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Why Blog About Nortel?
By Mark Evans | March 30, 2007
Earlier this week, I found myself in the midst of a “discussion” about journalists vs. bloggers, and my contention that some bloggers should be considered journalists because they offer as much information and insight. I supported my argument by suggesting - not insisting - that there was no reason why Nortel shouldn’t let me into its AGM as a member of the media because I write the only blog devoted to Nortel. This discussion was spawned by a post on a blog called The Application Delivery Network.
Some responses were positive while others were, well, not so nice. One person claimed I did nothing but regurgitate press releases while someone else dismissed this blog because I rarely get into the nitty-gritty/nuts and bolts of the technology. To be honest, the criticism was a bit a wake-up call because it made me think about why I write this blog, what purpose it serves, and whether there’s an audience out there.
The most straightforward answer about why this blog exists is I enjoy writing it. I like being connected to Canada’s flagship high-tech company, and being able to comment on his efforts/struggles to remain competitive and vibrant. I enjoy the challenge of writing about a single company from a high-level perspective, while leaving the nuts and bolts commentary to smart folks such as Network World’s Jim Duffy and Lightreading.com.
And I do think there’s an audience out there for a blog that provides the goods in layman’s terms. This is never going to be a huge blog but it’s getting between 3,000 to 10,000 pageviews a day, which is not bad. As for the criticism, I’m good with it because it’s never a bad thing if it makes you think about what you’re doing and how you do it. In fact, if anyone with strong technical knowledge and good writing skills wants to write a guest post on Nortel’s technology strategy, let me know.
Topics: Blogs |
March 30th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Mark,
Let me first congratulate you on your honest self-assessment and hope you will continue to write your blog. I, for one, appreciate that there are multiple perspectives and that truth and insightful information does not have exclusivity. As far as the argument is concerned let me just say that not all blogging can be equated with journalism but reading the teleprompter does not a journalist make either. In fact, with global conglomerates owning the media (GE/NBC, Disney/ABC, etc.) truthful journalism is neither. I seriously doubt that in the current environment Oriana Fallaci would be able to get a job with or enjoy working for any of the major media companies.
And with respect to Nortel, disappointedly, they do seem to have ‘if-you-are-not-with-us-you-are-against-us’ attitude. I am convinced that the blog’s visiting ‘psychiatrist’ is a person that works in Nortel’s marcom department policing your blog. Blogs and bloggers are an excellent barometer that could (and should) be used to better understand the target subject’s (in this case Nortel) impact on its community especially when the comments are numerous and one-sided. The good ones use blogs to measure and address issues, the rest just ignore them. Just like editorials and opinion polls. Keep on blogging.
March 30th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Forgot to mention that I also posted a duplicate on the ADN blog (bloggers vs. journalists).
March 30th, 2007 at 11:05 am
Yes, Mark, keep going with your blog on the subject of Nortel. I do think that you should more often offer your own analysis about some Nortel matter that you report.
Also, the blog encourages some worthy replies which are worth considering. Unfortunatley, some are not so worthy.
But there are only a few crazies replying to your posts unlike, for example, the posts on the Yahoo message board.
March 30th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Mark,
As a Nortel employee giving 110%, yet hanging in the wind should this ship sink, I appreciate your reporting and commentary. I value your links to other sources as well as your interpretation of this business.
I certainly can’t trust the Nortel PR machine, nor should I.
March 30th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Mate,
Your blog is the first place I log into every morning. Why? Because its the only palce which provides me a great summary of any significant news related to NT. Why bother clicking through dozen web pages while you do it so nicely.
Anyway, you’re doing a great job. Keep with it. Those who complain about your site, well they can continue, don’t let them bother you….
Cheers,
AA
April 2nd, 2007 at 12:24 am
Mark,
Your blog is all about Nortel and as you update with the latest issues concerning the company,this obviously leaves the various topics of discussion subject to responses,however barring Nortel’s history aside and the many who are with or who were with the company may be the ones doing the responding,however I thought it would be most interesting from the people who are doing the responding could in an anonymous way simply indicate whether they are currently employed by Nortel or have been in the past by adding a code that would be understood by all the blog readers beside their user id
ex- currently employed individual would add an (A)
or an ex employee would add a (B)
an investor never employed by the company would add a (C)
or even someone with a managerial position currently employed by the company would add a (D) etc…
whatever the accepted code,this would add an interesting perspective to the responses of your blog updates,and yet all with the safety of doing so in an anonymous fashion.
In addition to this,would help investors or those interested in the company some perspective from either biased or non biased responders.
Some food for thought?
April 2nd, 2007 at 7:29 am
I’m an ex-employee. Psychiatrist - nice idea on the codes, but I see that YOU did not leave yours. You have to start by DOING if you expect others to follow. Disclosure please?
April 2nd, 2007 at 10:50 am
Feedback #2 for Psychiatrist,
I do not work for Nortel and I have never worked at Nortel. But I know you do (see my second paragraph in my earlier reply to Mark). The problem is that you just cannot accept things for what they are, your need to control the situation is overwhelming. And that is the problem, it is called DENIAL! The other important thing to understand is the fact that for every reply that is not complementary to Nortel there are thousands that feel the same but do not care to post because they know it will not change anything. So long Nortel employs people like you nothing will change. This has been their culture and I had hoped the new team would change that. They did not.
April 2nd, 2007 at 11:40 am
BS Meter- for the record I do (not) work for Nortel
Furthermore one such as yourself should not be so certain about their “hunch” as you have stated in reference to me.
just because I did not share the overwhelming view that Mike Z should have terminated Mr.Hackney’s employment as a result of his off the job related conduct does not mean that I was in damage control as you had implied.
I would be currently classified under (C) with reference to my above suggestion!
April 2nd, 2007 at 12:23 pm
BS Meter- for the record I do (not) work for Nortel
————–
re
What kind of a snake you are Jack?
Either you do work or you do not work for Nortel, being an employee or a contract worker?
More lies Jack_The psychiatrist?
You are spreading your views that CFO_P.C. has not resigned aren’t you?
Oh yah, you want everyone to write perfect legal documents on Yahoo mess. boards or blogs like this!
It’s only a blog, Jack and we can use some shortcuts to write about our thoughts and you don’t have to complain about perfectness on this BB as you are far away from the truth yourself!
Hackney should be let go long time ago; now it will be the other way, customers will go away from Nortel! One by One as Frauds will be exposed by SEC in New York trials of 4 Nortel’s managers accused of frauds! I think trials will begin on May 02 2007, correct me if I am wrong…
April 3rd, 2007 at 7:00 am
Blog about Nortel because it is the biggest business-soap-opera in Canadian history. Booms, busts, arrogant overpaid execs (Dallas anyone?), execs manhandling women, people leaving, crimes(?), layoffs, mergers, divestitures, what more could one ask?
April 3rd, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Maybe thay should change their corporate motto to “we know drama”? Naaaaaa, that’s TNT.
April 4th, 2007 at 2:12 am
“correct me if I am wrong…”
Okay.
I’m not “The psychiatrist”.
What else are you wrong about?
What other lies are you telling on this blog? As many as you like to tell on the Yahoo board?
April 8th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Jack, how can we believe you and your co-conspirators looking to suppress critics by stalking with endless cheerleading no matter what news in announced all the way down over the last 3 years. All they have to do is search your ID.
It is shameless, contradictory, and ironic you have the gall to call such an honest, respected, and proven poster a liar. This is not true, you are the one with endless, endless, unethical tactics and lies relentlessly cheerleading Nortel.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Mark,
I am a Nortel employee and I read your blog to get the outside view of what’s going on with Nortel. Also sometimes it’s interesting to see the outside statement vs. the internal information that is sent to employees. Also good to get info like exec salaries, etc. which is otherwise just hidden in reports nobody reads. Thanks for your work!
I just wished there would be more of the good news about Nortel on your blog. But that’s not your fault I am afraid…
April 12th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
NT won’t tell us when it comes to reviewing and informing individual investors!
EXAMPLE:
“How many class action suits against NT are outstanding at this time?” NT will not disclose!
This knowledge is very important for average Investors.
“Does anyone out there know?”
Thanks, Notell–asks.
April 16th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Well I have been reading this blog in my RSS reader for a year now I believe and when I get the chance to read it I enjoy it, that is until now.
The above comments show a real juvenile level of behaviour and although I will keep reading I will probably never come back to the site itself.
Mark, I think you need a commments policy on your site like Shel does or some of the other bloggers.
Really glad you do this blog though as I like knowing that I can get good editorials on Nortel, more company blogs like this would be nice.
Lastly I agree Nortel should allow you into the AGM but times are still a changing and blogs are considered ‘unknown’ to most organisations and lets be honest nortel gets into enough trouble without experimenting with the new and unknown.
If I was them I would focus on getting my house in order before I engage in a community that I didn’t know much about. If someone from marcomms is on here I don’t think they are commenting, at least not the senior staff.
Just my thoughts. Keep up the good work, shame your community isn’t more intelligent.
Cheers
Roger