Weblogs are a unique mix of editorial control and interactive contribution. But when a blog becomes widely read, or strives to become more “professional,” it tends to gravitate towards more editorial control, at the expense of the interactivity. At least, I have anecdotal evidence to support this hypothesis. (Try commenting on a Wonkette post, or sending a trackback ping to Instapundit, or e-mailing Andrew Sullivan in hopes of a reply. You see?)

Sometimes, when I entertain my daydreams, I peruse the websites devoted to the topic of “professional blogging.” Yesterday, I found an article on Web Pro News, “Does Professional Blogging Equal Non Interactive Blogging?,” in which the author, Darren Rowse, conducted an interesting experiment.

Rowse sent e-mails to the editors of three different widely read blogs. All three of these blogs invite their readers to send in feedback and story ideas, and Rowse’s e-mails were all tips regarding developments in the fields which these blogs covered. He wanted to see what sort of response he got.

Blog number 1 (Rowse does not divulge the identities of the subjects) did not reply by e-mail (except for a boilerplate automated response), but did post the story he suggested, with attribution to Rowse. Blog 2 replied with a personal note of thanks and encouragement. By way of contrast, the editor of Blog 3 replied with a complaint that he gets too much e-mail, and would appreciate no more from Rowse.

I found these results interesting, though inconclusive, and I couldn’t help wondering if Rowse practices what he preaches. I also couldn’t help wondering if anyone else was wondering what I was wondering. So I sent him an e-mail:

I am curious: how many people have so far sent you e-mails in response to your article, simply to see whether you send a reply, and whether you follow your own advice?
-Sean Gleeson

I got my reply early this morning:

Hi Sean,

Sorry for the delay in replying - have been away for the weekend.

Just checking my emails now so I havn’t seen them all - but so far none have done that

I’m not the best at replying to emails but always get to them in the end if I can.

With Blogger 3 I’d have rathered no reply than the one I got

Thanks

-Darren

So there you have it. Darren Rowse is an interactive professional blogger. And note that even though I got my reply the very next day (a Sunday!), he apologized for “the delay.” Now that’s genteel. Keep it up, Darren. You’re a credit to your profession.