In defence of bloggers (and why it’s okay to be paid)
Over the weekend Telegraph journalist Jonathan Moran criticised bloggers for a supposed lack of ethics and rules around disclosure. In this guest post, first published on Woogsworld, blogger Mrs Woog responds.
Jonathon Moran is a journalist for Murdoch’s Telegraph. On Saturday, a full page was dedicated to Moran, so he could vent his frustrations on how irritating fashion bloggers are.
The opening paragraph reminds me of when you hear people say “I am not racist, but…”
I’m surprised you bit at this Mrs Woog – I felt like the piece was less about bloggers not deserving to be paid, and more about bloggers needing to disclose when they are being paid. It’s completely rich for a Murdoch journo to talk about ethics, but some of these bloggers mentioned are showered in freebies, designer clothes, travel, hotels, and never, ever disclose a single thing. These bloggers give the whole bunch a bad name and set a negative precedent, and when you always do the right thing (and you personally do; so many of us do) it’s not up to you to come to their defence.
News Ltd. Ethics. Hillarity.
Blogging is huge in the States and many are given exclusive access because they cater effectively to such niche audiences. We’ll catch up here soon enough, and the laws will follow.
Could this piece be just clever trolling?
It’s provocative tone will inspire blogs, blogs on sites with large followings and read by people likely to feel defensive about blogs.
Moran seems to have been riled by a PR asking about what questions he intended to ask – always a sign of a naive, inexperienced or control-freak PR or client.
” “Are you able to shoot through your general line of questioning for her (her manager has requested this) thanks!,” the email read.”
if you’re in PR and you don’t attempt to find out the questions your client/employer wll be asked, you’re not doing your job properly
there are more subtle ways to do so that to blurt out a request via email though
surprise questions will always be asked but if you just lead them by the nose into the unknown you might give the journo a great story but you won’t get your message across and you risk a poor outcome