Comments on: Blogging – It’s not just for idiots with computers anymore http://baseblogging.net/2006/02/22/blogging-its-not-just-for-idiots-with-computers-anymore/ A resource for baseball (and other sports) bloggers Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:01:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ian Casselberry http://baseblogging.net/2006/02/22/blogging-its-not-just-for-idiots-with-computers-anymore/comment-page-1/#comment-242 Ian Casselberry Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:43:41 +0000 http://baseblogging.net/2006/02/22/blogging-its-not-just-for-idiots-with-computers-anymore/#comment-242 The mainstream media incorporating blogs into their content remind me of big movie studios creating boutique production houses for their own "independent" films. Studios like Sony and Universal can make smaller films like <em>Capote</em> and <em>Brokeback Mountain</em>, but they're not truly movies made outside the studio system. Sites like ESPN can use their blogs to produce content on a more immediate basis than TV shows and magazines, but they'll never produce the same criticism and alternative to mainstream media that non-MSM bloggers do. In both cases, the content might be similar (or even "better" and more vital from the corporate entities), but I don't think co-opting the medium fills the void that such original trends/movements like independent films and blogs were created to supply. The mainstream media incorporating blogs into their content remind me of big movie studios creating boutique production houses for their own “independent” films. Studios like Sony and Universal can make smaller films like Capote and Brokeback Mountain, but they’re not truly movies made outside the studio system. Sites like ESPN can use their blogs to produce content on a more immediate basis than TV shows and magazines, but they’ll never produce the same criticism and alternative to mainstream media that non-MSM bloggers do.

In both cases, the content might be similar (or even “better” and more vital from the corporate entities), but I don’t think co-opting the medium fills the void that such original trends/movements like independent films and blogs were created to supply.

]]> By: Rob Visconti http://baseblogging.net/2006/02/22/blogging-its-not-just-for-idiots-with-computers-anymore/comment-page-1/#comment-241 Rob Visconti Fri, 24 Feb 2006 12:35:17 +0000 http://baseblogging.net/2006/02/22/blogging-its-not-just-for-idiots-with-computers-anymore/#comment-241 I think that most established media are going to use weblogs as a way to update nuggets of late-breaking news (i.e. a change in the starting lineup, etc.) and as a way to develop a dialogue between writers and readers. I don't hold it against folks like Gage for not linking out to indies. I'd guess that some of the parent media companies have policies that prevent it. And besides, I don't think that anyone has an obligation to link out to anyone else--I've never bought that line of thinking, and I never will. Personally, I only link out to content that I actually read on a regular basis (regardless of whether they link back to me), even in my sidebar, and I turn down reciprocal link requests all the time based on that rule. I can only imagine what a nightmare it would be to deal with link requests for a MSM blogger. I think that most established media are going to use weblogs as a way to update nuggets of late-breaking news (i.e. a change in the starting lineup, etc.) and as a way to develop a dialogue between writers and readers.

I don’t hold it against folks like Gage for not linking out to indies. I’d guess that some of the parent media companies have policies that prevent it. And besides, I don’t think that anyone has an obligation to link out to anyone else–I’ve never bought that line of thinking, and I never will.

Personally, I only link out to content that I actually read on a regular basis (regardless of whether they link back to me), even in my sidebar, and I turn down reciprocal link requests all the time based on that rule. I can only imagine what a nightmare it would be to deal with link requests for a MSM blogger.

]]> By: Brian http://baseblogging.net/2006/02/22/blogging-its-not-just-for-idiots-with-computers-anymore/comment-page-1/#comment-240 Brian Thu, 23 Feb 2006 14:47:30 +0000 http://baseblogging.net/2006/02/22/blogging-its-not-just-for-idiots-with-computers-anymore/#comment-240 I was happy to see that Matthew Leach, the Cards beat writer for MLB.com, has a list (at the bottom) of other Cards blog. So at someone is linking out. With Gammons and the ESPN folks, it's a pretty strict policy of them not being able to link out, so you can't really blame them. I was happy to see that Matthew Leach, the Cards beat writer for MLB.com, has a list (at the bottom) of other Cards blog. So at someone is linking out.

With Gammons and the ESPN folks, it’s a pretty strict policy of them not being able to link out, so you can’t really blame them.

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