Together with Miel Van Opstal from Coolz0r, we’ve decided to start a guestblogging series which will run on both our blogs at about the same time.
Today is the fourth part of the series and we give the word to Mark Jen, the former Google employee who now works for Plaxo.

 

1. How did you get into blogging?

I started my original blog when I started working at Google in January of 2005. I switched to my current blog (and imported my original entries and set up a redirect) when I switched jobs.

2. What is your blog’s name, what is it about?

My current blog is called “Plaxoed!” [rss]. It’s about my life while working at Plaxo. My original blog was called “Ninetyninezeros” (http://99zeros.blogspot.com). It was about life at Google from the inside (the “inside” of a Google is 99 zeros).

3. Are there any policies you follow when reporting on an issue?

I follow Plaxo’s Public Communication Policy, but other than those relatively loose guidelines, I blog whatever I’m thinking.

4. What guidelines do you follow when linking to an outside source?

When linking to an outside source, if I mention the author by name, I always link to their top level blog/bio/etc. If I talk about an article in particular, I link to the article.

5. Do you think you are trustworthy? Why do your readers trust you?

Obviously, I think I’m trustworthy. I’ve got nothing to hide and besides, what’s the worst that can happen to me? I get fired?

6. Do you think bloggers should be treated as journalists and be privy to the rights and protections that journalists enjoy?

I think this depends on the blogger and on the particular writings in question. If the blogger is acting as a journalist and the writing is reporting on something based on journalistic research, then they should be given the rights and protections of journalists.

Initiated together with Miel Van Opstal, this guest blogging series will continue to make people aware of the power of linking and the need to give credit to the people who earn it.
Together, we’re improving the Blogosphere,you can help if you start linking here!
And be sure to check out Miel’s post here.

Previously on the Blog Series :
* Philipp Lenssen
* Randy Charles Morin
* Martin Fasani

Would you like to participate? Send an email to Jason or Coolz0r.

Note: Miel and I are not related but have a common field. Coolz0r sometimes writes for Inside Google & Inside Microsoft, which is the same place where I maintain Apple Watch.