Whilst you say that bloggers must eventually diversiy and sell — which I think is an option — don’t be too quick to dismiss the newspaper brand. I think brands like the NY or British Times can continue to be a platform for news, but a much more interactive one wherein journalists engage with feedback and perhaps develop stories based upon this. These businesses can continue to provide a steady wage and are better placed to develop commercial straegies (my favourite is micro-payments once it works properly).

The newspaper brand can also enforce accountability better than complete individualism. I understand your idea of self-regulation because of audience reaction, but the reality of web journalism has shown that it has led often to bloggers breaking news without checking for multiple sources. Trust is at the heart of news and I still believe we’ll seek traditional brands to provide that.

Great post though — this issue is really important and it’s good to read well thought through developed commentary.

Similarly, it is worth discussing thoroughly the role of editors in this culture. I highly doubt that the elimination of editors will have an empowering effect on writers. On the contrary, it will limit them to only one perspective of reporting. Because the role of editors is not to fix grammar mistakes, it is to ask legitimate questions that haven’t been properly addressed in the articles.
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Only even been a case of re-tooling ourselves for a new and vibrant future.

best etc
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@Amar. There probably will be newspapers in the future, but they won’t be made of paper and they won’t be as large as they are now. The organizations that we call newspapers now probably won’t exist, but new media will fill the void. I think we’re seeing the transition now, as local blogs become the go-to source of information for local people, because local news organizations at the size they were in the past just aren’t sustainable.

I read an interesting thing over at Seth’s blog today, maybe you guys want to check it out? http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/11/ms-inbetween.html

Basically he’s saying that there is no one job anymore, everyone is in-between. Everyone is a writer, a marketer, a leader. This is amazing, because those jobs used to reserved for just the top of the top, and the rest of us had to go about our lives working stupid jobs we hated. No everyone can rise up and get their message out, cover the news that they feel is important, for whatever niche they really care about.

@Dana, You’re totally right. We probably have no idea how many times editors go over material that journalists write at big journalistic organizations. All of this is to focus the material to a mass audience, so everyone can understand. The thing is, they can’t. Not everyone is into tech as much as the tech guys are into tech. Not everyone is into theater as much as the people who read theater reviews are into theater. Blogs give people the opportunity, if done right, to really write what they feel.

@Everyone else. You’re right about blogging having better job security. Every journalist needs to start having a web presence, to start marking themselves independently of their organization (if their organization allows this, which some of them don’t.) I’d love it if you guys would check out my blog and offer your help there. You have outstanding ideas, and I’d love to hear if you have ideas for stories, or if you can refer me coverage of stories that are interesting to you on this subject.
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