Web logging is becoming an increasingly popular trend and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee faculty members are a part of it, typing their ideas and commentary online.

Jessica McBride and Paul Brewer, both faculty members in the department of Journalism and Mass Communications, recently began exploring and expanding their own personal blogs, or online journals intended to reach mass audiences.

McBride originally used her blog, “McBride’s Media Matters,” to show the techniques of online writing to her media writing class.

It was just recently, in July, that she began to add her own commentary on politics and media. She now tries to update the blog daily.

“If you don’t post once a day, you start losing your audience,” McBride said. McBride has had more than 10,000 visitors from 59 countries.

Brewer began his blog, “Public Brewery” on Feb. 21. Like McBride, he updates his blog once or twice each day.

McBride said she’s “interested in politics and media and where they cross.”

Brewer, who teaches opinion writing, said he tends to base a lot of entries off of recent public opinion polls. He said he also inspiration from the blog world and his personal experiences.

“I’m a relative newcomer to Milwaukee … so I often use my blog to discuss, learn about and connect to my new environment,” Brewer said.

Brewer prefers to read blogs of his colleagues, as well as reading the more “obscure blogs.”

Brewer said, “The small-time blogs often present voices that otherwise don’t get heard.”

McBride said blogs have “become a watch dog of the mainstream media.” She believes that more and more, bloggers are breaking news and giving the mass media story ideas.

For any blog to have a real impact, it needs to influence media that reach mass audiences, Brewer said.

McBride receives comments on her blog from reporters, politicians and an increasing amount of “average people.” Her blog is also garnering attention from Milwaukee Magazine, radio personality Charlie Sykes and MKE.

Both faculty members used www.blogger.com to create their Web logs, although there are other blog-hosting sites.

On the Net: McBride’s Media Matters, Public Brewery

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