Thursday, October 06, 2005

Thanks Grits readers for a great first year

Today marks the one year anniversary of my first Grits for Breakfast post. (I didn't add the sitemeter counting visitors until a few weeks after.) I launched the site as a personal experiment, a way for me to take the "new media" out for a spin, as it were, to see how she corners.

What I didn't realize was that the blog would be so useful, allowing me to research and write about big subjects, piece by piece, without the overhead and publishing costs associated with print and broadcast forums. That's been invaluable on topics like
drug task forces, snitches, and prison overcrowding. The old canard rhetorically asks, "How do you eat an elephant?" The answer: "One bite at a time." Blogs are a terrific medium for taking on big subjects bite by bite. And so often the feedback really does contribute to my own understanding of these subjects, I've become a big believer in the benefits of the two-way nature of the medium.

One caveat I should give about everything written here: Many times I'm writing about subjects like
jail overcrowding, bail or probation policy, where there has been little public debate and where solid information sources are scarce. As I come across new information on my chosen subjects, I blog it, and try to explain what it means in light of other evidence I've seen and/or blogged. I have my own opinions, but frequently when I write about a subject I'm exploring it myself, using the writing process to marshall and coordinate disparate thoughts into a coherent position on little-explored terrain. Sometimes I make it there, sometimes I don't. It's a journey. And I'm thankful to the 400 or so people every day who come along for the ride.

Thanks Grits readers, for a great first year!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Grits! Your mental fare has proven quite nourishing and tasty as well. Long may you keep serving it up!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the great work. I definately find it worthwhile to sample the grits every day now.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!

After reading your blog for a little less than the past year I have decided at 31 to get up off my ass & go to law school. I took the LSAT last weekend & while I doubt I can get into a 'top tier' school like UT—I do hope I can make it into Texas Wesleyan and eventually go to work for the ACLU or ACORN or a labor union and make a real difference.

I know you aren't a lawyer, but your site (among other things) has reminded my why I wanted to go to law school when I was 18 (but ended up as a graphic designer—go figure).

Keep up the good work!

Anonymous said...

Love Grits for Breakfast. Thank you, so much.

Catonya said...

Happy Birthday Grits!

Thanks to you I'm more aware, educated, and active about criminal justice reform.

Thank you.

Gritsforbreakfast said...

Thanks a lot, folks, that's really nice.

And BTW, anonymous law-student-to-be: I'm flattered, and wish you well in law school. But fyi, ACLU actually needs graphic design help right now more than lawyers! If you've got some spare time to help with a little volunteer work on that score, shoot me an email and I'll hook you up with the right folks. Best,

Letitia said...

Here, I do not really consider it will work.