Comments on: Instead of Forbidding Outside Blogs, Embrace Them http://sportsjournalism.org/sports-media-news/instead-of-forbidding-outside-blogs-embrace-them/ America's most comprehensive sports media program Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:44:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Travis Pillow http://sportsjournalism.org/sports-media-news/instead-of-forbidding-outside-blogs-embrace-them/comment-page-1/#comment-2537 Travis Pillow Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:48:46 +0000 http://sportsjournalism.org/?p=3960#comment-2537 I'm inclined agree with this. The "wall of separation" between the business operation and the newsroom exists for a good reason, namely preventing advertisers from buying influence over coverage. The problem is that it has encouraged journalists to ignore what readers want, and to abdicate responsibility for their outlet's bottom line. If we want to keep earning a living as journalists, that attitude is no longer tenable. Encouraging outside blogs seems like an elegant way to get reporters thinking about what readers want without compromising the ethical standards that have defined the structure of news organizations. I’m inclined agree with this. The “wall of separation” between the business operation and the newsroom exists for a good reason, namely preventing advertisers from buying influence over coverage.

The problem is that it has encouraged journalists to ignore what readers want, and to abdicate responsibility for their outlet’s bottom line. If we want to keep earning a living as journalists, that attitude is no longer tenable.

Encouraging outside blogs seems like an elegant way to get reporters thinking about what readers want without compromising the ethical standards that have defined the structure of news organizations.

]]>