Thursday, May 03, 2007
Spectator Recruits Two Leading Bloggers
The Spectator has recruited Stephen Pollard and Clive Davis to abandon their own blogs and blog under the Spectator banner. They can now be found HERE and HERE. Andrew Sullivan started it by joining up with Time Magazine in the US. I wonder if this will start a trend. There's no doubt that joining up with a major news publication will boost their respective hit rates, but will it mean that their independent views are compromised in any way? We'll soon find out.
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28 comments:
Stephen Pollard's was a good blog, but he never really left the MSM, did he?
A bit sniffy, Iain. Annoyed not to have been asked yourself?
I suspect Iain is happy to be paid a wage for a column in the Telegraph, I guess that's better paid than blogging!
Has WebCameron not asked you yet?!
Iain - let's be honest, it wasn't long ago you were writing about how blogs had surplanted the dead tree press etc but clearly for yourself, and probably many other bloggers, your blog has been a stepping stone to getting into the higher profile, better paid 'old media'.
There's nothing wrong in that at all, and well done to you for your move into the old media, but let's not get sniffy when other bloggers do the same, eh?
I would be happy to get paid for my opinions - but then again I am quite happy doing my 3rd-rate blog for free as well.
Chaaaad! Mate!
Give us more!!
Matthew D'Ancona is doing everything possible to drive down the circulation figures and shed readers. The addition of Stephen Pollard to the pages of the Spectator is part of his ongoing plan. When there are no readers left, except for those receiving yet more free Speccies through the post, the Barclay brothers will presumably sell it at a knock down price to a proprietor more to D'Ancona's liking.
Never heard of them, does this mean I neeed to get out a bit more.
Well I hope you remain independent of the msm. One of the strengths of this blog, and there are many, is that you are your own voice. You are committed to the democratic process and your bias is plainly stated and therefore can be easily accommodated by people like me who are not Tories.
Yep, you can see that this will lead to comments about 'selling out' to MSM.
I take the view that you pays your money and you takes your choice. If Pollard and Davis change their views as a result if taking The Spectator shilling that'll become obvious enough. Presumably they'll have enough sense not to go in for the levels of 'moderation' shown by some others - such as Nick Robinson etc.
The most popular blogs tend to be those which do not censor (within reason) and which themselves are busy, opinionated, occasionally prurient, inquisitive, outspoken and slightly gossipy.
What's interesting is that the 'Establishment' has now understood the value/power of such forums. It won't be long before the lawyers and the accountants get in on the act - you can hear the sound of money...
Thanks for the plug, Iain. I think Stephen and I will be ranting away much as usual.
BTW, have you noticed that we are using authentic software from the age of Hazlitt???
Hmmmm.
You already have at least one problem, Clive - I was interrupted in my reading by a ':^$(!!! popover ad.
Double plus ungood.
Best of luck, however - but don't dump the old site yet.
I note that the Guardian (Comment is Free) has recruited a blogger today. I cannot help but wonder why you are happy to advertise when you write for the Torygraph, but not when you write for the Grauniad?
Who is Andrew Sullivan when he's at home ??
wrinkled weasel - i think the so called independence of blogs is more of an illusion than reality.
That said, they retain far more creative control than the main stream media. But not if Tessa 'nanny' Jowell gets her way - so she must be resisted at all costs.
That said, when one sees the level of gutter journalism which the MoS is willing to stoop to, and if you don't believe me read the article in today's Guardian, the lines between the 'responsible' msm and the 'irresponsible' blogosphere is well and truly blurred.
GOD YOU MUST BE JEALOUS
Ah but what are they paid, if anything? The question every blogger must ask.
The Spectator could hardly get any worse..I despair each week when I have to admit that the New Statesman is infinitely better.I `ve only had quick browse but it seems to me that they have selected two solid Aldermen of the Virtual Parish both of whom are worth reading. This is not where the mag is lacking and so they continue to get little right . Some here suggest the the Dale will sit on the kitchen stool wailing like an ugly sister because he didn`t get the Handsome 'Prints' but I doubt it Why would lord Blog of Blogland want to be under the wing of a minority shiny rag . I look forward to the ‘Daley’ Mail with its cunning mixture of popularism , geeky charm and political spite .
Psssst -I’m trying to make him feel better , how would you like to snubbed and passed over for of a couple of parvenus. Poor chap`s been in floods all day.
Just got back to my computer to see people thinking that the jolly green giant of envy is behind my post. Nothing could be further from the truth. Good luck to them, I say.
I do think this will be a growing trend though and it's for debate as to whether it is a good thing or not. I'm undecided.
Chad, I have never argued that blogs have surplanted the mainstrea, press. My blog was also never a stepping stone. I was doing media stuff long before I started blogging. get your facts straight!
Jailhouselawyer, you see a conspiracy where there is none. The reason I haven't mentioned the Comment is Free piece yet is because it was only posted mid-morning by the Guardian while I was speaking at a debate on Press Freedom Day, which I will also be blogging about.
Iain, I think the wider point is covered on Guido's blog - i.e. whether this is a symptom of the move to bring blogs within the ambit of the mainstream media, with 'controls' and initially 'self' censorship or a 'code of conduct' leading to ever more draconian legislation.
As you see it is interesting to speculate whether the Spectator bloggers will carry anything they wouldn't / shouldn't / couldn't carry in the paper version. My view is that I guess they will not.
But time will tell - maybe you will read an article in the paper and be referred at the end to 'read the full, unexpurgated version on our blogs at the internet site, hosted in outer mongolia'...
"My blog was also never a stepping stone. I was doing media stuff long before I started blogging. get your facts straight!"
Don't they call you "the man off the internet" in the Spectator?
Cheeky sods obviously ignoring your high profile media stuff predating your blog.
;-)
Chad, Indeed, it was Tamzin Lightwater, a fictional columnist who dubbed me that. At least, unlike you, she didn't say I look like a paedophile. For that I was mist grateful.
Give them time! ;-)
I have had an offer to buy my blog from the Journal of Human Lactation.... what do you think I should do Mr D??
Just got back to my computer to see people thinking that the jolly green giant of envy is behind my post. Nothing could be further from the truth. Good luck to them, I say.
Brave ,brave soldier....The blog must go on.... Never mind
Iain: Easy tiger. No conspiracy. Just wondering.
What a mean-spirited bunch some of these commenters are. Iain asks a reasonable question about whether we'll feel free to write exactly what we think, and then people start accusing him of sour grapes. I can't speak for Stephen, but I'm sure at some point or other there'll come a time when I'll have to bite my tongue. That's the nature of the game. It was the same on my old blog to some extent. But nobody is breathing over my shoulder. As for the money, yes, the Securicor van is due any minute now...
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