You know you are a journalist and not a blogger when...

By Tom Foremski - March 19, 2006

. . .You start getting pitches from PR folk and companies.

Here is Robert Scoble--Microsoft's A-list blogger:


Who made me a gatekeeper? I don’t want that job.

Don’t send me more email pitches please. Don’t beg for me to try out your software. Don’t wait for me to blog about your company or your team or your product or you. That’s what comments here are for. You have direct access to anyone who is reading this post. Pitch in the comments! If your stuff is good, someone will try it out and say so. Maybe even me.


Please read more at Scobleizer...

BTW, I am always amazed when bloggers such as Mr Scoble and others, start becoming very irritated at the hundreds of emails they start getting from PR people and others wanting a plug. Welcome to the world of the journalist--we have to deal with this stuff every day, it comes with the territory.

And as for journalists who now have to blog for their employer:

Editors at the Washington Post are wrestling with discontent from reporters who think they should be paid extra for contributing to a group Web log. The Washington City Paper reported staffers on the Post's metro section asked for extra money after learning some prominent byliners were being paid for Web logs while they would not be.
Please read more at Bloggersblog...

I used to tell my colleagues in the mainstream media "start blogging as soon as you can otherwise you will have to blog for your employer and build its media brand instead of yours!" I don't like to have to say I told you so...

And as for extra cash for extra work? Forgetaboutit. It would just accelerate the decline of your newspaper because your newspaper cannot monetise your extra work anyway.



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By Tom Foremski - March 19, 2006 | Permalink | Comment | Category: Mediasphere
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Comments (3)

Dennis Howlett:

I just love the way you bait both sides Tom - keep sticking it to 'em. Keeps me amused.

Posted: March 20, 2006 5:15 AM

Tom Foremski - Silicon Valley Watcher [TypeKey Profile Page]:

Dennis, I'm not baiting, honest, I'm just making distinctions...blogging is not disrupting mainstream media--it enhances it. But it is very difficult to monetise and to support a professional media with all its costs, etc.

Posted: March 20, 2006 12:13 PM

Dennis Howlett:

If you're saying blogging doesn't disrupt FT/Guardian/DT then maybe so on a pure numbers argument though that is debatable given the shift to online readership. Is it 1 for 1 from print?

But that doesn't take into account the attention argument for those who are seeking to influence small but important segments. Your blog is an example, as I hope mine will transform into being asI refine the arguments and messages I see as important to my audience. Happily, that's coming through both online and offline discussions. And please remember that from 5.5K miles distance, we're at the edge of learning.

IMO - this is not an either or but an either/and argument with specialists adding value as they develop quality content and authority. the advantage bloggers as hacks have is speed and exclusivity where the blogger demonstrates expertise. I'm already seeing that as I'm sure you are. Along with increasing email reflecting perceived influence. (Sorry Scoble)

This is a developing market and personally I prefer the sponsosrship model that uses the vertical blog as the start of a discovery mechanism about how companies reach markets with a higher degree of positive result than MSM.

I won't pretend to have fully developed answers though I think I have the kernel of ideas that might stick. I am happy to share success and failure as a way of learning.

Posted: March 20, 2006 5:30 PM

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