Mc.Houston

Posting Houston’s top stories and incorporating his own twist on news, Mike McGuff’s nationally ranked blog,mikemcguff, is the number one blog for all the Houston stories and events.  Posting stories as a news reporter his blogs include interviews, discussions, and illustrations that produce a well rounded informative blog post.  Also, posting events days in advance Mike allows for his readers to take part in all the Houston has to offer.  Informative, entertaining, and unique; mikemcguff.

 

1) What inspired you to start your own blog?
Back in 2005 I was a young punk TV producer looking all over the Internet for story ideas. There was so much out there, not all of it could possibly make it to TV.  I thought a blog would be a great place to showcase the extra stuff plus items that wouldn’t be appropriate for television.

2) Many people blog for different reasons. What is your ultimate goal as a blogger?
As a person who has worked in radio and television, I like to inform and entertain.  I see blogging as the new way to do that.  It’s like having my own radio or television station.  Maybe it is the only place in this world where I have some control?

3) How long did you think about it before you started blogging and what was the catalyst for your first post?
Back in 2004-05 I really started to watch the blogs popping up with great interest.  I wrote a story for abc13.comabout the Houston blog scene and interviewed Kevin Whited and Anne Linehan of blogHOUSTON and Charles Kuffner of offthekuff.com.  Both blogs are still going strong in 2010. I would say writing that article for KTRK’s site really got me interested.  Plus I am sure my friends were tired of me sending them funny links all the time via email.  I started blogging at the end of 2005.

4) What do you hope readers take away from reading your blogs?
Ultimately I want to inform and entertain.  I hope they learn something or maybe think about things with a new perspective.

5) What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of maintaining a blog? How do you choose to address it?
The most challenging aspect is keeping up the interest to post all of the time.  In my opinion, if you stop blogging for a few days, you’ll lose audience.  I care about this because working in media you are trained to be obsessed with audience numbers.  I guess it is hard to turn off at this point…maybe one day. Luckily I must have an obsessive enough personality that this works to my benefit interest wise.

6) What other blogs do you enjoy reading and why?
This kind of changes by the year because I am certainly not reading the same stuff I did five years ago.  I’ve gone through the music blog phase, tech blog phase…etc.  Right now I read a lot of the local Houston blogs like the ones put out by the Houston Press.  I am also watching upstart Culturemap with interest.

7) If you could narrow it down to one answer, what do you love the most about Houston? Why?
I love it because I am something rare…a Native Houstonian.  I’ve only been away from this city for six years of my life and I came back to visit as much as possible.  It is who I am, what I know. Being the fourth largest US city, there is plenty going on to keep you interested.  The city has changed a lot over the years and I am excited to see what it’s like by the time I am an old man.

How has blogging changed your life?
Lots of people used to ask me why I waste my time blogging.  In the early days it kind of had a negative connotation for some reason…maybe it still does with some.  I’ve been able to do some cool things as a result of the blog.  I’ve been on the radio, TV and met with the mayor of Houston and a congressman…all because of my little blog. 

9) Are there other blogs/websites do you maintain?
Yes. I develop websites for people when I have time.  My big project right now is abbysbookcorner.com.  This is a book drive put on by my goddaughter’s parents.  My goddaughter passed away a few years ago from meningitis and this is all done in her honor. It started in Dallas and is spreading across Texas.  I built that site and am currently collecting books for the Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center.

10) Has the city of Houston brought you any local advantages or disadvantages that affect your blog?
Without Houston I would have little content!  I think it has been great for me.  While my audience is mostly Houstonians, I also have readers from all over the world.

11)  Do you have a favorite post on your blog.
I think one of my top blog posts is the one that really put me on the map so to speak.  Former KTRK 13 weatherman Ed Brandon came to me in secret and wanted my blog to host the announcement about his upcoming retirement in 2007. Since I was the only source for the news, the Houston Chronicle actually had to quote and write the story from my blog post. That Chron article is framed in my home office.  I have thanked Ed for this many times.

12)  Have you had any interesting reactions from your blog (either on the internet or in real life)
Some of the comments I receive on blog posts could be classified as interesting or horrifying depending on your take.  I think interesting reactions are when people recognize me in the physical world and say I look a lot younger in person.  I don’t think he will mind me telling this, but 740 KTRH talk show Michael Berry emailed me for advice when he started out on the radio a few years ago.  He thought from my writing that I was some hardened media veteran and was surprised when he met me.  I guess I just have an old soul.