Dr. Kurt Hochenauer.

Today, we have Dr. Kurt Hochenauer as a guest speaker in my blogging class. His blog, Okie Funk--Notes From the Outback, has been recognized nationally as a great blog over politics. I will list below some of Dr. Hochenauer's history and words of wisdom for a successful blog.

• Got started in 2002 when he became very politically active in his writing. Started writing for the Oklahoma Observer which is a publication of liberal politics. Started writing for various other places online. There was very limited numbers of liberal blogs in Oklahoma at the time. Started the blog in 2004. Felt there was a need for this type of blog in Oklahoma. 
• "I almost felt like it was a responsibility." Dr. Hochenauer on why he started this Liberal blog. He felt driven to do it. He felt he was qualified and able to do it.
• His blog has been cited in The New York Times.
• He is a former journalist. Knew he could be consistent and consistently write on his blog. Has another blog called Blue Oklahoma which is more of a community driven blog.
• Averaging about 15,000 viewers per month in the beginning. It was the only type of blog of its kind at the time because a majority of Oklahomans are conservative.
• Has his blog, writes for the Gazette, occasionally writes for other publications. He is also an English professor at the University of Central Oklahoma.
• Averaging about 3,000 visitors per month right now. It fluctuates. 
• He writes about 3 times a week. Writes on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
• Sits in his recliner, drinking coffee, while he writes.
• This is a journalistic type of blog. Comes up with ideas after seeing other types of material over the same subjects. He is constantly looking for ideas. When he thinks of something, he will make a list of ideas for his blog. Frequently reads the news. Sometimes people will email or request that he writes about something.
• He really likes a series of articles he wrote called "Rebels with a Cause" over Woody Guthrie, John Steinbeck, and Will Rogers. It talked about the progressive roots of Oklahoma. He's very proud of the work he put into those articles.
• "I have received a lot of hate mail," said Dr. Hochenauer. He sees people try to distort material occasionally. At the beginning, he received a lot of threats for his Liberal ideas. He hasn't received too much hate mail lately.
• Be unique. Good writing is the number one thing when having a successful blog. 
• Ensure that you have a really stable platform. It's difficult to move the posts from one blog site to another. He really likes blogspot and word press.
• What you write and put out there will be there forever and will follow you. It's important to remember that.
• He likes being lost in writing. It's kind of an escape from reality. "I think it centers me a lot." 
• "I still think there is a need for liberal media in Oklahoma." He thinks he will continue to blog for awhile. He thoroughly enjoys it. "I really hope we keep this independent journalism going."