Ken Fisher
Ars Technica (Latin for the art of technology) is both a blog and an online community. In its decade of existence, Ars Technica has developed a huge following by focusing not just on technical topics, but on the full range of human arts and sciences.
One of the most linked-to blogs on the Web, Ars Technica was founded in 1998 by Ken Fisher. Today the blog is essentially a full-time job for Fisher and several other bloggers. Fisher is a doctoral student who studies Coptic texts. Interestingly, one of the other founders, Jon Stokes, who writes for the site, is also in a doctoral program, studying the New Testament. Plus, Fisher notes, “My managing editor has a graduate-level degree in theology. And I have an assistant editor who does not have any theological schooling but did graduate work in English and was a contributor to Christianity Today. It sounds like we’re ‘the priests of high technology.’ But it’s mostly coincidence.” In addition to its blog, Ars Technica offers journals, product guides, articles, and the Ars Technica OpenForum, a community database of technical tips and reference information.
As a blogging pioneer, Ken Fisher is as sensitive to what damages blogs as he is to what makes them succeed. The following tips address some of the more important of these issues:
• It is necessary to be original.
• Keeping advertising content low lets you balance content with ads, leading to happier readers.
• Content producers should not be involved with advertising, to avoid even the appearance of advertiser-influenced content.
• Try to confirm the truth of a rumor before publishing it.
• If you go into blogging with the idea that you are going to make a fortune, you’ll most likely end up frustrated.
• The Internet landscape changes quickly, without notice, so don’t count on continuing success.
• Write what you feel rather than trying to appeal to a certain group.
• Use a relaxed and personable style rather than trying to copy a
news style.
Ars Technica
“There’s a lot to be said for having a personality
that’s obsessed with getting things right,
digging to the bottom of things,
really kind of being conversational with other people.”
that’s obsessed with getting things right,
digging to the bottom of things,
really kind of being conversational with other people.”
Ars Technica (Latin for the art of technology) is both a blog and an online community. In its decade of existence, Ars Technica has developed a huge following by focusing not just on technical topics, but on the full range of human arts and sciences.
One of the most linked-to blogs on the Web, Ars Technica was founded in 1998 by Ken Fisher. Today the blog is essentially a full-time job for Fisher and several other bloggers. Fisher is a doctoral student who studies Coptic texts. Interestingly, one of the other founders, Jon Stokes, who writes for the site, is also in a doctoral program, studying the New Testament. Plus, Fisher notes, “My managing editor has a graduate-level degree in theology. And I have an assistant editor who does not have any theological schooling but did graduate work in English and was a contributor to Christianity Today. It sounds like we’re ‘the priests of high technology.’ But it’s mostly coincidence.” In addition to its blog, Ars Technica offers journals, product guides, articles, and the Ars Technica OpenForum, a community database of technical tips and reference information.
As a blogging pioneer, Ken Fisher is as sensitive to what damages blogs as he is to what makes them succeed. The following tips address some of the more important of these issues:
• It is necessary to be original.
• Keeping advertising content low lets you balance content with ads, leading to happier readers.
• Content producers should not be involved with advertising, to avoid even the appearance of advertiser-influenced content.
• Try to confirm the truth of a rumor before publishing it.
• If you go into blogging with the idea that you are going to make a fortune, you’ll most likely end up frustrated.
• The Internet landscape changes quickly, without notice, so don’t count on continuing success.
• Write what you feel rather than trying to appeal to a certain group.
• Use a relaxed and personable style rather than trying to copy a
news style.