Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Meet the New Media, Same as the Old Media

Blogging turns from amateur calling to corporate career

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 14, 2009 2:37 PM CDT

(Newser) – It’s become obligatory for internet philosophers to crow about how blogs have democratized the press and allowed average joes to beat big media, but it’s just not true anymore, writes Benajamin Carlson of the Atlantic. “The free-wheeling fraternal spirit of blogging has become increasingly subject to market disciplines.” Or, as Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein put it, “The place has professionalized.”

Of the top 50 blogs, 21 are owned by big corporate entities, like CNN and the New York Times. Even independent blogs are now big, entrenched names, swiftly expanding into companies. New bloggers no longer break in from the Wordpress hinterlands, but from established brands. “Far from leveling the playing field, blogs have simply built up challenging new pathways to success,” Carlson argues, “ones that mirror old-media ways.”

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

In this May 6, 2005 file photo, Kirk Johnson of The Heritage Foundation instructs a class of bloggers. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

The romantic notion that solitary, untamed bloggers are running the Web is nearly as apocryphal as old myths about stoic Western sheriffs killing 11 outlaws with six bullets. - Benjamin Carlson

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Which Entertainer Pulled Out of 'Inappropriate' Whitney Tribute? (NewsOne)

The French Government Wants to Tone My Vagina (Slate)

Obama Photo on Facebook Helps Catch Drug Dealer (HuffPost)

Hottest Women to Ever Appear in the SI Swimsuit Issue (Bleacher Report)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 4 comments

Timinator2K

Sep 14, 2009 8:13 AM CDT

Even if the MSM slips and does great in-depth reporting, their overlord owners and management will still demand that their PoV be reflected in the overall reporting scheme...thus, besmirching and causing their own better efforts to become suspect.

maryz

Sep 14, 2009 7:55 AM CDT

These kinds of patent over-generalizations breed contempt for even great in-depth news reporting. This call against all media as favoring one extreme or another has actually opened-up the market for exactly that kind of so-called "media" (so, congratulations). Frankly, to include pundits and loud-mouthed talk-show hosts (which happen to sadly run on news channels) among the sphere of journalism does a double detriment to real journalists, of which there are many out there working hard to cut through to the truth. And finally, the idolizing of those who mix politicking and [pseudo]-journalism is a blatant contradiction of professional ethics of true journalism (like Rush, who many feel is the leader of the Repubs. now). We so easily forget because we've had it so long ... our democracy could never survive without a free press. Let's get it right. Let's not demonize those practicing real journalism because our freedoms will in part always depend on their success.

PosterNutbag

Sep 14, 2009 7:49 AM CDT

Try the pacifica radio network, which is listener sponsored, therefor not beholden to corporate money-power interests.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

Valentine's Day Role-Playing Goes Very Wrong

The Atlantic (Source Grid »)

Media • Money

blogging • blog • new media • blogs

More Newser Stories

NYT Sues HuffPo Over Mom Blog

Says 'Parentlode' too close to 'Motherlode'

(NEWSER) - It’s a battle of the mom blogs—though in both cases, the woman behind them is the same. The New York Times is suing the Huffington Post over the latter’s “Parentlode” blog , saying the name is too similar to the Times’ “Motherlode.” Both blogs have had the same boss: Lisa Belkin left the Times this year and started Parentlode last month. According to the Times, she “clearly intended” for readers to conflate the two blogs, Reuters reports. More»

How Homemade Pics Boosted 'Occupy Wall St'

People are revealing their economic misery on Tumblr blog

(NEWSER) - Suffering in this recession? A photo of you with a short description of your problems can be posted online—and might just inspire people to take action. So figured a New York activist who devised the Tumblr blog, "We Are the 99 Percent," to promote the first Occupy Wall Street protest last month. Now the activist—who calls himself Chris—is posting about 100 submitted photos a day with fellow curator Priscilla Grim. They sat down with Mother Jones : More»

Guy Already Camping Out for iPhone 5

Remember, it hasn't actually been announced yet

(NEWSER) - Rob Shoesmith is currently camped outside London's Covent Garden Apple store in a tent, awaiting the release of the iPhone 5. Not all that weird, except of course that the iPhone 5 hasn't even been announced yet. Why is he doing it? As a "marketing and PR experiment," of course, and the Los Angeles Times notes that he's blogging about the whole thing. More»

Food Blogger Jailed for Complaining About Noodles

Judge ruled Taiwan woman didn't have the evidence to declare them salty

(NEWSER) - Be careful what you blog about in Taiwan. One woman, identified only as Mrs. Liu, learned that lesson the hard way recently, after she complained on her little-read blog about the Sichuan Flavor Beef Noodle Restaurant in Taichung. The place, she wrote, was full of cockroaches, the owner was a “bully,” and the noodles were “too salty.” The enraged owner sued for defamation, the Telegraph reports. More»

Forever 21 Threatens Blogger Who Mocks It

Apparently, clothing retailer can't handle being poked at

(NEWSER) - Forever 21, the "fast fashion" store known for its cheap designer knockoffs, is threatening to sue the creator of the website WTForever21 —because, among other reasons, the store doesn't appreciate being associated with the "F-word." Rachel Kane, who created the satire blog, talks to the Consumerist , Jezebel , and the Village Voice about her troubles, noting the irony in the fact that Forever 21 has itself been sued for copyright infringement by designers including Diane Von Furstenberg, Gwen Stefani, and Anna Sui. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Meet the New Media, Same as the Old Media