The Pakistani Spectator

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

I am a female conservative blogger (http://cassyfiano.blogspot.com) who writes about politics, current events, pop culture, sports, and pretty much any other topics that may cross my mind.  I got started as a sports journalist but eventually made the transition to new media and politics.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?

I do think the more I write, the better I get.  Practice makes perfect, and as time goes on, you’re able to really grow in your talent.  It’s also helpful when you’re looking over your past work… it really shows you how much you’ve grown as a writer and how far you’ve come.  And it’s of course important, because the better you are, obviously the more fans you will have!

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

I’ve had a LOT of great experiences.  I’ve been able to write for a presidential candidate, Duncan Hunter, which was incredible to me.  I’ve been able to meet a lot of new people, who I consider to be great friends, and really being able to do any of this at all is exciting to me.  Maybe it’s because I’m still new to this, but I’m thrilled anytime anyone, anywhere links me, or when my traffic spikes.  Just being able to blog at all is a great experience.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

Well, AIM is a great tool!  Some of them I talk to on the phone.  I love my fellow conservative bloggers because on the whole, we really stick together, I think.  A few bloggers have become really great friends, and I make a point of trying to keep in touch through e-mail or IM.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

I think new media in general is exciting.  The fact that people now have such free access to information means that we now are able to keep politicians in check.  They can’t just assume that we don’t know the details about bills in Congress or what they’re doing to change our country.  Information really is power, and with new media, we’re able to make this information freely available.  With mainstream media, you’re often only getting one side of the story, with distorted or missing facts and strong bias.  We give people the opportunity to see the whole story, and that is truly powerful.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

I think they do, slowly but surely.  People are figuring it out.  Mainstream media is seeing their ratings dwindle, whereas ours are climbing.  More and more people are listening to talk radio and tuning into the blogosphere.  And as I said, information is power.  People who find their eyes opened, thanks to the wealth of information out there, I think are more likely to want to take action.  If you’re informed, you’re empowered.  And those who make a real effort to stay informed are more likely to participate in politics, and in a more substantial way than voting once every four years.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

I have no idea!  Honestly, I’m a huge fan of so many bloggers.  I don’t really know what it is that I bring to the table that isn’t already out there, but I’ll try to come up with something.  I think that I have a little more variety in my subject matter – it’s not all politics, all the time.  But really, I don’t see myself as any better or worse than anyone else.  I’m just a regular person with an opinion — and come to think of it, maybe that’s another thing that people like.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

I’m good at networking.  I learned early on, when I first started in journalism, to never burn a bridge.  I try to make a point to keep good relationships with everyone I’ve come across in the blogosphere, and if you have a good rapport with other bloggers, they’re that much more likely to link you and help you out.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

The happiest day of my life… that is a tough one.  I don’t have any children, but last year my parents had a baby.  They asked me to be in the delivery room with them, and named me godmother and legal guardian.  When she was born, it was just such an incredible feeling, and I’m not even her mother!  Nevertheless, it was definitely one of the happiest days of the life.  The worst moment of my life is much easier to define.  When I was 20, just a few days after my birthday, my brother died at 18.  I held his hand until his heart stopped beating.  And it was absolutely terrible.  I still have nightmares about that day.

Do you think [the use of Twitter and other social networking tools by politicians] is bandwagon jumping or what?

Not in the least; I think it’s savvy marketing.  You want to get your message out to as many people as possible, and that means using all the available tools, including social networking sites.  Politicians also talk a lot about wanting to reach out to young voters, and this is a great way for them to do just that.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

Picking just three places would be insanely difficult!  I’m a huge history freak, and so there are just so many places I would want to see.  But if I have to choose three, number one would be Egypt, hands down.  Egypt is number one on my list of places to see before I die.  Number two would be Greece, and number three would be Israel.  All three are for the same reasons — there is just such incredible history and culture to see.  I would love to just be able to immerse myself into these places.  The only bad thing is that I’d want to see absolutely everything, which may not really be possible in one trip!

What is your favorite book and why?

I couldn’t pick a favorite book.  It’s not a cop-out, I swear, but I love reading so much that picking one book that I love more than all the others would be like asking a mother to pick which of her children she loves the most.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

I think you can glean a lot about someone from their overall appearance — facial expressions, how they dress, etc.  I guess the first thing I’d notice, though, would be their smile — or if they aren’t smiling, the lack thereof.  A person’s smile says a lot about them.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

No… no one has ever told me that I couldn’t write.  I have had people tell me that I couldn’t make it as a blogger, though, or that writing isn’t a “real” career.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

Ad revenue is one way, of course — through joining BlogAds or GoogleAds or something like that.  You can set up an account on PayPal and people can make donations.  I’d recommend getting a gig as a columnist somewhere as well, to complement your blogging.  But I’m pretty sure ad revenue is the best way.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

Oh, God no.  Blogging takes up SO much time… it’s really hard work.  Anyone who says otherwise has never been a blogger!

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?

In order for bloggers to actually make the world more friendly and less hostile, they’d have to be more friendly and less hostile to each other.  Sadly, I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

John Hawkins from Right Wing News, Michelle Malkin, Rachel Lucas, Ace of Spades, and Melissa Clouthier.

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

Not one specific one, no.  Certain topics tend to get people more fired up than other ones though, like abortion and sex changes, for example.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

I think Pakistan has a very rich history and culture to it, like many of the countries in that region.  Again, as a history lover, Pakistan has an especially fascinating history and given the struggles the country has had in the past, i.e. for independence, I think you can see a real resilience and strength in her people.  Pakistan is on the cusp of being a real positive force in the world.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

Yes.  Rachel Lucas automatically comes to mind; there is no one like her, and I absolutely love her!

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

The most striking difference is the quality of life for the poor.  Developing countries often don’t have the resources to care for their poor, so you see more people with diseases and malnutrition.

What is the future of blogging?

I think you will see blogging become more and more important as time goes on.  Eventually, I think that blogging will be accepted as legitimate journalism, in the same league with mainstream media journalists, much to their chagrin.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

It doesn’t really affect it much.  I keep it separate.  The only way it really affects my personal life is that I talk about politics much more than I probably should!

What are your future plans?

My plans are to continue blogging, hopefully become a syndicated columnist, and one day get into writing a book.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

Thank you so much for having me, and please visit my blog!
http://cassyfiano.blogspot.com

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