Of all the newspapers available for me to read, I normally plump for The Sunday Times. There are a variety of reasons why, but mainly because I find it generally unbiased (though only in comparison), features some great articles and the only time I ever get to sit down and enjoy a paper is on a Sunday. However, with a hectic lifestyle, juggling a full-time career and running BlogF1, the relaxing time spent on a Sunday morning with the paper and coffee has been sacrificed; I blame the flyaway races! And just as it was with my summer holiday last year, my timing to give up the Sunday read was as impeccable as ever.
BlogF1 got a mention in the InGear supplement last Sunday in an article written by Robbie Hudson. The article speaks about the plethora of websites dedicated to the nation’s love of motorsport, and describes some of the best ways to catch up on the news and gossip of Formula One.
Few other sports are as well catered for online as F1, meaning that rookies and pros alike can follow the action in as much detail as they want. Whether it is pit-lane gossip, team tactics or nostalgia surfing for past greats there are websites for everyone. Robbie Hudson, The Sunday Times.
The man is quite right as well. Few other sports receive such great coverage online as Formula One does, and I believe that on the whole, us bloggers and site owners are doing a pretty grand job at it.
Further into Robbie’s article he moves on to “amateur sites” and BlogF1 got its first mention in the mainstream media. Well, the first that I’m aware of, anyway!
Amateur bloggers can be more discursive – try the British blogf1.co.uk, where Oliver White analyses for the fans and gives newbies an accessible introduction to fan culture. Robbie Hudson, The Sunday Times.
The article is a great read for new fans to the sport, and I reckon 2008 has already seen a boost in first-time viewers. I even discovered a couple of sites myself that I was unaware of until this morning.
The full article can be read by following this link, so that just leaves me to thank Keith from F1Fanatic for bringing it to my attention, Robbie for including my little corner of the F1-blogosphere in his article and you, my readers, for continuing to come here and add further insight into the thrilling world that is Formula One.
Original image courtesy of Apple Inc.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:33pm
Congrats again mate - and curse you for getting a named mention where I only got a link!
March 27th, 2008 at 3:40pm
It must make it all seem more worthwhile!
Congratulations!
March 27th, 2008 at 3:53pm
Congrats Ollie! In the same week that Christine Blachford was on the radio as well. It’s good to see the F1 blogs are entering the mainstream
March 27th, 2008 at 4:05pm
Thanks guys. It does seem as though blogging in general is getting more and more mentions in the mainstream media these days. Keith has been interviewed a fair bit this year and seen one of his reviews in the back of a book, Christine was on Radio 5 live and now I’m in the Times. Good news, I say.
March 27th, 2008 at 5:23pm
Congrats! It’s great to see bloggers being recognised
March 27th, 2008 at 5:58pm
Well done, Ollie - and thoroughly deserved!
March 27th, 2008 at 7:33pm
Here is an extract from a A-level Media essay i wrote several months ago:
(In relation to blogs etc.)
…consumers can express themselves in entirely different ways, and these new forms of messaging provide a sense of fulfillment to a human being unmatched on such a vast scale in human history. There are no definable boundaries that can be drawn between the media and your average citizen anymore. If your average citizen chooses to use these new fangled technological services; he/she IS the media.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:03pm
Yup - we’re all junior journalists now (and I include the commenters who don’t blog themselves in that). Congratulations on getting mentioned in The Sunday Times, Ollie!
March 27th, 2008 at 11:24pm
Thanks Sally, Clive, Jamie and Ali.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:02am
Nice one Ollie — may it be the first of many!
Oh, next time aim for something a bit classier — the Sun perhaps!
March 28th, 2008 at 2:47pm
Congratulations, Oliie!!!
I really believe that you deserved it! Well done!
March 28th, 2008 at 4:45pm
Congrats Ollie!
Its nice to see your hard work paying off in ways I doubt you envisaged.
March 29th, 2008 at 3:44pm
Thanks John, Semo and Kris. I certainly didn’t envisage being in the Times, and would have missed it if it hadn’t been for Keith pointing it out to me.
March 30th, 2008 at 12:22am
Congrats Ollie!!
March 30th, 2008 at 4:15pm
Brilliant, Ollie! Congratulations. Keep it up! It’s really interesting to see you lot get noticed in mainstream British media. You’re faring a lot better than most mainstream F1 sites. It’s just amazing, really. Next thing I know, you start getting paddock press passes! Wow.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:57am
Thanks Robb and Journeyer. Press passes? I should be so lucky! I hear there might be a supply and demand issue with those.