What, I wonder, does this say about blogging? For many writers, exploring the genre for the first time, it’s the anonymity of the blogosphere that’s both thrilling and unnerving. Free content and anonymous self-expression is liberating but intrinsically irresponsible. Writers who grew up in the more constrained world of print can find the adaptation difficult, even antipathetic to the nature of their art.
Anonymity- it launched my face world wide as the Tina Turner vicar!!
As a former newspaper editor, I feel something of the angst implied by this quote. In journalism school, we were taught journalism law and ethics, along with writing and interviewing techniques. We were warned against irresponsibility on a daily basis and reminded of the power of the written word.
Now, however, anyone can set himself or herself up as a writer (or worse, as some sort of AUTHORITY!) and be read by millions, without training or knowledge but WITH the same power to help and hurt, laud and libel. I’m not comfortable with it.
#2 – Sorry, but I’ve had my fill of journalism graduates who somehow slept through those classes on ethics and responsibility. And no one comes out of those schools as an “authority” on anything either.
I don’t know how it is that you came to be a “former editor”, but there are hundreds more about to become the same thing, and somehow the world will be OK.
Sorry #2 but I have so much more respect for honest bloggers than journalists. The media in this country is shameful, they care not who they destroy and they care not for truth only story.
Blogs are a wonderful corrective in my opinion….a good and well connected friend told me recently that his only mantra in life is NEVER trust a journalist- even if they are your best friend! Having run the press dept for a national government dept he would know!
The notion that anonymous writing is “intrinsically irresponsible” is just silly. The Federalist Papers were originally published, I believe, under the name “Publius.” So, even Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay found it appropriate to publish under a pseudonym. But, on the topic of “authority” and “professionalism” in journalism: Anyone who has ever attended a public meeting or been interviewed, then read a newspaper or TV account of it, knows journalists have a hard time getting things right. There are some good and responsible ones out there at every level, but they’re rare. If you’re not taking your daily newspaper and TV news diet with a healthy grain of salt, you’re being gullible. Question everything–bloggers of course, but it especially journalists. Evaluate their comments on the merits, name or no name.