first, media itself didnt come to believe in online spaces untill recently . two main TV stations consider online spaces seriously ( AL Jazeera and Al Arabia). However, Lebanese newspaperes has realtively long ago considered online spaces targeted mainly at youth.

so you can tell that journalisim or communication students are not even aware about this medium

in the region. lebanon, egypet, palestine and israel are considered to the main countires with well conntectivity to online journalisim.. as you may realize these countries are aware about civil society concepts and the freedom of expression.

back to the main issue, yes blogs are critical, and important to tell a lot about journalists. the unscensored content factor becomes even more critical and mean of differentiation when talking about ( third world ) countries.

it also gives insights about the main pressing and relevant issues to the writer.
I do strongly beleive that writting and journalisim are about passion as much as they are about knowlege and education and these blogs tells a lot about the passionate side as much as about the insightful one.

But I would dismiss the use of Myspace/Facebook etc as not being as important as a blog. That’s the kind of thinking that gets journalists dismissing blogs in the first place. Or then dismissing the opportunities that can arise from social networking etc.

And don’t Facebook and Myspace both give the little used opportunity to blog?

I’d suggest making sure you blog where appropriate and use social networks, particularly the more professional-style ones like LinkedIn. As for the subject of the blog, it has to be something you’re passionate about or interested in. Don’t make it about journalism or media, if you yearn to write about baseball or music etc…It’s about the quality, not the focus…

I always mention my blog on my CV etc.

There’s nothing explicit or objectionable on my blog, but I do talk politics a bit, and I don’t want to run the danger of trying to attract an employer whose political views and mine are polar opposites. So maybe a student might not want to blog because it could be, for lack of a better term, a double-edged sword?

Should job applicants have a blog? JR says: “…It helps winnow down the candidates pretty quickly.”

I might hire someone without a blog if, instead, he or she created and/or maintained a web site. I probably wouldn’t even interview applicants whose resumes or cover letters don’t indicate they have a web presence.

These questions run through my head every time I send a pitch. Thanks prompting me to get them out there (and for any answers you have).