Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Logrolling Beyond 495

Way out Northwest, beyond I-495, above Rte. 2, tickling the New Hampshire border, Mariposa has made her power known.

With less drama, you can say that she got a nice love note for Christmas that speaks to the influence of some bloggers, particularly those savvy on local politics. Do check out her report on a blogger article in the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise.

The local rag has some insightful comments on her blog as well as the sharpening profile of political blogs in its Blogging on the rise by Kyle Alspach. So, in this post we have a mirrored recursion. The newspaper reports on bloggers reporting on local issues and other bloggers linking to the reports on reports and this reporting on the reporting on all of that.

The article gives examples of local blogs that:
  • Center on specific issues.
  • Are quasi-official fora for citizens' comments.
  • Cover broad governmental developments locally.
  • Are interactive Web spots for individual politicians.
It also accurately notes that crosslinking between Beyond 495 and this blog helps spread ideas and news across regions.

It also cites Fitchburg City Councilor Ralph Romano, who has his own blog. "The mainstream media used to choose what to emphasize or de-emphasize. Now, even a small story can become very big based on blogs."

I think Kyle will have to mouse on over to LeftinLowell, where Lynne has made herself a must-read for voters and politicians alike. Mariposa looks headed to filling the same type of niche.

They are inspirations to us all.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The pressure! LOL Living out here in the political wilderness seems to have some advantages afterall. I'm sure if I blogged from JP or Somerville nobody would ever notice.

That was a good quote from Romano, but after I got a gander at the 9-11 animated gif on his website, I just couldn't bring myself to link to his blog.

sequoit said...

It's been a while since my North Reading days, so it gives me a nice nostalgic cuddle to see you call beyond 495 "way out Northwest".

From Wisconsin, now. (that's like, between Albany and Japan)

massmarrier said...

It's all perspective (and provincialism). Here in Boston, they can cut it even finer. Many locals are loath to leave their neighborhoods, even to visit other parts of town. So, Wellesley is the wild west.