To Liveblog Or Not To Liveblog
For the past 2 weeks, I have been liveblogging the events here in Israel, to my knowledge the only English-speaking Israeli blogger to do so consistently. Given the escalation in the situation, I figured that readers would be interested in more regular posting on events “almost” as they happen, much like during the Second Lebanon War last Summer.
However, I have reached the point where I am not sure if I should continue. Given my relative lack of time, I will only continue if I perceive a real need or want for this liveblogging. The issue is the usual one – lack of feedback. My traffic has remained more or less constant, and I have received hardly any comments, leading me to conclude that this liveblogging is not really wanted or needed.
I therefore ask you dear readers – should I continue liveblogging the current events in Israel?
Please leave your feedback in the comments. A lack of feedback to this question will be construed as a no!
Update: The liveblogging will continue until I come to a decision based on the feedback. So you can still scroll down for the latest news.
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: Blog Announcements
I understand your frustrations with the lack of feedback but I really do think there is a need. Just because people don’t comment, doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t actually read it! I have been following the liveblogging with not much to say since it’s an informative/factual post and not an opinion one. But I do follow it! So, I say, please continue.
I find these helpful, for what its worth, but don’t overburden yourself.
I appreciate your work live blogging what is going on in Israel. I understand that you have to have other priorities, but always appreciate when you are able to provide this service to the rest of us.
I think you should live blog about the events. One thing that may help you however, is adding images to the posts, and asking what users think about the situation.
Lack of feedback doesn’t equal lack of readership, although if you really are unsure I would simply move your RSS links to Feedburner (instead of your default one) as it could help you identify who is clicking over to your articles).
I’m with the rest, I appreciate the posts but will understand if you find it necessary to quit live blogging. Thanks for your efforts.
Yeah, don’t overburden yourself with liveblogging, especially if the do-nothing government doesn’t give reason. Anyways, I would like to hear another podcast eventually, given that it seems you have podfaded.
I really appreciate your efforts to liveblog the war. It is important. MSM is completely impotent. If you decide to continue I will put a link on the sidebar of my blog so more folks can find your liveblogging posts. Not that I get much traffic but maybe others will catch on to the idea of bringing attention to this effort as well. Maybe you could create an Israellycool war-liveblog banner for bloggers to grab…
I am not a big commenter and the nature of these posts while they are helpful and informative sometimes I just don’t know what to say. I can tell how time consuming it must be, I am sure the blogosphere would understand if you need to update less often. You are doing a great job, thanks!
Kristee
Your liveblogging has been very interesting to me. In Britain I do not get to hear much about Israel from the news and so your blog (and some others) along with the online newspapers are my main source of information during these troubled times. I would understand though if you discontinued.
Best wishes to you and your country.
At least i learned how to post a comment without replying another…
I think liveblogging is important, when is required but now a days the situation is not as active as it was last july/august, so if you don’t have enough time, it’s better to make a daily briefing of the situation than whorthless liveblogging, anyway if you have the time LIVEBLOG.
Thanks for yesterday’s link.
Please continue if possible. I don’t comment much but visit usually several times a day.
Hello:
On your continuing to liveblog; I live here in the NW Florida Panhandle, and rely entirely on bloggers for my news. I read FOXNews.com, and then go find a blogger to verify it, (And I trust FOXNews), and then I’ll believe it. I am not Israeli, not even a Jew, but I have admiration for Jews, and for the state of Israel. I pester my blogbuddy Abbagav, for his english language answer to many of my questions, but of late I have taken to reading your posts, especially the liveblogging. Keep on? Knock it off? For my interest I would have to say give all the time that you feel that it deserves. If I can hunt down your e-address, I might pester you on occasion for info. Perhaps the rest of your readership feels otherwise, but I appreciate both what you’ve done, as well as knowing that you’ll do what you feel right.
Now to see if I can send this.
nuf sed
Yes, keep posting, if you have the time – great info!
keep it up. Sad to comment – but more on point than any other resource like the JPost.
Dude, please keep it up. A case in point is my return to the news and blogging world after a week of out-of-town vacation, I was quite overwhelmed with my RSS reader and I couldn’t get a handle on the news from Israel from other news sites. Even the big boys (LGF, Pajamas) couldn’t update me in what was actually going on. So what did I do? I said to myself, IsraellyCool will have good updates on what is going on. I’ll go there and get up to speed.
The first post I came to was this one – is there any want for your posts. I love and need your posts (too strong? hehe) I hope you keep up the good blogging, and your live blogs give a sense of realism to the news, as well as impossible to acquire elsewhere local news (from local TV and radio).
Thank you Dave.
Yishai (Digital Irony)
dave, you cant stop posting.
i read your blog every day, along with the jerusalem post, haaretz and littlegreenfootballs.
I cant comment a lot because I use my phone to read Israellycool on the go.
You’re hilarious and inspiring, a cold truth in this hot propaganda-filled leftie summer.
(hows that for an image?)
Keep on blogging, dave. us hutz-la-aaretz Jews need you now more than ever.
Please continue. I have been reading your reports every single day..sometimes more than once a day! Your work is not going unnoticed!
Please continue if you don’t find it too taxing. You are filling a void in reporting and I think it is very important to do so!
Dave,
Please don’t stop. I do live in Israel, yet I check your blog before I go into any of the internet news sites. Your updates are excellent and summarize all of the relevant information. Although I don’t often comment, I appreciate what you do in your blog – it’s definitely a daily favorite!
Keep it up. From a fellow australian.
Dave,
Please keep up with that invaluable work. If you don’t do it, no one else will.
I hope you continue your updates. I read them everyday and have linked to two of them at posts at my blog. Your updates are informative and timely. I appreciate them very much.
If the time commitment is too much, I understand. But I would ask that if possible you continue. Your site is the only one where I can get news about the conflict, given that it seems to rate far below MM radar.
Me like you longtime, AussieDave. Keep liveblogging; it give me leason to get up in morning. You much better than my schmuck hubbie Maury Povich.
Your work is important to me — an American Catholic Zionist. However, as a webmater myself, I understand the amount of work involved along with your frustrations.
Dave
I’m reading it! Typically the Aussie and Brit press are ignoring it.
KEEP GOING! If you can. Or at least don’t stop for lack of feedback. Hopefully, all the comments here are persuading you that the work is appreciated and worthwhile.
I think it’s important that someone stays on top of this…I’ll second everyone who said “do what you can” and don’t wear yourself out, but in the meantime, and even before this, your blog was one I read. It was one of the first I’d go to since the Lebanon war, but I’ve periodically visited ever since.
It’s a wonderful blog at any time, but this liveblogging is my first source, too, rather than the usual nonsense from the MSM, including the Israeli versions.
Thanks!
I found your blog because I was looking for information not available on MSM. I went to the Muquata which normally gives good updates and found a link to you. I have you on my list of places to read everyday. I appreciate your efforts and time. Thank you.
I for one greatly appreciate your updates. But if you are short on time, I would save your energy for a full scale war which seems very likely now in the coming months.
I am working on a website now geared towards american olim and tourists and plan on adding a sidebar with the latest RSS blog feeds from your site and one or two others. This probably will not be done for a few more months but your feed is on the top of my short list!
Hi Dave,
All your hard work is greatly appreciated, but if your family needs more of your time, I think we’d all understand. Just know that there are many MANY who appreicate you keeping us updated. I support Israel for many reasons, but one of the many reasons I do is because there are good folks in the Eretz like you.
May there be many blessings upon you and yours!
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
Thanks for all the kind comments. As you can see, I have decided to continue with the liveblogging for now…thanks mostly to your feedback.