Tuesday, March 12, 2013

WHERE ARE THE BLOGGERS?

A couple of years ago when I started blogging it wasn't a very competitive industry. Well, I call it an industry for lack of a better word. It really isn't. Not until companies stop asking bloggers to do things for no compensation but let me just stick to the point of this post. There were only a few of us bloggers attending fashion week and we all knew each other. A lot of us even struck up friendships from that time of meeting on the sidelines of fashion week. Personally, I was attracted to the blogosphere because here was a free platform where I could be heard without having to be commissioned by the mainstream media where one's opinion will often be censored. Here I can be myself without reservation. I can say what I like or hate about any brand without upsetting 'clients'. Most of us never thought of advertising revenue that comes with blogging, let alone the fabulosity that I believe has now choked blogging, making it nothing more than a surefire way for some to just get invitations to events and to pose with celebrities as if they are their buddies. This is why every Tom, Dick and their dog have a blog. Tweeting about how fabulous life is on the front row and at VIP parties makes it worth it. No doubt this works well for publicists who can just claim that such posts are exposure for their clients, but really, it adds no value to a broader conversation about anything!
I'm no doubt starting to sound like a lot of my fellow journalists used to when blogging first became a 'thing'. Bloggers were seen as nothing more than a bunch of freebie-chasers and I have to say, for me, looking at myself and several of the bloggers I know from when I first started; some of them are more dedicated to their craft than I can say for a lot of journalists. A lot of them have unique voices and have carved out a nice niche for themselves. These days, however, I can certainly be forgiving of anyone who calls bloggers whatever name; glamourzon, freebie-chaser, whatever. More bloggers than ever are attending fashion week but more and more there are less and less street style reports to look at. Never mind the show reviews. It seems people are just there to schmooze. Many take weeks to post whatever work they may have done at fashion week and I'm sorry to say but weeks later your work has no worth. The internet and blogging itself owes its success to being that place people go for instant news or, at least, unique content. I don't see what value you are adding by posting your story weeks after even the weekly mags and the news media have exhausted the subject. This is especially true if you are not necessarily giving a fresh perspective on anything; 'Look at what I did two weeks ago' just doesn't cut it! Who are you? Why do you think anyone cares? Bloggers have had to work hard to earn the sort of credibility some of us enjoy today and I am proud of that. It just annoys me to see that bloggers that pop up almost everyday these days seem to have no concern for taking this medium forward. All they seem concerned about is hanging out at parties with Jen Su. Am I the only one who cares about adding value to whatever environment I am operating in?

11 comments:

Stiletto_J said...

You are not alone. Even though some of us have been around for years, not all of us have a kajillion unique views because of our very niche audience. It seems that those who are publishing posts an eon after the event can justify it because of their audience.

For me, blogging is about being on the pulse of the zeitgeist. About adding value with integrity and credibility. If only more bloggers kept this top of mind.

Anonymous said...

Okay, so posting about the Skinny Laminx launch, like almost every other blogger in South Africa gives you that unique voice?

Or only posting about fashion, things you find in other media?

Unknown said...

What I have to say gives me that unique voice, hun. I don't just (re)post I give my view. I've always sold this blog as a forum for conversation, not just mere blogging. I've stuck to that. At times I post about things I like, I see nothing wrong with that. Of course you don't have to enjoy my blog or my opinion, but the question remains.

Anonymous said...

I didn't say that I don't enjoy it. I just like a healthy debate now and again :)

Unknown said...

Sorry. Perhaps I should have used 'one' instead of 'you'; it wasn't necessarily a reference to you as an individual.

Anonymous said...

I think that this was well said, Sandiso. But I won't be calling bloggers any names as I do believe that everyone has the right to do things their own way. That's the joy of this platform.
But as someone who, like you, has been around a while, has worked as a professional in the media, and takes their blog brand VERY seriously, you do raise a good point. I would love to see all bloggers being a little more professional :)
SG xx

Anonymous said...

no u are not

A Serious Fashion Blogger said...

You've hit the nail on the head with this post! I agree with you 100%. There are many bloggers that are guilty of this but being a fashion blogger there is one so-called blogger who immediately springs to mind - Sheri Lee Greenway/SA Fashiongirl. Her posts about the events she has attended are always days, if not weeks, late. It's like they are an afterthought. By then the event has been covered ad infinitum and in depth by more conscientious bloggers who aren't sponsored by Daddy and take what they do seriously because they actually live in the real world and have bills to pay. Wannabe socialites and entitled rich kids who blog in an effort to appear that they are making a useful contribution to society give the rest of us a bad name.

Yaye said...

I agree , I totally feel you, been doing it for a few years now at the time when there were not so many bloggers on line but now it's a trendy thing to do , everyone wanna be somebody whether they have relevant things to say or not, it would be interesting to see the evolution of the blogging world years from now:)
a blogger from dakar senegal

Snazzy Fashion Kitten said...

AGREED! most bloggers are just interested in chasing fame.
they forget to capture the real essence of fashion.

Snazzy Stylish Kitten said...

AGREED!! Most bloggers are just interested in chasing fame. they forget to capture the real essence of fame.