Joe Gandelman responds to the LA Times commentary that takes us Convention bloggers down a couple of pegs. Joe points to the resentment journalists feel towards bloggers because we haven’t “paid our dues.” True enough. Bloggers who think that just because they got a free account at www.BlogYourAss.com, they can now displace professional journalists are seriously underestimating the skills, dedication and value of real journalists. (Yes, real journalists.)

Of course there are bloggers who are as skilled and dedicated as any professional journalist. In fact, some are professional journalists. But most bloggers aren’t. That’s by no means a criticism. Most of us are doing something different than professional journalism…and that’s precisely why blogging is so important.

I, for one, am not covering the Convention, even though I’m one of the lucky credentialed bloggers. I’ll be attending it, of course, but I can only cover the Convention the way a bed bug covers a bed. No, the professional news organizations will cover the convention. that is, they will provide comprehensive reporting. We don’t have to tell you everything that Kerry and Clinton and the mayor of Sheboygan said from the podium, because multi-billion dollar media groups are taking care of that for us. For which I say: Thanks!

But, of course, the coverage the media will provide isn’t really comprehensive. Even if they televised the 4-day beast from dawn to dawn, they’re still going to point their cameras at the podium, occasionally condescending to talk with a delegate, preferably one with a rural accent and a funny hat. So, that leaves plenty for us bed bugs to talk about. If the media weren’t covering it the way they do, we bloggers wouldn’t have luxury to write only and always about what interests us.

Categories: Uncategorized dw