Bloggers at the feast
: The Globe covers the credentialing of bloggers to the Democratic Convention — at length.
Of course, the sad truth is that no one should be covering the conventions since nothing happens there. They are newsless.
10 responses to “Bloggers at the feast”
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This is the quintessential blog post: link to story, add some sarcastic opinion. This seems to support one of the statements in the article:
Yet, as news outlets, blogs often fall into the shadowy space between reporting and advocacy. Outside of their links to stories from the conventional press, blogs tend to have little independent reporting, and more stream-of-consciousness commentary and analysis.
Blogs as citizen media? Nah – more like blogs as personal op-ed pages. -
Yes, I agree that conventions tend to be pseudo-events- but I’d say Buchanan’s ’92 speech was news. That’s probably the last time.
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Not all bloggers are interested in news alone. Some are probably going to write about the experience of it…or to photo-blog it.
-Chris -
Chris – that begs the question of what exactly “press credentials” are intended for. If some bloggers are there only to record “the experience of it” should be be given a press pass? Why not just observe as a member of the general public and then do you blogging?
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Because people with press credentials get more access (plus I’m not sure if the general public will be allowed in the conventions – there will be tight security).
Part of the reason many blogs haven’t done original reporting is they haven’t had access (not to mention the resources).
And an event where little news happens is the perfect place for bloggers. Some will comment and yes, report on the lack of news in a way the bigfoot journalists can’t. Others will find stories they won’t cover. And there will be plenty of protest at both conventions.
If somebody would pay me, I’d cover both conventions. -
“They are newsless.” – I’m in complete agreement here!
I can hardly think of another type of event where, as the old phrase goes “a mob of people will be pounding the bloody spot where a dead horse used to be”. -
I liked it better before the nominations were wrapped up in March. It used to be high drama, with vote after vote, deals in smoked-filled rooms, and party bosses vetting candidates. We’ve traded oligarchy for plutocracy in our political nominating processes. At least in the days of the political bosses somebody could block a candidate who would be a disaster, like Michael Dukakis or Bob Dole, or even worse might get elected and be terrible.
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gwill,
People have opinions of their own, amazing. (read sarcastic) You sound like a so-called columnist or editor with opinion envy. Get over it. -
I’m unfamiliar with the standards used to issue press passes in general, but I’m interested in what people think the standard should be for bloggers. How should the convention planners determine which bloggers get credentials? Number of hits? Lottery?
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I believe standards are roughly the combination of
1) How many people do you reach?
2) How “important” are they?
That is, you can have a small audience, but if it’s for a trade journal (“Editor and Publisher”?), that might pass.
Someone who knows more, feel free to correct me. But this seems like it would easily apply to bloggers as well.
Yes, by the way, someone makes a values decision – I think “small press” publishers have at times been unhappy..
