Andrew Huff, founder of Gapers Block, the Chicago-centric web publication, visited journalism students at DePaul on Wednesday, giving them an inside look at the world of blogging and the tools used for building a career in online journalism.
AndrewHuff (Photo by Mike Reilley)
Huff explained how Gapers Block was created by volunteering writers who helped create the publication. While grudgingly working as a PR agent for a day job, Huff developed his hobby of blogging, with the help of fellow bloggers and designers, transforming his true passion into a full time career.
Gapers Block focuses on news and information about events going on in Chicago. Huff hopes it serves as a way for Chicagoans to slow down and observe what’s going on around them. The publication offers art, music, food, and politics sections as well as a book club section which is the first one that was created. Like Huff, the writers behind Gapers Block find comfort and satisfaction in contributing to their passions while holding uninspiring day jobs.
Huff talking about Gapers Block (Video by Mike Reilley)
The need for hyper-localized reporting is behind the growing industry of online journalism, Huff told students. Freelancing is available to budding writers and although the positions aren’t paid, Huff explained that free movies and free tickets are guaranteed perks.
Huff talking about opportunities at Gapers Block (Video by Mike Reilley)
Gapers Block has received reputable recognition in the Chicago Tribune and gained a $35,000 grant from Chicago Community Trust for local reporting, Huff said. After encouraging students to submit pieces and reminding them that links to the entire online community as a whole is what produces high readership, he left them with this ideology: “Write what you know, link to the rest.” This idea was created by Harvard University’s Nieman Journalism Lab, concerning the future of journalism.
Huff is currently working on numerous projects besides Gapers Block, including 1954 , a web site about journal entries Huff wrote in 1993 in a datebook from 1954.
