Behind the scenes on some recent stories

Journalism

For obvious reasons, I don’t broadcast my opinions in stories. However, I think it’s silly to act like I don’t have anything to say about them. Reporters are people, not beacons of robotic objectivity.

Here’s what I think about a few of my recent Daily Dot stories:

photo by stevendepolo

Cam girls share their secrets (with each other) and A peep inside the camming business

This was originally one story, but my editor wanted to divide it into community and business aspects, since not everyone is familiar with the term “cam girl” in the first place.

The day these stories went live, I wrote a quick blurb on my Tumblr about how tough it was to access the cam girl community. For about a week I sent out queries on forums and indie sites, trying to get that first interview. On the forum I would eventually profile, it took several days for me to prove to them I was who I said I was and not a horny guy trying to get a free Skype session. But once one woman decided I was telling the truth, the floodgates opened. I ended up getting eight different interviews, when I was hoping for three at best.

Once inside, secrecy continued to be an issue (and in that line of work, I can definitely understand). Though every woman used an alternate pseudonym while camming, several asked for me to give them a third fake name in the story. Others encouraged me to link directly to their cam sites, and I did. (Did I mention these stories are completely NSFW?)

I’m not usually nervous about what sources think when a story comes out, but this one had me sweating. The story took a month to complete — a week of research, a week of writing (between all my regular story assignments), and two weeks of editing just to make sure it was 100 percent accurate. I specifically chose not to link to the forum I profiled since it was a safe haven for these women. But was I still compromising them?

The day it went up, I posted it on their forum and held my breath. Most women said it was accurate, which is the best compliment a reporter can hope for.

“I love the balance between being realistic that not everything is rainbows and unicorns but also saying it’s not the slavish hell-hole that most people think it is,” one woman said in what was my favorite comment.

But it wasn’t all good. Some women were upset that I’d lifted quotes from the forum. Even though the people quoted had given me permission, the women had now decided that it might help people Google their forum. I really didn’t want to make an edit to the story (that’s basically admitting to the public that I made a mistake, and I never want to edit if I haven’t actually made a factual error) so I showed them how to remove the site from Google. But they didn’t want to do that, either. Eventually, they just deleted the quotes. All’s well that ends well.

Image credit: Bill Boulden

Every day he’s shuffling

First of all, puns are my guilty pleasure, so I am overly proud of getting that title approved. Get it? He’s a rapper AND he plays card games!

Overall, my profile on Tha Gatherin was the most enjoyable story I’ve written so far at the Daily Dot. I’ve played Magic: The Gathering for years so I didn’t have to worry about getting the technical details wrong.

Bill was, frankly, the kind of guy I’d like to get a beer with, or since I don’t drink beer, play a casual game of Magic. Like me, he gets his energy to keep creating from the enthusiasm of the fandom around him. Best of all, he had a really great sense of humor and didn’t get offended when I said things like, “Isn’t the idea of being a guy who raps about card games kind of silly?” (In fact, the band’s name was originally in jest, but just stuck.)

“I thought, what would a rapper’s Magic name be? It started as a funny idea,” he said in a quote I decided to use in the story. “The sheer ridiculousness of it is lovable in itself.”

I was so comfortable, in fact, that I misspelled his name consistently throughout the story and not even my editor caught it. (Bill caught it himself on Twitter after the story went up.) This is an example of when it doesn’t pay to be too comfortable with the sources you’re covering. Believe me, I took pains to make sure nothing like that happened on the cam girl story.

Photo credit: Timothy Madison

The Internet Tough Guy remains a mystery

I’m proud of this because I figured out something Reddit’s hive mind couldn’t, or wouldn’t, solve. For me, this story illustrated why what I’m doing is actually worthwhile — somebody needs to fact check the Internet.

Redditors took for granted that it was the same guy in both pictures, (and the guy himself, a Farker circa 2009, didn’t exactly do much to quell the hype.

That said, this story would have been a LOT better if I could have gotten in touch with Timothy Madison, the “after” guy, himself. Unfortunately, he doesn’t update his Fark or YouTube very often, and those were the only ways I could find to reach him.

I hope this was interesting for anyone who wonders about, to borrow a line from Susannah Breslin, how your journalism sausage is made. I’ve got plenty of opinions about all (66 as of this writing) my stories, so if you’d like to hear about them “behind the scenes,” I’d be happy to keep talking.

What I learned about journalism in San Francisco

Journalism


Daily Dot launch party. Polaroid by Fernando. 

In graduate school, I interned at the Newseum and learned about “The Future of News” as a lofty concept.

This week, I lived it.

On Wednesday afternoon, I boarded a plane to San Francisco to the Daily Dot’s first annual summit. Though I’ve been working with them daily since August 1, I was meeting my coworkers in person for the first time.

In the newsroom with the Daily Dot’s mascot, Ramona. 

For two and a half days we got to know each other beyond our Internet avatars. We worked ten hour days, writing, editing and promoting stories — all in the same room! We also went bar hopping, ate Indonesian food, piled in a limo, sang karaoke, and threw a party.

At the party, I met Wade Cothran, the Best Roomy Ever. I had already written two stories on him based on phone interviews, but the TL;DR version is this: Cothran is a professional Internet marketer who wrote a roommate seeking Craigslist ad that went viral. Even though this ad showed Cothran’s skill at his job, the extreme profanity in the ad ended up getting him fired.

“It’s…a big problem,” he told me in an interview, “that I got fired not for anything I did wrong at work, but for an idea I had in my free time.”

I thought about Cothran’s story the next evening at karaoke. At the Daily Dot, we’re keeping up with the Internet’s 24-hour news cycle. There is no 9 to 5, so I’m not expected to put on a work-only persona.

I am, however, expected to occasionally sing Rebecca Black’s “Friday” as a duet with my boss.

I didn’t get to do any sightseeing in San Francisco (though I saw the inside of a remarkable amount of bars.) And I’m sure there’ll be a time for that later — already, John and I are scoping out a visit to Japantown’s Hotel Tomo. Still, I gained a lot of perspective on this trip. I looked back on my life from the edge of new journalism, and I realized I am exactly where I want to be.

For more photos, check out my Flickr set. I was practically glued to my camera!

Gundam Modeling 101

Figures and Toys

Like Gunpla? Click the image below to visit my new blog, Gunpla 101. 

gunpla101

My Gundam hobby has been getting out of hand. I spent Hurricane Irene putting together my salmon pink Zaku II (above right) between blackouts. Not two weeks later, I’ve picked up another version of Gundam Unicorn (that’s Destroy Mode on the left), this time the plainer Unicorn Mode. Along with my SD Gundam, my collection is starting to crowd the shelf.

I rekindled my interest in Gundam modeling this year at Anime Boston, where I fell in love with a Gundam Unicorn model. This was back in April, when shipments of the Zaku II, which I was already hunting for, were mostly delayed for radiation testing.

While asking yet another vendor, this shiny kit caught my eye. This Gundam looked brighter than the others, somehow. As I discovered, that’s because of its “titanium finish,” which, while not consisting of actual titanium, still looks very cool.

“Sixty bucks,” the vendor told me. For a plastic toy? I told him I was going to look around for a better deal. When I turned, he saw the Anime Boston Staff logo on the back on my shirt. “Fifty-five for staff,” he called after me. Not much of a discount, but it was enough for me to justify buying it anyway.

It took me four hours to put my Gundam together. Now, she sits on the bookshelf in all her gleaming titanium and florescent pink glory. My Gundams mean more to me than a figure ever will. It’s so satisfying to look at them and know how much time I spent putting them together.

Gundam modeling has become my unlikely but enjoyable new hobby. The only problem is how tough it was to break into it. The instructions in the box are in Japanese, and I couldn’t find a single “just the basics” tutorial for beginners! I guess becoming a professor has given me confidence, because I’ve done my best to do a primer myself. Remember though: this is just the basics, because I’m a beginner, too.

So if you, too, would like to take up Gundam modeling, here’s my guide to get you started:

This Zaku II is a Real Grade. However, we don’t live in a world where this is “realistic.”

Choosing a Gundam kit for your skill level

Before you begin building, you need to learn a few things about the types of Gundam models out there. Gundams are classified in two ways: by grade and by scale.

Grade refers not only to the level of mastery you will need in order to complete your Gundam, but the accuracy of the individual parts. A Gundam of a very detailed grade will be most true to life, er, true to the way it looks on the show. However, it’ll also be the trickiest to assemble. Here’s a list of the most common grades and scales you will encounter:

  • Super Deformed: my first Gundam model was one of these. Made to look like tiny, cutified robots, these models have the worst plastic quality and least parts of all.
  • High Grade: The next step up. Bandai started releasing these in 1990 as their most complex and intricate models. When they found out there was a demand for accuracy, they began releasing more and more complex grades of models. Today, these are not considered to be too complex and make great beginner Gundams.
  • Real Grade: A brand new grade, started in 2010. It takes elements from the High Grade, such as being relatively simple to put together, but also elements from Master Grade, like having an internal skeleton underneath plate-like top parts. The insides make it more posable, but not harder. For me, these are on the same skill level as a High Grade.
  • Master Grade: Released in 1995, these models are intricate without being excessively expensive. As the name implies, though, it’s best to have completed a few other models before undertaking one of these.
  • Perfect Grade: You can’t get any more accurate than this. Or any more expensive! These are the largest, most detailed models of all. If you don’t think building one of these is a challenge, you should sign up for the Gundam World Cup right now.

Gundams generally come in several scales, based on how many of the model would fit inside an actual Gundam. There are several models that defy this scale, but they’re fewer and farther between.

  • 1/144: The smallest scale available. I was surprised when I made my first Gundam in this size and its face was only the size of my thumbnail. It looked a lot bigger on the box. Keep in mind that just because a 1/144 is the smallest size doesn’t mean it is always the least detailed. Real Grade and High Grade models are available in this scale.
  • 1/100: The next size up. I’ve got my eye on a few models that come in this size. Master Grade models come in this scale.
  • 1/60: Now we’re getting somewhere. These are about as tall as a housecat. You can get less detailed with High Grade or go all the way with Perfect Grade, but nobody’s going to miss something this size sitting on your shelf.

Here’s me with a Gundam Unicorn scaled for the Bandai store at Otakon.

Tools to get before you begin

Technically, you don’t need any tools to build a Gundam. The parts snap right off of the plastic runner and into place, no glue required. However, you still might want to visit the craft store before you get started on your Gundam model.

I’ve found two tools that make Gundam assembly a lot more fun: Wire Side Cutters and an X-Acto knife. The cutters, usually used for putting jewelry together, are helpful for removing your parts from their plastic runners with more accuracy than just your fingers. If you still do get excess plastic on the part, you can use an X-Acto knife to scrape it off.

Other tools that can be useful are model paint and brushes (or official Gundam paint pens, if you’d prefer) for customization, and sandpaper if you’re really particular about smoothing off each part.

While looking up links on Amazon, I just found out that there’s also a comprehensive Gundam tool kit, too. But I’ve gotten by without anything fancy.

Fact: one of the pieces on this Gundam is superglued in. Mistakes can be fixed!

Building your model

Now that you have a model you’re comfortable with and all the right tools, you’re ready to start. The next step is to begin reading the instructions but, unless you know Japanese, I understand how that can be a bit daunting. After building three models, here are some of my tips:

  • Every detail counts. Since you’re probably not reading along, you have to rely on the images. Look for visual cues that can keep you from slipping up. For example, when it’s critical that a tiny piece needs to be facing right side up, there will be an exclamation point icon next to it in the instructions. If you need to put a sticker on the piece, there will be an icon of a square. It’s great that Bandai standardizes Gundam model instructions so these will start to look familiar.
  • Go one step at a time. It was pretty overwhelming for me to start building a Gundam and notice that step one was divided into seven parts — steps 1.1 through 1.7! In cases like that, just focus on step 1.1. Don’t cut out pieces in advance — they will all start to look the same and that can lead to mistakes. And for me, when you divide up the process into lots of small, simple steps instead of a few complicated big ones, I feel much more confident about making it to the end.
  • There’s no mistake that can’t be fixed. While building the Zaku II, I noticed halfway through the second leg that I’d missed a piece early on in the first leg! I simply read the instructions backward until I was able to put the piece in place. Another time, I was able to reset a piece I’d accidentally put upside down without retracing my steps. Even if you break a plastic piece in half, that’s nothing superglue won’t fix. It’s worked for me.

And with that, we’ve come to the end of my knowledge. Do you build Gundams? Thinking about it? I’d love to hear your stories.

Update: Wow, since this post went up, a lot of people have visited! Since then, I’ve learned more about Gundam modeling, so don’t miss these posts:

Gundam Modeling 102

Building your first Master Grade Gundam

Why Gundam Build Fighters means now is a great time to get into Gunpla

Like Gunpla? Click the image below to visit my new blog, Gunpla 101. 

gunpla101

Why SEO is important for geek bloggers

Uncategorized

Source.

I’ve always been a little wary of SEO, or search engine optimization. I even turned down a recent writing opportunity because the company asked me to use “an SEO friendly subject and phrases” in my finished article. It set off my alarms, and I decided it wasn’t worth the publicity.

When people tell me I need to improve my own, I look at them like they just asked me to write lengthy and frequent blog posts about Lady Gaga. If my blog isn’t popular, I think, it’s because I don’t blog frequently enough, or about the right topics. How is being a top search result going to change that?

My friend Aaron Clark finally convinced me to do something about it. He’s an SEO professional, which explains why his website, EvaGeeks.org, shows up on the very first page of any Google search for Evangelion. He convinced me by saying that I wouldn’t have to do anything and I could just pay him. Sounded like a deal to me.

I still think SEO falls in an ethical gray area, so we had an in-depth talk about what to change. Most of the optimizations were changes my blog needed anyway, like cleaning up code bloat and removing features I no longer use.

He’s not done yet, but I’ve already noticed a few changes. Such as:

  • My traffic from search engines went up from 15 percent of my total traffic to 30 percent.
  • I’ve started getting email from people who tell me they found Otaku Journalist through a Google search.
  • A PR representative asked me to review their TV show on my blog.

I’ve been blogging for almost two years, but those are all new experiences for me. I haven’t altered my posting habits or surged in popularity, so I know this is Aaron’s work. That means that more traffic, more email and PR requests are perks I’d already earned without changing my content. Now, my only regret is not optimizing sooner.

Geek, subculture and anime bloggers should seriously consider SEO. I was too quick to assume that low traffic was the fault of my unconventional coverage. I used to think optimizing would mean changing the way I write. But it turned out I only had to shift a few things behind the scenes to connect with the audience I already had.

I have to hand it to Aaron on this one. He really understood my geek aesthetic and my concerns. If you’re interested in hiring him for your SEO, you can reach him here.

Launch day at the Daily Dot

Journalism

As I’ve been exclaiming on Twitter since 12:01 AM this morning, the Daily Dot launched publicly today. I’ve already been with the Dot for nearly a month now, but this is the most exciting workday I’ve had yet.

You’ve already been able to read my stories when I tweeted them out, but they were just image-less text on our test site. Now, the invitation-only version of the site is open to all. I love the design, and I actually got to contribute to it! I’m the designer behind the meme inspired ads on the sidebar.

Tech sites like Mashable, Betabeat and Gawker all have written explainers today on what exactly the Daily Dot is supposed to be. However, what would you, a reader of Otaku Journalist, get out of the Daily Dot? I think you’d find it interesting for the same reason I did when I was considering whether or not to take the job. It’s about exploring online communities and sharing their stories, stories that might not get told anywhere else.

You know I’ve been saying that fandom needs to be taken seriously? This is how the Daily Dot treats community coverage, too. It’s not just about posting a funny video we found on YouTube; other blogs do that already. At the Dot, we might reach out to the creator and get the story behind the viral video. That’s what I did with my story about Where’s Waldo: The Musical.

Another story I wrote for launch that I wouldn’t think of writing for anywhere else (except maybe my blog) is my interview with a former Twitter spambot runner. Nobody assigned me this story. As a Twitter user, I noticed what seems to be an increase in spam and it felt like my community of followers did, too. So I wrote to somebody who would definitely know the answers, a former spammer.

It’s especially great to work for a place that not only appreciates but encourages my interest in fandom communities. Whatever the Internet is talking about is fair game. That’s how I managed to write about bronies a few weeks ago and JManga’s launch last week. I’d like to write about geek fandom even more, but it’s tough to spot every story. So if you see one, definitely send me a tip. I’ll read it — just ask The Patches.

Today was an especially exciting day because I spent most of it getting around downtown to disprove a hoax on Twitter that the Washington Monument was tilted after the earthquake. As you can see in my photos, it isn’t. It’s great to have the flexibility to drop everything to sate my curiosity, and this job lets me do that. This was the first time I did any reporting offline for the Dot, since it just so happened I was the only reporter on staff near the earthquake’s epicenter. Other places covered the earthquake too, of course, but you can see from my story that this was about telling it through people’s voices on Twitter and on the National Mall.

I hope my examples have shed some light on how the Daily Dot is different. I don’t expect everyone to understand it or like it simply because it’s so unusual. In fact, I was skeptical at first, too. When something uniquely new comes out, it’s hard to figure out how it’ll fit in our lives. Back when the iPad came out, I was laughing with the rest of the tech world about it. It had a funny name and why would I need a tablet when I already have a laptop and a cell phone? You know how this ends. I got one and I love it — especially for scheduling and taking notes at cons.

I don’t know if the Daily Dot will end up being your iPad, so to speak. It’s certainly changed my life. It’d mean a lot to me if you would check it out and let me know what you think.