Should a journalist become a blogger?

'Why should I blog? I'm a journalist.'

There are many reasons. It's likely, whether you know it or not now, you really do have something to say. Blogging can deliver that message to an audience, and help to burnish your credentials. The fact is, any "expert" who doesn't have a blog these days, probably isn't the expert he or she thinks. And any journalist who doesn't know about blogging, probably hasn't explored the possibilities of that career.

Blogging can help you get a job. It can even become your job.

Too many bloggers write trivia about their own lives. Much of it is about as exciting as watching water boil. ...Eventually it'll reach that point, right? Some point?

Well, you're not just anyone. You've got training in how to write, how to report, and how to be credible. You're a journalist. You must have some skills to have earned your living doing this for ...well for any length of time.

And I've seen evidence, after more than two years of watching staff and reader blogs at seattlepi.com, that skills as a journalist work well online.

• Writing done as journalism -- with clarity and purpose -- draws more readers than other forms of writing.
• People who write about subjects they know well, can build an audience for what they write.
• Writing frequently builds trust and audience.
• Niche writing -- regardless of the size of the niche -- works better in blogs that are focused than in those that wander from topic to topic unpredictably.

'Yeah,' you say, 'but I've covered city council meetings and school boards for most of my career. What can I write about.'

Simple. Write about something you love; the most successful bloggers are passionate about what they do. Write about something you know; the Internet's broad audience will prove you philosopher or fool in short order.

If the politics of city hall is what you know, and you love talking about it, chances are it'd make a good subject for you to blog about. If your passion is food, blog it, especially if it's been part of your life as a journalist.

But pick a niche that isn't overflowing with competitors with your skills -- journalistically or as an "expert" in the topic of your blog.

'I wouldn't know where to begin...'

Hey, beginning is the easy part.

Check out Google's Blogger tool, which is what this post was written with. Or WordPress, a tool some professional sites use in a souped-up version. Both are available to start a blog for free.

Start writing. Share your journalism.