Over the past few months I have been at a few events where a speaker will say something and then quickly throw out a, "Is there anybody from the media here?" In other words, they just said something incredibly stupid and want to make sure it doesn't leave the room. In most cases there isn't a member of the media present, but as a blogger should I raise my hand?
For the most part I have no interest in exposing some local official's slight slip-up, but there are exceptions.
What officials and speakers need to realize is that we are all media. We might not all blog, but if something stupid/scandelous is said, it's going to get out.
This issue came up earlier this year when Sean Hannity spoke at a local university. The media was not allowed to attend the speech. My question back then was who is going to stop a student from blogging/writing about the speech on their MySpace page or Facebook account?
This isn't a 'blogger threat' it's just a reality. The ability for people to get away with (and say) stupid things is going away, which is a good thing.
Visitor Comments
...and hopefully that will also result in all of us allowing public speakers to be more human.
Posted by: Sterling Camden | September 13, 2006 5:17 PM
Josh... Should a blogger raise her hand? Yes, if she considers herself a member of the media. I understand some do. Those who do not should not. That said, it is a sad commentary that speakers, politicians and corporate officials, are more concerned with offending the media than the general public. At the same time, it is testimony to the power of media. Certainly, I consider blogs media from a consumption perspective, but obviously not from a production perspective.
I apologize for my circular, if not incoherent comments.
To be clear, I am disgusted with the complete lack of integrity displayed by so many of our public and corporate officials. But I believe that we, the general public, are partially to blame, because we do not always hold them accountable as we should. We can do this to an extent through blogging. Ergo, I would rather these officials see bloggers as members of the general public rather than the media, because I want them to believe they are being held accountable by the general public rather than the media.
Posted by: Troy | October 4, 2006 10:16 AM