Telegraph journalist Jonathan Moran: Bloggers haven’t earned their place
News Corp showbiz writer Jonathan Moran has attacked the increasing tendency of publicists to give access to “blow-in bloggers” who have not earned their position in the industry.
In a full page column, Moran, who writes for The Telegraph’s Sydney Confidential, attacked the rise of fashion bloggers. He wrote:
“Bloggers do my head in, particular those in the fashion industry. I’m not bitter , I just think you need to earn your position in the industry – anyone can be a blogger.
“Bloggers annoy me, particularly those who parade themselves as celebrities, put their hands up for paid endorsements and demand front row seating at fashion parades.”
Moran – who earlier this year co-created a dance routine to mark the arrival of Ellen DeGeneres in Australia – added: “Bloggers get priority front row seating at fashion parades these days because they almost always provide positive coverage. They’re at red carpet premieres, usually to get themselves a keepsake photograph with a big name celebrity. It’s annoying when you’re on a tight deadline.”
A major issue, said Moran, was that bloggers were being paid to endorse products and not declaring it. He said: “You can’t take those of them who are being paid to spruik products seriously. Where is the credibility? Some bloggers are paid upwards of $650 for a single post. Sponsored blogs can earn more than $2500.”
Last year, the South Australian Tourism Commission was revealed to be paying celebrities to write positive posts about Kangaroo Island as a destination.
And this weekend, consumer group Choice called for celebrities to inform consumers when they are being paid to promote a product or service on social media.
Tom Godfrey, Choice’s head of media said in a statement: “Whether you are following Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Hawkins or Lara Bingle, you should be informed if they are being paid to plug products.
“From shonky chefs pushing pasta sauce to hot chicks pedalling hot rods, social media is awash with dodgy advertorial style posts.”
It was fun to relive that dance.
Also when u point a finger u have three pointing back at you. Why did this guy get into entertainment journalism if not to hang out /off celebrity.
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Who cares how long they’ve been around for? If the audience likes them they like them. “Earning your position” is about having skills and ability, not slaving for years inside a giant corporation. That’s a classic old media idea.
I do agree with his other point though. Bloggers often claim to be practising journalism, but they don’t always subscribe to the ethical responsibilities that come with that work… and that’s bad for everyone.
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Batten down the hatches – here come the bloggers & it won’t be pretty :-/
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Sounds a lot like jealousy to me. If it’s as easy as he says, why doesn’t he whip up a quick blog himself, buy himself some fake followers (as he’s accusing others of doing) and free himself of the dreaded NewsCorp? Then he could sit around and eat bonbons all day like those bloggers, right?
Or maybe, just maybe, it actually takes work and insight to run a blog that resonates with a large audience.
And maybe people who follow blogs are capable of critical thought, just like newspaper readers are! Speaking of which, excellent work with the clickbait, Mumbrella, you got me again.
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If there’s one thing Newscorp journalist know, it’s ethics.
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With its appalling performance this election, News Corp is pretty rich for calling out anyone for the quality of journalism.
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Fair call on the paid posts – interests should be declared.
I blog, I tweet, I update but not for cash, my opinion is one thing you can’t own. You can influence (which I’ll declare) but if it’s trash, it’s trash and conversely if I love it, you’ll know.
Holding back on blatant self promotion, hate for Jonathon to think I posted to earn some unearned followers.
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…. if anything, all this proves how important good journalism is. Craig Thompson would be still shagging hookers, Essendon would still be on the gear and Syria’s chemical attack on its own people would all have gone unnoticed if not for good (see: brave) journalism…
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pot, kettle,black etc.
Perhaps Moran could do a deal with bloggers- they stop plugging whoever and he stops plugging Foxtel.
Just another example of why News Corp is so out of touch with the modern world.
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Sorry, I must be still asleep. There’s no way I just read a Newscorp entertainment “journalist” talking about ethics and credibility, did I?
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Could News Corp be any more out of touch with modernity? Moran might consider slithering back under his Cretaceous Period rock.
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ajduffs said: “Bloggers often claim to be practising journalism, but they don’t always subscribe to the ethical responsibilities that come with that work… and that’s bad for everyone.” Well, I’ve gotta say I’d trust a blogger over a ‘journalist’ that works for the Daily Tele any day!
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Journalism and telegraph in one real sentence. I’d like to see that.
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Wow a journalist in the entertainment industry saying that someone lacks credibility. Pot. Kettle. Black.
Blogs reach a different segment of the market, and a different audience… Australia’s lack of laws around payment and product disclosure, suggest it is probably about time both the informal and formalised media had to abide by a more set of standards. Bloggers have suggested the same thing before. So quit wining and try running a successful blog yourself.
https://mumbrella.com.au/call-for-law-forcing-bloggers-and-journos-to-disclose-payments-and-gifts-120782
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There’s real journalism and make out journalism. Real journalism is breaking stories that matter to society, such as exposing corruption and crime, be it in business or government, detailing injustice and inspirational stories across all levels of our community. Make out journalism is rewriting press releases about “celebrities” and being given tightly controlled “interviews” with “stars” while taking a free ride on the gravy train of freebies, invitations and mutual back-scratching. This make out level is what most bloggers aspire to reach. There’s also a certain percentage of those who like to think of themselves as real journalists just because they work in the mainstream media. But they also fall into the make out category – all those parties and freebies are such hard work! No names, of course… but you can work out who they are.
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I’m going to do this dance in this year’s Christmas episode of The Office.
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Excuse me while I pick myself off the floor (where I rolled around laughing for a few minutes). Jonathon Moran must live in a mighty sturdy glass house to be throwing those stones.
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To say “social media is awash with dodgy advertorial style posts” makes it seem that every other media isn’t – and it IS!!
We are in a time of transition where traditional media & bloggers are vying for the same gigs. Neither is going away.
To think that bloggers aren’t paid or recompensed is naive. Journalists are paid for their jobs.
Over time, readers turn away from whatever media they feel is not authentic or genuine.
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These old media types make me lol.
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I think he makes a valid point (declaring interests) but is off regarding the ‘paying your dues’. If you’ve got the audience, you should be treated accordingly.
Surely the Tele’s reach is still bigger than any blog though, so would be surprised if any self respecting publicist would bump him for a blog (though admittedly, I myself am very out of touch with local fashion blogging).
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