Thursday, December 11, 2008

How Does One Explain 'Fisking' in Russian?

This morning I delivered a 45 minute talk to 100 or so Russian journalists and politicians about the role of blogging in politics and the media. It all seemed to go off OK, although I don't mind admitting that it was a bit odd having simultaneous translation. Anyone who has seen me speak at this sort of thing will know that I try to inject a bit of humour into it - especially if it's a talk lasting for 45 minutes, followed by another 45 minutes of questions. But humour very rarely translates very well, and even if it does, you have to wait a bit too long for the punchline to come.

When I do talks like this I always know if they have gone OK by the quantity and quality of the questions which follow. Today's were exceptional. I was particularly taken by a question about so-called 'killer blogs'. In Russia blogs are often set up with one aim in mind - to kill off a politician's career. There are no real libel laws here so you can make any allegations you like on a blog and the subject of the attack has little means of redress. I explained that this sort of blog doesn't really exist in Britain and that if I wrote on my blog that a politician had been caught having sex with a sheep, I would be sued. I think it got a little lost in translation. I went on to explain the concept of 'fisking' and 'twitter'. At this point the translator had a nervous breakdown.

We talked a lot about online trends of the MSM and how journalism was likely to develop. They were also interested in the dangers of blogging, especially for politicians. Other questions included...

* How do you build an audience?
* How often do readers provide me with tipoffs?
* How are blogs regulated?
* Aren't blogs just about auto eroticism and washing dirty linen? (!)
* Do I take money to write blogposts? (No!)
* Do advertisers require me to plug their products or viewpoints? (No!)
* Is blogging a business or a mission?

The organiser came up to me later and told me that one of the female participants from Siberia had told her that my presentation had "changed her life". At this point I realised that not only must the translator have had a nervous breakdown, but must also be taking halucenogenic drugs!

The place where the conference is being held is about 40 miles south west of Moscow in the middle of some woods. It used to be a sanatorium. The various blocks have now been turned into accomodation units which are basic but comfortable. The main thing is that they have wifi!

Tomorrow I am being taken into Moscow where we'll have a look round Red Square, visit St Basil's and no doubt gawp at Lenin.

11 comments:

  1. It used to be a sanatorium.

    I always figured you'd end up in a Gulag one day. ;)

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  2. So how DO you fisk a sheep ?

    Alan Douglas

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  3. There was that attempt to sell dodgy out of date Jonny Wilkinson drawings now wasn't there? That was for money surely?? I don't think it was your inner rugger fan. Or your inner art lover for that matter. That was trade surely?

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  4. By the way, as the word "Fisk" is from a person's name it would be transliterated and declined:

    Фиска

    It's American as it is, and it's not really in general use in this country or anywhere really.

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  5. Oh Chris, you will have to do better than that. It was clearly labelled ADVERT. Even idiots like you could see that, surely?

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  6. Exactly Iain. You told those poor Russians some inexactitudes. You DO EVER do blogola. It was a very shoddy product btw and misrepresented at that.

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  7. If I ever want to have a definition of the word shoddy I only have to go to your blog.

    You write your usual venal crap. If I label something an advert, that is just what it is. It is not editorial. Are you too thick to understand the difference?

    The cheese thing the other day was editorial. I liked the product so I plugged it. I even refused the offer of a free gift afterwards.

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  8. Killer blogs eh? Hmm.. that's a bit worrying as presumably there would have to be some kind of basic endorsement that the news is official.

    Sounds like fun. Are you gonna do a round up when you're back like Israel?

    PS - Harman looks a bit sexy!!

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  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  10. Iain,

    My wife asks if she could have what the Siberian lady had!!

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  11. It was very interesting session!
    Thanks,Iain!
    Angela Manylova, Russia

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