tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10178279.post649631756664329730..comments2024-03-28T05:13:13.921-04:00Comments on Books, Inq. — The Epilogue: Distinguishing ...Frank Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410473158808750903noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10178279.post-8055099956340070122009-11-04T09:00:51.459-05:002009-11-04T09:00:51.459-05:00Frank's asked me to comment again, so I'll...Frank's asked me to comment again, so I'll just say that I don't object on any ethical grounds to journalists writing unedited blogs. I do, however, think that any piece of writing, whether or not on a blog, benefits from being edited (by an independent person).<br /><br />A blog being published at a publisher's website as part of that publication (as you see all the time now, in all major newspapers and magazines) is still journalism even if it is not edited.<br /><br />However, blog posts written by individuals aren't "journalism". We have this debate quite a bit in the science area, where people who just happen to blog about science because they are scientists and they like it, regard themselves as journalists and want to recieve embargoed press releases, etc. The two entities are different - being published under the auspicies of a publication which is responsible for the content you put out, whether or not it is edited first; and writing as an indvidual.<br /><br />And then there are "PR" blogs - many of which are very ethical - for example information, educational, funding, charity blogs etc. But they aren't independent journalism- they are usually written by someone paid by the organisation (worthy or not) to write about it in a positive light. Nothing wrong with that (so long as these terms are clear to readers) but it isn't journalism.Maxine Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06628509319992204770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10178279.post-53796054768926981402009-11-01T11:32:55.707-05:002009-11-01T11:32:55.707-05:00Well, I am in fact an editor, Gene, so you won'...Well, I am in fact an editor, Gene, so you won't get anything but agreement from me on the value of the editing process!Maxine Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06628509319992204770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10178279.post-9755936391695687932009-10-30T20:34:16.317-04:002009-10-30T20:34:16.317-04:00I'd like to respond to the comments in the blo...I'd like to respond to the comments in the blog and in the post by Maxine. There seem to be a couple of misunderstandings here. Of course, I am concerned about errors in the print edition, but the fact is that newspapers have an editing process. However imperfect that process for the print edition may be, it beats putting news onto the Internet without ANY editing, which I fear is happening often. As for Maxine's post, I'm not opposed to reporters' blogs per se; I'm opposed to blogs that are not edited before they are put online. (I'm also opposed to reporters' blogs that express the reporters' opinions about the people and events they cover -- but that's another part of the book.)Gene Foremannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10178279.post-73936563061031548442009-10-30T20:32:28.960-04:002009-10-30T20:32:28.960-04:00I'd like to respond to the comments in the blo...I'd like to respond to the comments in the blog and in the post by Maxine. There seem to be a couple of misunderstandings here. Of course, I am concerned about errors in the print edition, but the fact is that newspapers have an editing process. However imperfect that process for the print edition may be, it beats putting news onto the Internet without ANY editing, which I fear is happening often. As for Maxine's post, I'd like to be clear that I'm not opposed to reporters' blogs per se; I'm opposed to blogs that are not edited before they are put online. (I'm also opposed to reporters' blogs that express the reporters' opinions about the people and events they cover -- but that's another part of the book.)Gene Foremannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10178279.post-57581808643505400922009-10-30T04:43:01.376-04:002009-10-30T04:43:01.376-04:00Although I agree with the main point of your post,...Although I agree with the main point of your post, your first example is to an advert (the article concerned has been taken down so I can't check what it says myself!). Advertising isn't editorial.<br /><br />Although I also agree that you can pick up many mistakes in the MSM that should have been picked up -- the same can certainly be said of blogs. There is masses of wrong rubbish out there in the unedited blogosphere and internet.<br /><br />I do of course agree that it seems very bizarre that a serious commentator is saying that he doesn't "agree" with journalists and editors writing blogs, as it is so common nowadays in all major publications - blogs have become another part of a media company's output, along with podcasts, videos etc. What's the worry?Maxine Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06628509319992204770noreply@blogger.com