During this past week's Democratic convention, NZ Bear offered several excellent points which you would do well to consider. As much as you may not appreciate this critical review of the convention blogging by Charles Cooper, you would do well to read it several times. Hidden beneath his snarky smackdown are some valuable things to consider.
I wanted to add a few other points, mostly taken from my own experience as one of the earliest credentialed convention bloggers. If you want to see my body of work, it is available here. In retrospect, I'm fairly dissatisfied with my performance. However, I learned much from the experience, which is why I am offering the following advice:
Logistics
Make sure that you have a Plan B (and a Plan C) for every technology you plan on using. I procured a wireless network card for my notebook computer prior to the convention, but it would not work with the Wi-Fi that was available on the convention floor. I wasted far too much time heading back to my hotel room or attempting to find alternative means of internet connectivity. I highly recommend spare batteries for every electronic gadget you bring. I also recommend taking and posting pictures (something I also failed to do). Newspapers are limited in what they can show visually so take advantage of that medium. Think up a visual meme and run with it through the entire convention.
Purchase a digital recorder, especially if you want direct quotes from speeches and interviews. The devices do a poor job recording anything broadcast over a PA system, but they are great for interviews and for making audio notes about something you want to remember for a future post. You might try restating a PA speech into the recorder if you are planning on making a transcript. (Note: Microcassette recorders are cheaper but you don't have time to be messing with tapes. The model linked above provides over 8 hours of recording time and it is easier to find specific content - if you take the time to make an index of what you record. Several reporters at the TX Convention were using the same device.)
Bodily Needs:
Food may be one of your biggest problems. I found myself so busy attending events and writing posts, that I only ate one proper meal once the convention started. There should be plenty of events with food provided so adding a few of those to your schedule helps. (One evening I attended an ice cream social and ate ice cream for dinner.) If there is a hearty snack you like, be sure and carry lots of it - especially if you are a person who cannot skip meals. Getting up early and eating a big breakfast is also a good idea.
Sleep is another factor. There are events which run late into the evening, and some that begin very early. If you are not staying in the convention hotel, your travel time will also affect your sleep. Alcohol only compounds the issue. If you are too drowsy, you will miss blogworthy observations. Plus you will have a hard time staying awake as most of the convention is mind-numbingly dull parliamentary procedure.
Blogging
Don't force anything because you happen to be onsite. Your news source is now your eyes and ears instead of the net, but you are still a blogger. Keep your eyes open and your pen running all the time, but think about what you are observing. There no real need to present or dissect what the national media is showing, so leave it to them, and the rest of the blogosphere. Instead, look for insider information: responses from real people or possibly things you see that contrast or contradict what the national media is presenting.
Your Own Voice
Write about things that interest (or infuriate) you. Add your own viewpoint to everything. You are a blogger, so act like it. (Although I always recommend marking opinion with indicative phrases like 'I believe that...' or 'In my opinion'. Make sure it is obvious what is fact and what is opinion.)
What is Newsworthy?
As stated above, leave the big events to the media unless you are presenting observations which they are missing. Some of the complaints about the blogging this last week was that it was mostly about stuff that was not newsworthy. Fair enough, but I believe that most of the convention is not very newsworthy. It is a 4 day pep rally with scripted events and speeches. This doesn't make liveblogging the event pointless. There are many people who actually do want to hear about the proceedings and delegates and unreported events.
Schedule
Take a close look at your schedule. Then spend some time trying to find out about events which are not on it. Many events will conflict - so decide ahead of time which one you want to hit first. (If that turns out to be a dud, you can always leave and make tracks for the other one.) Talk to delegates and try to attend some state delegation meetings. Plan as much as you possible can, and then be prepared to abandon it if something more interesting turns up.
Interviews
Don't limit yourself to big names. The bigger the name, the more unlikely the interview. Find an interesting delegate and interview them. Would the convention center staff make a good interview? Probably not, but be sure to let yourself think outside the box.
Have Fun
Despite the envy I feel, I do look forward to reading all of your reports come convention time.
