When I was in middle school, me and my friends usually hung out after school, telling each other we would grab a snack and then get straight to our homework. I suppose middle school students are all somewhat optimistic, because we never did our homework. Our time was spent procrastinating on facebook, playing the sims, and then also looking up http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/. The site consists of real things overheard in New York City. Most things are out of context, so they’re actually very funny to read. We would take turns reading them out loud, laughing at the ridiculous things people said. But there was always a curiosity that kept us reading out loud-- perhaps we would be featured on the blog without even knowing it! I think this is what is so fascinating about overhear in New York-- The entire New York City population makes up its subject matter, therefore it is possible to read something you have said on the blog. I remember reading it and thinking “Well, I could’ve said that..”

Like most blogs, Overheardinnewyork.com owes its success to its specific niche but appeals to such a large audience. Therefore, people can’t go to other news sites to get the same information. The information on the blog is unique. The title is also straight forward, communicating to its readers exactly what kind of information the blog features. It also is written entirely for its audience. Unlike mainstream news sites that do not allow for much reader participation or engagement, overheardinnewyork.com would not survive without its interactive readers. Readers are able to post what they’ve heard in New York while the staff members select ones to post onto the blog. The writers and the readers work together to create the site, creating a tight bond between the two. I think the mainstream could learn more from blogs, especially when it comes to reader engagement. The writers of mainstream outlets should be writing for their readers, but instead, many write for advertisers. The news system has become corrupt, favoring money rather than ethical principles. If the mainstream news outlets created a platform for reader participation, then mainstream news might become more trustworthy. The news is for the people, so that we can function in a society that is supposed to be democratic. When the news is filtered based on advertisements and massive corporations, we lose our identity as a democratic country.