Get it? Instead of another day, another dollar…oh, forget it!!
In light of a recent L.A Times article once again portraying Mommy Bloggers as nothing more than hookers belonging in the Red Light district, more blogging drama has ensued.
It never ends, does it?
But really? Hookers get paid more than most of us bloggers do. And in some places, they get medical and dental coverage. Humph.
That article and the others before it that are so similar. They don’t really affect me, personally, one way or the other. I don’t do a bunch of reviews. And I haven’t been asked to be on any panels. All those cookie cutter articles do is cause outrage on Twitter and to disgust and nauseate me.
But, I happen to have an opinion. Because…well…I just do.
The way I see it, from my almost non-existent corner of the blogsphere is…
Who cares?
I mean honestly? The greater population of the world could give a rats ass about bloggers being sent to California to learn about Nestle while their families are being sent food to cook in their absence.
Most people stumble upon (and I don’t mean the site, Stumbleupon) blogs by mistake when Googling information. So. They sometimes stay to read the post or they go off in search of a source that they would deem more reliable. Because I’m not really sure how many people consider the Mommy Blogger community to be a trustworthy and forthright source of viable information. I do. But I’m in that crazy group of bitches called Mommy Bloggers. And I happen to value most of your opinions. It’s how I roll girls(and guys), it’s how I roll.
The drama seems to be isolated only to bloggers raising a big ruckus about all the going-ons within the blogging community. It’s only other bloggers who care about integrity and full disclosure. Oh yeah and the FTC. One giant eagle eye. Everyone is seems to be scrutinizing each other, waiting for someone to slip and do something *gasp* without integrity or full disclosure. To…LIE. Or…cheat. Oh, we just love when that happens, don’t we?!
And also.
It’s only journalists that care that bloggers are taking over the social media and crowding them out. Because bloggers will take merchandise over cash. Where journalists…it’s their career and expect payment. Right? The rest of the worlds population. They are perfectly happy living their day to day lives in oblivion of what goes on behind the computer screen.
BUT. In my opinion. Newspaper journalists are writing all these negative articles about the Mommy blogging world because maybe? Perhaps? They are jealous and intimidated. Which becomes like one big tattle tale fest. OOOHH, this blogger did this. That blogger didn’t say that and has a closet FULL of stuff. This one didn’t disclose. BLAH. BLAH. BLAH. ARGH!
If you must know the truth? I think it’s horse shit that we, the bloggers, aren’t getting paid to do the same thing that journalists throughout time have been getting paid to do. Maybe not on the same type of scale. But it would be nice if a company wants a review, to give us the product and a stipend. Even twenty bucks or a gift card to Target…which would make yours truly a very, very happy chick.
We put as much work in our posts as some journalists do. We post. We Tweet. We try to draw as much traffic as we can to come read what we are discussing. And it’s fricking hard work. But, I don’t have to tell you that, right!?
And quite honestly. I’ve read some blogs that blow some newspaper columnists out of the water.
They say that anyone can blog. But based on some of the quality, or should I say lack of…it seems that anyone can be a journalist these days too. Even. Steven.
Anyways.
It’s this bloggers measly little opinion that. If other bloggers would stop accepting reviews without some sort of compensation. The companies would get a clue and…well…compensate. Even in a piddly little way like that Target gift card for $20 or $50 bucks.
We deserve acknowledgment too. We deserve to be paid. We are the new source of news. We are the new source of reliable information…as long as we disclose the good, the bad and the hideous. Which, by the way, I love disclosing when I find something to be yucky! Don’t ask me why. I just do.
There needs to be a new definition made of blogging, along with new rules and regulations. We aren’t just weblogs anymore. Blogging has become more about life and not just about our own.
Because we bloggers are here to stay. We are getting stronger in number and louder in voice.
So stop the pettiness. And just get along. There is enough room for all of us…journalists and bloggers.
On a side note, for a great read Kelby Carr who wrote about Mom Bloggers deserving to get paid. And make sure to read the L.A Times article as well.
P. fricking S. I’m not JUST talking about review blogs. I’m talking about bloggers who write…with passion. About life. For various wonderful online publications. Those bloggers deserve to get paid for their beautiful work as well.
geez.
::Blinks::: You mean you don’t review and blog for the sheer joy of trying a trial size bottle of shampoo or something? Wow… lol
.-= igster101´s last blog ..Donks of the Dance-Christmas 2009 =-.
Kelby Carr’s post should be a MUST-READ for every “mommy blogger.” Thanks for writing this girlfriend. IMO this is such a new territory that everyone is learning about. Baby steps…
LOL! Hookers….
Never thought I’d be whoring myself out for a product sample.
Does that make the bloggers who get laptops, cell phones, televisions and cars High-Priced Hookers? Just wondering. I strive to be the best at everything I do ya know. It gives me something to look forward too.
.-= Christina @RantRaveRoll´s last blog ..TASTES LIKE CHICKEN….. NOT! =-.
You’re right … blogs are media just the same as anything written and broadcast. That being said, I skip reviews, giveaways, review blogs and all that jazz; just like a paid advertisement on the radio or a commercial, there’s not a single thing a blogger (mommy or not) could say or do to influence me to buy something from a company like Frito-Lay, Kraft, Taco Bell, Starbucks and Nestle (from LA Times article) and especially not after they were wined and dined by said company or given something in return. I turn off commercials, throw out flyers, don’t watch the news, don’t read newspapers and skip a blogger review all the same.
But that’s me. I’m one in a million who doesn’t buy from Frito, Nestle or Taco Bell *shudder* and feed my family organically, so this doesn’t even apply to me. Nonetheless, people should form their own opinions about shit and if they aren’t capable of doing or buying something unless some media broadcast or review tells them, then take a chance with non-paid reviews on sites like TripAdvisor, ePinions and CNET and a million others out there. It’s faster, easier and you get a way better range of non-bought opinion.
But all of my personal opinions aside, I think the media should really leave all you mommy bloggers alone. You deserve what you get for what you do on your blogs and in social media and travels to fancy conferences and yes, I’m sure as mommy blogging becomes more and more mainstream media, other media outlets are feeling a bit more threatened everyday.
Good post. Food for thought. But yes, definitely way too much dramatics in this media-influenced world.
I don’t want to speak for Kelby. But her post was not about seeking compensation for writing reviews. It was about being paid to consult for companies. She clarified that quite strongly in her comments.
This is the sound of me standing on my chair and pumping my fists in the air. I personally am nauseated by the amount of…oh, what’s the word…circlejerking going on our little blogging community.
I remember when the most contentious thing between bloggers were their blogrolls. How quaint, right?
I designed a “Drama Free Blog” badge (with some degree of irony since I don’t “do” badges on my blog either), but in light of some of this twitter/swag/whoring/TSA/Blog with Integrity/Liar Liar Blog’s on fire crap going on it felt necessary.
Grab it off my site if you want. Anyway, great post. Must to go tweet it now.
Just a bunch of haters!! They can’t stand the fact that we hold more power in our communities than they do in their few subscribers. I wrote today about the power of bloggers titled “Behave or I’ll BLOG about YOU!” check it out if you get the chance. http://www.theobnoxioussahm.com
Regarding if we should get paid… it would be nice to be paid at least for some type of “skill” that a hooker gets paid for.
GAWD i can’t stand the ney’ sayers. Boo!! Let’s throw poo at them.
.-= Obnoxious SAHM´s last blog ..Behave or I will BLOG about YOU! =-.
I hate the fact traditional media lumps all female bloggers in as mommy bloggers and I hate the stereotype that all mommy bloggers are idiots who work for free or for shampoo samples.
Sadly though, that stereotype has been brought on by the mass herd of mommy bloggers who will write for free.
It aggravates me to know end that women writers are continually undervaluing and underestimating their worth. How can we expect companies to compensate us fairly for our time when so many women will continue to undervalue themselves and our community so?
Your site has become one of my favorites!
A-freakin men sista!
I love your honesty.
I feel so dirty for whoring myself out for Nut Clusters and Piggy Paint. *eyeroll*
Awesome post. I think good writers SHOULD be paid. Bad writers should not. Period.
Hear hear.
Where’s my check?
.-= TeacherMommy´s last blog ..adventure =-.
Having worked in the news media for years I can tell you that reporters are jealous of bloggers. As bloggers we can do so much more than they can, faster and more accurately, and in many cases for a much larger and interactive readership.
If a blogger can get advertisers, or sponsors for their work, more power to them. If you, as a reader, object, move along and get over yourself.
.-= Tara R.´s last blog ..Mingled yarn, good and ill… =-.
You hit the nail on the head. Jealousy. Heaven forbid just a “mommy” have writing skills that garner a following and even some form of compensation. I read mommybloggers and I read daddybloggers. Oddly enough, you don’t see the backlash against the dads who blog. Hmmmm….
.-= Jennfer´s last blog ..Better =-.
I’m sure that it comes from the obvious fact that online media iis growing by leaps and bounds, and written media is not. That has to hurt.
.-= blueviolet´s last blog ..I’ll Rip You to Shreds! – W/W Wednesday =-.
Sing it, sister.
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..My daughter sounds just like me. This is not a good thing. =-.
If fathers were blogging they wouldn’t take as much flack…stand up women and protest!
Mary
.-= Mary´s last blog ..JENNY: Party Animal Turns Into Party Pooper =-.