Minic Rivera on The Blogging Times and where to next

An Interview by Thord Daniel Hedengren

I’ve always had respect for The Blogging Times, featuring several great bloggers including The Blog Herald founder Duncan Riley, the video show ErinSpace by Erin Fetherman that I found perhaps more interesting as a concept than actually good, but hey, it got me looking so who cares.

The founder, Minic Rivera, is another great blogger at The Blogging Times. With the recent interview with Howard Lindzon, a backer of The Blogging Times, and the sale of “competitor” The Blog Herald in mind, I thought it interesting to have a chat with Minic about where his blog is going.

Most of us know you by name from The Blogging Times, a blog you started. How about a little history lesson for our readers?
My name is Dominic “Minic” Rivera. I work as a development director for a film and television acting studio. In my younger years, I used to work as a reporter and research editor for one of the major dailies in Manila, until a corrupt president forced us all out by buying the newspaper company.

I have two kids – an 11 year old boy who might end up with The New Your Yankees and/or launch his own online gaming company; and an 8 year old girl who may be the next big hit in New York’s art circle. I adore my wife, and I’m sure she feels the same way for me.

And then you started The Blogging Times? Why a blog?
Coming from a publishing background, there is always hope that one day you can publish on your own. Blog, specifically Wordpress, made it easy for me to publish. Without this tool I would not have created The Blogging Times.

Some say that The Blogging Times are lagging behind. Are you experiencing a traffic slump, or where do you stand compared to The Blog Herald for instance?
A lot of people are comparing The Blogging Times with The Blog Herald and it is because of this that the notion of lagging comes in. The Blogging Times may not be enjoying huge traffic but it’s not a on a slump as well. Monthly unique visitors and page views has been growing since I started last April of last year. I still have a lot of work to do.

Where would you like to go with The Blogging Times? What’s the goal and where will you be in six months?
The goal remains to increase readership with compelling content, foster relationship with readers, and hopefully start monetizing.

Are you doing this for a living at the moment?
No, I wish. I am currently working as development for a film and acting studio in New York.

You launched a new design this September, with mixed reactions. What’s your take on that?
I launched the new site last November 9 and contrary to what I was expecting, I’ve had positive emails about the new design. My old design was based on the look of The New York Times and I just got tired of it.

Ah, got the dates mixed up there, sorry. Have you seen any significant change in traffic since the new design?
No significant change that I can associate with the traffic. It remains on an upward trend but I do not see if I can associate it with the new design.

Videos seemed to be your thing earlier this year, and the new design showcases them well. However, popular attractions like Erin Featherman’s ErinSpace are MIA, what’s going on?
After her duty in Iraq, Erin went straight to Columbia University. She is one busy person. She will be coming back this January for her “second season”.

Speaking of which, whatever happened to Prince Campbell? There are ugly rumors about money out there…
What you read from other blogs is also what I know of Prince Campbell. He just went missing. I hope I can add some juicy details, but the truth is, I do not know where he is. Yes, I heard about ugly rumors, but only he can tell us the real story.

Right, so it’s nothing tied to The Blogging Times bloggers then?
No, not at all. Whatever happened to him is not in any way tied with The Blogging Times nor with the people associated with The Blogging Times.

Blog news is a hot potato. How will this niche develop in the future? You seems to be betting on video, what about podcasts?
I continuously experiment with The Blogging Times. From April to around July I’ve been featuring podcasts. From August onwards, I tried featuring videos, especially with the entry of Erin Fetherman. I’ll have more fixed features on this on around January.

Blog news will continue to develop and flourish in terms of content. It will also be placed in a microscope wherein readers will be more involved looking at the integrity of those who are writing and what are being written. In short, people will demand for compelling content.

You’ll expand on the video department then. Will video and podcasts start replacing text content?
No, if I wanted only podcast or video material, I would have started that. Unfortunately I am better off writing.

Blogging integrity and transparency is a hot potato at the moment, with paid posts and all. Is this really changing the blogosphere, or even condemning it in old media’s eyes?
I really do not have anything against paid posts as long as you show balance and transparency.

So you would consider having paid posts on The Blogging Times? Or perhaps you already do?
I do not mind having paid posts as long as it’s transparent. I still do not have paid posts at The Blogging Times. But if you look at the different modes on how one can sponsor The Blogging Times, there is a sponsored post. But no one has taken advantage of that.

Howard Lindzon said all he’s doing with The Blogging Times is writing checks, and that he’s delighted with the opportunities the new design offers. Why did you let Howard get on board in the first place?
On May 19 I released a Letter from the Editor seeking for help in the areas of buzz generation and sales.

Right. And he responded with a bag of money? What was it that really convinced you to let him in?
I was looking for someone who can help with buzz generation and sales. He has experience in running companies. He responded to my request for help. Bag of money sounds a lot.

So you didn’t get a lot of money then, I gather. Has he succeeded, risen to your expectations? Or is there a lot of more work to do?
It was not just about the money. I am the kind of person who appreciates whatever help is available. There are still a lot of things that needs to be done with The Blogging Times. Work is good… And I love having lots of work to do.

Finally, you’ve made the move from print to online publishing. What would you recommend others in that situation to do, and not do?
One thing that they should do is to study as much technical as possible… and keep learning. Also, be ready with how fast and interactive blogging is. Comments are coursed through letters to editors in print publications. With blogs, it goes straight to your comment section. Be on the lookout, always ready to be interactive.

I’d like to thank Minic Rivera for doing this interview. Check out The Blogging Times for more of Minic.

This Interview was published on January 5, 2007 at 5:56 am • Did you like it? Subscribe!
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