Comments on: Journalists, Bloggers and the Australian Blogosphere

By: Duncan

Duncan — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 23:31:47 +0000

I saw Charles’ A-List and what can I say…..when bloggers so far down the popularity list (in terms of views and position) start creating A-Lists that include themselves….and please don’t get me wrong I like Charles, but we are all doomed to burn in the eternal flames of hell. There were half a dozen Australian bloggers I can name who weren’t at this confence who aside from you and Cameron were far more deserving to be on this list, in terms of influence, power and traffic.

By: Andy Merrett

Andy Merrett — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 09:43:24 +0000

“If you want to write for one particular country you run the risk of becoming irrelevant.”

For global concerns, sure, but there is a place for more local / regional writing. That doesn’t mean that you exclude international readers that want to take part, but there would be scope for local blogs about local issues that might not concern anyone else outside that area.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 05:55:26 +0000

Um … well being a bit of a stirrer I can’t help but add my 2 cents to this debate.

Personally the talk of A List bloggers leaves me thinking of either the pecking order among a bunch of chooks or the sort of elitist BS that legends in their own lunchtime subscribe to.

Whatever it is the fact is that we don’t need it.

Secondly anyone who is thinking of writing for the US or writing for Australia is missing the point. This is the Internet people – get with the plan and write for whoever wants to read your work whether they come from the US, Canada, China, Outer Calathumpia or two doors down and around the corner.

If you want to write for one particular country you run the risk of becoming irrelevant.

Now I’ll pack my soapbox away and get back to work.

By: Luke

Luke — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 03:37:28 +0000

“a few who were pretty stuck in their ways – believing that their paradigm was pretty much the only legitimate one”…

Like those who insist on Broadsheets, Beta, Mini Disc… or Leaded Petrol, or Asbestos… the refusal to innovate and move with the times will be their (metaphorical) death…no doubt they’ll go down complaining about the good old days though.

Australia is well placed as we are a reasonably sophisticated collection of writers (aka know something about the rest of the world) but we don’t have the population to support a big media industry. So people blog for the US as it’s easier than China. It doesn’t mean we can’t lead and host blog conferences. Wouldn’t you rather have a mature industry by the time the rest of the country catches up with this blogging thing?

By: Martin

Martin — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:33:30 +0000

I don’t believe there really is a true Aussie blogosphere and after reading through all the posts and comments we’ve got a long way to go – the journo/vendor/blogger debate is so old.

How many times has there been talk of a Aussie blog conference? It’s never going to happen because there’s no market for it here in Australia.

Australian mainstream media has only a few main players and is very protective to keep it that way – hence why all the snide talk of “citizen media” being inferior. Heck, I’ve had more mentions in American media with my blog yet it’s a struggle to get a mention here in Australia.

Most Aussie bloggers I know blog for a worldwide audience (80% America) and simply infuse some Aussie flavour into their writing.