SU Home  |   Newhouse Home  |   Events  |   Research links  |   Contact Us  |   Home
Header Header
» MORE EVENTS
Recently on Lawbeat
RSS-Subscribe RSS Feed   |   › Most Recent Postings
Sun, May 10, 2009
LawBeat on hiatus
Why has this blog been so quiet? Two reasons: Until today, I've been in a long, dark tunnel of work, more intense than even past end-of-semester crunches. But on top of that, I've been debating whether to continue producing LawBeat. The debate is over. I've decided to quit it, and I owe my reader(s) an explanation. I also can legitimately hold out...
Posted at: 04:34:15PM
Sun, April 26, 2009
Painting oral arguments as mere politics
Student post
Dana Milbank's April 23 column "The Supremes Sing...
Posted at: 04:07:13PM
» MORE BLOG POSTINGS
» BLOG ARCHIVES
•  About the program
•  Legal studies minor
•  Careers in legal journalism
•  Research links
•  Contact us
•  Legal reporting fellowships
•  Blog
blog Comments
RSS-Subscribe RSS Feed   |   › Most Recent Postings
Original Post:
LawBeat on hiatus
Sun, May 10, 2009
Why has this blog been so quiet? Two reasons: Until today, I've been in a long, dark tunnel of work, more intense than even past end-of-semester crunches. But on top of that, I've been debating whether to continue producing LawBeat. The debate is over. I've decided to quit it, and I owe my reader(s) an explanation. I also can legitimately hold out hope that it will resume under new management soon. Here's the deal:

In 30 months, I have written nearly 900 critiques of legal reporting on this blog (plus I've hosted some valuable contributions from students and an alumnus). In many ways, the experience exceeded my expectations. I've never lacked for material: legal reporting that lent itself to positive or negative critiques, with lessons about the craft. LawBeat has attracted loyal readers and attention to the Carnegie Legal Reporting Program at Newhouse. It has kept me in touch with colleagues, many of whom were kind enough to speak to students on campus. It renewed my pride in certain segments of journalism, and reminded me why I am a reporter. I've enjoyed writing it.

But I'd rather be doing journalism than commenting on it. I left my previous life and came to the Newhouse School with two priorities: to teach new journalists professional skills and to get back to reporting and writing, after too many years editing and managing. I have largely neglected the second half of that equation, having spent so much time pouring myself into teaching and running the legal reporting program (with its associated blog). To focus on my own reporting and writing, I will shed my role in the legal reporting program. And with that goes the blog. The Newhouse School is now deciding who will lead the program in the coming year. My replacement may decide to blog here, in which case LawBeat will live on.

I thank the many readers who've provided tips and encouragement these past years. See you in the trenches.

--Mark Obbie
Posted at 04:34 PM
There are 3 comments to this post:
Bacterial_Vaginosis commented:
Bye Mark
Very sorry to here you are quitting. I have enjoyed reading your post and wish you the best. I do understand though.

Bacterial_Vaginosis
Posted Tue, June 16, 2009 at 01:38 PM
commented:
Good things never last... =)
I dont mean good things can never last forever but just saying sometimes better things come up and you need to let things go, I enjoyed a few of your post and I think this blog has potential to get bigger, but it does take alot of time. BUt I have bookmarked the site so we will see if you come back or not. =)

~John Student Loans
Posted Tue, June 02, 2009 at 02:26 PM
MarkObbie commented:
How fitting
A spammer, wishing me well (I think). I'm touched.
Posted Mon, May 11, 2009 at 05:57 AM
SU Home  |   Newhouse Home  |   Events  |   Research links  |   Contact Us  |   Home
© 2009 S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University
This site was made possible in part by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York.
The statements made and views expressed are solely the responsibility of the author.
Web site design and programming by ThreeOneFive Design