We’re back at it.
Dr. Sarah Hughes and I received so much love from the last post that I’m sharing the full discussion on her article, American Monsters: Tabloid Media and the Satanic Panic, 1970-2000.
Listen as we get into it deeper.
(Also, I know JonBenet was 6, I apologize for saying she was 5)
Dr. Sarah Hughes received her Ph.D. in History from Temple University. She taught history while in grad school. Hughes recently had her article, American Monsters: Tabloid Media and the Satanic Panic, 1970 – 2000, published in the Journal of American Studies. She truly is a queen and I could listen to her talk for hours. Listen as she talks the importance of history, how she got into history, and her article.
Wynning History run by Jake Wynn, 24, is a history blog centered on Central Pennsylvania which began in 2014. Wynn is a native of Williamstown, Pennsylvania who currently resides in Frederick, Maryland and is the Program and Education Coordinator at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.
Christoph: When did you start blogging and when did you start blogging about this topic?
Wynn: I’ve always been interested in local history from the small coal mining region in Pennsylvania where I grew up. It became a hobby and I spent many weekend days exploring the ruins of industry in Williamstown. But in 2012-2013, my interest became much more intense. I began a public history program at Hood College and started looking for ways to turn my hobby into a serious endeavor. A local history blogger, Norm Gasbarro, took my under his wing and encouraged me to write for his Gratz Civil War Blog. In early 2014 I branched out on my own and started Wynning History. I’ve made it a focus to professionalize and regularize the blog within the past year.
What is a short synopsis of your blog, how would you describe it to a friend?
Wynning History is really just an outward extension of what I’ve been reading, writing, and researching. It focuses on history and culture in areas of Central Pennsylvania with occasional explorations of other topics of regional and national importance. Ultimately, it is my attempt to relate research and history that is relevant for issues today, but also includes stories that I believe deserve to be told.
Why did you start this blog?
I found that through my time at Hood College, I had collected a ton of great stories and research that I suspected members of the public may enjoy. I began publishing occasionally on stories about my hometown and the Civil War. But once I dove in, I realized I had a more complex narrative to tell and I’ve tried to continue developing my abilities to analyze and to write.
How do you find juggling this blog with other aspects of your life?
Up until the autumn of 2016, my life and my blogging had a very combative relationship. I would get distracted or busy and the blog would go silent for months at a time. Since then, I’ve really made posting weekly a priority. It’s become therapeutic and allows me a away to channel my research and writing into something productive and something that allows me to relate history to current events.
What do you find is the most challenging thing about maintaining this blog?
I have found that posting consistently and staying relevant are my biggest challenges. I always want the content to speak to whatever may be impacting my reader’s lives.
What is your routine for blogging, how you decide on a topic, how you move forward, what is your writing process?
Wynning History has become an escape of sorts for me. It allows me to post about topics unrelated to my current work. I’m blessed really – my job includes researching, writing, and speaking about one of my favorite topics. The Civil War has always fascinated me. But sometimes, I just need to post about the politics of labor unionizing in a small town in Pennsylvania. Using the blog as an escape has definitely kept me sane.
How often do you post?
I post every Thursday. I’m currently mulling adding in a second post each week as well.
Has the blog evolved over time?
It absolutely has and it continues to evolve. I’m finding specific areas that really interest my readership. I believe it has become more professional over time as I’ve gotten writing experience, but also experience in helping to manage a museum’s website and social media presence.
What role do you think blogging should play in the future of journalism?
I love well-told stories. Journalism provides that. Good history provides that. I’ve watched great blogs take off and provide context for events that are shaping the world. Ultimately, I’d love to play a part in that. I’ve been experimenting with writing for other blogs and news organizations in addition to my work on Wynning History.
What’s the most interesting or exciting aspect of running this blog?
The most exciting part has been watching the blog really take off on social media. The Wynning History Facebook page is rapidly growing and it has created a little community that surrounds me. I’ve been really lucky to have such amazing people who have helped me and supported me as I’ve made this blog a more integral part of my life. It’s also translated into a few speaking engagements and I am really passionate about storytelling and the storytelling process.
What advice do you have for someone just starting to maintain a beat blog?
Post consistently. Stay relevant. Don’t doubt the value of your work.
How do you think historical events of the past relate to those of today?
We are doomed to live in interesting times. The study of history is vitally important in our current political moment. As it seems facts matter less and less in public discourse, public and academic historians need to continue to push our voices into the political sphere. Whether it’s the political influences of small coal towns, the economic struggles of the Rust Belt, or the horrors of the Civil War, these topics are extraordinarily relevant and their historical context vital.
Check out Jake Wynn’s work at Wynning History
Mike McCormick, 35, has been running South Jersey Trails since March of 2013. McCormick is a native of Voorhees, N.J. who currently resides in Barrington, N.J. who spends his days teaching middle school students world and US history. “The adventures of a man and his three sons (and his wife and, occasionally his friends) to the wonders of South Jersey, including hikes, canoe trips, backpacking, and historical sites”, McCormick summarizes of South Jersey Trails.
McCormick began the blog the way many great ideas are born, he had a question and no one was out there answering it.
McCormick recounts the story of when South Jersey Trails was born. While scouring the internet trying to find new trails to hike with his young son, in the hopes his wife would get an afternoon of relaxation, he found many trails in north Jersey. Without the ease to drive hours north to hike McCormick states he “decided then and there to write a book about hiking in South Jersey. Ten minutes later, I realized that that was entirely too much work and abandoned that plan. Instead I started a blog to keep track of the places I found to hike.”
South Jersey Trails has an astounding 74,233 views and rising. McCormick’s writing style has not changed much since the inception of the blog, but he has learned what his audience wants to know, such as which trails are dog-friendly. While blogs and other hobbies are often draining on a person’s life and free time, McCormick doesn’t feel that with his blogging. He states, “having my kids involved with actually hiking with me means that the blog includes a major aspect of my life within it (my family), rather than taking time away from them.”
McCormick has found that changing trails can cause some confusion and trouble with his blog staying accurate. While he tries to keep his blog updated at least once a month, if there is a period of time with no posts his readers can look back at the 130 previous posts documenting trails and so much more. As hiking trails remains the focus of the blog, McCormick says he “quickly branched out from just hiking in the beginning, to canoeing, local history, backpacking, and occasional posts on the national parks.” McCormick sees the best part of the blog as the ability to go out and explore as well as inform his readers of so many new and beautiful places in southern New Jersey.
As far as the impact and future of blogging, McCormick believes blogging “has a key role to play in the future of journalism. Blogs are able to successfully reach niche areas outside of mainstream journalism, allowing them to target under-served audiences or to take stories that print media wouldn’t necessarily be able to focus on.”
McCormick’s advice for fellow bloggers out there is to “make sure that you are writing about something that you care deeply about. If you care about your subject, that will come through to your audience.”
Bringing it all back to the history of south Jersey, McCormick states “a deeper understanding of our past leads to a clearer understanding of our present, which gives us a better understanding of what may happen in our future. Lessons learned from the past can sometimes help us decide what we can do with problems of today.”
Check out South Jersey Trails and get out there hiking and learning.
The trails and tribulations of history can truly be the best teachers for our future.
Historic Reality 