Welcome to the Blogosphere

Well, it took long enough. After years of fear and loathing, I’ve finally begun my blog.

And it’s all courtesy of the NABJ Media Institute, Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., and the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center.

Dr. Paul Chenoweth of Belmont, a web development expert, doesn’t realize he’s speeding right through my first lesson on blogging. He doesn’t understand that I am the lowliest of novices, very easily frustrated and in need of remedial instruction.

I’m feeling overwhelmed already because it’s hard for me to “get it” as far as new technology is concerned. Forget that I’ve spent 30 years as a respected journalist, and that in the last 12 months I’ve invested in a sweet text messaging camera phone, a top-shelf 17-inch laptop computer, an iPod Shuffle and a high-quality digital camera — I’m terrified of all of it!

It’s a paralyzing mental block that could be a career killer if I don’t get past it soon and learn some real multimedia skills.

Pray for me.