Comments on: I’d Like to Have an Argument: Bloggers are Journalists http://diannej.com/blog/2009/08/id-like-to-have-an-argument-bloggers-are-journalists/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Pithy snippets about food writing Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:14:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Twitter Trackbacks for I’d Like to Have an Argument: Bloggers are Journalists « Will Write For Food [diannej.com] on Topsy.com http://diannej.com/blog/2009/08/id-like-to-have-an-argument-bloggers-are-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-217 Twitter Trackbacks for I’d Like to Have an Argument: Bloggers are Journalists « Will Write For Food [diannej.com] on Topsy.com Sat, 29 Aug 2009 20:50:12 +0000 http://diannej.com/blog/?p=502#comment-217 [...] I’d Like to Have an Argument: Bloggers are Journalists « Will Write For Food diannej.com/blog/2009/08/id-like-to-have-an-argument-bloggers-are-journalists – view page – cached #Will Write For Food » Feed Will Write For Food » Comments Feed Will Write For Food » I’d Like to Have an Argument: Bloggers are Journalists Comments Feed Will Write For Food Score! Freelancer contacts for Saveur magazine A New Take on Food Memoir — From the page [...] [...] I’d Like to Have an Argument: Bloggers are Journalists « Will Write For Food diannej.com/blog/2009/08/id-like-to-have-an-argument-bloggers-are-journalists – view page – cached #Will Write For Food » Feed Will Write For Food » Comments Feed Will Write For Food » I’d Like to Have an Argument: Bloggers are Journalists Comments Feed Will Write For Food Score! Freelancer contacts for Saveur magazine A New Take on Food Memoir — From the page [...]

]]> By: pauline http://diannej.com/blog/2009/08/id-like-to-have-an-argument-bloggers-are-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-216 pauline Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:03:37 +0000 http://diannej.com/blog/?p=502#comment-216 Unless your blog post requires three sources, has a copy editor going over it and making some really annoying changes, and an editor telling you that you need to rework the first graph and that your kicker sucks, it isn't journalism. An opinion column? Sure. But not journalism in the sense of what most people think of the word today. Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, I was/am a journalist and also am a blogger. I worked for some respectable publications and still freelance on occasion. My first blog was a mom review/contest blog. I accept freebies (just like news publications do for the majority of review copy) and I never accept payment for said reviews (gotta stay away from conflict of interest!), but I never considered that blog to be journalism. It was just something fun to do in my spare time. I have to agree with the comments already posted. While some exceptions can be made for true journalism content on blogs, the majority of us are just bloggers. (And yep, I said "us." That means me, too.) Unless your blog post requires three sources, has a copy editor going over it and making some really annoying changes, and an editor telling you that you need to rework the first graph and that your kicker sucks, it isn’t journalism. An opinion column? Sure. But not journalism in the sense of what most people think of the word today.
Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, I was/am a journalist and also am a blogger. I worked for some respectable publications and still freelance on occasion. My first blog was a mom review/contest blog. I accept freebies (just like news publications do for the majority of review copy) and I never accept payment for said reviews (gotta stay away from conflict of interest!), but I never considered that blog to be journalism. It was just something fun to do in my spare time.
I have to agree with the comments already posted. While some exceptions can be made for true journalism content on blogs, the majority of us are just bloggers. (And yep, I said “us.” That means me, too.)

]]> By: Catherine Franz http://diannej.com/blog/2009/08/id-like-to-have-an-argument-bloggers-are-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-215 Catherine Franz Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:57:05 +0000 http://diannej.com/blog/?p=502#comment-215 Even though Webster has a common denominator definition, both use different skills and similar skills. Different processes and similar processes. But both operate under different boundaries. That's the main separation. I've been in both roles. I believe if a post is written like a news article, there would be less subscribers. And if a newspaper article was written conversationally like a post, it would never make it past the editor. And too many of them, s/he will kick your assets to the curb. Different strokes for each. Both require different expertises (that is if you want someone to read it). lol Even though Webster has a common denominator definition, both use different skills and similar skills. Different processes and similar processes. But both operate under different boundaries. That’s the main separation.

I’ve been in both roles. I believe if a post is written like a news article, there would be less subscribers. And if a newspaper article was written conversationally like a post, it would never make it past the editor. And too many of them, s/he will kick your assets to the curb.

Different strokes for each. Both require different expertises (that is if you want someone to read it). lol

]]> By: Catherine Franz http://diannej.com/blog/2009/08/id-like-to-have-an-argument-bloggers-are-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-214 Catherine Franz Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:54:26 +0000 http://diannej.com/blog/?p=502#comment-214 Eric, you gave me fighting words. You said bloggers were worse writers than journalists. You stepped in dog ____ on this one. Catherine Eric, you gave me fighting words. You said bloggers were worse writers than journalists. You stepped in dog ____ on this one.

Catherine

]]> By: Faith Kramer http://diannej.com/blog/2009/08/id-like-to-have-an-argument-bloggers-are-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-213 Faith Kramer Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:01:31 +0000 http://diannej.com/blog/?p=502#comment-213 I believe a lot has to do with intent, perception and audience. If your intent is to be treated as a journalist, if it is all possible for your writings, postings, etc. to be viewed as some form of journalism or if for your intent is to be perceived as journalism, news reporting, information sharing, etc. and you are writing for an audience other than your mom and sister you are probably a defacto journalist and the public will expect you to behave as one. If you label your blog as fiction, limit viewers to your cat sitter and/or make no intent to create opinion, inform or share info I guess you are off the hook. I'm getting carried away with myself of course, there will always been room for the personal blog and similar. I've always been uneasy with "advertorial" in a magazine and newspapers and hope food blogging doesn't end up being seen like that which could happen with corporate blogs, blog posts for hire, etc. I believe a lot has to do with intent, perception and audience.
If your intent is to be treated as a journalist, if it is all possible for your writings, postings, etc. to be viewed as some form of journalism or if for your intent is to be perceived as journalism, news reporting, information sharing, etc. and you are writing for an audience other than your mom and sister you are probably a defacto journalist and the public will expect you to behave as one.

If you label your blog as fiction, limit viewers to your cat sitter and/or make no intent to create opinion, inform or share info I guess you are off the hook. I’m getting carried away with myself of course, there will always been room for the personal blog and similar.

I’ve always been uneasy with “advertorial” in a magazine and newspapers and hope food blogging doesn’t end up being seen like that which could happen with corporate blogs, blog posts for hire, etc.

]]> By: Travis http://diannej.com/blog/2009/08/id-like-to-have-an-argument-bloggers-are-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-209 Travis Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:52:52 +0000 http://diannej.com/blog/?p=502#comment-209 Most bloggers are columnists but are not journalists. Ninety-five percent of bloggers write to express their opinions about something, not to report factual news or write feature stories. The majority of blog sites merely comment on factual news that was reported elsewhere -- typically by mainstream media. There is nothing wrong with any of this, and certainly there are plenty of bloggers who DO write the same type of thing you'd read in newspapers, magazines or elsewhere. But I think a small percentage of them can truly be called "journalists." Most bloggers are columnists but are not journalists. Ninety-five percent of bloggers write to express their opinions about something, not to report factual news or write feature stories. The majority of blog sites merely comment on factual news that was reported elsewhere — typically by mainstream media.

There is nothing wrong with any of this, and certainly there are plenty of bloggers who DO write the same type of thing you’d read in newspapers, magazines or elsewhere. But I think a small percentage of them can truly be called “journalists.”

]]> By: eric http://diannej.com/blog/2009/08/id-like-to-have-an-argument-bloggers-are-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-207 eric Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:17:28 +0000 http://diannej.com/blog/?p=502#comment-207 Some bloggers are as good as journalists. Some "journalists" are as bad as bloggers. Don't get intimidated by the word "journalist." And don't think they know more than you do as a blogger, they don't. Some bloggers are as good as journalists. Some “journalists” are as bad as bloggers. Don’t get intimidated by the word “journalist.” And don’t think they know more than you do as a blogger, they don’t.

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