I love online journalism.
It enables the writer to project their own thoughts into the ‘big, wide net’. You know the deep, dark, dare-we-say-them-out-loud thoughts and opinions, the ones that we wish we had the courage to vent loud and proud in public. Maybe some of us do have that courage – to speak our minds without fear or hesitation of what the public may retaliate back. But most of us either have some editor breathing down the back of our necks about ‘that’s too opinionated’ or ‘that’s not what this newspaper is about’. Online journalism not only gives us a megaphone, it gives us an audience far greater than any publishing newspaper or magazine could hope to reach.
It’s a tool not only useful in venting pent up frustration, but a tool designed also for social media. I’m not too sure if you are a ‘follower’ of someone’s blog, tumblr, twitter or facebook. But chances are you are a part of one of these social media sites, and chances are someone you are following you have never actually met. But the reason you sent out that inevitably embarrassing ‘friendship request’ (good, god what if they don’t accept?!) was because a) you think they are a cool person b) they have similar interests and points of view as yourself or c) you needed to increase your popularity reputation. In most cases it will either be answer a or b.
Same goes for other bloggers. Take for example blogger Mia Freedman and her blog Mamamia. Mia has got quite successful blogs on her hand, wait I’m being too modest, Mia is the author of a VERY well known blog. But instead of just writing posts about her opinions, she includes opinions stated by fellow blogger Patty Huntington of [frockwriter]. These women are constantly backing up each other’s thoughts on the subject. .
MAMAMIA: “Patty Huntington has a detailed post about it on her Frockwriter blog"
The latest blog posts from these two women were on the subject of a young 16 year old model called Hailey Clauson. Basically she was 14 years old when she had photos taken by a photographer and now her parents are suing because the photo was printed onto shirts sold on urbanoutfitters.com. (It’s a long story and I just did a horrible short, retelling of it. Pardon moi).
In this case Patty didn’t give quite a huge opinion on the issue, but more stated the facts where as Mia went to town on the issue of the underage model. I think that because Mia Freedman is also a mother she went for a different angle than Patty and focused more on the repercussions a child can face when pushed into the fashion industry at such a young age.
MAMAMIA: “If you do not want your daughter to be judged on how she looks and what she weighs, do not let her become a model....
If you do not want your daughter to be photographed looking sexy and made to look much much older than she is, do not let her become a model.
If you don’t not want your daughter’s self-esteem to be DIRECTLY and inextricably linked to her weight and appearance, do not let her become a model.”
Some tough words from Mia yes, but that’s why she is so popular (especially with mums).
Below are links to both posts on the Hailey Clauson case from [frockwriter] and Mamamia.
http://frockwriter.blogspot.com/2011/08/hailey-clauson-was-14-when-she-posed.html
http://www.mamamia.com.au/news/she-was-15-when-she-posed-for-this-shot-now-shes-suing/
As well as a link to another online journalism article, this time from the Telegraph.co.uk.
http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/olivia-bergin/TMG8719935/Hailey-Clausons-T-shirt-war.html
Please note the lack of opinion and clear ‘fence-sitting’. I can feel the editors hot breath on the back of my neck right about... now.
It enables the writer to project their own thoughts into the ‘big, wide net’. You know the deep, dark, dare-we-say-them-out-loud thoughts and opinions, the ones that we wish we had the courage to vent loud and proud in public. Maybe some of us do have that courage – to speak our minds without fear or hesitation of what the public may retaliate back. But most of us either have some editor breathing down the back of our necks about ‘that’s too opinionated’ or ‘that’s not what this newspaper is about’. Online journalism not only gives us a megaphone, it gives us an audience far greater than any publishing newspaper or magazine could hope to reach.
It’s a tool not only useful in venting pent up frustration, but a tool designed also for social media. I’m not too sure if you are a ‘follower’ of someone’s blog, tumblr, twitter or facebook. But chances are you are a part of one of these social media sites, and chances are someone you are following you have never actually met. But the reason you sent out that inevitably embarrassing ‘friendship request’ (good, god what if they don’t accept?!) was because a) you think they are a cool person b) they have similar interests and points of view as yourself or c) you needed to increase your popularity reputation. In most cases it will either be answer a or b.
Same goes for other bloggers. Take for example blogger Mia Freedman and her blog Mamamia. Mia has got quite successful blogs on her hand, wait I’m being too modest, Mia is the author of a VERY well known blog. But instead of just writing posts about her opinions, she includes opinions stated by fellow blogger Patty Huntington of [frockwriter]. These women are constantly backing up each other’s thoughts on the subject. .
MAMAMIA: “Patty Huntington has a detailed post about it on her Frockwriter blog"
The latest blog posts from these two women were on the subject of a young 16 year old model called Hailey Clauson. Basically she was 14 years old when she had photos taken by a photographer and now her parents are suing because the photo was printed onto shirts sold on urbanoutfitters.com. (It’s a long story and I just did a horrible short, retelling of it. Pardon moi).
In this case Patty didn’t give quite a huge opinion on the issue, but more stated the facts where as Mia went to town on the issue of the underage model. I think that because Mia Freedman is also a mother she went for a different angle than Patty and focused more on the repercussions a child can face when pushed into the fashion industry at such a young age.
MAMAMIA: “If you do not want your daughter to be judged on how she looks and what she weighs, do not let her become a model....
If you do not want your daughter to be photographed looking sexy and made to look much much older than she is, do not let her become a model.
If you don’t not want your daughter’s self-esteem to be DIRECTLY and inextricably linked to her weight and appearance, do not let her become a model.”
Some tough words from Mia yes, but that’s why she is so popular (especially with mums).
Below are links to both posts on the Hailey Clauson case from [frockwriter] and Mamamia.
http://frockwriter.blogspot.com/2011/08/hailey-clauson-was-14-when-she-posed.html
http://www.mamamia.com.au/news/she-was-15-when-she-posed-for-this-shot-now-shes-suing/
As well as a link to another online journalism article, this time from the Telegraph.co.uk.
http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/olivia-bergin/TMG8719935/Hailey-Clausons-T-shirt-war.html
Please note the lack of opinion and clear ‘fence-sitting’. I can feel the editors hot breath on the back of my neck right about... now.
