Overheard in Pittsburgh

Screenshot of Overheard in Pittsburgh

Overheard in Pittsburgh is a blog edited by Chris Griswold that publishes snippets of conversations overheard in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that are submitted by readers. Griswold created the site in September 2005, using the format originated by the Web site In Passing in 2000.^[1] According to The Pittsburgh Metropolitan, the site became "wildly popular" and published more than 100 entries within three months.^[2] Overheard in Pittsburgh has been written about in the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.^[1]

In 2006, the Pittsburgh City Paper named Overheard in Pittsburgh the best Pittsburgh Web site, the result of the paper's annual reader poll.[1] In discussing the site, the City Paper said Overheard in Pittsburgh represented the Pittsburghese word "nebby", which means "nosy," also a Pittsburgh tradition.^[3]

Griswold tries to differentiate "Overheard in Pittsburgh" from similar sites by striving to reflect life in Pittsburgh as best as he can, rather than, as City Paper reporter Justin Hopper wrote, "[…] simply repeat stupid things people say […] with a classist or even mildly racist take like many 'overheard' blogs do." Also distinguishing Overheard in Pittsburgh from most other sites in the genre is that it does not rely on an editorial team of contributors; instead, all entires come from Griswold or the people of Pittsburgh. According to Griswold, popular topics have included the Pittsburgh Steelers' win in Super Bowl XL and Mayor Bob O'Connor's death. Many of the site's submissions come from Oakland and the East End, the location of several of Pittsburgh's numerous colleges, and the rate of submissions slows when school is out for the summer.^[4]

See also

• Overheard in New York

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Chris Griswold. ""About Overheard in Pittsburgh"". Overheard in Pittsburgh. http://www.overheardinpittsburgh.com/about/. Retrieved February 17, 2007. 
2. ^ Ciampaglia, Dante (January / February 2006). "A Confluence under the Influence". The Pittsburgh Metropolitan: 66. 
3. ^ ""Best of 2006: Word of Mouth"". Pittsburgh City Paper. Steel City Media, Inc.. December 14, 2006. http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A20364. Retrieved February 17, 2007. 
4. ^ Justin Hopper (December 14, 2006). ""Best Pittsburgh Blog: www.overheardinpittsburgh.com"". Pittsburgh City Paper. Steel City Media, Inc.. http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A20457. Retrieved February 17, 2007. 

External links

• Overheard in Pittsburgh
• Melissa Meinzer (January 19, 2006). "Local Vocal: A Conversation with Chris Griswold". Pittsburgh City Paper. Steel City Media, Inc.. http://www.cparchives.com/archive.cfm?type=Local%20Vocal&action=getComplete&ref=5552. Retrieved February 17, 2007.