Opinions on blogs and journalism
This is a good Q&A posted on OnlineJournalsimBlog.com. The entire thing is worth the read, but I especially like the final segment.
Do you see blogging as an alternative to traditional journalism?
I see blogging as a challenge and a complement to traditional journalism. Having news coming from outside of a commercialised, bureaucratised news industry, outside news cycles, is enormously important. The shift in the balance of power so that readers can highlight the inaccuracies of journalism, or add useful context, without having to write a letter to the editor, is much needed. Having voices from outside the media industry is important. And having journalists whose success is based on their relationship with their readers rather than their relationship with their editor, is refreshing. Traditional journalism can learn a lot from all of this.
This basically sums up how I feel about blogging and journalism. But, I would definitely like to know how to either make money blogging or find a job in the mainstream and use a blog/read other blogs to make sure I and my peers do their job effectively.
Am I a sellout for being a blogger and an avid blog reader, but still wanting to be in the mainstream? I don’t think so because I understand what it is to blog and why they would be necessary to my job in the MSM.
I think you have to be aware that the desire to make money changes what you do as a blogger, and even the desire to be successful does (you start to seek viral memes, digg votes and google rankings!).
paulbradshaw
May 12, 2008 at 7:03 am
True. Sounds like comparing it with a musician’s work would be a good analogy. You have to do enough mainstream stuff to get attention so people will listen to what you really want to play. As long as bloggers trying to be journalists can produce real journalism consistently, I’m OK with her/him producing some other stuff to feed their community.
Ricky
May 12, 2008 at 9:31 am