The Telegraph blog has published a style guide for blogging journalists, reports Robert Andrews at journalism.co.uk,
"Many of our journalists wanted to start a blog but were new to the medium," news editor Shane Richmond told journalism.co.uk. "They wanted to engage more with readers, to share observations and thoughts about their work and the field in which they operate as reporters - but they needed a little guidance.
"The style guide sets the parameters for our blogs and offers a few pointers about how to approach this new medium. What it doesn't do is specify word use or set a standardised structure for blog posts."
And here is the Telegraph Blogging Style Guide. Richard Burton (not the dead filmstar) encourages experienced bloggers to air their thoughts on the guide,
I know we have a lot of bloggers who frequent this site and I'd like to hear your thoughts on what we've got right and what we've missed out...
Suggest away. There's more: lessons in blogging. Interesting. A newspaper, founded in 1855 asking readers for advice on how to write. Has to be applauded really.
My own thoughts run slightly contrary. I personally would not want to use any style guide for any blog ever. Many blogs I like have quite distinctive mannerisms and voice. However, that's not all blogs or everyone's style. Many bloggers aim for a journalistic style. Healing Iraq for example. A dentist turned blogger soon to de-dentist and train as a journalist.
However, if - like all you ScooptWords sign ups - I wanted to sell a particular post on my blog, a style guide - with an eye on journalistic integrity - might well be a handy tool...
FWIW, on my noodlepie blog I do try to include the answers to 'what, where, who, when, why and how' questions when I write a restaurant or streetfood review. Everything else, IMO, is wordwank - entertaining, but nothing more. For blogs like noodlepie you should be able to take out all the I, me, mine, sentences and still have at hand the information you need to replicate the experience described in the post - or at least find a street vendor selling the best sandwich in Saigon...
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