point of view wouldn’t Bill want to make a simple change in order to have more visitors? I think this harkens back to the citizen journalist versus blogger debate. I think a blogger writes about what interests him and if it strikes a chord with other people that’s a bonus. I think a citizen journalist is more focused on drawing as much attention as they can to an issue and so there is a level of professionalism that is higher than that of a blogger, profanity won’t be present because they will be concerned that it will make people take them less seriously which is the last thing they would want.
Irving- In my opinion that sounds more like a hardcore gamer, but that’s just me.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I think you held yourself together nicely while he continued to figure out why people actually like you…
But yeah, the coughing was a little annoying. (If you actually want us to tear you apart.)
I like that he was saying that you’re biased because you’re friends with your commenters… because ThisWeek isn’t friends with their subjects…
May 5th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Jeez, what a fracking loser! You looked frazzled, easily lost your focus and kept rambling all over the place. Your beard was tangled and matted and your eyes looked even glassier than usual. What in the hell are you talking about anyway? Get. To. The. Dammed. Point. Already.
And I write all this without even watching the danged video. I just know these things. Because I am a blogger. OK, I’ll watch the vid later and shred you for real. Just I didn’t want to let you down. I know you were hankering for some savage criticism… Sorry, but this is the best I could muster late in the day.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
For me, Bill’s site is more than just news and restaurant reviews, it is entertainment. The profane remarks and attacks aren’t necessary, and yes I’m sure it turns some people away, but I enjoy it.
So……fuck.
May 5th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
the allergy card?? there should have been some neutral spirits from av III in your cup to help the hack!
nice hair, neatly trimmed beard, the tie???
my first time seeing either jeff or awesomebill, let alone on the same venue. for myself, no major complaints.
i don’t agree with dave on the entertainment side, i think ‘b’ takes it to a bit of a higher level for us shutins and cudos for doing so.
jeeze i’m so maudlin i can’t see the screen.
don’t change any fucking thing!
bb
May 5th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
The tie…gave me a migraine, jerk.
;)
May 5th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Bill, you presented yourself well; as a reasonable, articulate guy with observations to share. To the idea that you and some of your commenters sometimes use adult language, I say fiddlesticks. Perez Hilton and Dlisted are two immensely successful blogs with language that makes yours read like a Disney script.
I liked that Jeff talked about you routinely linking to third-party source documents because those underscore your point of view with impartiality. Also, I give Jeff credit for having you on his show on even though he was questioned by others (Oh, Mr. Gessner, stop!), for doing so.
I agree with bb: don’t change anything! Your candor is refreshing!
May 5th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
…about 30 minutes of my life that I won’t get back.
May 5th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Ebay the tie. I have $10 or a twelve pack of Summit I am willing to bid. If I win I will burn it on the 7th of June at the Beer, Burgers and Baseball event.
May 5th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Don’t they have the technology to bleep out the profanity instead of Jeff saying F’in? :) I just had to laugh.
May 5th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
After watching the video, I have to stand by my previous uninformed opinions…
Just kidding. Thought you did a good job laying out what you’re trying to do with the site. As a recovering journalist of 25 years, I thought Achen’s admonishment about your language at the end crossed the line. Other than that, he gave you mad props. Sorry I couldn’t produce more swearing in this review, but I find cursing far more satisfying when it’s done in person and with full voice. Typing the F Bomb just doesn’t provide the same release for me.
One last criticism: You missed your opportunity to mention the cherry bombs at Ronin… Dessert of the Century, my friend. And nary a mention. And you call yourself a citizen journalist. Oh wait, you don’t. Cherry bombs: Decadent AND unique, unlike onion rings or a reuben (that made me laugh).
May 5th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
The “Milque Toast Host” didn’t seem very well-prepared – the pace of the interview could have been picked up bit.
Bill, you were nervous at first but hit your stride and did very well. I would have liked to see Jeff ask some shorter, more to-the-point questions. It seemed like his questions were thinly veiled opportunities to express his own opinions as opposed to seeking yours.
Sorry I wasn’t mean.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Thanks Bill for coming on the show. I learned a lot about you, especially how you view the roll of bloggers (vs. citizen journalists/local media/etc.) I hope you know the “tone it down” comment was directed at your name calling (calling Meeks a fucking douchebag for example), not the swearing in general. I just like people to play nice, but I guess that this isn’t the world we live in. I can live with that.
Also, close your legs. We don’t need the crotch shot. This is a family show.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:45 am
I had mixed emotions while watching the show: (1) trying to figure out what point Jeff was trying to make with the phrasing of some of his questions; (2) trying to stay objective and think about what potential new visitors to the blog would think/do upon watching the interview;and (3) thinking about swearing – more than half the time, isn’t Bill typing exactly what we are thinking, blue language included? Isn’t there “journalistic truth” in that too? And the whole “what about the children” thing – its a BLOG, not Sesame Street.
My only criticism: the “air quotes.” I hate that.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Jeff, while I cannot vouch for the name calling specific to Meeks, you mentioned that Mayor Kautz was referred to as a Slimy Bitch. What would you consider being appropriate?: Mayor Kautz is a manipulative, condescending, illogical, self serving, reckless, duplicative, underhanded, childish, rude, power-hungry Mayor in the South Metro? I do agree with you that calling someone “Slimy†when they likely do take a shower everyday is probably out of line. I mean, we don’t want someone to take our descriptions of her literally, after all.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:16 am
TL,
The problem with your description is that it doesn’t easily fit into a SMS message. :)
May 6th, 2009 at 10:29 am
For a second there I thought was watching an interview with Ismail Haniya, but then I realized it wasn’t a Hamas newsconference, it was our south of the river hero hizself. (sorry dude, it’s the beard)
You did great, just take a cough drop. I was waiting for Jeff to suggest that you needed a have a degree in journalism to be credible. I was waiting, but he didn’t do it. We can argue about the profanity. Maybe over lunch in the near future.
Anyway, ya did good, and to think I knew him back when…
May 6th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Ismail Haniya. Good one Sank.
May 7th, 2009 at 7:23 am
I love the close your legs comment from Jeff. Didn’t you learn that in your television broadcasting course in college, Bill. I think it was a good opportunity for your readers to get to know the “real Bill.” I think that if someone spent some significant time with you your blog would make a lot more sense to them. That’s the only trouble with blogs. Someone has to make a judgment based on a very limited knowledge. That would be the reason that I would hold back a little bit with some of your stuff. I appreciate the seriousness that you put into your writing though.
May 7th, 2009 at 10:41 am
My thoughts on the interview:
1. I need to close my legs, shave my beard, and wear a better tie.
2. I need to take a Benadryl and eat a cough drop if I ever have the chance to do this again.
3. I’m a little disappointed in the fact that people don’t think I deserve time on the air. It’s obvious that they feel threatened by the fact that blogs are as popular as they are and that they deliver the news in ways that are more interesting and accessible to those that want to read it (full RSS feeds, no pagination and scripted page reloading to artificially inflate pageviews to allow them to sell ads at a higher rate than is truthful). If it was local politicians who claimed I shouldn’t have air time then they don’t deserve any time either. Just because I choose to say “fuck” instead of “green” and “slimy bitch” instead of “think of the children” doesn’t mean that my points aren’t any less important than theirs.
I recently read an article about newspapers wanting to develop closed Kindle like units which will be proprietary for each newspaper (or those owned by the same large corporation). Instead of thinking about how to embrace the way their readership wants to see the news (and believe me, I spend *a lot* of time doing exactly that), they are working on ways that they can maximize their unnecessary revenues and cheat (yes, reloading pages unnecessarily and pagination for the sole purpose of raising pageviews is exactly that — you’re doing yourselves, your readers, and your advertisers a disservice by doing so) those that pay them to run their organizations.
4. Jeff Achen asked during the interview if I felt that I was “burning bridges” by writing the way I do about those that I cover. I’m assuming that he was making the incorrect assumption that in order to write about people that I (as a content writer) cover, that I need to be all huggy kissy like Gessner apparently tries to be. God forbid Mayor Kautz doesn’t verify the quote she said (which was recorded for all to see and available on the web for anyone else to hear) or that she doesn’t want to speak to me. To be honest w/you, I don’t want to speak to her in person, she’s generally full of shit anyway.
On that note, let’s take Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland for example. If I had the chance to interview her in person I’d immediately begin by taking her to task over her comments in her interview on The Show:
- “Don’t you feel the least bit ashamed at skirting the question of the viability of Founders Circle by bringing up Uponor’s and their new LEED certified building which is going up in LAKEVILLE?”
- “Aren’t you concerned that your potential voters are going to see through your ‘green initiatives’ as nothing more than attempting to capitalize on the latest political buzzword?”
- “Do you honestly want us to believe that wasting city staff time by instructing them to create brochures to attract commercial business in the medical field and visits to Portland Oregon for some mayoral conference are acceptable ways of drumming up new business in an area that was specifically developed to create a walkable shopping, dining and residential area?”
- “You continually quote comments from the senior community when you pontificate about Apple Valley’s greatness but then go and alienate yourself from that entire community by directly ignoring input that you begged them to give you and naming *THEIR* senior center something completely different. Do you really be that’s fair to the senior community or to the rest of us that voted for a ‘senior center’?”
I really want to know what reason trained journalists have for shying away from questions like those above. Yes, they could be worded better (I wrote this in 10 minutes over my lunch break) but they get down to the points that people that live in our city really need to know to make an educated decision. It’s obvious that Jeff Achen felt comfortable in asking ME those questions, why not press Mayor Mary or Kautz (if she’s ever on the program) about their poor word choices?
Instead we get a bunch of newspaper articles which end up being about as close to a press release for the city as possible. I’m a little disturbed at the increasing trend of these articles from all four main outlets (it’s really bad from smaller papers like Farmington Independent and Rosemount Town Pages) across the South Metro. When I mentioned the TIME piece during the interview I wasn’t only mentioning that I believe that local media plays an important role, I was trying to say–as nicely as possible–that the local media isn’t exactly doing the due diligence in research that they were so quick to stake me to the ground for and that they need to up their game to avoid the dangerous outcomes that appear as a result of local media disappearing from a particular market.
That all said, I really enjoyed the interview and thought that Jeff’s questions were valid. It was a great experience and one I have learned from. I hadn’t been on TV since I was 18 and I have a lot of work to do if I ever get an opportunity like this one again.
I want to thank everyone for watching the interview and I hope that you continue to follow up with future episodes of The Show. It’s a unique addition to the local media’s repertoire and it has a lot of potential to become one of the most watched programs because Jeff has taken the time to build something really great and really accessible to the viewers (Internet syndication and TV).
May 7th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I think there is a disconnect between community journalist and blogger. It’s to be expected considering the ideas of both, for the average person, are very new concepts.
I think the definition should lay in how seriously the author or pontificator takes themselves. The more serious — the more community journalist and less blogger you become.
Bill, I’d say you take yourself seriously in that you’re willing to do what most every citizen is unwilling: dig for relevant information via documents, meetings and reportage.
You go beyond simple blogging. You’re more than a mouth piece who simply blows hot air. You lend your writing and reportage credibility by backing your thoughts up with fact in many cases. There is an air of authority because, to a degree, you do what “professional journalists” do and get documents and you view meetings.
But with that role, some people will argue, there is a certain amount of responsibility. You can’t have it both ways. If you’re going to be serious, be serious. If you’re not, then don’t. But if you’re going to try and “do what the professionals aren’t.” If you’re going to try and answer the questions you feel are getting glossed over by the media, then there is a certain amount of professionalism and tact that should be present in your writing.
Just like elected officials are supposed to be above swearing during a meeting, with responsibility comes a bit of expectation.
I think that’s what Jeff was driving at, even if it went unsaid.
A blogger, it seems, is more of a shock-jock type of personality, or someone whose trying to entertain their family and friends. But someone who does legitimate reporting — hobby or not — is going to get readers who take them quite seriously, vitriol and all.
Now does that mean you need to change? Not at all. Maybe you can carve out a new, unique model. Now is certainly the time to try.
The other thing you have to remember: you said something to the effect that “you don’t have a staff,” and that you have a full-time job, etc. As if to say you expect more from local reporters when it comes to information gathering.
The editors at Thisweek are one-man-shows. Gessner is Burnsville’s reporter, editor, photographer and also serves as the organizations assistant managing editor. It’s like that in all six communities. Couple that with the standards — yes, journalists have professional standards that bloggers don’t have to conform to — and it’s easy to think reporters are huggy and kissy with the officials they cover. Journalists can’t afford to burn bridges.
As for why Jeff bothered to have you on the show … the better question is why not? You’re a fire-breather and that’s interesting to people. Just ask the folks who read your blog/news site.
Finally … to the guy who tried to say vulgarity is simply a matter of first amendment rights — that’s so Ivory Toweresque, it’s borderline retarded.
Jeff wasn’t saying the vulgarity should be cut back because it’s so offensive it should be banned — to hell with your rights.
I think it drives to the point I made above, and to a more general point of; It’s how you talk at the kitchen table? We’re different people, but I don’t swear around my wife, mother or father, and don’t plan on swearing around my children when I have them someday. But that’s just a personal thing.
-D
May 7th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Derrick,
Bill swears like a fucking sailor when he’s at his kitchen table. Trust me, I KNOW!
May 7th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
You slimy bitch. Now the fucking secret is out!
May 7th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Wait until I start posting your recipes!
May 7th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Here’s the sum of what I learned from the interview: your last name is pronounced “Rail” and not “Roll” like I presumed. Otherwise, blah blah blah.
May 7th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I noticed your leg thing immediately – it is pet peeve of mine, and to me separates the classy from the…well..
However, when I reexamined the situation, I realized that the distance between your knees and your host’s….well, it was a metter of only a few inches. Your pants were lighter in color; I think this made a difference.
He is still really dry and boring, and with experience you could be really interesting.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Great idea, Sandy — LazyLightning the TV Show! Heck, there’s already a theme song (I have about a million copies from various bootlegs on my iPod). Go ahead, Bill. You could be the next Geraldo.
June 25th, 2009 at 7:31 am
[...] around the South Metro. I have probably linked to this before and I know I have mentioned in during The Show interview I had with Jeff recently but Time Magazine wrote an article about what occurs when local media disappears and the content is [...]