Jillian Cohan is a TV junkie who can’t get enough of the dark humor in Showtime’s original series, which she blogs about for b5media at Showtimefan.com. She has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in journalism, which she puts to use as a newspaper editor.

1. How did you get started in blogging?

I’ve had a sporadic personal blog since 2005. I’m much more consistent with the professional one I write for b5 media. A friend of mine introduced me to b5 last year and after several unsuccessful pitches, they agreed to my idea for a blog about Showtime’s original series.

2. Why have you chosen the entertainment field?

I’ve been a newspaper entertainment journalist for several years so it was a natural segue from the printed page to the blog.

3. What were the jobs you had in your journey to this job?

I have eight years of experience as a writer, editor and reporter, primarily in magazines and newspapers.

4. What is the busiest time of year for you?

Since my blog is tied to one cable network, it depends on Showtime’s program schedule. Right now (late December) is slow because the season have just wrapped for several shows. It will get busier again in January and in the summer, when new series debut.

5. What kind of hours do you work?

I fit blogging in around my full time day job, so I usually write for a few hours in the morning or late at night.

6. What kind of education, training and skills are needed for this job?

Strong writing skills, a conversational tone, some reporting ability including developing media contacts in publicity departments and pr firms, and some basic skills with blogging software such as WordPress, Typepad or Blogger.

7. What’s the most challenging experience you’ve ever had as an entertainment blogger?

It’s been an odd transition for me from print media, where publicists trust that you won’t leak information from screener disks, to online media, where publicists assume you will leak any advance info they provide. I’ve had to be craftier about how I gather and publish information.

8. What are you most proud of and why?

I’m proud to add blogger to my journalism credentials because while many in the mainstream media have ignored the potential of the online universe, I’ve embraced it.

9. Is this a competitive field?

In some ways, yes. You’re competing with tons of other blogs for a limited number of visitors. On the other hand, it’s a very democratic field in that you can always start something new if you’re entrepreneurial.

10. How long did it take you to become really successful and when did you know you’d made it?

Let me get back to you on that. I’m new enough at this that I don’t consider myself to have “made it” yet.

11. Do you ever get tired of blogging? How do you overcome it?

Sometimes my energy flags, but I really enjoy the topic I’ve chosen, so I just rally and go to work. Once I’m started, the time passes very quickly.

12. Are there any fringe benefits or perks to being an entertainment blogger?

You may get advance copies of shows or promotional merchandise. I come from a print background, so rather than keep this swag I tend to give it back to readers through contests and giveaways.

13. What are your predictions for entertainment blogging in 2008?

The big sites — especially gossip sites like PerezHilton.com — will continue to be the monsters with the most traffic. But newer and smaller sites may be more nimble and be able to break news too.

14. What are your personal blogging goals for the next year?

I hadn’t thought of any; I try to stay on an even keel with my blog and to post twice a day, every day. I suppose that would continue to be my goal.

15. Who, if anyone, has influenced you as a blogger and how?

All of the breezy pop culture blogs I read contributed to my love of the form. I think the Fug Girls are fabulous and the folks at Best Week Ever do a great job running down the best of what’s out there, with a cheeky twist.

16. What advice would you give to someone who was just starting out?

As when entering any new field, you’ll need a lot of (cliche alert!) patience and persistence. Also, choose a topic you enjoy and already know a lot about, as you’ll spend a lot of time with it.

17. In addition to writing content, how else can people make money from entertainment blogging?

Honestly, gossip is great currency. If you have a scoop, pass the link up the line to a bigger site. If they post it, your traffic could grow significantly. A friend of mine got one of her interviews picked up by a major gossip site and all the traffic temporarily downed the b5 servers.

About Jill Cohan

Jillian Cohan has been an editor at an alternative teen magazine, a freelance features writer and a newspaper reporter covering live music and, most recently, education. She’s also a guilty-pleasure TV junkie who can’t get enough of the characters on Showtime’s original series, which she blogs about for b5media at Showtimefan.com Jillian is a New England native (born in Vermont, land of Ben and Jerry’s and civil unions) recently transplanted to the Midwest (land of beef cattle and Bob Dole). She has a B.A. in English literature and a master’s degree in journalism.

Interview Date: December 2007