Finally. An organisation that knows and understands fully that bloggers are NOT journalists. They are not considered media.
Note the following disclaimers:
- Bloggers can be good writers (although most of them aren’t).
- Blogs can be fun and entertaining to read.
- Some blogs can even be informative and educational ie The Online Citizen. However, these bloggers are real smarties ie Alex of Yawning Bread.
- Bloggers can have good coverage and reach.
- Bloggers can be nice people too.
- Not all media are credible as well – think: The Straits Times and its ultra-biased pro-PAP coverage.
- Blogs can generate a shitload of money and be a source of income.
- This is not a rant blog entry against bloggers. It’s about how bloggers are not considered journalists or a member of the media.
However, it just does not discount these facts that most of the bloggers aren’t trained in journalism.
Neither do they have the experience or knowledge of how the media industry works.
Neither are they as widely exposed to the range of products and information we have.
Take a beauty blogger versus a beauty editor. Unless this beauty blogger is uber filthy rich and can buy every single NEW product that hits the shelf, there is no way she can rival the beauty editor’s product knowledge or stash. A beauty editor’s table/ cubicle is usually 90% covered with products, and trust me, one wrong move and you’ll risk death by avalanche of beauty products.
Even if the beauty blogger is insanely rich and wipes out the shelves of Watsons, Guardian and every single beauty counter in Tangs, she is still unable to access the products before the beauty editor, which is at least 1-3 months ahead. Neither does she have the background information that the beauty editor has garnered at the press launch and the press materials.
I come from the REAL media industry, and when I attend launches and events, I can almost immediately spot who are the bloggers.
Here are 2 key differences (not all-inclusive).
They are trigger-happy.
Bloggers can be recognised by the way they whip out their (usually bling encrusted / well-maintained) digital cam (both compact and DSLR) and obsessively snapping at everything, including the opening speeches.
Real journalists use press images or have real photographers.
Perhaps this could be due to the nature of their blogs – heavy on the (usually photoshopped photos) and light on the words.
They are ALWAYS dolled up TTM.
Unless it’s a fashion event (where the real journalists are really chi-chi and do air kisses in real branded stuff), real journalists almost never ever dress up nicely, or even bother with a whole she-bang of makeup (falsies included), 4-inch heels that leave them tottering around and tiny handbangs for events.
Why? It’s just another 2-3 hours of their day (considerably wasted) when they could be typing out another story before their deadline looms. By the way, deadlines are every week.
The few reasons why a journalist would attend such events are:
- If the product or concept of the launch is truly innovative and interesting.
- If the location is interesting. NOT ulu – some launches are held at the most godforsaken places and we get really peeved trying to find it. Let’s not even start on the time spent trying to get there and back to office in time before our bosses blow up at us.
- If it’s closing time. This means the designers are doing the final layouts and changes before the magazine goes to print). This means we get a slightttttt teeny weeny bit more breathing room and we decide to emerge out of our mountain cave to get some fresh air. Oh, and to remind people we’re still alive.
- And the most common reason – Because the products launched are major advertisers in their publication. Oh yeah baby, no money, no talk. The more people who turn up at their events, the more the marketing / PR executive can meet their KPIs. Hence comes the “hey.. are you coming to show support?” – note that this question is completely rhetorical and you’re just supposed to enthuse about how you RSVPed long ago / there’s no need to RSVP cos you’re definitely going. -cue- big bright smile.
Now, I’m not saying I don’t enjoy going for launches. I usually do love these social events – I can catch up with the PR people, the other journos, check out the new and existing products, and of course, freeeeebies.
However, in the journalism industry, we’re major multi-taskers who are so so so tightly strapped for time. (well, perhaps only in the companies I’ve worked in). Thus, every half an hour spent waiting for an event to start is a waste of our time, and pushes us a step closer to getting tekan-ed by our bosses. (“finished your story?! haven’t? then how come can go for event?!”)
And thus, we need to utilise every moment we have, and that means lesser time to make up, pick a nice outfit, match our shoes to the clothes, carrying a big and practical bag to store everything we need, and practical shoes to make a run for it.
I think the reason why everyone wants to be a blogger is because of the perceived notion that they can become a psuedo-celebrity and be considered part of the media - receiving invites to events and getting freebies. Sad to say, this is just 10% of being a journalist.
Most of them don’t know much about being a real journalist (unless they have worked in the industry before). It’s about collating information, doing research, breaking it down into layman terms and understanding if it’s newsworthy enough to put out. It’s not about 5 million photos of you trying on makeup on your face and looking pretty.
How about trying to understand the brand, and pitching it against the other brands in your mind? How about comparing product technology? How about a blogger interviewing a top CEO and asking him about his
Tsk.
If every blogger is a journalist and considered a member of the media, I think I’ve wasted like.. AUD$60,000-70,000 studying a degree in Mass Communication and valuable time of my life. Or perhaps it’s the majority of the freebie-grubbing bloggers that have spoilt the market for the credible ones.
October 27th, 2011 → 9:05 am
[...] again I would like to reiterate my stance that bloggers are NOT accredited forms of media. Read my previous rant on this. They are forms of media, just not credible [...]