We Spent the Hour with Hochenauer

Guest speaker #2 is Dr. Kurt Hochenauer, creator of the award winning blog, Okie Funk. Dr. H was full of insightful tips on how we could better our blogs and possibly make a profession out of it. It is so wonderful to hear from all these speakers because they always give us hope to find a job despite the down warding spiral news outlets are headed for. Okie Funk was created to be a "liberal voice for Oklahoma" and it has been exactly that. He became successful quick, but of course with success comes jealousy from others. Dr. Hochenauer received lots of criticism for his writing and threats. Threats to lose his job, physical threats to his person, and harassing phone calls, but he has learned to ignore those. Everyone will always have a different opinion, some speak up...loudly..and others just keep it to themselves. I think that people should express themselves, but sometimes it just gets taken too far. We also got off subject and learned that Dr. H is against allowing guns on campus. Also he thinks Brad Henry would make a great University President...Don't we all. :) Here are some of the questions we asked with the insightful words of Dr. H, they aren't his exact words so don't quote me..he spoke faster then I could type.

Do you see blogging to continue in popularity?
-I think the mainstream media has absorbed blogging, some sort of website action if you will is going to happen with newspaper. I would learn how to use photography, Photoshop, blogging, and different platforms so you are always ready. Blogging will be around, maybe not certain topics.

How can my opinion get me a job?
-There are jobs doing editorials, but those may be diminishing. Just keep doing it and if you're good at it you'll be successful at it. There will be jobs for tech savvy people.

Does writing blogs help you form your opinion?
-Trying to get this voice out there. Beyond the personal side of me writing everyday, but I do write to see how I feel about a particular ting. It does help me figure out how I feel about it. And it keeps my mind going.