How To Use Your Mac To Become A Web Writer.

With desktop publishing, the Mac centered itself as the digital tool for personal and professional publishing.

Today, publishing on the web is all the rage. Here’s how to use your Mac to seek fame and fortune and become a star journalist, a professional web writer.

Yes, the fame and fortune stuff is optional, if not unobtainable. Trust me, based on what I see, it doesn’t take much to become a journalist these days. Web writer requirements are less.

All you need is a forum, a digital soap box upon which to stand, some verbiage-- and your Mac. Oh, the Mac is optional, too.

If you think the 24 hour cable TV news channels have their share of pundits, prognosticators, detractors, and gimmicks, look at publishing on the web. It’s worse.

One of my favorite web sites is Engadget. Why? I like gadgets, and that’s the place to go to find out what’s new and cool and coming to a store near you.

Recently, Engadget received a copy of an email message sent to all Apple employees. The message said that iPhone and Mac OS X Leopard would be delayed.

Engadget published the email although it was a fake, didn’t come from Apple (they’re still investigating), and caused a temporary stock price drop that was measured in the billions. Of dollars.

I can understand why a reputable web publisher, a magazine publisher, a TV broadcast journalist, or a newspaper editor would love to be on the receiving end of such a newsworthy message, fact or fiction.

It’s a competitive world these days with plenty of pressure to increase web page hits, TV viewers, newspaper and magazine circulation, and the all important advertising impressions. Facts don’t mean much these days.

Engadget was probably the first major online publication to print the false email message as a fact, as news, treated as a real story. One or two phone calls could have verified the veracity of the fake email message, but all too often media today prefers speedy sensationalism over pesky and time consuming fact checking.

For you, the Mac owner, or potential Mac owner, the person attracted to the lure of fame and fortune as a journalist, a web writer, what can you learn from the black eye earned by Engadget, and prominently displayed by nearly every form of public news these days?

Get the right tools? Sorry, as much as I wish it were not the case, writing tools don’t matter that much. It might be easier and more enjoyable to write literary drivel on a Mac vs. a Windows PC, but the requirements and the end result can easily be the same.

Finding the right job is the best thing a writer can do to break into the big time. Guess what? Engadget is looking for writers who like to write about gadgets. Duh. What I haven’t fully understood is Engadget’s published list of requirements.

Apparently, journalistic integrity is an option, accurate writing and fact checking capability isn’t a requirement at all. ”Professional writing experience isn’t necessary?” Why not?

Perhaps Engadget isn’t impressed with the writing professional. Perhaps Engadget places greater value on style over stubstance. Whatever. If I want to know about the latest gadgets, Engadget is fine. It’s what they do.

If I want to know about industry news, I’ll look elsewhere; beyond Engadget. It’s not what they do.

PS - Borat? Yes, he claimed to be a travel writer from Kazakhstan. Imagine what the guy could do with a Mac and a gig at Engadget!

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