Steve Ross
The word blogger is an interesting one. People writing on platforms about what they want, be it about knitting, kittens with their heads stuck in bread or politics, the blogging world has changed the way media works to a certain degree. And unfortunately, we forget the countless unpaid hours that people with passion put in because the word blogger sometimes is said by certain individuals with a bit of a snarl.
Political blogging is especially tricky. I’ve always thought that there are a few different kinds of political bloggers. There are activists who are cause based which are somewhat different than advocates, who push specific messages. There are some folks who deal in the outrage factor, who are angry with government which is their prerogative and raise their voices. Some folks want to bridge the chasm between politics as usual and use new methods to attract voters and spread messages to those who have tired of politics and government as a whole. I could go on, you get the big picture. There are different kinds of political online scribes and each one has its value.
That’s why I want to talk to you about one blogger that is not only putting his money where his mouth is, but whose blogging experience has made him want to be part of political decision making. Steve Ross, who is a friend of mine, started blogging a few years ago about Memphis, the importance of policy and social injustices. I met Steve through blogging at a Drinking Liberally event around five years ago and over time, we became pals. The one thing that Steve and I share is that all politics are local and that there is always opportunity in having a conversation about difficult issues. Never miss the chance to change someone’s mind or learn from what they have to offer even if views are completely polar opposite.
He told me recently that it was blogging that put him on his own journey to run for office. Steve pulled papers late last year to run for the Shelby County Commission. For those individuals who still subscribe that bloggers are living and writing in their mother’s basement don’t understand blogging at all. Also, 2007 called and wants their time machine back.
Not satisfied in just writing about the issues, Steve has made it his mission to understand the policies that are driving the message in Memphis, is not afraid to pick up the phone to call his elected officials about discrepancies regarding resolutions or to volunteer his time with countless organizations. Steve has been able to balance being critical of policy without attacking people personally which isn’t easy. And with that, over the years, he has been able to garner a great deal of respect not only in Memphis, but around the state.
What you may not know about ‘the little blogger that could’ is that over the past year, he has been registering voters on the weekends, long before he made the decision to run for local office and has been very active in communicating the message of the Shelby County Democratic Party as a member of their PR Committee. He diligently observes the City Council and County Commission, and he is participating in politics outside the online world. He has transformed his writing into his own brand of advocacy for social justice and has put his name and face out their as a candidate.
He is the blogger that decided he could.
As I said, political blogging is tricky business. We tend to make everyone mad one moment and then we are the toast of the town for fifteen minutes when our posts are politically beneficial to the ideology of certain existing institutions. And believe me, those two elements can change on a dime. Watching Steve go from p/t political blogger to on-the-ground activist to candidate has been an interesting and wonderful transition. It’s something that we should be applauding.
One of ours is leading the way. If you like what he’s doing, donate him a blog post too.
For more information on Steve’s campaign, head to his website Vote For Steve Ross.
Bloggers are serious, intelligent, responsible only on a case-by-case basis. Like politicians, journalists, and citizens.
I also think many politicos don’t even know what blogging is. They think it’s the comment threads on newspaper sites. Most of that is useless dreck.
If I still lived in Shelby Co. (not for 40 years!), I’d look Steve up.