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The Navy in the Blue-Water Blogosphere

My love for the U.S. Naval Institute’s blog is second only to my love of Coke Zero. Over the last week, the blog has sparked a far-reaching debate about how the

Jul 31, 2020
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My love for the U.S. Naval Institute’s blogis second only to my love of Coke Zero. Over the last week, the blog has sparked a far-reaching debate about how the Navy reacts or doesn’t interact with the blogosphere after a vice admiral left some comments on a provocative post about public perceptions of the service.It’s interesting to watch the discussion unfold. For a cheat sheet, see here.
If we on active duty don’t get engaged effectively with new media, and I don’t mean by “information prevention” methods, then we cede any relevant arguments to whoever actually shows up and is effective. Worse, we could shut down the “forceful backup” we should be getting and wind up with silly decisions that cost a lot or drive the sailors crazy.
Not long ago I had an interesting colloquy with a senior Army officer who was trying to understand how I could consider myself both a reporter and a blogger. A lot of his argument boiled down to noting that I don’t do my job the way The Washington Post does: I aggregate other people’s reporting, add my own, and also add analysis, even opinion. It was frustrating to hear that this was considered somehow illegitimate. But later in the back-and-forth it occurred to me that Ididn’t do a very good job making a case for the merits of my style of reporting as a way to inform the public. So it just goes to show you this is a two-way street and people should leave themselves open to new arguments.
Hajra Shannon

Hajra Shannon

Reviewer
Hajra Shannona is a highly experienced journalist with over 9 years of expertise in news writing, investigative reporting, and political analysis. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Columbia University and has contributed to reputable publications focusing on global affairs, human rights, and environmental sustainability. Hajra's authoritative voice and trustworthy reporting reflect her commitment to delivering insightful news content. Beyond journalism, she enjoys exploring new cultures through travel and pursuing outdoor photography
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