To speak of blogs as doing just one thing is to fail to understand the blogosphere; blogs do many kinds of things, some more useful than others. Some of the narrowest niches provide some of the greatest utility.

Case in point, Idaho Radio News, a blog from Boise that addresses exactly what its title indicates: News and developments in the world of radio in the state of Idaho. That’s a subject not central to Ridenbaugh Press but certainly within our scope, and we peruse IRN regularly to keep up. Idaho Radio’s niche may not be enormous but it is (so far as we know) the sole practitioner within it. No one else, on line or otherwise, tracks this particular field.

About a week and a half ago, the proprietor said he was assessing whether to continue on: “After almost three years doing this thing, I’m starting to run out of gas. I’m not finding as much to post… I don’t feel very “plugged in”… and frankly, I seem to get more negative e-mails than positive. Plus, the day job and outside life consume me – much more so than they used to.”

Fair enough. But to his (stated) surprise, the announcement drew a pile of responses, most asking him to stick with it. (The idea of splitting the load by adding contributors was also broached.) Afterward, he said he will think it over and try to reach a decision on direction in late September or so.

Whatever he decides, we hope Idaho Radio News continues on. It provides a real service to people who need it – more than you can say of any number of mass market publications at the supermarket checkout counter . . .