Understanding the Bakersfield.com blog realm: An interview with Steve Swenson - By N.L. Belardes

Early on weekday mornings I drag myself out of bed. I walk around the house, stretch a little, and eventually wander over to the computer and turn it on. I look at CNN, the Drudgereport, the BBC. I check email. I check myspace. I read the local news. Sometimes I surf the local Bakersfield.com blogs. I lurk. I’m no different than my own readers who click through the pages and don’t leave comments.

I fill my head with news, with Bakersfield.com blog comment gossip, debate and counterpoint talk. Sometimes the talk gets nasty, other times there are compliments dished to each other. I wonder if many of the comment-makers ever meet for lunch, if their online blog comments are another extension of their reading the news and discussing at a local coffee shop.

Steve Swenson is the Web Moderator at the Bakersfield Californian for bakersfield.com. He’s seen his share of news stories, from tragic to big events, and even on the comical side. He keeps news fresh and hot like tasty donuts and hot coffee, but has to keep serving them constantly—the news never ends. The bigger and more controversial the story, likely the more active online participation, the more web coverage is written, and the more web moderation and maintenance is needed.


Swenson finishes of a golf swing at Sundale
*image by Todd E. Swenson

Content management becomes a Herculean task, while web moderation can sometimes turn into a nasty slugfest as bloggers take swipes at each other and at the Californian with opinions coming from every possible angle.

Swenson doesn’t just watch the news as if on some kind of Web teleprompter scrolling onto the Internet. That’s not how it works. He participates, and he does so online in ways that typical journalists do not. He writes, he moderates, he calms, he battles—and in battling, he keeps to a journalistic policy that shows a strong loyalty to the newspaper he works for, as well as to the readers who participate in the many blogs he moderates. I’m guessing Swenson may have an affinity for even the nastiest of comments. Well maybe not. It’s a daunting job.

I can only imagine the whirlwind of reading Steve must go through as I truly only moderate just a handful of blogs myself: Paperback Writer, Bobblehead on Condors, and ProSoft Technology’s blog. How does he keep up with the work load, and what does he have to keep up with?

Now you’re wondering why I want to do an interview with Steve Swenson when I poke fun at the Californian on my site? It’s simple. I love Swenson’s style, his fearlessness, and his ability to handle people (including me) as he adheres to his day-to-day online grind with the news in mind out of Bakersfield, California. And the newspaper is growing, transforming, blurring lines between traditional and non-traditional. I like that.


Web guru Steve Swenson at his favorite lake:
Lake Sabrina above Bishop
*unknown photographer

I admit I like what I’m seeing. I keep coming back. Regardless of the spin people might not like with the paper—myself now and then included. Yet, hands down, the Bakersfield Californian the best source of local news in Bakersfield, regardless of how slanted you might think the local paper is.

Part of my reason also stemmed from the very interesting Jagels-Californian debate going on at Bakersfield.com. Local district attorney, Ed Jagels clearly has it out for the Californian and launched what he considers a tongue-and-cheek series on the County website, that, under the surface, is really an attempt to discredit the Californian and any possible news slant against local law enforcement. Online readers took both sides in a Bakersfield.com blog entry discussing the matter. Swenson spoke up on the Bakersfield.com blog in tongue-and-cheek fashion himself. That started the whole foray.

Online readers then put on their gloves and went at it in a blog brawl typical of Bakersfield.com that Swenson had to moderate.

Yet Swenson moderates many blogs and comment wars on Bakersfield.com. How does he do it? Here’s our interview:

N.L.: Hi Steve. Thanks for doing this interview. Let’s start by simply having you defining your role as a Web Moderator in relation to the world of journalism.

Steve: First of all, Nick, thanks for the positive comments. And thanks for lurking.

Before I explain my web moderating duties, let me explain my job. I am called the AM-Update person, meaning I get in at 6 a.m., update the web with any news stories that broke over night (killings, crashes, fires etc) and then check out the blogs. Until I leave at 3 p.m., I help coordinate updating news stories for the web throughout the day.

I've been doing this since July, 2005. Moderating the web is a little like when I was a soccer referee for AYSO--you make the foul calls early and direct. If someone uses obscene language, I delete their posts, explain what and try to remind them we are interested in their opinions, all of which can be communicated without offensive words. I ask them to not hold back in their opinions, just the offensive language. Virtually all comply.

Some don't and we kick them off the site. That sends a message to others and
while we have a lot of heated arguments, including insults, we generally don't get foul words.

We don't censor opinions. Indeed, we welcome any opinions that stir thoughtful debate.

We sometimes remind blog posters to stop bickering, but this is America and there is an inalienable right to be a jerk.

To do my job, I look at the new blog posts and the new comments, as well as surfing various blogs to see what people are talking about and what they are saying. For the most part, things run great without much interference from me.

What my role is in relation to the world of journalism is actually a pivotal question. I've been a news reporter for 36 years. I've spent nearly all that time keeping my opinions to myself while trying to be fair and accurate.

This is different. I can share what I think. I can comment on the news and the people in it. I generally do that in a light hearted way. I like to think of myself as a paid smart aleck.

Some topics, such as a local murder or the Iraq war, I tread lightly. I like to introduce the topics and let others take positions.

N.L.: My article starts with me talking about getting up early to read the local news. What do you have to do to get that news rolling online early each morning? When does your day actually begin and where is the bulk of your focus?

Steve: The first thing I do is listen to KUZZ or KGFM on the way into the office to get the weather and local news. I pick up a couple newspapers that are left at the front door for myself and my editor. And then I make coffee which kicks my brain in gear.

I check faxes to see of Bakersfield police reported anything overnight. E-mails for the sheriff's department. Pager for the fire departments. CHP website for crashes. I call some agencies if need be. On some stories I may look up criminal records. And I listen to the scanner for breaking news.

The bulk of my focus is to get news up as quickly as possible and do it better than anyone else. If there is a major breaking news event such as a police involved shooting or a murder, I go out to the scene with video
camera in hand to cover it first hand.

N.L.: Do you take your work home with you, or even on vacations? Such a job would seem to follow you wherever you go…

Steve: I am a reporter 24 hours a day. I am always looking for news or listening to what people have to say about what interests them. In that sense, I take
my work home with me.

But I also have a full life of other activities when I'm off � loving my wife in G to X-rated ways, golf, church, socializing with friends, handling my union president duties and other activities. If the newspaper was my only life, I would go loony.


Pilgrim Net explorers: Steve Swenson and wife, Mary
*unknown photographer

N.L.: I’ve seen some good blog comment battles on Bakersfield.com. Do you even refer to them as battles? Or just conversations and debates? And how do you know when it’s time to deny a comment?

Steve: We do have battles on the blogs. I wish we didn't because it inhibits some people from making comments. While I interject sometimes, I don't want to stifle free expression. Most people can just scoot right on past those who bicker with each other.

We also have conversations and debates. Those are the fun parts of the blogs. I love it when people present valid arguments to support their positions. It makes all of us more thoughtful.

It's time to control comments when it becomes so personal and nasty that it has nothing to do with the topic, but only the hatred some people have for each other. Maybe I should intervene earlier, but I just hope others can ignore the prattle of others.

N.L.: Is there a typical demographic of people who you think commonly interacts in the discussions on Bakersfield.com?

Steve: By and large, I think most of the blog posters are liberal, but we
really do have all kinds. Most blog posters are older, but we have all ages. I think blogs are ideally suited to younger people and we certainly have topics aimed at them � can you study and watch tv, or who pays for a date � so I hope we have more participation from youth in the future.

N.L.: How do you deal with opposition, let’s say, when an entity that opposes the Californian, or a specific article starts planting negative comments in the blog? I liken them to attempts at an article takeover, a coup d’etat right from the comment section.

Steve: With respect.

Our business is full of judgments and there's lots of room to disagree with our judgments. So I like to listen to anyone who opposes what we do; evaluate their arguments and either agree with them because we messed up or defend what we did because we still think it's right.

Criticism challenges us to think about what we do and whether we considered everything first. I would encourage it.

If people just call us names, that diminishes their view. But otherwise, there are lots of honest disagreements which make all of this an interesting place.

N.L.: Loyalty and trust must be a factor to be a Web Moderator. Your boss has to trust you to do the right job, to be diligent. And you have to be fearless to tackle the swarms of discussions always buzzing on the blogs. Do you agree? Explain…

Steve: Oddly enough, my bosses have almost never condemned me for the positions I take on a blog. I try my best not to post anything willy nilly, or shot from the hip. I also try to examine an issue with reliable facts so that I can present it fairly.

Yes, my boss does trust me. Because there's lots of ways I could damage the credibility of the newspaper in what I do. Some of that comes from years of experience. On the other hand, I don't want to come across as milk toast. I want to say things that will prompt others to say things.

Fearless? Yes. In my job, no subject is sacrosanct. While I may not have depth of knowledge about all things, I try to learn enough to present rational, or maybe even sarcastic comments. My real name is attached to my comments so I try to say things I can defend. If not, I'll cop to a mistake.

N.L.: Name a blog post that you’re particularly proud to have been a part of:

Steve: The blog post I'm most proud of is my marriage proposal to my wife, Mary.(See, it worked!)

Others I've posted that examined controversial issues included Can We be happy about gay marriage, Legitimate protest of Bueller's Day off on immigration rallies, Teen Drinking Tragedy on alcohol-involved death of a Stockdale student, Is it fair to ban a white pride band on the removal of the Gaede twin girls from the Kern County Fair, A deputy follows his conscience on Deputy Brian Carr stepping forward in the beating of James Moore by detention officers, and the Valley Plaza Shooting about a gang shooting inside the mall.

I also like blogs that are intended to make you smile � should you buy sunglasses for under $200, easy on the Brussels sprouts if you got gas, steak is better than a sharp brain, bleeding hearts want no ouchies on kids,and golf as a relevant business class.

N.L.: Have there been any blogs that you’re not especially proud of, or glad the moderating over them has ended? Or are you never frustrated?

Steve: None that come to mind. I try not to put up things I would be ashamed of. I am glad some of the fights on blogs have ended. Those frustrate me, but not much else does.

N.L.: What I like about Bakersfield.com blogs and website is the constant evolving I see through videos, blogs, and news stories. Not only is the content presented different online than in print, there is constant change in how information is presented. Why the constant online evolution? What’s happening in the world of journalism, or with the Bakersfield Californian that necessitates such change?


Newspaper folks are real people:
Swenson chipping on the 17th hole at Sundale
*image by Todd E. Swenson

Steve: The world of journalism is changing. People like to see and hear more than they like to read. So we have introduced videos and audio components to our web page. What people like to read is up to date news so we also post stories as soon as we get them. That has made our product more engaging.

Many people still like to sip coffee and read the paper in the morning--I'm one of them--but there are fewer and fewer people with that kind of time. So the web is a great place to take quick hits.

Bakersfield is one of the leading papers in the country doing this stuff. We have been getting visitors from around the United States checking us out on how we do it. We want the newspaper to be a strong and reliable source of information, but we have to recognize changing cultures.

The Internet itself � Google, Craig's List and other products are competing
for advertising and information. Being a newspaper only is a recipe for
failure.

N.L.: Thanks again for the interview. Please give a few parting thoughts regarding upcoming blogs and services that readers here might want to check out…

Steve: Thank you for the chance to share. I think we will be promoting our new services better in the future and we will continue to get better at presenting them. We are looking for ways to interact more with our readers. We'll announce them as they are ready to roll out. Our goal is to make
us indispensable in the lives of local residents.

This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on Monday, November 06, 2006. You can leave your response.